Here’s a simple GIMP Tutorial on how to blur the background and adjust the color of your photo.

I used this image, taken from one of our Mann Hann trips:

Step 1: Select the are that will not be blured:

Step 2: Select>> Feather the image by 10

Step 3: Select>> Invert

Step 4: Filter>> Gaussian Blur by 40 (or depends on how much blur you want)

Step 5: Color>> Curve, adjust the curve:

And here is the final image:

The before and after photos

In buying smart phones or choosing your unit, there are some factors that you need to consider. The best advice I can give you is to read reviews. Almost all smart phones now have the same function but still their performance differs from one another. With the numbers of people using smart phones increases everyday, you can find reviews to almost any smart phones available on the market. Of course you also need to take into consideration your budget as we all know smart phones are not that cheap.

If you ask me, I always have my eye on android phones since most apps can be downloaded for free.

Survey a type of research where in information is gathered usually through questioning and this information and the result is studied and from there a conclusion is made. There are different types of survey used depending on the data needed and the types of questionnaires given.

Recently, I just concluded a short survey in my blog. The survey is focused on how a user access internet at their homes. The survey has only 4 questions. The respondents reply were either a yes or a no. Based on the survey result, we learned what are the percentage of people using 3g to connect to internet versus people who uses wifi to connect the internet. Even though the survey has only 4 questions, we learned a lot so much on how people access the internet from their home. And that’s is how important and helpful survey is.

In terms of companies specially those on the consumer products, they use Survey Software to conduct their surveys. From these surveys, they will learn what are the needs of their costumer and they can easily address it. In some cases, like some of the local companies here in the country they ask people who can survey an area. But more companies now are gearing towards the use of Online Survey Software. This can be very helpful specially if they want results fast.

Speaking as a respondent, if I am asked to answer a survey, i would prefer an online survey where in all I need to is check a box or answer yes or no. And I’m sure most online survey offers this kind of survey. The good thing about online surveys, a lot of companies now value the time their costumer put to answer the survey and with that they are now giving incentives to their respondents.

Survey nowadays is a win win situation, the company gets the data they need and with that the costumers are satisfied and by answering the survey they also get some incentives.

Now who wants to answer surveys?

Some of the best ways of promoting your business is advertising without trying too hard. A very strategic way of associating your business and brand with your name is by attaching signatures and logos to all paperwork or digital content that you send out. If you’re sending emails make sure that you include linked business content in your signature whether it’s a logo or a piece of text. Apply this to paper documents too, and whilst you can’t use hyperlinks, you can still provide company images and text so that anyone receiving paperwork knows who you are and where you’re from.

Utilising marketing gifts is another great strategy, but you should ensure that you do it in a subtle way. Whilst you can give away bags or balloons with your logo and business information on, these items rarely last very long in the home and are quickly tucked or thrown away. Pens or a promotional USB however can be used in everyday life and, whether the consumer realises it or not, they’ll be reminded of your branding whenever they use the gift.

Social networking is now a huge promotional tool in the digital age, but once again you need to ensure that your attempt at connecting with consumers is subtle and not too aggressive. Twitter profiles and Facebook pages can both be set up and offer ideal ways to engage with potential shoppers. Particularly for Twitter use, you should ensure that you actually make an effort to have a conversation with fans and followers, as a profile simply full of marketing and commercial promotion will not gain much popularity. It is far better to offer sales and marketing links in pages whilst also providing helpful advice, support and conversation. Another great online tool is to offer discussion boards or a reward system where people earn points for each posting or purchase which they can later redeem for products and service once they’ve accumulated enough points.

One very effective promotion is to alter your introduction to people. Make sure that any introduction gives an idea of what your business provides, rather than a very broad and easily forgotten statement. If you’re in stationary, don’t simply say that you run a stationer’s. Say that you run a stationary business which provides services such as printing and marketing in addition to a range of great products.

There are a great range of subtle, cheap and easy implemented promotional tools that you can use to build your business. And by thinking carefully about how you currently promote, you’ll be able to take vital steps to marketing yourself and your company better.

When it comes to online shopping, eBay is one of my trusted site. The site’s feedback scoring system is really helpful to buyers, specially those who are new into online buying. The feedback system determines how a seller or a buyer fair. They use stars in different color, yellow star is the lowest (user that earns at least a score of ten) and a silver shooting star is the top rating (users that already earned 1,000,000 scores). And with that, knowing that Kuponan is eBay’s group buying feature, I am very confident that the site will fair as good as eBay.

To start with, Kuponan maintained the merchant-buyer interaction (same as in eBay where you will pay directly to the merchant). As with Kuponan, you will have to pay a minimal amount to eBay then pay the rest to the merchant. There are deals though where in you will be paying the whole amount to eBay.

Register at Kuponan for free and for those who already have an eBay account, you can log in using your details in eBay. Payment can be made through  PayPal or GCASH or Bank transfer/Bank deposit through BDO. To book for a deal,you can follow these simple steps:

• Click PAY NOW to book the deal.
• Wait for the email confirmation where the payment details will be sent.
• When the deal is ON, pay an amount to eBay through the payment methods mentioned above.
• After paying, send the details of your payment for confirmation. Once confirmed, e coupon will be sent to you on your email.
• Print it and present it to the merchant and pay the remaining, then enjoy the deal.

Register now or log in to your eBay account and see if there’s a deal perfect for you.

Answer the survey from Make or Break and have a chance to win a router,. The  winning respondent via raffle will be a E4200- SRP PHP 8,995.

image and product feautures from Cisco Store

Linksys E4200 Features:
Simultaneous Dual-Band N (2.4 & 5 GHz)
Gigabit Ethernet 4-port switch
Maximum speed up to 300 + 450 Mbps
USB port for shared storage
Built-In UPnP AV media server

Get your chance on this router by visiting Make or Break and answering the survey! good luck!

For people living in Chicago area and is looking for a Hyundai dealer they can find one easily and buy a car with less hassle.  Of course there are steps that needs to be taken to make the purchase less stressful to the buyer.

For one, since most car dealers have their own website, you can just relax in your home and research what’s the best car for you. From this, you save time going to the dealer’s place. When choosing your car options, you need to consider the payment scheme of the car dealer and if they allow test driving. After choosing, you can now go to the dealer and see the car for yourself.

And when we are ready to buy another car, we are definitely going to try buying one from a car dealer.

I am participating in a blogger campaign for Bucks2Blog about Chicago Hyundai and was compensated, the views and opinions are solely mine of course.