For anyone who relies on a computer—be it for work or entertainment—few things can be more frustrating than waiting on a machine that has become slow and unresponsive.

If your computer is sluggish and not as snappy as it was when it was new, it may be the result of too little memory. The good news is that in most cases this is an easy fix. Here are some tips on how to know when your computer could use a memory upgrade and what you can do about it.

Your computer’s memory may need an upgrade when:

• You experience poor performance in everyday tasks such as viewing digital photos, watching videos or working on a document or presentation.

• When restarting, the boot-up time seems to take forever.

• Response time suffers when multiple programs or windows are open at the same time.

What is RAM?
At its most basic, random access memory, or RAM, is used by a computer to run its programs. Any time you open your e-mail, surf the Web, watch a video, type a paper, play a game or just plain turn on your computer, the system is using its internal memory.

Should You Install Additional Memory Yourself or Use an Expert?
While the physical act of installing memory is fairly simple, the process of finding the correct type of memory upgrade for your computer can sometimes be confusing and complex for the average computer owner.

Fortunately, Crucial.com, an online retailer specializing in memory and storage, offers free, easy-to-use online tools designed to help you quickly find the right memory upgrade to restore your computer’s lost performance.

The Crucial® Memory Advisor tool enables you to choose your computer make and model from a simple drop-down menu to immediately see detailed information regarding the types of memory supported by the computer and recommended memory upgrade options.

If you are unsure of your computer’s make and model, the System Scanner tool automatically scans the computer’s system to determine the current memory situation and then recommends compatible upgrades for your specific system.

Crucial.com offers hundreds of thousands of types of computer memory upgrades for PCs and Mac computers, both new and old. The company also guarantees that the memory you buy through the Memory Advisor tool will be 100 percent compatible with your system.

To find your memory upgrade options, visit http://www.crucial.com.

We’ve all heard of the big name “gurus” that pontificate exploiting search engine vulnerabilities, “gaming the system” in social media, and similar tactics — and you won’t find anything even remotely similar in this book. In fact, as Scott so astutely points out, by the time most of these gurus get around to sharing (and selling) you on these types of methods, there is often little profit left to be extracted from the tactics they’re sharing.

It is refreshing to read an internet marketing book that isn’t full of pie-in-the-sky hype. Scott has created, sold, built and consulted on successful businesses throughout his career. He is well-known for his commitment to his customers, and his genuine interest in seeing them succeed.

Scott’s books are based on his personal experience and success online: He has built multi-million dollar e-businesses ranging from small web site startups, to web sites for celebrities like Bill O’Reilly and Larry King, to the online division of a Fortune 500 corporation.

I’ve followed Scott for several years now, and I know the kind of value he provides — Click Millionaires is certainly no exception. Within the pages of this book, Scott introduces us to eleven successful business owners who have become part of the “Click Millionaire Revolution,” and developed lifestyle businesses. In addition to sharing their stories, Scott outlines actionable tips and strategies to enable readers to follow their examples.

From the Publisher:

“Scott Fox teaches weary corporate warriors and aspiring entrepreneurs how to trade the 9-5 job they hate for an online business they love. The book explains how to combine outsourcing, software, and automated online marketing to build recurring revenues, all while working less and making fewer of the lifestyle compromises that corporate “success” requires.”

Among the Items Covered:

• Identify your top lifestyle design goals, unique expertise, and passionate interests.
• Design what you know best or most like to do into a new online business that satisfies your personal cravings, whether for flexibility, creativity, comfort, travel, or family time.
• Find your niche and get established as an expert online, even without formal credentials.
• Use web tools, like automation software, subscription billing, and audience content creation, to help you grow your e-business without investing more money, time, and toil.

Scott encourages readers to see that even small steps can make a big impact on one’s overall lifestyle — increasing their time with family, enabling them to pursue activities they are passionate about, and to measure success in terms of happiness. You won’t find any “get rich quick” schemes within the pages of this book; instead, you’ll find the unvarnished truth about existing tools and business models that are available to those motivated enough to put them into practice.

In the early pages of the book, Scott suggests the reader begin to keep a notebook or journal, where they can keep a record of their ideas, as well as create plans to take those ideas to fruition. He provides helpful lists of exercises throughout; completing these exercises can provide the valuable introspection and niche research that so many business owners gloss over, much to their own detriment.

Scott’s book, supported by his active online community, introduces readers to a group of like-minded business owners and leaders that are available to network and learn from. Knowing this, readers can close the cover on the book knowing that they can find support, as well as answers to any questions they may have.

Scott is the host of the popular ClickMillionaires.com e-commerce and online marketing social network where he offers personalized lifestyle business coaching to help his readers and clients make more money online. His work and book have been covered by press outlets including the New York Times, Boston Globe, LA Business Journal, Toronto’s Globe & Mail, Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, Orange County Register, AOL Small Business, Smart Money and SUCCESS magazines, as well as many radio programs and blogs worldwide.

To learn more about Scott, or to subscribe to his free email newsletter, visit him at http://ScottFox.com, or http://clickmillionaires.com.

• Do I feel satisfied or challenged in my current job?
• What kind of future do I have at my current job?
• Do I like the way my company does business?
• Do I feel stressed when it’s time to go back to work?
• Am I satisfied with what I am making?

If your answers don’t satisfy you, you may want to consider a career change. A down economy may not seem like a great time to look for a new job, but there are satisfying, financially rewarding jobs out there.

According to USNews.com, “Job seekers may be having a tough time landing a position these days, but don’t assume they’re willing to take anything they can get. According to a recent survey by job search engine SimplyHired.com, today’s job hunters have pretty specific ideas about what they’re looking for in their careers and in prospective employers. More than 80 percent of those polled by the site said they’d rather have a job they love than one that pays well.”

Some companies actively seek to recruit Gen Xers. For example, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian) has found Gen Xers a good fit with its entrepreneurial business model of independent sales. With the rise of former startups like Amazon, Google, Facebook and LinkedIn that have become megacompanies in less than a generation, Gen Xers have been called the most entrepreneurial generation America has ever seen.

Gen Xers want to deploy their strong in-person and social media networking abilities and expect cutting-edge technology in the workplace. Careers that allow them to take control of their lives are highly valued. Rather than viewing entrepreneurship as a Darwinian path to wealth, Gen Xers are embracing Joseph Campbell’s advice: “Do what you love and the money will follow.”

Many of these entrepreneurial Gen Xers may wind up in the insurance field. For example, Guardian expects to increase its sales force by 5 percent, adding over 800 new members to its national distribution team in 80 agencies across the U.S. Life insurance industry experience is not the only desirable background, and the company hopes to fill many of those positions with Gen Xers looking for new opportunities.

For more information, visit http://www.GuardianLife.com.

She thought what if you could hard-boil eggs in a heat-resistant, egg-shaped container that prevented hairline fractures and meant you no longer had to pick and peel eggshells?

Many of us have had that “What if?” moment, but then we need to figure out what comes next. Kaufman decided to submit her “Egg Toss” idea into Edison Nation’s search for top As Seen on TV (ASOTV) product ideas. She didn’t have a CAD drawing or a minute of video; rather, she had a well-explained, well-written description of her egg-making concept.

Edison Nation and its ASOTV partner selected her idea and developed the product into what is now known as Eggies. The popular kitchen gadget is found in retailers nationwide, and to date, more than 1 million Eggies have been sold. Kaufman—listed as an inventor on the patents—splits the royalties with Edison Nation.

If you’ve ever had an “aha” moment like Betsy’s but lacked the knowledge and resources to make your idea a reality, you’re not alone.

In a recent survey, more than 90 percent of respondents believe it is a difficult process to bring an invention to the store shelf. Seventy-five percent cited money and not knowing how as the main reasons they had previously not been able to bring an idea to market, and 81 percent of those surveyed said in the past they’ve had a great idea that they didn’t pursue only to later see it successfully come to market.

This is where inventors’ communities such as Edison Nation come in. “Edison Nation levels the playing field between idea people and real inventors,” said Kaufman.

An inventors’ community can help ordinary people bring their ideas to fruition, and Edison Nation actively seeks these ideas for products that could end up on store shelves. As is the case with Kaufman, if you can describe an idea or simply draw it on a napkin, it may be brought to market through Edison Nation’s capabilities. It costs nothing to join the online community and just $25 to submit an idea to most searches.

The company partners directly with manufacturers and retailers, such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Rawlings Sporting Goods, that have an innovation need.

For example, if Bed Bath & Beyond is looking for new dorm room products, Edison Nation posts criteria for this product search, and its members can submit their ideas to be considered. If an idea is selected for licensing by Bed Bath & Beyond, Edison Nation gives the inventor an advance on future royalties, which will be split 50/50 between the inventor and Edison Nation. The cost of bringing a product to market can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In addition, through the operation of a $25 million innovation fund, Edison Nation is able to develop and license ideas and innovations. Edison Nation handles everything from patenting, prototyping and all steps involved in validating ideas and getting them to the store shelf, all at no additional cost to the inventor.

To date, the company has discovered and developed 35-plus products, including Kaufman’s Eggies and other top sellers such as the Gyro Bowl, Mister Steamy, and Emery Cat Board. Together, these products have sold more than $175 million without any of the inventors taking the risk of cashing in 401(k)s or quitting their jobs to make these dreams come true.

Most recently, Edison Nation partnered with the Boy Scouts of America for an “Innovation Challenge” to inspire young minds to submit creative new product ideas. It also partnered with Daymond John, the sought-after new business consultant known for his role on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and as CEO of FUBU, to present an opportunity for people with innovative product ideas to pursue licensing and commercial success. Finally, Fisher-Price partnered with Edison Nation to find innovative ideas for mechanical dolls, plush and plastic characters with compelling, entertaining and interactive features that will make them the next must-have item.

To learn more about Edison Nation, sign up for a free account or simply to take a look at what product searches are running now, visit http://www.EdisonNation.com.

You already know you should be creating information products for sale

But once you have your information product created — many business owners fail to take the additional step of creating a visually-appealing cover graphic for their product — and by doing so, they are setting themselves up for failure before they even start.

Images sell products.

When your product is delivered digitally, your sales copy is your primary selling tool — but even if that copy is smoking hot — if your cover image looks shoddy, you WILL lose sales.

People DO judge a book by its cover…so why leave this crucial part of the equation to chance?

Don’t let your lack of graphic design experience be the barrier that stands between you and successfully selling your products on your own website, the Amazon marketplace, Scribd.com, and everywhere in between.

Today I ran across a tool that will turn even the most modestly-skilled Photoshop user into a 3D cover creating rockstar. It’s called ProductShot Pro, and it is a collection of over (100) Photoshop Smart Objects that you can use to drag-and-drop your way to a beautifully-designed cover in minutes.

There are NO PLUGINS REQUIRED to use this tool. It is specifically designed to work with Adobe® Photoshop CS4 & CS5 for Windows and Mac.

No Software to Install – No Bulky Scripts or Actions

The designers of ProductShotPro knew we didn’t want to have to install any bulky software or run any complicated plug-ins to make and render our eCovers. They knew from experience that stand-alone software often takes ages to render, and although they knew Photoshop actions were fast, they knew there was a way to make the process even faster. They created ProductShotPro so that all it takes to start using the graphics is Adobe Photoshop CS4 or CS5. Whether you work with a Mac or PC, ProductShotPro graphics will provide you with high quality results and are guaranteed to work perfectly on either system.

All you need is to simply fire up your version of Adobe Photoshop® CS4 or CS5 & ProductShotPro graphics will open up in the workspace allowing you to start designing your eCovers straight away.

Here’s what’s included:

• Over 100 HD product presentation graphics
• Works with Photoshop’s smart-object technology
• Free tech support
• Instant download
• One time payment, no monthly fees

Effortlessly Render Your 2D covers as 3D style Product Shots

ProductShotPro image templates are high resolution, multi-layered smart objects which effortlessly convert your 2D designs into tangible 3D style product shots. They make creating eBook covers and Product box images from your designs as quick as drag & drop.

ProductShotPro eCover generator allows Anyone to…

• Create great-looking DVDs, eBook covers, CDs, Brochures, reports & more.
• Make super realistic mock-ups or comps for all your clients.
• Get your physical or digital books, products & reports to look their best online.
• and even gives your software & eBooks that instant tangibility & professionalism that helps convert visitors into customers

Create eBook covers, Software boxes & more… in seconds

ProductShotPro is now one of the fastest ways to take your 2D Photoshop designs and turn them into beatiful product shots to place on your website or even print outs.

With a high resolution output of up to 300dpi and images reaching up to 3000 x 3000px, Product Shot Pro creates brilliant eBook cover, software boxes & countless more templates which are more than ready for your print and web projects.

Plus, when you purchase and download ProductShotPro Today, you’ll receive a free quick start guide on how to get started with the graphics, and a reference poster so you can pick out the perfect graphic for any particular project.

Click Here to Grab your copy of ProductShotPro today!

We’ve all seen the headlines:

The Fellowes’ Workplace Data Security Report found that 81 percent of full-time business employees have access to paper documents containing sensitive workplace information, yet only 62 percent cite their company as having a data security policy on which employees are trained. Some of those untrained employees may be leaving their companies vulnerable to a security breach, as the survey also reports that nearly a quarter of employees leave sensitive paper documents on top of their desks.

According to the study, full-time office employees may unwittingly contribute to a digital or paper-based security breach by practicing risky behaviors:

• Approximately one in four (26 percent) leave their computers unlocked when away from their desk

• Fifteen percent throw paper documents containing sensitive information in the trash

• Only 60 percent maintain a secure firewall

• Less than half of respondents (44 percent) ensure their mail is safe by sending it through a secure mailbox

“Whether electronic or in paper form, confidential information in the workplace is a hot item for theft, and the methods employed by criminals to obtain this information are constantly evolving,” says John Sileo, an identity theft expert. “With smart prevention measures, you can help your company avoid a costly breach that can lead to personal consequences – like identity theft.”

Having learned a great deal from suffering a security breach within his own business, Sileo is now an award-winning author and international speaker on the topic. He travels the country educating businesses about ways to prevent the crime.

“Data protection can be simple as long as the proper procedures are in place and widely practiced,” continues Sileo. He offers five key pieces of advice when speaking with business employees:

• Lock your office when you leave for the day to prevent anyone accessing it after hours.

• Ensure your computer is locked with a secure password containing a unique combination of letters and numbers.

• Ask your IT department to check that your firewall is secure and up to date.

• Don’t leave paper documents on your desk or in common printing areas and store important documents in a locked filing cabinet.

• Shred unneeded documents with a Cross-Cut shredder, like Fellowes’ 79Ci.

According to Sileo, a shredder with Cross-Cut technology is vital to ensuring documents are properly destroyed. The 79Ci from Fellowes also offers 100 percent Jam Proof technology to help make shredding jobs easy and productive.

They certainly have.

Are blogs important for your business?
Blogs provide business owners with unprecedented ways of reaching and engaging with large audiences in a way that the traditional one-way information push of a company Web site could never do. Not only this, but blogs can help put a human face to your business while showcasing your knowledge and passion for your chosen field. For example, restaurant owners can share recipe secrets.

Just about anyone from a landscaping business to an IT security company can share tips of the trade that connect them with their customer base. And unlike the static content of a business Web site, blogs are collaborative and invite comment – a great way to engage with and solicit feedback from your customers!

Blogs can even be lead generating. I read and monitor blogs religiously and have nurtured leads and networked with businesses that I would not have known existed, had it not been for the viral marketing effect generated by their blogs. Of course, if you are thinking of starting a blog you need to have an underlying strategy in place to ensure it is a success.

Here are four things to consider before you enter the blogosphere:

Identify a Purpose, Goal and Intention for your Blog
While you obviously want to promote your business, don’t be over-promotional in your blog content strategy. Decide early on what you want to accomplish with your blog – and this should drive your content.

Most blogs are typically centered on positioning businesses or business owners as thought leaders in their space or for sharing information and tips that readers find useful.

Once you have defined your goal, be sure to adhere to it. Consider publishing your blog objective on your blog home page. For example, the objective of a hypothetical company – JJ’s Landscaping Services – might be to provide tips that help consumers maintain a thriving garden in all seasons, which could be summarized and published as: The Better Garden Blog Tips and Tools from our team of experts to keep your garden looking its best year round!

Getting Started – Blog Software
Once you have decided to start blogging, you will need to consider the software options available for hosting your blog. Many social media experts advise businesses to be wary of some of the free blog tools available, since their basic features don’t offer integration with existing business Web domains or allow for brand customization.

Truth be told, however, if you are just getting started with a blog, free blogging software can be a cost-effective and easy solution for many small businesses. If your blog does take off down the road, you might want to consider migrating to blog software that is installed on your domain and integrated with your Web site. And don’t forget to devise a communication plan to let your readers know that you are moving hosts.

Commit to Blogging Regularly and with Relevance
There are two tell tale signs that a blog has lost its way – no posts for two weeks or more, and content that has veered off course. Neither will give a favorable impression of your company.

If you can’t commit to posting at least 2-3 times a week, then blogging is not going to work for your business. And this is something to consider before you even start your blog. A good way to keep posts regular is to share duties with others. This also adds a diversity of voices. Having an editorial calendar can also keep you on track. Written in advance (for the coming month or quarter), an editorial calendar should include not just the working title of upcoming posts, but a summary of the objective of each post too.

Also include hyperlinks to other resources that can help you craft your post quickly and efficiently when it comes time to write. Don’t forget to include placeholders for topical posts that spring up at the last minute. For example, in the case of our hypothetical company – JJ’s Landscaping Services – topical posts that address current issues such as protracted weather conditions can keep your blog relevant and compelling.

Develop a Plan to Generate Traffic to your Blog
Last, but by no means least, generating traffic to your blog is critical. The trouble is, many bloggers either do nothing to leverage the tactics available to them, or they go overboard and saturate their blog pages with links and social media icons to drive inbound traffic.

There are many traditional and non-traditional ways to drive traffic to your blog – from ensuring you have RSS feeds built in to adding a link to your blog from other customer touch points such as your email signature and main business Web site.

Some Quick Facts:

• Fewer than half of Americans have calculated how much they need to save for retirement.
• In 2009, 13 percent of private industry workers with access to a defined contribution plan (such as a 401(k) plan) did not participate.
• The average American spends 20 years in retirement.

Start saving, keep saving, and stick to your goals
If you are already saving, whether for retirement or another goal, keep going! You know that saving is a rewarding habit. If you’re not saving, it’s time to get started. Start small if you have to and try to increase the amount you save each month. The sooner you start saving, the more time your money has to grow (see the chart below). Make saving for retirement a priority. Devise a plan, stick to it, and set goals. Remember, it’s never too early or too late to start saving.

Know your retirement needs
Retirement is expensive. Experts estimate that you will need about 70 percent of your pre-retirement income – lower earners, 90 percent or more – to maintain your standard of living when you stop working. Take charge of your financial future. The key to a secure retirement is to plan ahead.

Contribute to your employer’s retirement savings plan
If your employer offers a retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k) plan, sign up and contribute all you can. Your taxes will be lower, your company may kick in more, and automatic deductions make it easy. Over time, compound interest and tax deferrals make a big difference in the amount you will accumulate. Find out about your plan. For example, how much would you need to contribute to get the full employer contribution and how long would you need to stay in the plan to get that money.

Learn about your employer’s pension plan
If your employer has a traditional pension plan, check to see if you are covered by the plan and understand how it works. Ask for an individual benefit statement to see what your benefit is worth. Before you change jobs, find out what will happen to your pension benefit. Learn what benefits you may have from a previous employer. Find out if you will be entitled to benefits from your spouse’s plan. For more information, request What You Should Know about Your Retirement Plan. (See below for more information.)

Consider basic investment principles
How you save can be as important as how much you save. Inflation and the type of investments you make play important roles in how much you’ll have saved at retirement. Know how your savings or pension plan is invested. Learn about your plan’s investment options and ask questions. Put your savings in different types of investments. By diversifying this way, you are more likely to reduce risk and improve return. Your investment mix may change over time depending on a number of factors such as your age, goals, and financial circumstances. Financial security and knowledge go hand in hand.

Don’t touch your retirement savings
If you withdraw your retirement savings now, you’ll lose principal and interest and you may lose tax benefits or have to pay withdrawal penalties. If you change jobs, leave your savings invested in your current retirement plan, or roll them over to an IRA or your new employer’s plan.

Ask your employer to start a plan
If your employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan, suggest that it start one. There are a number of retirement saving plan options available. Your employer may be able to set up a simplified plan that can help both you and your employer. For more information, request a copy of Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business.

Put money into an Individual Retirement Account
You can put up to $5,000 a year into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA); you can contribute even more if you are 50 or older. You can also start with much less. IRAs also provide tax advantages.

When you open an IRA, you have two options – a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. The tax treatment of your contributions and withdrawals will depend on which option you select. Also, the after-tax value of your withdrawal will depend on inflation and the type of IRA you choose. IRAs can provide an easy way to save. You can set it up so that an amount is automatically deducted from your checking or savings account and deposited in the IRA.

Find out about your Social Security benefits
Social Security pays benefits that are on average equal to about 40 percent of what you earned before retirement. You should receive a Social Security Statement each year that gives you an estimate of how much your benefit will be and when you can receive it. For more information, visit the Social Security Administration’s Web site or call 1.800.772.1213.

Ask Questions
While these tips are meant to point you in the right direction, you’ll need more information. Read our publications listed below. Talk to your employer, your bank, your union, or a financial adviser. Ask questions and make sure you understand the answers. Get practical advice and act now.