downlock

People get intimidated when they think about web hosting, but with a little time and effort, you can have a nice website to share with the world wide web. Before you start shelling out money for a domain and web space, you need to decide what you need a website for and how detailed you plan on making it. For most users, there are plenty of free resources for personal sites.
If you just want a place to share family photos, there are free places to upload pictures, like www.photobucket.com or www.villagephotos.com, that are user friendly. You simply browse and upload the pictures and then you can send invitations to friends and family to see the pictures. It also gives you the code to post the pictures to forums, and within websites.
If you want to move a step up from just sharing photos, than there are free blog sites, where you can have an on-line diary or journal, where you can share daily thoughts and pictures. People can subscribe to the blog and receive e-mail notification of new entries. Sites like www.Xanga.com, www.blogger.com and www.myblogsite.com are some of the free blog sites available.
There are also many free website hosts where you can put together personal websites. Most of the free hosting sites provide templates that allow quick and easy website building, without having to know any HTML or java coding. You plug in your information by following the simple directions and a few minutes later you have a nice looking website.
A couple of the more popular free hosting sites are Yahoo’s Geocities and Bravenet. Both sites are user friendly and can include things like webcounters, guest books Most free sites can only be used for personal websites, but they are a great way to get started in website design. A few of the free sites do allow people to set up small business sites. Many Ebay people take advantage of these types of sites. While they have templates you can use, if you become more adventurous, you can use simple web design programs and develop nice looking sites.
When you build your site, you can also find almost unlimited free clip art, buttons, bars, backgrounds and other graphics that you can use on a personal site. You have to make sure the graphics are free to use and listed as royalty free. Most free graphics site stipulate that they are free to use, as long as it’s not on a business site. Some ask that you simply provide a link back to their site if you use their graphics.
It is pretty easy to build a nice free website if you make use of the resources available.

payday loans

I’m not going to lie. Sure, I’ll admit it. I’ve been pushed past the point of shame, and have fallen straight into the abyss prominently named, “The Lonely Canyon Of Incumbrance.” I’m one of those people.
Yes, in my youth, I made some financial blunders and managed to sink myself into a molehill of debt. I refuse to call it a “mountain” — I refuse! It would only discourage me. But, between student loans and credit cards that got me through tough times (and a few luxurious ones), my “molehill” has added up to more than I want to mumble out loud. Let’s just say that at this point, I skim over the “account summary” section of my bills and go straight to “minimum due.”
Looking around my dark and scary abyss, though, I realize I’m in good company. Ninety-seven percent of bankruptcies declared in this country are non-business related, and millions of Americans have had to do it. Unsecured consumer debt has risen to an all-time high of $2 trillion, the highest in the world. Factor in mortgages — a type of secured debt — and we’re up to $9 trillion. Texas is plagued by debt, too. No wonder so many of us can’t afford those high premium health insurance policies. (Texas leads the nation with nearly 25% uninsured across the state - that’s 5.4 million.)
I won’t say it’s not my fault. Of course it is. Credit cards were easy; student loans were even easier. And while I worked all through college, somehow the red column in my non-existent financial ledger still added up to an atrocious figure.
Part of the problem, I truly believe, is that with credit cards so easy to get and use nowadays, our generation is forgetting how to manage money. We want what we want, and we want it now. Damn it. Credit card companies know this. They’re marketing to college students like never before, and the millions of students in Austin, Dallas, and Houston can attest to this.
After realizing I couldn’t afford health insurance and save my credit at the same time, I decided to start accumulating sound advice on financial planning, instead. After several free consultations with credit counselors, I knew there was hope. All I had to do was budget.
It sounds so terribly easy. “Of course,” you say. “I do budget.” But you may not be budgeting as well as you think. Three dollars a day on your favorite mocha frappuccino adds up to 90 bucks a month, which accumulates to about $1,000 every year. An extra $100 for that snazzy cell phone, when you could get a free one from the provider, is money you could be using to pay off a high-interest credit card. That doesn’t mean you can never have your mocha. It does mean outlining a realistic budget for it.
(1) Decipher what you really need, versus what you really want.
Everyone must have food, shelter, clothing, and, for most working individuals, some kind of transportation allowance.
Housing
In general, shelter should take about one-third of your income. With the recent rise in housing costs, this may not be realistic, but do the best you can. Be willing to take an apartment without a view for a little while. If you save a little extra on rent, you’ll be a lot closer to buying your own place in a few years.
Food
Reduce costs on food by buying non-perishables in bulk when possible (which can be done by joining a wholesale club, or special ordering products through a grocery store), sign up for membership discounts at those grocery stores (which are almost always free and painless), and use coupons! (Think of those extra three bucks as a cappuccino.) Watch for sales and stock-up on good deals.
Co-op groceries are also a great way to cut food costs. Some offer work exchange opportunities in lieu of paying membership fees, and even if there is a small sign-up charge, the savings and profit-shares you’ll get over the years will be worth it.
Plan meals ahead, and be willing to cook. Ready-made meals are generally more expensive, as well as less nutritious. Taking your lunch to work, and while out on day trips, can save thousands of dollars a year. If you have the space, grow your own herbs and produce, too. It’s fun, cheap, and quite easy once you know what you’re doing.
Transportation
Public transportation is a great invention. It’s environmentally friendly, and generally a lot cheaper than owning your own vehicle, particularly in large cities. Many employers even offer incentives, such as discount transportation passes, for taking the bus or subway to work.
If public transportation isn’t realistic, research carefully before buying a vehicle. Look not only into in-city fuel efficiency — which is different from how much gas the vehicle will use on the highway — but also warranties, maintenance schedules, and loan interest rates.
Look into buying a used car directly from the owner, as well. It’ll save you the dealership mark-up, and the seller can set a much better price for him or herself than a trade-in would provide. Just make sure to have a mechanic thoroughly check the vehicle over first.
Pay Down High-Interest Debt
High-interest debt eats more income than you probably even want to think about it. Credit card companies are happy to accept minimum payments, because it means they’re collecting amazing profits on excessive interest rates. Would you buy something if it was, say, 16%, 25%, or 35% higher than the ticket price? Well, that’s exactly what you’re doing when you charge something you won’t be able to pay off within the grace period.
To make it worse, most credit cards pay off lower interest rates first. That means if you transferred a balance onto your card for a great, low interest rate, but still have debt at a higher interest rate on the same card (or continue charging on that card), you won’t be able to pay down the higher interest rate until the entire balance of the lower interest rate is cleared.
While you should put something into a savings or money market account for emergencies, you’re losing money if you invest in those before paying down high-interest debt. It just doesn’t make sense to plunk $1,000 into an account earning 5% interest, when you could use that grand to pay off debt accruing three, four, five, or even six times faster.
Budget For Fun
It’s great to think you’re not going to spend any money on entertainment until your credit cards are paid off, or that last car payment is made, but it’s just not realistic. To keep yourself from splurging big time after months of deprivation, budget for fun, even if it’s only fifty dollars a month. Don’t be extravagant, and you’ll be alright. Walk out the door with a modest, set amount in cash after all your bills are paid, and leave all your credit and bank cards at home. This way, there’s no impulse buying or intoxication-induced spending.
Take It Away!
One of the easiest ways to trip up is having too much cash on hand. Use direct deposit. Most of the time it’s a free service provided by your bank, and it may even allow you to monitor and pay bills online. Many banks will also set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to a savings account every month. It’s a simple way to save for emergencies without having to think about it.
Ask For Help
It’s okay! Have you seen all the commercials for debt management lately? That should tell you you’re not alone. Ask your bank about good credit counselors, and check out non-profit debt management companies. Ask friends or family members that are better off than you financially, and listen to sound advice. If this article bears personal significance, you’ve gone past the point of pride, honey.
With the right plan of action and proper execution, we’ll get out of this. I promise it’s possible; with the proper mind set, crunching the numbers can give you as much hope as dread. Hell, with good retirement accounts, we’ll even go out millionaires.
Getting your finances together can reduce stress and have a positive effect on overall health. Being aware of your health, and what you can do to safeguard it will certainly affect you as you age, and eventually your wallet as well.

Do you live in a beautiful home? It may not be a mansion, but to you no doubt it means a lot. Did you pay a lot for it? Most people would say that a home - of any size - is not cheap. So, let me ask you: Have you taken the time to protect that investment? One way to do that is to purchase and install a good-quality security camera, as a part of a home security package.
What are your options when it comes to buying a home security system? Well, for starters you can choose a video surveillance security system. These make use of cameras directly connected to a display monitor. With this type of system, you can monitor every critical area of your home, including bedrooms, garage area and entranceways.
Another great option is a wireless outdoor or indoor security camera system. With a wireless system you will not have the additional expense (and ugliness) of cables. The cameras and other system components operate (communicate with each other) wirelessly. As mentioned, you can get these wireless security cameras for either indoor or outdoor monitoring.
A third option: infrared security cameras. I know, I know, it sounds like something out of a James Bond movie, but they are really useful in using infrared light to capture images - light which we cannot normally see.
What that means is that infrared security cameras can be used in places where we would say are in ‘total darkness.’ So, if you have a dark basement or attic you want monitored, then infrared security cameras are a good way to go.
And for all you penny-pinchers out there, be advised: You don’t have to spend a lot of dough to get a very reliable camera. Cheap home security cameras can be purchased for well under $50 dollars, complete systems for under $100 dollars. If you really want to do it on the cheap, why not just buy some fake security cameras. These dummy models look and (to the casual observer) act just like the fully-functional model, but do not, in fact, work — and you save a bundle in the process.
In our brave new world, it is now possible to hook up a computer to one or more security cameras. Using a media player or special-purpose browser, the images captured and transmitted can now be viewed directly on your computer screen. So while you are off playing the slots in Las Vegas, you can keep an eye on your home in Pittsburgh!
Yes, as a homeowner you have a lot of options when it comes to purchasing security cameras. So, the question remains: who WOULDN’T protect their valuable home with a good security camera?

Most people would rather do a bungee jump into the Grand Canyon - even if they suffered from vertigo - than stand up and speak before an audience. The sight of expectant faces all waiting to hear what the speaker has to say, literally renders many people speechless with fear. Even a meeting with a bank manager, can be daunting, especially when asking for finance for the winning business venture.
And yet some people seem to ooze confidence from every pore. No embarrassing silences, fidgeting, twirling a ring restlessly round and round a finger, or any other outward signs of unease or nerves in sight. Instead, they seem poised and relaxed, even in the face of opposition to their views or requests. These people seem able effortlessly to obtain financial support for their ideas and get people to say ‘yes’ to buying their product. They positively radiate wealth and abundance. So how do they do it? What’s their secret?
The Way to Look and Move
It takes just 10 seconds, for other people to weigh you up. And the way you look and move makes up at least 80% of their first impression of you. This is all before you utter one word, so it’s essential you look like a successful ’somebody’. It’s only possible to achieve this if you feel like a ’somebody’.
Body Language
Meeting strangers is difficult for most people. And a business meeting with strangers, when you want to sell your idea to them, is especially daunting. A simple fail-safe technique is to pretend or imagine the person is an old friend that you’re unexpectedly re-uniting with. This simple process will soften all your features and make you more amiable and approachable. Because your body language will be expressing, ‘I like you’, to the other person, it will endear you to them and they are much more likely to meet your requests.
Stand in front of a mirror and practice meeting a stranger as if they were an old acquaintance.
The Power of the Winning Smile
A warm smile is a powerful achieving tool. When you first meet someone, don’t immediately flash a smile, they will feel extra special if you pause for a moment to get an impression of them. Then let a warm smile flood over your face and into your eyes. The split second delay convinces a person that your smile is meant only for them and that makes them feel special.
It’s equally important to continually wear a pleasant look on your face. Here’s a fail-safe technique so you never fall into the trap of grimacing, frowning or generally looking unfriendly.
Step 1 - Sit or stand in front of a mirror. Put your lips together and don’t move them. Look at your face in the mirror concentrating on the eyes. They are lifeless.
Step 2 - Now lift up the corners of your mouth and watch your eyes come alive. This gives you a natural casual look which should be used at all times to give a pleasant look to your face.
Four Talking Tips
Eye Contact
Looking into the eyes of the person you’re having a conversation with plants confidence that you’re concentrating on them and not elsewhere. It’s very flattering when someone gives you their undivided attention. So keep strong eye contact - it broadcasts a message of understanding while making the recipient feel closer to you.
After Hello
If you want to bring people around to being interested in what you have to say or show them, first evaluate their mood and voice tone. If they’re really relaxed, immediately pitching in about your idea or product, might be too aggressive and destroy your chances of obtaining what it is you want from them. If they’re in a state of nervous tension from being far too busy for comfort, understand and sympathise with them, if only for a minute, before talking about your business needs. Maintaining eye contact you should be able to register if your listener gets bored or excited during conversations. Be sympathetic to the other person’s needs.
Be Interesting
Monosyllable answers of yes and no don’t usually achieve desirable results. For example, let’s take the question, ‘where do you come from?’ It’s far more revealing and interesting if instead of just answering, ‘Crantock’, the answer was, ‘Crantock. It’s a small Cornish village, famous for smuggling during the 16th century.’
This answer opens up possibilities for the other person to comment on. It also reveals a lot about you. By demonstrating a willingness to share deeper thoughts with someone else, it makes them feel special and endears them to you.
Take an Interest
How people comment or answer you, reveals a lot about themselves. Supposing you were trying to sell your idea for a film and you made this comment, ‘we fully intend to make a film of this story,’ and your film industry contact replied, ‘the latest Bond movie was amazing.’ From that reply with just a little careful digging you could find out exactly why they thought that particular Bond movie was amazing. Did they like the director? Or was it a character? Or maybe it was an actor or actress? Once you know the answer, there may a link that you could use for your project. For example, if you discover that it was an actor they particularly liked, there may be a part in your film perfect for that favoured actor.
If that was the case, you could suggest this actor be approached to play the part. Immediately, the other person’s really interested and excited about your project, and if the meeting had been to obtain finance for the film, you would have just increased the chances of getting what you needed.
So, whether you’ve got an appointment with your bank manager or other investors, or a meeting to sell your idea, you know you can meet these people full of confidence, sure you’ll stay relaxed and poised, knowing you can talk to win.

Fast answer: An easy way to do that is to find a nutrition trainer either on the internet or in your hometown. He or she will be able to educate you and assist you to train the entire family how to eat correctly.
The common situation where people find their current weight repulsive or may be they have been adding weight gradually over the years, is what lots of folks are grappling with. It is an undisputable fact that many people in America and around the world are struggling with their weight.
Our lethargic attitude towards exercise and diet have been identified as the reason why people suffer weight problem, thus we need to feed well. There are no two ways about it; current “lose weight quickly” methods are phony and they will only pull off essential water off your body creating the impression that you are losing weight, therefore you should opt for the two methods mentioned above if you want to shed off fat.
One foolproof way you can lose weight quickly is to get serious with and learn how to process is accomplished. During the course of one make over television shows I reluctantly sat through, even though my wife liked them a lot, the over weight lady they were making over dropped a bombshell- she said she was totally contented with her body and appearance because she was in perfect health.
This problem sadly, is very common in many people; they refused to accept to being over weight because they are pretty and not too bulky, but if you watch these folks closely you will notice they probably eat fatty foods and yet don’t exercise regularly. The lady on the television show cannot be considered obese as she is not too bulky, but a crucial factor in all this is the body fat content, and I can bet money that she has over 30 percent body fat.
If you really want to start losing weight in earnest, you should take low fat diet and combined it with cardio and weight lifting because these two fitness regime will help you burn off fat as well as gain the much needed muscles. Talking to and adopting the methods used by people who have achieved a fair level of success with weight loss is one way you can get serious with your lifestyle and lose weight quickly.
However it is very easy to lose weight if you really start very early.

The Loire Valley is most famous for producing fine white wine such as Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadet with accounts for 75% percent of the wine produced in the region. As well as these lovely white wines, you can enjoy the delightful, fruity and pleasant reds produced in the Loire Valley, such as Cabernet Franc and Gamay.
For lovers of fine wine and all finer things in life, one would be hard-pressed to find a better setting than the exquisite famous fertile valley of the Loire River; a region seeped in rich history from regal chateaux to its long viticulture tradition.
The Loire Valley wine region is located south west of Paris typically a little over 2 hours drive from the Paris peripherique and extending out as far as Nantes. It is an area blessed with a mild climate and fertile soil, allowing for the production of diverse appellations with vast degrees of character.
A fairytale wine-tasting adventure awaits the wine lover touring the Loire Valley as wine-tasting can be enjoyed along with visits to many spectacular historic castles sprinkled throughout the region. Chateau Chambord which is the largest Loire Valley chateau and the architecturally breathtaking Chateau Chenonceau spanning the River Cher are just two of many jaw-droppers for tourists to enjoy.
Chateau Chaumont sits high above the banks of the Loire River opposite the Touraine-Amboise vineyards and it holds an international garden festival each year from April to October being France’s equivalent of the Chelsea Garden Fair. Last year the theme was play and many of the gardens on exhibit were highly interactive and a great success with both children and adults. This year the theme is going to be mobility.
The Loire Valley is also a popular destination for followers of the Knights Templar and Holy Grail because it is so seeped in history and because of the close association with Leonardo Da Vinci.
Fans of Leonard Da Vinci can visit Chateau Clos Luce and admire his study, salons, kitchen and bedrooms, the chapel and see frescoes painted by his pupils. His drawings and paintings are set out in the park of the chateau with giant models of the most spectacular machines he invented with voice-overs of Leonardo da Vinci and his disciple Melzi.
Self-guided wine tours can be combined with hiking, bicycling, or hot air ballooningthrough the scenic countryside. All wine lovers should make their next wine tasting holiday destination the Loire Valley because the excitement of their senses will stretch far beyond their palate. Many of the historic chateaux hold light and soundshows at night during summer. For castle enthusiasts staying at a castle can heighten the enjoyment of your vacation. Remember to bring lots of film or memory for your camera, as there really is not a prettier wine region in the world.

Choosing ISP services can be real tricky and the rule of thumb is to pay for those services that you only need. Instead of plunking down change for all the bells and whistles. The typical small business web-site, four to seven pages, could choose a virtual hosting service with multiple email addresses, cgi-bin access and a T3 connection from the Internet for $19 to $27 per month.
Most small businesses pick the managed server hosting packages which could range from $3.95 a month to $20 a month. As stated before, these hosting packages have all the administrative support that you need and all you have to worry about is the development of your web-site. You are given an FTP client to load your site to the internet.
Socket Security Certificates cost extra for secure transactions of the financial type through your web page and you expect to pay at least $40 to $80 per month. The setup fees can be expensive and cost as much as $55, and sometimes more if you order special features. Large companies and high volume web sites pay more for certain types of services.
Shop around and get the best deal for your business. You can get web hosting through the internet from anywhere but you have to really study the ISP’s and see what they offer.
A big concern in choosing an ISP should be the response time in case a server goes down. How does the server respond during high traffic times on the server? You would have to ask the ISP representative what their percentage ranking is as far as server downtime.
You can find some of these rankings on the internet by going to cnet.com or use the Google search engine to rate the top ten ISP providers that have the best percentage of what the industry calls, “up” time according to their servers.

It’s one thing to write a book, but an entirely different thing to write one that’s saleable, viable, and marketable. Whether you’ve just published a book or have a book that isn’t selling, now is the time to get to it; start marketing today! Your book selling, book marketing, and book promotion planning should begin before the manuscript is completed.
Make sure your press release spells out the ‘who, what, where, when, and why.’ Using press releases can be a very effective marketing tool if used properly. Using press releases for marketing or promoting your book or book’s website has become increasingly popular as publishers discover the powerful benefits of using press releases.
Mail a press release to at least 1000 print and broadcast contacts just prior to publishing your title and again and again after you publish; you can never send too many. Mail a press release to all the trade journals in your field over and over again; you can use the same release. Send out at least 10 press releases to the print and broadcast media in your area every month.
Invest in press release submitting software and set aside time every week to send out a press release online to the press directories. Make sure you have at least one good press release, written in AP style that you can send out for the lifetime of your book.
Submit articles to online article directories that focus on your book’s topic to drive customers to your website. It’s important to publish a website that focuses on your title; you’ll be able to refer editors and customers and all interested parties to your book information with the click of a mouse. Get as many testimonials about your book, as possible, from experts in the field relating to your title, not customers; use on your fliers and back of books.
Make five telephone calls a day that relate to marketing your book. Make sure not to overlook the Internet; get yourself interviewed or profiled for sites both about writing, publishing and about the topics covered in your book. Why not give away your book in a raffle at a local function to get more recognition for your book.
Your sales letter or flier should include an eye-grabbing headline, the benefits to the buyer, the book features, book sales information and testimonials. Contact non-bookstore booksellers and offer to leave books on consignment. Create an online contest and list it in online contest directories to drive traffic to your website.
Print and online publications provide longevity to your marketing campaign in terms of having something tangible for people to reference ongoing. Remember to make sure your book is listed in Books-in-Print; don’t assume it’s already listed. Make sure your sales letter or flier is first class; this is your formal presentation of your title to the prospective buyer.
Build a web site that provides another avenue for ordering, a virtual online press kit and link exchanges with sites that relate to your topic. Women buy more books then men; see how you can fit your book into the women’s market.
Make sure to promote and market your book each and every day, both online and offline. If your book fits a specialty market, find a store that fits the genre and offer to leave books on consignment; many publishers have sold thousands of books this way.
Don’t delay another day if you’ve fallen by the wayside; make sure to focus on promoting, selling and marketing your book each and every day. If you apply yourself every day and you promote your book like crazy, you can achieve that ultimate goal of selling thousands of copies of your book, many self publishers have. With well chosen book marketing and book promotion, online and offline, you’ll reap the profits you deserve for your efforts by way of the Internet and in your mailbox.

J. Paul Getty appeared to be incredibly lucky, but it was a luck which, in many ways, he engineered. Instead of continuing on a well-structured career–that of the U.S. Diplomatic Services–he made a detour to the rich oil fields of Oklahoma.
There he had the difficult task of raising money, which he did by working and borrowing. He then took care of his funds, by spending them frugally. Initially, he hit a number of dry wells, but one speculation paid off for him. This last speculation was a calculated risk. Yes, he was lucky, but he also did his best to attract that luck.
A notable feature in his “luck” was his decisiveness. After reviewing the geological data, he decided to act on it. The data gave him odds on success, but it didn’t guarantee anything. He could have continued to investigate, postponing the decision to act.
But, in his own words, he did not want to be “like one of those government commissions that are afraid to make a decision. They hold hearings, collect facts, stew and fuss and keep very, very busy for months and months. After a while you know it’s just a sham. The appearance of action is just a front to hide inaction.”
When you take chances, you risk defeat, you risk loss, but unless you play the game you may never win either. Playing to win also means willing to lose. Indeed, J. Paul Getty lost first before he won. However, money management enabled him to continue despite his losses. And because he only had small losses, he was able to keep enough resources to stay in the game.
Successful investors on Wall Street advise new investors never to gamble with their grocery money, because it has a twofold effect: one, it jeopardizes their well-being; two, they are nervous when they invest and this clouds their judgement.
In your own life, you can use the following checklist to be a ‘luckier’ and more prosperous person.
1. Find some area that needs investment of time, money, energy, and skill.
2. Calculate the risks.
3. Estimate the rewards.
4. Find the time, raise the money, harness the energy, and learn the skills.
5. Manage your resources so that you only take affordable risks.
Above all, remember that winning often involves risking, but risking does not mean gambling. When you gamble, you don’t evaluate much information and you use all your resources. When you take risks, you review all the available information and only commit what you can afford to lose.
Dr. Abraham Weinberg, a prominent psychiatrist, once commented that passive people “tend to let life happen to them instead of using its opportunities in an asserive way. Often they are afraid of change itself, even change without risk. They tell themselves, ‘I’m afraid of going into this new situation,’ even when the situation holds no objective terrors except its newness. Instead of examining the situation and finding what the risks actually are, they simply drop out by saying, ‘No, it’s too much of a gamble.’ It may not be a gamble at all. They are only making an excuse for staying in some familiar territory.”

“I’m sorry, what? I can’t understand you.” Have you ever heard this line? Then you probably know how embarrassing it can be to repeat something over and over again. Miscommunication can and will hold you back in today’s fast-paced, international business environment. Too many people are hiding their gifts, talents and knowledge from the world due to a fear of speaking up and being misunderstood. Are you one of them?
Follow these simple tricks to instantly improve the clarity of your speech.
1) Slow Down
It is common sense, really; the faster you speak, the harder it is for your listener to understand. The easiest way to instantly increase the clarity of your speech is to simply slow down.
2) Pause
Pauses are effective little tools that can be employed in a number of situations. Use them to clearly separate sentences and when changing topics.
3) Speak Up
If you want to say something, really say it! Stand up straight, take a deep breath and speak on the exhale. Don’t cover your mouth with your hands, a book or your notes. Make eye contact with your listeners and speak directly to them, not down to the floor or to your slides.
4) Articulate Word Endings
In our haste to get our messages out, we often times fail to enunciate word endings - the grammatical markers at the ends of words, such as the plural ’s’ or past tense ‘ed.’ If you don’t articulate these sounds, it sounds like you’re making very basic grammatical errors.
5) Use Clear Consonants
Here are a few examples of commonly confused consonant sounds: /b/ & /p/, /d/ & /t/, /g/ & /k/, /v/ & /f/. The first sound in each pair is voiced, whereas the second sound is voiceless.
Place your hand in front of your mouth while you say these pairs out loud: gate/Kate, girl/curl, game/came.
If you are articulating the /g/ and /k/ sounds correctly, you should feel an explosion of air when you make the /k/ sound.
6) Use Consistent Word Stress
To a native English speaker, a certain word stress is considered appropriate or inappropriate depending on where the person is from.
“Inappropriate” word stress can really rub listeners the wrong way because it deviates from their norm and indicates that the speaker is an “other” - an outsider. This can be quite FRUStrating (US)/frusTRATing (UK) for the non-native speaker who is just trying to get his point across.
“So which variety is correct?” I always recommend sticking to the form you are most comfortable with. Try to be consistent with whichever variety suits you best.
7. Speak Simply
Never use a long word where a short one will do. This is a common rule most people have heard, but unfortunately very few put it into practice. Your main goal in every spoken interaction should be to have your message understood. Do this by simplifying your vocabulary and using common English words.