Yes. You can now customize your signature in GMail. This is a feature that I had been waiting for GMail to introduce. There were times when I wanted to introduce my services with a few links to content to my clients on Elance, Guru and oDesk, the freelance sites where I am active. One of those Firefox addons that I used was Wisestamp. The problem with it was if people were accessing mails through their Outlook, Evolution or Mozilla’sThunderbird or other mail clients they were unable to read my custom signatures. Wisestamp displays my latest posts when I added my RSS feed to it.
All you have to do is log into your GMail account (Created an account here if you do not have one) and login. Click on settings tab that you find on your right top hand side. There under the general tab, scroll down and you will find the Signature box. Now you will see a rich text editor. Enter the text like your name, a designation with other contact details. You can format the text, add links and insert images to add more value to your signatures.
Images You cannot add images from your desktop. However you can add images from the web. In case you want to add a logo or a specific picture, I suggest that you upload to your Picasa or Flickr account. Add tags to the image. Copy the link to the image and add it in the Web Address URL box that pops up when you click on the insert image icon. If the image is small and the URL you entered is correct, it shows up almost immediately. Save your settings. Now click on the compose mail link and in your mail composing box, you should be able to see your signature in all its glory. To edit it, you need to go to settings and tweak it.
In case you already have multiple custom addresses, you can create a unique signature for each address.
This is about another addon that is of immense help to those that work with words. I came across this addon a few years ago. But somehow during the ensuring browser crashes and OS hopping and upgrades and updates I missed it. Today I found it again and to my surprise I learned, Hyperwords has a version even for Chrome. Once you install it and restart your Firefox / Chrome you are all ready and set to go.
Hyperwords - an extension for Firefox and Chrome browser
When you are on the net, select any text that you need to learn more about. You will notice a small icon next to the text. Hover your cursor on the Hyperword icon and you are shown a few options. Choose the one that suits you and you are done. You can do a whole lot of things with Hyperwords addon and the text on the web. You can translate, email, share, find meanings and synonyms. It interacts with Facebook and Twitter too.
Carl Shapiro said, “Positive feedback makes the strong grow stronger and the weak grow weaker.”
It is the feedback like this that keeps me going! This is one of the many positive feedback’s that my client’s at oDesk gave me. You can read them here.
A press release is an official statement or an account of a news story that is specially prepared and issued to news media. News media includes print media like news papers and periodicals and electronic media like TV and Radio.
In some parts of the world the Press Release is also known as News Release, Social Media Release or a Press Statement. They are mostly used by Public Relations Offices. A press release is either emailed, faxed, sent by courier or delivered by hand.
A press release while informing the reporters of the news, encourages the media person to write an article.
When is a press release useful ?
A press release is useful when an event is developed into an article.
Let us presume a manufacturing company has a new product to offer. An attractive press release would encourage the press to report it. While a new induction into the board of directors is informed to the public through a press release, the individual also may have press release informing of his or her new status. A budding singer has opportunity and she is cutting / burning a disc. She releases a press release informing of her career launch.
A new film is being launched. There is a press release giving the relevant details of the casting and the technical crew and such. A famous couple have a baby. A press release announces it. There is an accident on the high way. The authorities release a press statement. There is an imminent weather catastrophe. The weather bureau or the concerned department releases a press release. Some one important is ailing and is undergoing treatment. The hospital authorities release a press bulletin periodically. The VIP passes away after a prolonged illness. There is a press release. Your car manufacturer has opened a new service point near your home. They release a press release. All these occasions use a press release.
What are the benefits of a press release?
Recognition: While Joe Bill joins ABC as it’s Global Sales Head may not get the attention of the media an opportunity to interview Joe Bill on Prospects of Global Sales during recession would definitely help the media remember his name.
Web Site Popularity: A press release on your site about current trends encourages media to visit your site and quote you. More publicity.
Become Expert: Joe Bill keeps sending them the press release and they remember his name. There is new trend in business and Joe Bill can always share his opinion and in the process leverage his presence to become the expert on the issue.
Cost Effective: It is much easier for you to release the same copy to many. You need not individualize the content of the press release.
Now that we know what a Press Release is let us move to the next step.
What are the components of a press release?
The components of a great press release are:
Headline — Is the heading of the press release. Generally the font, type and the size is different from the rest of the content of the press release. While attracting the attention of the media person it should also ideally summarize the news content.
Dateline — This contains the date of the release and the name of the city where it is being released.
Introduction — This paragraph addresses the five Ws and the H. They are:
* Who? Who are going to be involved or was involved?
* What? What actually is going to happen or happened (what’s the story)?
* When? When is going to happen or did happen?
* Where? Where did it take place or where is it likely to happen?
* Why and
* How?
Body — The body of the press release elaborates with explanation giving vital data if any with relevant back ground and any other information that may be relevant to the content.
Boilerplate — This small paragraph throws light on the back ground information of the issuing company / organization or individual.. In other words it mentions “about” the company.
Close — It is convention in North America to indicate the close of News Release with the symbol “-30-“.
The “###” symbol also indicates the same. In other parts of the world “ends” at the end of the text indicates the the news is complete.
Contact Information: – The complete address of the Public Relations Office or the Media agent or the sender is given here. This would help the media contact for further information. The complete address is includes phone numbers email ids etc.,
Do‘s:
Always make sure that the press release is addressed to an appropriate person. A bland press release may not bring in the expected results when it is not individually addressed to either a person or the publication or the company. *826 words
