$3 Million in 6 Months With Adsense!

 The Power Play Interviews: Markus Frind - $3 Million in 6 Months

This is the first in a series of Internet Success Stories that you will begin to see on the Power Play Blog. Hope you enjoy them!

Markus Frind, the creator of Plentyoffish.com, is a success story worth noting, as he has managed to take a niche formerly ruled by giant corporations and give it his own brand of marketing savvy. A case of David vs. Goliath, where the little guy comes out on top in the end. Markus is the top "individual" AdSense publisher in terms of page views. Let's find out what some of his secrets are as he shares some advice with our readers. Feel free to comment!

Markus, what is your experience in computer programming, and how did it prepare you for becoming a webmaster?

The average page views a day is around 14 million for the last week. I'm getting another 80 million page views a day from users polling the site to see if they have new messages. Really intensive bandwidth-wise!

When I go to your website, I notice that the ads are targeted to my region, yet I have not even registered- can you explain to our readers how you accomplish this feat?

I'm just using ip2location.com- Basically, I take your IP, look it up in the database, and it tells me what your city is. I then bring up a list of users in your city, nothing magical about it at all.

Are most of your visitors coming primarily from search engines (SERPs), or are you finding that they come from other avenues? Do you actively advertise in the media?

Search engines account for something like 2% of my traffic. The vast majority of my traffic, like any other site with over 5 million page views a day, comes from word of mouth and repeat visitors.

The services on your site seem to be offered at no cost to the registrants. Is there some advantage you have over your competitors that allows you to do this?

I've developed new algorithms that allow me to create a mega site for next to no cost. Several years ago, I created an algorithm that was thousands of times faster than the algorithm used in the 1990s to find a string of 22 prime numbers. At the time, a professor used several supercomputers and hundreds of regular computers over the course of several years to find a record. I did the same thing on 1 computer in 2 weeks.

Fascinating! Are there any other sites you currently maintain, or is PlentyOfFish.com the only one?

It's the only site at the moment. I've got a few other sites I registered for friends so they could learn to do marketing/affiliate stuff. At this point, I think 1 site is enough.

Any tips for those looking to create a profitable endeavour on the internet?

If someone else thinks what you are doing is a cool idea, I'd say it isn't... Find something no one else thinks is important and build up a site with big traffic in that area. Also, keep in mind, sites that have low monetisation today but have traffic may be the gold mines of tomorrow. In the internet world, anything and everything will be monetised at some point, and traffic is king.

Traffic is King – very wise advice, Markus. One last question – how do you find the time to maintain such a large commodity on the internet? Surely you must have some other interests in life besides programming and website monitoring?

It only takes an hour a day on average, but it's very tiring work. I spend the other couple of hours reading and seeing what is going on.

A Concise Guide To MICR And Associated Technologies

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) was developed to utilize the benefits of computer technology in the banking industry. Before the use of a MICR line, checking sorting by account number was a manual process. Two systems were previously used to handle the large numbers of checks processed in the banking industry: Sort-A-Matic and Top Tab Key Sort.

The Sort-A-Matic system included 100 metal or leather dividers numbered 00 through 99. Each check was placed in the correct...

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) was developed to utilize the benefits of computer technology in the banking industry. Before the use of a MICR line, checking sorting by account number was a manual process. Two systems were previously used to handle the large numbers of checks processed in the banking industry: Sort-A-Matic and Top Tab Key Sort.

The Sort-A-Matic system included 100 metal or leather dividers numbered 00 through 99. Each check was placed in the corresponding divider by the first two numbers of the account. The sorting process was then repeated for the next two digits of the account number, and so on. When the process was complete, the checks were grouped by account number.

Under the Top Tab Key Sort system, small holes punched at the top of the checks indicated the digits. For instance, the first hole indicated the value of the first digit (0, 1, 2, 3...) A metal "key" was inserted through the holes to separate all of the checks with the same value in the first digit, and this step was repeated for each digit until all the checks were sorted.

Both of these systems worked, but they were time-consuming. With the advent of the computer and its movement from the laboratory into the business world, a sorting and matching task seemed ideal. Stanford University and Bank of America were the first to successfully use computers to sort and match checks. They developed what is now known as MICR. 

The Development of the MICR Font 

The MICR font was developed by Stanford University in conjunction with Bank of America and approved by the American Banking Association. The font is known as the E-13B font. E-13B has a total of 14 characters: ten specially designed numbers (0 through 9) and four special symbols (Transit, Amount, On-Us, and Dash). 

The letter E indicates the fifth version considered. The letter B indicates the second revision of that version. The number 13 is derived from the 0.013-inch module construction used for stroke and character width. This means that all character widths, both horizontal and vertical, are in multiples of 0.013 inches, ranging from 0.052 to 0.091. The significance of this will be explained more thoroughly later in this article.

MICR Readers 

Three types of machines are used to read MICR characters. The two that read the characters magnetically are referred to as MICR readers. The third machine is an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) reader.

E-13B characters are printed with toner containing iron oxide, which is capable of being magnetized. MICR readers transport the checks containing the E-13B magnetic characters past a magnet, thereby magnetizing the iron oxide particles. The magnetized characters then pass under a magnetic read head. The magnetic field (flux pattern) caused by the magnetized characters generates a current in the read head. The strength and timing of this current allow the reader to decipher the characters. 

Magnetic readers come in two types: single-track (single gap or split scan) and multiple-track (matrix or pattern) readers.

Single-Track Reader Characteristics

Single track uses a read head with one gap to detect the magnetic flux pattern generated by the MICR character. When a magnetized E-13B printed character moves across the narrow gap of the read head, the electric voltage caused by the magnetic flux from the character generates a waveform unique to each character.

Multi-Track Reader Characteristics

The multiple-track reader employs a matrix of tiny, vertically aligned read heads to detect the presence of the magnetic flux pattern. The small individual read heads slice across the character to detect the presence of magnetic flux. This sensing of magnetic flux over time produces a unique matrix pattern for each character.

An OCR reader does not use magnetic properties to detect the E-13B characters. Instead, it uses a scanner to detect the amount of light reflected from the character and the amount of light reflected from the background. A photocell column detects the presence of the dark area of a character.

Waveform Theory 

The readers move and read documents from right to left. The right-hand edge of the character, as a result, is the first to cross the read head. Analysis of the signal level created by reading the character 0 will help explain this in greater detail.

As the character moves from right to left under the read head, the gap detects the magnetism of the first right-hand edge (edge 1). This results in an increase in magnetism, and a positive peak is created (peak 1). As soon as the right-hand edge moves beyond the read head gap, no new magnetism is found, and thus the waveform returns to the zero signal level.

At the second edge, the vertical read head detects a drop in magnetism, which results in a -110 signal level at peak 2. Again, the waveform returns to zero until the next portion of the inner ring of the character is detected. At this point (peak 3), an increase in magnetism (+110) is indicated. Finally, the outer portion of the character is read, resulting in a negative peak (peak 4) of -130. 

The placement of the vertical edges must occur in increments of 0.013 inches from the first right-hand edge. Five characters have two positive and two negative peaks, similar to character 0, and also appear in a positive-negative-positive-negative format. They are 0, 2, 4, 5, and the transit character, which are differentiated from one another by the horizontal location of the peaks in the waveforms. The peaks do require different amplitudes, but ANSI standards allow them to vary from 50% to 200% of the nominal amplitudes (Canadian standards allow them to vary from 80% to 200% of the nominal amplitudes). This is why the placement of the waveform is so important and why the characters are shaped unusually. 

What Affects the Signal Level? 

Signal level can vary based on a number of factors. The amount of iron oxide (concentration) that is present in the character will affect the signal level. This is a function not only of the toner itself, but also of how it is laid on the paper and the pile height, which can be controlled by numerous other cartridge components (i.e., "hot" OPCs).

The taller the vertical edge of the character, the taller the peak (either positive or negative). A vertical edge that is not regular and/or not vertical will result in a reduction in the amplitude of the peak and will flatten the peak out. 

Keys to proper waveform detection are:

* All peaks in a character's waveform must be detected. The reader sorter must know that the peak is there. 

* The peak must be located at or near its anticipated location. 

* No significant "extra" peaks can be present. 

* There cannot be wide variations in the signal levels of peaks within a character. 

What to Look for in MICR Printers and Consumables

Printers that are used for MICR printing must have a unique MICR font that is modified to suit the unique printer engine, and it must be modified to the pixel level to match the magnetic toner provided for that printer. This is essential to ensure the correct waveform, dimension, and signal strength when a check is printed with the correct MICR characters. In addition, the MICR font must meet ABA-X9 standards to ensure acceptance of your checks by banking institutions.

The magnetic MICR toner that you choose must be specifically designed for the particular print engine in the printer. Ensure the toner has been thoroughly tested for consistent signal readings, image permanence, uniformity, and excellent edge acuity. Toner coverage must be solid with no extraneous toner lay down.

OEM cartridges are always a safe (but more expensive) bet. If you buy a "compatible" brand, ensure it has a new OPC drum, new primary charge rollers (PCRs), a new black velvet magnetic sleeve, and new image wiper blades. The hopper system must be filled with high-quality, low-abrasion MICR toner.

The vendor you choose should use the latest and most advanced MICR test equipment, such as a Verifier and Golden Qualifier, to conform to ANSI X9 Standards. It is also recommended that the systems exceed U.S. and Canadian check printing standards.

A Case For Cases. Ipod Cases That Is.

 Have you recently bought an iPod? Or are you on the verge of buying one?

Take a look around next time you're out and about. iPods are becoming as prolific as cellphones. Of course they are! The iPod is such a great gadget! Do you know the first thing you must do after buying an iPod?

You need to protect it! Most people don't. Even though the iPod owner spends as much as $30 - $60 USD on iPod accessories. That's 30 to 60% of the original iPod price.

The majority of people are buying fancy accessories such as FM transmitters, docking stations, and wireless remote kits. Don't get the wrong idea, these are great gadgets, BUT the first accessory you should be buying is protection for your iPod.

Get the basics before getting the fancy goods. iPod skins and cases come in a huge variety of styles and quality. Whatever your style, there is a case for you!

By purchasing a Skin or Case, you'll be protecting your iPod from these common problems:

* Click wheel scratches

* iPod screen scratches.

* Mirrored back scratches.

Despite the superiority of the Apple iPod, it still suffers from some major issues. Being easily scratched and has a short battery life. These issues lower the resale value of an iPod. This may not seem important, but if you want to trade in your older one for a newer one, these things will matter. Aside from that, who wants their own pristine, beautiful iPod all scratched up? Every time you take your iPod out of your pocket, it causes microscopic scratches!

There are many accessories out there, but most do not fulfill the basic needs of your iPod. Protection. You need to protect your iPod before anything else. Make sure you first equip your iPod with a good-quality case, skin, or sleeve.

The most popular iPod cases are as follows:

Cellphone sleeve converted to a case.

This is the most common and is most easily available. Unfortunately, the mirrored backs of the 3G and 4G iPods are easily scratched by the sleeve as they rub against it. If you can afford a 3G or 4G iPod, then you can afford not to go this route. Protect your purchase and buy something specifically for your iPod.

iPod Silicone skin.

This is the most common case today. They come in every shape and size, color and texture. Be aware though there are mass-produced low-quality cases produced in China with questionable materials that tear easily. The cheap silicone skins also pick up dirt and lint easily. You can find better and branded products from the USA or Japan. 

iPod Leather Cases.

iPod leather cases are also extremely popular. Unfortunately, people have reported that the Apple-branded one scratches the mirror back and does not have a cover flap. There are many quality leather case suppliers on the web. Check the stitching on the case for good workmanship. Belkin and Digital Lifestyle are a few that come to mind. 

Water and Shock Resistant Cases.

There is an increasing need for these types of cases due to our active and mobile lifestyles. There are a plethora of cases in this market, but be forewarned that a case can only be water-resistant, not water-proof. Water resistant means it can withstand water splashes, certainly not to be immersed in water, and definitely you would not bring it diving! There are many aluminum cases available that offer superb shock resistance.

With the new knowledge you have, you are now ready to find the case that best fits your needs and, most importantly, your style! Happy case hunting.

A Buyers Guide to Dictaphones and Digital Voice Recorders

 Dictaphones or Digital Voice Recorders (DVRs) are ideal for recording voice memos, interviews, conferences, meetings, and phone conversations. The term Dictaphone is a brand name that refers to the version that uses cassette tapes to record, as opposed to the newer Digital Voice Recorders (DVR) that save the audio to memory.

Digital Voice Recorder (DVR)

• Use your USB port to save typing time by directly transferring audio files from your DVR to your computer 

• With the DVR, there is no need to rewind; when you finish recording, you simply press the play button to playback immediately

• Each audio file you record to your DVR is automatically saved under a number with a time-and-date stamp 

• The DVR usually has between 2 to 5 folders to separate audio for better organization

• Some DVRs allow you to move messages between folders and split or delete messages

• You won’t cause a distraction during meetings or conferences, changing tapes, and you won’t miss anything important whilst doing so

• Some DVRs come with software that automatically converts the voice file to text for easy transcription

• Newer DVRs have expandable memory and come with external memory cards. Look out for this, as it gives you more flexibility with recording time and makes it easier to download audio to your computer

• The DVR is normally powered by 1 or 2 AAA alkaline or rechargeable batteries

Cassette Tape/Dictaphone

• Choose between Mini, Micro, or Standard; Mini cassettes (15min per side) hold half of the content of Standard and Micro (30mins per side)

• Cassette Tape Dictaphones can be played on any player that takes the respective size

• With digital, you only have a limited amount of space to store recordings (if you have no external memory card) - whereas with a cassette tape Dictaphone, you can simply exchange tapes if you run out of room

• Battery life is longer in a Dictaphone than in a Digital Voice Recorder

• A Dictaphone is a cheaper alternative

• There is no digital storage on a Dictaphone cassette tape

• Reuse the cassettes - you can buy a machine that automatically erases micro and mini cassettes

• Many come with equipment specifically for recording phone conversations 

Desktop or Portable Voice Recorder?

Desktop DVRs or Dictaphones are generally cheaper and are ideal for recording phone conversations or are used in conjunction with transcription software. There are numerous models of portable Dictaphones varying in size and ability, but they are all ideal if you are on the road or need a Dictaphone or DVR for times of inspiration.

Push Button or Thumb Slide Recorders?

Push-Button Cassette Recorders usually can insert dictation, but it can be very difficult to find the point you want. With the Thumb slide switch, it is much easier to review and control with rewind review capability, rewind, insert, play, and stop. 

Which Mode?

There are three levels of recording quality and differing recording times. The longer the recording time, the lower the quality.

High Quality (HQ) - 43 mins approx.

Short Play (SP) - 65 mins approx.

Long Play (LP) - 121 mins approx.

Advertisers usually display the longest recording time, so keep in mind that the Dictaphone or DVR will record at less than half of that on high quality. This is particularly important for DVRs, as the higher quality mode uses much more memory, and you don’t want to be halfway through a meeting or interview and find you are out of memory.

There are usually two levels of sensitivity available on a Dictaphone or DVR. LOW is the best for dictation, as the microphone tends to be unidirectional in this mode and will focus on your voice. HIGH sensitivity picks up sound in all directions, along with unwanted background noise.

Dictaphones and Digital Voice Recorders: Other Features to Consider 

• Voice Activate System (VAS) - Dictaphones or DVRs with VAS will automatically record when they hear your voice (or other sound) without having to push any buttons. Great for when your hands are tied up.

• Alarm - to remind you when to record, or a timer that you can set to automatically record between two times

• Tie clip microphone - for hands-free recording

• Earphones - for playback when you do not want to disturb others

• Rechargeable batteries and a battery level indicator

• Microphones can either be built in or detachable. If you want your Dictaphone or DVR for a higher quality of recording, such as music, then look for one with a microphone jack 

• Speakers – most are built in, but some models have detachable speakers that can be used for presentations.

• Digital storage - some come with more than others

• Hands-free or foot control - keep your hands free for typing or playing an instrument

• Automatic backspace - automatically reverse the desired number of seconds for input or playback

Transcribers and Docking Stations

All digital transcription systems require you to use a foot pedal connected to your computer. This enables you to transcribe files from your Dictaphone or DVR from audio to text by listening and typing a few seconds at a time.

Docking stations make it very easy to download the files you have recorded to your computer. Some docking stations also recharge the batteries on your recorder, which is ideal if your Dictaphone is in high use.

10 Web Site Backup Essentials That You Should Live By

 More and more webmasters nowadays do not value the importance of a complete website backup (files and databases). They have left this to chance and good luck, which poses a great risk to their online presence. 

Can you relate to this? Then read this important article, which might save you an arm and a leg later. 

Website backup is the most ignored task of webmasters simply because it poses no immediate threat to them until something worse happens to their hosting server. Many times, this task is set aside, delayed, and even regarded as a nuisance to the busy website owner. 

They just don't realize what is at stake here.

So, before your website is wiped out of the internet by unexpected accidents like server breakdowns, hard disk failures, hacking, and DDOS attacks, among other bad things, let me share with you the 10 Backup E-S-S-E-N-T-I-A-L-S you should not live without online.

EXPECT - Know that your webhosting company (even the biggest and the most boastful out there) may encounter problems and that your diligence to back up will pay off later on. Online computing has never been so unpredictable that the worst of times will happen when you least expect it. With the proper mindset, you are ensuring the continuity of your online endeavour in any eventuality. In short, be ready. 

SCHEDULE - Your backup process should not compete with your busy schedules. Create your own backup schedule at the most convenient time for you in the week. If you're like me, you do this during lunch and dinner times. Sometimes, I have to leave my PC overnight, working on the backups. If you can make it so as not to conflict with your busy schedules, you will be able to keep up with the demands of this job. In short, don't complicate.

STICK with it - Just do it. Patience is key to your backup tasks. Once you have a schedule, stick with it. You must do this diligently every time it happens. This is a tough challenge, especially for busy people working online. But the sooner you discipline yourself and make backing up your files a habit, the more you will benefit from a worry-free online environment. In short, get a good habit.

EVALUATE - After a while, test your backup files. A good backup can be tested by simply restoring it on another system. Evaluating your backup results from time to time is a good way to know that you are keeping what you should keep - a good and working backup. In short, be sure.

NO Complacency - After some time, your backup schedule may slip away, and you will tend to forget or intentionally miss it. Don't succumb to this temptation. Man has never been so busy in his lifetime as he is today in this era of high-tech trends, new developments, and discoveries. In short, don't be lazy to back up.

TRASH - Know which files to keep and not to keep. You need to do this to keep your backup process as short and as efficient as possible. It also saves you valuable resources like hard disk space and backup media. Backup only what you need. Keep out the trash and dump it. In short, don't sweat with the trash. 

INTUITION - Have faith in your backup results. Believe that what you are doing is for your own good later on. Like vitamins that keep your body healthy, backups keep your mind away from stress and worries. A good working backup will make you smile even in the worst of times because you are insured by your patience. In short, believe in good results.

AUTOMATE - Look for alternatives to the traditional backup process that can make your life simpler. There are several technologies and software you can use now to generate the fastest and safest backup files you will need to restore in case of an emergency without you lifting a finger. Automation is king in this lazy man's world. In short, be efficient.

LIBERATE - Free yourself from worries and anxiety of the unexpected. A death sentence that can be prevented will not kill you. So think about what you can do more (like sleeping more at night) than to think about what harm may come. With your own backup systems established, you can retire at night calmly knowing that the next day, if you don't see your websites as they should, you know you can publish them back within the day, even if your web host cannot recover them for you. In short, relax and enjoy life to the max.

SECURITY - Nothing beats the feeling of being secure. This is the reason why the insurance businesses have flourished over the years. But more importantly, your commitment to back up your files will not only save you from stress, humiliation, frustration, anger, and guilt, but also lift your spirit and confidence because you know that at the end of the day, your self-reliance is well worth it. 

And that, my friend, is a great and wonderful feeling.