Web Site Promotion Basics

How to Get Started with Web Promotion

You’ve built your website and want to know how to get started with web promotion. First, have you built your site with search engines in mind? Have you made it easy for spiders to access all pages of your site, and have you made it easy for them to determine the theme of each webpage?

Yes, that’s right, each web page. Search engines like Google look at each web page of your site separately, and not your web site as a whole. It determines the theme of each page in two ways: by your page title which should contain the keyword of the page and be contained in H1 tags, and by the semantic content, or the words you use in the text.

This part of SEO is a totally different subject, and if you are not conversant with how best to optimize your web site in general, and each web page in particular, to be friendly to search engine algorithms, spiders or crawlers, whatever you call them, then you should either rapidly find out, or employ someone to do it for you.

So let’s assume that your website is as optimized for search engines as it is going to be; how do you get started with web promotion? The first step is to get an opt-in form on your home page, and preferably on every page in your site. If you have designed your web site properly, your home page should be a template for every other page, and if you build an opt-in page on your home page, it will be included in every page.

What Is Internet Marketing Exactly?

Most people researching online business opportunities will eventually come to the option of setting up an online Marketing business. When I first researched online and hit upon Internet Marketing as an option, I genuinely had no idea what it was and even still, many of my friends have difficulty grasping the concept. Internet Marketing simply means that you promote products online…. either products which you have created and own yourself, or you promote products on behalf of other vendors.

Why is Online Marketing necessary?

Almost every business nowadays uses the Internet to market their business or service and many businesses are prepared to pay either a fee or a commission to others who are willing to successfully promote their business on the Internet. In Internet Marketing, your customer base can be global or local, depending on your business requirements. But everyone who has a business to advertise or a product to promote needs to do this through Internet Marketing.

What products are promoted and marketed by Internet?

Have you ever researched online for information about something and been offered a product which will help with your problem? Have you ever downloaded a product onto your computer which gives information about anything… maybe how to play better golf, how to lose weight or how to deal with a difficult relationship? These products are called eproducts or ebooks (because they can be electronically downloaded) and have the attraction of being immediately accessible for the customer. While much of the information online is free, some of the downloaded stuff is to be paid for but because it is an online product, it is only through searching online or being directed to the product by a third party that the product can be promoted.

The Function of Online Marketing

The owner or vendor of the product will have taken some time and effort to gather information on a particular topic…. usually from an expert in the area… and will have put together an audio – visual package of information, interviews, and tips on the subject. Because the product is only for sale online, it is vital for the product vendor to make the product known to interested customer and the vendor will pay a commission to any Internet marketer who will create a sale of the product by promoting it in relevant Internet articles, search engines and even on your own website if you have one set up. (Many Internet Marketers set up a website even when they have no product or service to sell personally but they will provide online information and maybe a discussion forum on a particular topic). The function of Internet Marketing is to lead a customer to the sales page of the vendor and if a sale results, the Internet Marketer is paid.

How does Internet Marketing work?

It is possible to promote products for a vendor anywhere in the world and track the resulting sales and to be guaranteed that you will be paid correctly and securely. In order to set up an Internet Marketing business you will need to set up an account with ClickBank. It is free to set up this account and it is in fact, through ClickBank that your online sales will be processed. ClickBank will have your account secure, you will have access to your details and payments at all times and, most importantly, it is ClickBank who will provide you with a unique “hoplink” which will connect you with each product that you promote.

Why Is Internet Marketing so attractive?

Internet marketing is not a get rich quick scheme as it is sometimes promoted. For me, it involved a lot of research even just to understand the concept. After that, you need to research the products you would like to promote… if you are interested or qualified in a particular area, you are already in with a head start. This will be the “niche” that you will promote. Then there is a long process of setting up your product portfolio and deciding how you will promote those products. If you decide to set up a website, then you will own and control your own platform and you will also have the advantage of cost – efficiency and everything in one place so that it will make your marketing more efficient.

Once you have your business set up, however, Internet Marketing will prove to be very exciting, location – friendly and rewarding.

Perpetual Postcard Profits – Review – A Legitimate Home Based Business Opportunity Or Not?

Perpetual Postcard Profits could be considered a multilevel marketing business opportunity, but is it the right legitimate home based business opportunity for you? Here are some points to consider about Perpetual Postcard Profits before making your decision.Point #1: Perpetual Postcard Profits is a very duplicatable home based business opportunity with a large potential market base; those desiring more financial freedom. The initial investment to become involved ranges from $200 – $12,000. Will either of these investment options create perpetual profits? The definition of Perpetual indicates ‘continuing forever’…even Bear Sterns proved that improbable.Point #2: Perpetual Postcard Profits is primarily marketed using postcards and duplicated websites. The websites feature a well spoken, radio-voice-type-personality gentleman welcoming you to the business opportunity and endorsing the program. The postcards are well written and encourage the recipients to take action. These are two very affective ways to market any opportunity. Will they generate profits for you?Point #3: Perpetual Postcard Profits is a legitimate home based business opportunity. However, what type of a return can you expect on your initial entry investment? Yes, as said earlier the potential market base for this opportunity is large, very large, but does Perpetual Postcard Profits provide ‘YOU’ with the opportunity to make a second income or a full-time income?Remember, that the multilevel, network marketing home based business industry is highly competitive with an extremely high attrition rate. The primary reason for the attrition rate is that most people don’t know how to market themselves or their business opportunityI suggest to you the following: Complete your own due diligence on Perpetual Postcard Profits. Ask a lot of questions. The probability of success in any home based business, network marketing business, multilevel marketing business or traditional business is greatly increased if you know how to market! Learn how YOU can effectively brand and market yourself in one or multiple business opportunities. You in turn will become a leader and quickly position yourself as a sizable income earner.

None of the Normal Barriers Exist in a Home Based Business

There are barriers in most fields of employment. Qualifications which are often required such as education, background, experience, age, and other factors are essential for certain jobs. This is not the case with most home based businesses. It is an industry which is irrespective of such limiting requirements. High school students and senior citizens alike may have the ability to be absolutely as successful as their counterparts in their company who are lawyers, doctors, or teachers. They are on an equal footing and have an equal chance of succeeding. Educated or not, old or not, people can succeed if they are willing to work hard and are dedicated to their goals. When working from home, there are none of the normal barriers which exist in seeking a job.So what do you need to do or have to make it with your own home based business?1. Knowledge through study and research
2. Belief in yourself and your business
3. Ability to work well on your own
4. Determine your goals and dreams
5. Commit to your success
6. Be honest and ethical
7. Do whatever it takes within reason
8. Keep at it and do not give up too soonThere are, however, some personal barriers which can hinder progress which start with Not:1. Not being willing to work
2. Not putting forth enough effort
3. Not contacting anyone about your business
4. Not wanting it bad enough
5. Not setting goals
6. Not being Committed
7. Not sticking with it long enoughListening to some home based business gurus would make a person think that it was all fun and games with little work involved. Easy money is often promised with almost no effort expended. Screenshots of huge checks are flashed on your computer. It sounds too good to be true, but you know that some people are making big money in that particular home based business. At least, that’s what you think because the testimonials make it sound so lucrative and simple to do.You’ve heard the term, “Buyer Beware,” which could apply doubly when seeking a home based business. Although there are some legitimate offers to help you earn money from home, there are also many scams being perpetrated. Unsuspecting people with high hopes fall for pie in the sky offers of success and riches.Home based business success is possible for almost anyone and everyone. Many are succeeding by persevering. Winning at anything is much desired, but it is especially gratifying to meet with success after a lot of hard work and dedication which it definitely does require.

Advertising Strategies For Your Home Based Businesses That Can Increase Your Sales Dramatically

Do you have a successful home based business and want to increase your client base? Are you tired of paying high costs for advertising that never end up paying off? Well, here are the best four advertising strategies for your home based businesses that can increase your sales online dramatically!The first advertising strategy you should use when you are looking to advertise your home based business is to look for your target audience. If you are an interior decorator, determine who wants to change up the look of your house. If you have a home based financial firm, see who needs assistance with their finances most often. These target audiences, also called demographics are going to be very important when you go to purchase advertising. The more demographics that your business targets, the more likely you will be able to pay lower advertising costs and see increase in sales.The second advertising strategy you should use when you are looking to advertise your home based business is to determine that type of advertising you can afford. Not many home businesses can afford a billboard next to a major highway. You may want to start off by advertising your business in a local newspaper, or online. Online advertising for home businesses has skyrocketed recently. Due to the ability to target to select demographics, as well as being able to drill down to a local audience, you can make your conversion rates jump right through the roof!The third advertising strategy you can use is to join the home based business opportunity that has created strong business foundation and survived online for number of years. You will likely learn the advertising ways that are workable and proven to be effective. This will save you from spending your budget on advertising that has been proven to not be effective. Sometimes, you may even be able to barter with another home business owner to help you market your own business!The fourth advertising strategy you should use when you are looking to advertise your home based business is to widen you demographics. Sometimes business owners go in too narrow in their targeting of their advertising. It is possible that someone on the fringes of your demographic may be interested in your business. Try changing the targeting of your demographic and see if you are able to increase your sales. You just might be amazed!Whether you use all of these strategies or only some of them, you should see a dramatic increase in the sales. Make sure that you know your target audience, if you do not, you stand to lose out on a large amount of new clients for your home based business. Keeping your business in the black is important, but you need to always put your customer first to ensure that your business will last!

Network Marketing – The Ultimate Home-Based Business

Network Marketing: The Ultimate Home-Based BusinessWhy is Network Marketing considered the Ultimate Home-Based Business? Lets look at a few of the reasons why you and many others are looking to having a home based business as a viable alternative to working for someone else.
You would like the freedom that owning your business would provide.
The J.O.B. or working for someone else has lost its luster.
You have good, creative ideas and plenty of energy yet not much money to invest right now.
You want to spend more time with your family.
Perhaps like many people today, the economic downturn has affected your employment situation and you need to take back control of your income.
Or maybe you just want to take advantage of the tax benefits that are available to those that work out of their home.
Robert Kiyosaki has stated in his books that the first step to creating wealth is to become a business owner. However if freedom is what you are looking for then a owning a business in the conventional sense may not exactly fit your bill. A conventional business brings along with it a list of demands of which the most demanding is employees. Having employees could adversely affect the freedom that you would want owning your business to provide.Owning a conventional business or even a franchise sounds may sound appealing yet you will find it is very similar working for someone else. You may own the company or franchise however in all reality what you have done is create a job for yourself. If you have employees you have the added responsibility of creating work for them also. There goes the luster of owning a conventional business.Starting a franchise or opening a business takes capitol. You may have plenty of energy and creative ideas but do you have enough money to purchase a franchise or have the capitol to keep it going for a year? Most businesses fail within two years because they are under capitalized.The lack of quality family time seems to affect nearly everybody. With commutes getting longer and longer and with many people needing to work two jobs to make ends meet, there seems to be little or no time left for family. Stands to reason why when asked what is important to them, most people answer that the freedom to do what they would like with their time is right up there with work freedom.But the question that lurks in the background is still there: What can I do that will provide a good living, allow me to be my own boss, not take a ton of capitol and also give me time with my family or where ever I am needed.
Let’s look at another situation. Perhaps you have been laid off or have had your position eliminated as the result of the current economic situation. This is truly a disturbing yet all too common situation. You have plenty of time, lots of energy and creative ideas yet little if any income. You realize after the fact that nothing is certain and now you must take control of your career.There is one more reason why people are turning to a Home Based Business; for the many tax advantages. Starting with the fact that a portion of your home is now your office and can be deducted on your income tax and as a business owner all your expenses are deductible. There are too many to go into here so let me just say that if only for this reason, a Home Based Business bears serious consideration.At the top of this article I stated that Network Marketing is the Ultimate Home Based Business. Let’s take a look at my reasons behind that statement.
By becoming a business owner you have taken the first step towards wealth as described by Robert Kiyosaki
Since most people get into Network Marketing at a part time level, you will probably still have your job however you know in your heart that soon you will be able to leave it. That alone will add a spring in your step and a little luster to your work.
It doesn’t take a lot of money to get started and will certainly allow you to use your energy and creativity.
While you may not immediately have the time you want to spend with your family, your goals will ensure that you will and sooner than you think.
You have now taken control of your economic destiny. As a Network Marketer, you are in the distinct position of being able to go as far up as you can imagine. There is no Glass Ceiling and you decide what will be the Top of Your Ladder, not some corporate executive.
Network Marketing while certainly open to everyone, is not necessarily right for everyone. There are some who need the structure of a job, there are some for whom being self-employed creates more anxiety than excitement and there are some who aren’t comfortable dealing with people. There is nothing at all wrong with any of these; it takes every kind of people imaginable to make up this world. However, for those individuals who are looking to own their own business, their own future and genuinely like people Network Marketing is clearly the Ultimate Home Based Business.

The Best New Year’s Resolution for a Small Business Owner!

It is that time of year where everybody pledges to change their lives for the better. Almost everyone in the country waking up on New Year’s Day will have promised that 2012 will finally be the year where they cut down on the bad foods and alcohol and get to the gym more. Unfortunately for most people their New Year Resolutions lie in ruin before the end of January! Why? Because New Year’s Resolution’s always have a habit of pledging huge change to normal everyday life which is unrealistic and unsustainable. These New Year Resolution’s also take place in the world of business. There will be strategy meetings kicking off all over the country in the first week of the year promising all manner of different strategies to become ‘market leading’ or ‘best in class’. But as with our personal resolutions too often these business strategies are too big and too bold to be sustainable with many failing to be truly realised by the end of the year.

As we head into 2012 the economic landscape is still very challenging and if there was any New Year’s Resolution to be made by a small business owner it should be to achieve financial sustainability in 2012. This article is about how accounting software can help small businesses achieve this New Year’s resolution and encourage small businesses to manage their finances to prosperity in 2012.

4 New Year’s Resolutions for any small business owner in 2012.

1) Don’t spend unnecessary time and effort on non-value adding activity

Do not waste time on things that are not going to generate additional profit for your small business. TIME = MONEY and in the current economic climate both items are extremely precious resources. As we approach the end of the financial year do not fall into the trap of taking time out of the business to pull end year reports together. Accounting software can provide a quick, easy and cost effective way of pulling end year reports together professionally without having to spend time out the business. The more time that is spent focussed on growing the greater the chance the business will achieve long term success.

2) Get closer to your company financials

There are many small business owners that are not close enough to the cash flow position of their business. Even if a small business owner is not comfortable looking through pages of financial balance sheets accounting software can enable a small business owner to quickly and easily view the key financial indicators of the business. Short term cash flow problems can have devastating effects on the long term success of an SME. The owners that are closer to the key financials of the business stand a better chance of being ultimately successful.

3) Track and manage income lines into the business

Making sure that all income lines into the business are well-managed is of utmost importance. Companies without meticulous collection processes are at risk of their invoices being paid late if at all. In order to ensure that the lifeblood into the business, revenue, comes in as planned accounting software can organise all invoices and clients making it clear and simple which invoices are due and who is left to pay. This way a small business always keeps the finger on the pulse when it comes to collecting income.

4) Have a tight grip on company expenditure

Every penny counts and making sure that all spends are accounted for is critical to ensuring that the biggest possible margins are realised by any small business. All structured company expenditure should be evaluated to ensure it can’t be consolidated or eradicated entirely whilst supplier rates should always be assessed and managed in line with company profits and scale. Sometimes the most profitable companies are not the ones generating the biggest contracts but the ones with the most controlled expenditure.

Buying accounting software will not categorically guarantee business success but it will enable owners of SME’s to get a lot closer to their business financials to help them make better decisions for their business. It will be the small business that methodically manage their finances that come out of this economic austerity stronger; therefore, whatever your business New Year’s Resolution make sure you go into 2012 with the intention of making your business financially sustainable in these challenging times.

Natural Supplements to Grow Taller Review – Herbal Facts and Marketer’s Claims Review

Why do many consumers take dietary supplements to grow taller? The reasons are varied-many times medically valid, sometimes not. In low or appropriate dosages, some supplements offer health benefits under some circumstances. Some people use supplements with good intention: perhaps in search of protection from or a remedy for health problems such as depression, aging skin, cancer, or arthritis. Still others seek added benefits: perhaps better athletic performance or sexual prowess. Too often, supplement use is based on scientifically unfounded marketing promises. But, some people still claim to undeniable scientific proofs.

It would be great, but boosting your nutrient intake won’t cause your cells to produce extra energy or more brain power. Only three nutrients carbohydrates, fats, and proteins supply energy or calories to grow taller. Vitamins don’t. Although B vitamins do help body cells produce energy from the three energy nutrients, they don’t produce energy themselves. Many powerful drugs and toxic chemicals are plant-based. Varieties of mushrooms can be classified as “culinary delicious” or “deadly dangerous.” In the same vein, herbal supplements should be used with caution! Any healthy natural supplements to grow taller, without proper doctor acknowledgement and governement authority approbation sounds really fishy to me.

Athletes and other physically active people need about the same amount of nutrients as others do to grow taller just more energy, or calories, for the increased demands of exercise. The extra amount of food that active people eat supplies the very small amount of extra vitamins needed to grow taller and have more energy production, too.

Although protein needs are somewhat higher for some athletes, especially for those in strength-training sports, food can easily provide the extra. On another note, physical activity, not extra amino acids (protein), builds muscle. For more on nutrition for athletes and ergogenic aids.

Dietary supplements to grow taller won’t protect you from the harmful effects of smoking or alcohol abuse. Here’s the real scoop: Smoking does increase the body’s need for vitamin C; drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages can interfere with the body’s use of most nutrients. If soil can grow crops, the food produced is nutritious. When soil lacks minerals, plants don’t grow properly and may not produce their potential yield. Growing area does affect a food’s iodine and selenium contents.

Supplements won’t give you instant grow taller results, it would take at least a 2-3 months training for instance. For vitamins and minerals to do their work, they need several hours or several days to interact and do their work in your body. For any benefits from other dietary supplements to grow taller, you likely need to take them even longer. Supplements to grow taller are easy to spot. By law, they must be labeled “dietary supplements.” About eighty thousand dietary supplements are marketed in the United States with multivitamin/mineral supplements being the biggest product category-and with an average of 500 new products launched each year. They’re sold in many forms-for example, tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, powders, and bars.

Do you consume a varied, balanced diet to grow taller? With some exceptions, supplements usually aren’t necessary. If you’re healthy and if you’re able and willing to eat a balanced, varied diet. You probably can get the vitamins and minerals you need from smart food choices. According to national studies, most Americans have enough healthful foods available to do that, yet they may not. Under some circumstances, vitamin/mineral supplements offer benefits and are advised; like those for growing taller.

A woman with heavy menstrual bleeding? You may need an iron supplement to replace iron from blood loss. To enhance absorption, take iron supplements with water or juice on an empty stomach. If nausea or constipation are problems, take iron supplements with food. Absorption may be decreased by as much as 50 percent when taken with a meal or a snack. A woman who’s pregnant or breast-feeding? You need more of some nutrients, especially folate and iron-and perhaps calcium if you don’t consume enough calcium-rich foods. Check the label’s Supplement Facts to make sure you get enough for a healthy pregnancy. Ask about a prenatal vitamin/mineral supplement.

Someone unable or unwilling to regularly consume a healthful diet to grow taller? You likely need a dietary supplement to fill in the nutrient gaps. However, eating smarter would be better if you don’t have food-related health problems! Take a supplement with the advice of a doctor or a registered dietitian. For example, pre-menopausal women who don’t consume enough calcium to grow taller and stronger bones from food likely need a calcium supplement-unless they’re willing to improve their diet. Some babies after age six months, children, and teens may need a fluoride supplement to grow taller and perhaps iron or vitamin D.

If you are not able to meet your calcium and vitamin D recommendations with foods to grow taller, you may need calcium or vitamin D supplements to grow taller. Ask a dietitian or your doctor about the right dosage and type. And enhance their absorption by taking them with food. Only food can provide the mixture of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and other substances for a health quality that can’t be duplicated with dietary supplements to grow taller alone. Fortunately for most Americans growing taller, there’s plenty of quality, quantity, and variety in the food marketplace.

Enjoy plenty of calcium and vitamin D-rich foods. They provide more for bone health calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and overall health than supplements do. And a varied, well-balanced eating plan offers other nutrients that appear to promote bone density, including magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K

Supplements to grow taller carry labeling, showing the amounts of vitamins and minerals in a single dosage. If you already eat a healthful diet, you probably don’t need any more than a low-dose supplement. Taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement, with no more than 100 percent of the Daily Values (DVs) as a safety net, is generally considered safe. Most nutrient supplements are produced in low dosages.

Supplements with water-soluble vitamins or minerals can be risky if taken in excess, over time. For example, taking extra vitamin B6 has been suggested to help relieve premenstrual tension. Yet there’s limited evidence to support large vitamin B6 doses for relief of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Many women have viewed large vitamin B6 doses as harmless, since they are water-soluble. Instead, they may cause irreversible nerve damage when taken in very large doses above the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): 500 to 5,000 mg vitamin B6 per day.

That said, can you overdose on vitamins or minerals naturally as you grow taller with food? That’s highly unlikely. As we mentioned, taking very high doses of dietary supplements or taking too many, too often can be dangerous. The vitamin and mineral content of food is much more balanced fortunately. In amounts normally consumed, even if you enjoy extra helpings, you won’t consume toxic levels of nutrients. So eat a variety of foods-and enjoy! Note: Nutrient amounts to grow taller can add up if you consume a lot of highly fortified foods.

You may take dietary supplements to grow taller for potential health benefits. It’s not uncommon for people diagnosed with cancer, AIDS, or other life-threatening health problems, who are desperate for a cure, to put their hopes and healthcare dollars in alternative treatments, including dietary supplements. However, supplements may offer a false sense of security-and a serious problem if you neglect well-proven approaches to health or delay medical attention.

Drink plenty of fluids with calcium supplements to avoid constipation. The lactose and vitamin D in the milk help to enhance calcium absorption. If you don’t drink milk and want an alternative to calcium pills, consider calcium-fortified juice or soy beverage. One cup of calcium-fortified juice or soy beverage can contain about 300 milligrams of calcium, the same amount as in a cup of milk, and provides vitamin C, folate, and other nutrients. Still, you need a vitamin D source to aid absorption; some calcium-fortified juices and soy beverages are also fortified with vitamin D.

Calcium supplements help to protect against osteoporosis (brittle-bone disease) It can’t make up for your lifestyle choices or poor health habits. Regular weight-bearing physical activity is important to grow taller and obtain healthy bones. For healthy bones, avoid smoking, too.

Vitamin nasal sprays or patches are effective to grow taller? No research evidence says so, even though they’re promoted for faster, more efficient absorption. In fact, they may not be absorbed at all. Here’s the reality check: Fat-soluble vitamins need fat from food to aid absorption. Vitamin C in your intestine aids iron absorption-a problem if vitamin C comes from a spray. Vitamin B12 binds with intrinsic factor made in the stomach during digestion. That cannot happen with a spray or a patch! So that means all the place that try to claim that you could grow taller with that are just scam.

Indeed, herbals and other botanicals have known medicinal qualities helping us grow taller; 30 percent of today’s drugs come from plants. Yet, herbals and other botanical supplements also are sold as dietary supplements rather than regulated as drugs. Like many plant-derived pharmaceuticals, these supplements can offer both positive health benefits and harmful side effects.

On the up side, enough scientific evidence has been collected on a handful of botanical supplements to support their limited use. For example, under a doctor’s guidance, gingko biloba may be used to help treat the symptoms of age-related memory loss and dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease); green tea extract may help reduce cancer risk. A growing body of research evidence is being gathered about their safety and effectiveness, as well as their limitations and dangers.

On the down side, like other supplements to grow taller, herbal and other botanical supplements are regulated differently from pharmaceuticals, which are meant to cure or prevent disease. You aren’t as protected from misleading claims as you might think. When you think about the quality and effectiveness of these grow taller methods; you can see that the marketer’s are absolutely in control of the quality…

According to current law and regulations, herbal and botanical remedies to grow taller and other dietary supplements to grow taller can enter the marketplace without FDA approval. The burden is on the FDA to remove a dangerous dietary supplements to grow taller from the marketplace. Currently dosages of herbal remedies aren’t standardized, so dosages vary among products. Some are even copies of the actual real-product that is made by legitimate herbal company; they put the same product name change what is inside and put the same label. Be very careful, you can look up grow taller 4 smarts free scam alerts to be ahead of scammers.

Although packaging claims can’t say that a supplement to grow taller cures or prevents disease, it may carry claims for its purported health role. Many claims have only limited scientific evidence. Are herbal supplements or botanicals are safe during pregnancy and nursing? There’s not enough scientific evidence yet to recommend safe levels for herbal supplements for pregnant or nursing moms. However, some are known to be harmful to a baby.

How to Detect Drug Abusing Teenagers

The effects of substance abuse in teens are not only individual; they can also be seen on the society. They may face problems at school or college and may involve in criminal activities. It is therefore very important to detect drug abusing teenagers. Drug testing should be conducted on a regular basis at schools and homes to identify and save them from harmful drugs of abuse.

Signs of drug abuse
Identifying certain signs helps you to detect if the kid is addicted to the drugs. Some of the common physical and emotional signs are:

• Change in sleep patterns
• Poor motor coordination
• Poor hygiene and illness including nausea and excessive sweating
• Irregular heartbeat
• Impaired thinking
• Mood swings
• Hyperactivity or overtired
• Depression

Drug abusing teens lose their interest in family activities, often abuse verbally and physically at home or school, and disrespect the family or school. In addition, abrupt decrease in grades, memory and attention loss, and lack of interest and concentration on studies are some of the signs at school. The moment you observe any of the above mentioned signs, you need to immediately check if the kid is abusing drugs. Drug testing is one of the safest and easiest ways to detect the drug abuse among teens.

Types of drug tests
There are different types of methods to detect the teens who are using drugs. Some of the common ones are urine, saliva, hair, and blood tests.

Urine drug test
Of all the types, urine testing is used most commonly as it is inexpensive method used to detect a drug user. You can use urine test kits at home or school to check if the child is addicted to illegal drugs. Quick and accurate results are obtained by these test kits.

Saliva drug test
It is more advantageous as it is relatively non-intrusive. Saliva from the mouth is taken through a swab and is checked for the presence of drugs. Most recent drug abuse can be detected by saliva tests. Conducting saliva test is very easy and also provides accurate and immediate results.

Hair drug test
This method is also non-intrusive. A hair sample of 1.5 inches in length is enough for conducting the test. Drug or its metabolites deposited at the hair shaft are detected by hair tests. You can get very reliable and accurate results by this method.

Blood drug test
You can also use a blood sample of the teen to detect illegal drug usage. It is however expensive and you need to approach laboratory as you cannot conduct it at your home.

Detection periods
The detection period depends on the method of test conducted. These detection periods vary from the type, dosage, and frequency of drug used.

Urine drug test can detect drug or its metabolites for 30 days in frequent users and for 2-3 days in occasional users. The test detects Cocaine for 4-5 days, Heroin for 2-4 days, Methamphetamine for 3-5 days, PCP for 3-7 days, and Codeine for 2-4 days.

A saliva test is mostly used to detect recent drug usage. However, it can also detect drugs consumed 3 days back. Of all the methods, hair drug test has a longer detection period. It detects illegal drug consumption for about 90 days.

What if results are positive?
Once the kid is tested positive by drug test kit, talk to him/her about the result. You can get a confirmatory result through laboratory tests. Communicate with him regularly regarding the effects of drug abuse. Ask him to leave companions or friends who are habituated to drugs. If necessary, send him/her to substance abuse treatment program.

Importance of intervention
Detection and intervention of drug abuse at primitive stages can prevent further damage. Drug intervention is an attempt made by family members or school authorities to help the teen get out of drug abuse or addiction. The main objective of intervention is to make the teen understand the physical and mental destruction caused by drug abuse. If you are not able to speak to the kid on this, you can take help of your friends or relatives. You can also consult specialists who counsel drug abusers and help them get back to their normal life.

Parents and school authorities should always keep an eye on the behavior and activities of the teens. Necessary measures have to be taken in order to prevent them from taking drugs.

Prevent Teen Drug Abuse Using Drug Testing Kits at Home

Teen drug abuse became a serious health problem in United States. It is hurting the healthcare system, burdening the economy, and causing millions of deaths every year. Of the many causes that promote drug abuse among teens, lack of parental supervision is a major one. Teens should be guarded properly by their parents as they are still immature.

Since, early intervention leads to effective prevention of this unhealthy habit, parents should identify drug abusing habits in teens and take preventive measures. Parents can take help of home drug testing kits which are effective and easy to use.

In this article, we will discuss about teens and their vulnerability to drug abuse; how to identify teen drug abuse and how important are drug testing programs at home to prevent teen drug abuse.

Teens – vulnerable to drugs abuse: Many scientific studies have already proved that teenagers are more prone to risk taking and are vulnerable to drug abuse when compared to adults. This typical behavior of teens during adolescence is because of the major changes in parts of the brain that are responsible for functions such as self-control, judgment, planning, organization, and emotions. Since teen brains are not yet fully developed, they cannot take proper decisions and fall victims to unhealthy habits like drug and alcohol abuse.

Signs and symptoms of drug abuse: The primary step towards prevention of drug abuse in teens is to identify their unhealthy habits. Prominent changes, both in their behavior and in physical appearance can be noticed even at the early stages of abuse. Following are the warning signs:

Physical and emotional changes:
• Red eyes
• Finding difficulty to speak
• Sudden fall or rise in weight
• Lack of hygiene and showing less interest in personal grooming
• Aggression and arrogance
• Depression and irritation

Social and behavioral changes:
• Dissociation from old friends and acquiring new social group
• Sudden anger or depression
• Poor attendance and academics at school
• Spending time lonely
• Abnormal odor in breath or clothing
• Pipes, needles and other suspicious substances in their room

Importance of home drug test kits: The moment you see the signs that indicate drug abuse in your teen, it is the time to confirm drug abusing habits using reliable methods. They are useful devices for the parents to confirm these unhealthy habits in teens. They are simple, easy to use, provide instant and accurate results, cost-effective and above all ensure privacy. Some multi-panel drug testing kits can detect multiple drugs of abuse at a shot.

Best drug test methods to implement: When it comes to home drug testing, urine and saliva tests are considered to be the best methods. There are two other methods – blood and hair tests also, but they need special devices and expert supervision, hence are not recommended for home testing.

Urine test can detect the drugs in your teen’s system up to three days after use. If you believe that your teen has taken drugs during the last few days, then this method is effective in offering accurate results. However, it is necessary to check that your teen is not providing fake urine sample which can lead to false results.

Saliva drug testing is an ideal drug test if you suspect that your teen abused drugs on that particular day. These kits can detect drug use up to 48 hours.

Need for random drug testing: If you are conducting drug tests on your teens at regular intervals, following a regular pattern, your teen may notice the pattern and either try to manipulate the sample before the test or stop abusing drugs few days before the test. Hence, practicing random drug tests is always an ideal way to identify the drug use which effectively helps in detecting the drug abuse among your teens. Random testing makes teens say ‘NO’ to drugs as they know that you can conduct drug testing any time at home.

Home drug testing kits can be considered as effective solutions in controlling and preventing drug abuse in your teens. So, make sure that you have some of them at home to test your teen to help him stay away from drugs.