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Social Improve Travel Blog

Social Improve is a travel blog with a twist. Read about personal experiences all over the world with advice on how I work to improve myself in the digital and offline world. The aim is to become socially productive and happy anywhere in the world! Find out more.

Human Trafficking infographic

The Importance of international businessmen to support charities

By on November 25, 2012 in Articles

We think slavery is gone. We abolished it hundreds of years ago, yet did you know it still exists today. Indeed it does, but in a different form; human trafficking. Human trafficking is the third leading criminal activity that is profitable other than the illegal sale of drugs and firearms.

It is a crime that we can no longer overlook. On average 2.5 million people are trafficked each and every year for the purpose of sexual services or free labor. It is a horrible crime that should not be happening, period. There is no excuse for it and it must be stopped now. We all need to help to end this. You can help, we all can by getting involved and fighting for this cause. And, the people that can help greatly to end this crime is businessmen.

The Business to end Human Trafficking

Businessmen are a key to ending human trafficking. If we enlist businesses to help fight human trafficking we can educate each and everyone about this horrific atrocity. Someone starts a business to make money and to give a product or service to the world. Human trafficking is the exact opposite.

It is an illegitimate business that hurts the economy in more ways than one, and also destroys lives. It can hurt the economy because it steals every day people from going to work and doing their jobs. It destroys lives because human trafficking takes people and makes them slaves. They have no hope for escape or prosper of a future. It is something we and businesses alike must take action against now.

Charities and Actions are our only hope

How do businesses take action into stopping human trafficking? By first recognizing that human trafficking is indeed a serious issue and then putting forth ideas to combat this offense. Businesses must first be educated in the human trafficking. They must be knowledgeable of these crimes.

Once they fully understand what human trafficking means businesses can sign on to the Athens Ethical Principle. In the principle it states we as humans and businesses recognize human trafficking is wrong and is a form of exploitation. That we will work together publicly and privately to end this crime and we will work together on a international forefront.

So how can businesses truly stop human trafficking? Businesses can help end human trafficking just by donating. Heck, we can all help by donating to end this crime. Small donations are important, but to end this battle we need larger donations from businesses. Famous anti-human-trafficking individuals like Taher Helmy are dedicating their entire lives to this cause - we can do the same.

And once they understand how important it is to stop human trafficking donating money to this cause will be all the more dear to their heart. We can do this my friends, we can end human trafficking. We can do it with everyone’s help, with the help of all we can stop it now.

End Human Trafficking!

Human trafficking is something we have to stop now. It cannot wait to be figured out someday. This is frightening and real subject that may seem scary to face but we must realize that it is truly happening out there every day.

Human Trafficking infographic

We as human beings need to recognize that other fellow human beings out there are being sold, being traded, being forced to do things no one should be forced to do. We have to stop human trafficking, we must fight, and help, and donate. We must give it our all, because if this atrocity were happening to us, wouldn’t we want someone to fight and give help for us too?

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PrintRunner – for Printing in the Digital Age

By on November 11, 2012 in Online

The online world has created a whole new industry in the category of reading: eBooks, Kindle, Nexus, and others are all starting to become strong competitors to the traditional books which are still being sold in the millions daily by companies like Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

If you’re looking for printing needs, you don’t actually have to be an offline person to find something. You can go online and find great websites to buy your paper supplies and order printing from them.

These days, instead of offline supplies running out of popular demand, it is easier than ever before to get and collect offline items like paper from online sources. With every purchase only a click away, paper is actually surviving and thriving in many areas. Paper consumption is expected to reach its highest point in over 5 years this holiday season.

There are many websites out there which give you a ton of home and office supplies, including paper supplies. One of the more famous ones and in the top 10 list is PrintRunner.

PrintRunner

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Is Selling Digital Documents the New Emerging Trend?

By on June 10, 2012 in Guest Posts

People are never satisfied with how much they make. Like death and taxes, that seems to be another certainty. Ask anyone if they think they should be paid more. The answer will surely be a resounding “yes”, and the reason why career building services appear to be the fastest growing companies.

So, what if you could make your day job work for you?

With the growing innovations on the Internet, it has become easier and easier to monetize aspects of one’s life that would have otherwise been completely “worthless.” Let’s take Craigslist and eBay, as a couple examples. With these sites, millions have been able to sell their junk that would’ve otherwise ended up in the junkyard.

People make full time salaries now selling old stuff on eBay. Boxes collecting dust in the attic turn into cash collecting interest in the bank. With Airbnb, people can even monetize their family room couch. (more…)

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Twitter Stickers for Business

4 Good Productivity Tools For Smart Twitter Use

By on May 4, 2012 in How to

Want to know what you can get out of social media? It’s very simple, you get – what you put into it. If you put the time and energy required to make it succeed for you, then it will. If not, it won’t. However there are plenty of smart and free (or low cost) tools on the web which facilitate good productivity from Twitter.

If you wish to free up time to write, advertise, guest blog or promote your site on the web, then you might be interested in automating certain aspects of Twitter such as blog post site updates, status updates and so on. Or maybe you’re interested in managing several Twitter accounts all under one centralized roof. If that’s the case, then a solution that manages multiple accounts is what you’ll be on the lookout for.

With that in mind, we wanted to showcase and discuss a few good and free or low cost productivity tools for smart Twitter use. See our top picks below.

1. Twitter WordPress Plugins

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Organize PDF files with Evernote

Organize PDF Files with Evernote

By on May 1, 2012 in Tips

With so much data being processed by all of us (human beings) daily, our online lives are full of different kinds of information.

In today’s world, almost everything and everyone is going paperless. Or at least headed in that direction. Evernote helps with that goal: becoming completely digital.

Email accounts. Images. Saved pages. Bookmarks. Facebook messages. Tweets. Blog comments. Online accounts. Digital files. Photos. And more.

There are so many things we do online, we have a more massive amount of online information to remember on a regular basis than what we have to remember offline.

Evernote is simply the best life information organization tool and service out there, allowing you (and me) to manage all those digital pieces of information, and other things, more reliably and all in one place.

PDF files are one of the many things you can store and work with, awesomely, in Evernote. With Evernote, you can store all your PDF files in the cloud, and have instant access to them on any online device.

Let’s go through some of the things you can store as PDF files in Evernote, and see why Evernote excels at handling all your PDF files. (more…)

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Google Drive has officially launched!

Google Drive is Here! The Full Specs

By on April 24, 2012 in Reviews

After several years of rumors, Google Drive is finally here.

Google Drive is an upgrade and complete replacement of Google Docs, designed to help you store any of your files and folders online.

In addition to that, you can share your files and folders publicly or private. You can also collaborate with others on such shared files.

Some people say Google Drive is the Dropbox killer, while others say that it has arrived too late to the scene.

To help you decide whether Google Drive is for you, let’s go through the details and full feature list of Google Drive.

Whether or not Google Drive can fight Dropbox or other services successfully, one thing is for sure: Google Drive has entered the online storage market, and it’s going to stick around for a long time. (more…)

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5 Instagram Alternatives for Android

5 Instagram Alternatives for Android

By on April 20, 2012 in Reviews

Everyone is talking about Instagram these days. It’s the #1 free photo app on Android and iPhone that’s gaining more downloads every day than probably any other photo app in history.

Is it the only Photo App, though? No, it’s not. On Android, there have been dozens of alternatives.

You should have choices, so that you can figure out on your own what works for you, and why. While Instagram is cool, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that other apps have.

Instagram also does not have the simplicity of many other Android photo apps.

Here are 5 popular alternatives to Instagram that Android users have loved since way before Instagram ever thought of coming to Android.

Unlike Instagram, none of these apps collect any personal data from you. None of these apps require any registration or your email address, or name, from you either. (more…)

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Ashley Barron - The Priyas @dcPriya - Interview

Ashley Barron Interview – The Priyas

By on April 18, 2012 in Interviews

Almost everyone blogging or tweeting online thinks a lot before hitting the submit/tweet button. You probably do the same.

You are sharing a message and also showing your personality to the entire online world. You have to make sure you succeed with each try.

“Do my sentences look good? Am I clear in my message? Am I forgetting anything? Did I talk too much? Do I sound convincing?“

You want your writing to bring satisfaction to your life, both online and offline. We have a special treat today to help you with that.

One of the best things to do to thrive in the world of writing and blogging online is to learn from others who are good at tweeting, writing and blogging.

Ashley Barron is one such popular person, and we are lucky to present to you an exclusive interview we did of Ashley.

She is one of the most active Networkers on Twitter and many other platforms today. In addition to being a full-time writer and author, she also blogs, networks with other bloggers, and is writing another book which you will be able to find in bookstores soon. (tweet this)

Ashley Barron - Author and Blogger

Ashley Barron Bio

The interview covers many important topics like writing your first draft, the declining market of offline literary agents, self-publishing your book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, mastering your writing, blogging online, networking online via social media and with other writers, and more.

If you’re looking for writing or blogging advice from someone who writes and networks every day, this interview is for you. (more…)

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Pinterest - is it gold, or just another hype?

Is Pinterest the Next Big Thing, or Just Another Hype?

By on April 16, 2012 in Questions

Pinterest is the most talked about social network today, along with (or after) Instagram and Facebook of course.

With more and more people jumping onto Pinterest, I start wondering about a very important thing.

Is Pinterest the next big gold, or is it just another hype?

Will everyone keep using Pinterest and make it last for a long time, like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook are thriving right now?

Or is it just another hype for 2011 and 2012, destined to fade away or become less important by 2013 like the dozens of other social networks popping up every month?

Let’s go through some of the great points of Pinterest, and some of the not so great qualities of Pinterest, that I think affect you, me and everyone else who uses Pinterest in any manner.

Yes, let’s!

You can decide in the end whether or not Pinterest will be your next online love for the next several years.

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Voice vs Text Chats - which one do you prefer?

Voice Chats VS Text Chats – Which is Better?

By on April 13, 2012 in Questions

In today’s online world, communication can be everything.

Whether you’re sharing an image on or asking for a Pinterest invite, uploading a photo to Instagram, or checking in on Foursquare, you’re communicating something to the online world.

With the increasing number of people and blogs, it is becoming more important than ever to realize what you prefer, and how to use that preference, in your online communication.

For many people, communicating by writing is the way to go. They prefer the text, and prefer the details and privacy they can accomplish through it.

For many other people, communicating by having voice chats is what they thrive on. They prefer talking and listening, and they prefer the direct offline element it brings to online communication.

Is one format better than the other, though? Do people who voice chat better than people who do not voice chat?

Let’s go through the different benefits of voice chats and text chats to see what you think.

To clarify, by voice chats, I’m referring to any kind of video chat, audio chat, webinar, podcast, or audio file through which someone can hear you talking.

By text chats, I’m referring to any kind of text messages, e-mails, chat messages, or any text writing in which someone reads what you wrote. (more…)

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Foursquare - worth using? or worth avoiding?

Is Foursquare Worth Using?

By on April 10, 2012 in Questions

Foursquare is the small behemoth that stood against the big champions like BrightKite and Facebook, and so far has kind of won. BrightKite is no more due to incompetent management, and Facebook’s geo-entry called “Facebook Places” has been scaled down to Facebook Locations which you can use while posting stuff and photos.

Foursquare is here to stay for a while, even if major companies shunned it in 2010 and in 2011.

Except Yelp, Foursquare doesn’t have any other noteworthy competitors which have the exact mobile fan base that it does. And Yelp is actually a reviews site, which focuses mainly on reviews and only recently started offering the check-in feature also.

In fact, there’s probably nothing else out there, in 2012 at time of this writing, which has the same user base and focus as Foursquare where the only purpose of the app is to share with others which exact business or location you are at.

Even though it’s 2012, sharing your exact location with others most of the time is still considered a very touchy subject. While the subject tone may never change, users will eventually decide whether or not they will keep using Foursquare.

So the question today is: do YOU think Foursquare is worth using? Here are 4 reasons why I think Foursquare may rock, and 4 reasons why I think Foursquare may not. I do keep using Foursquare at the moment, by the way. (more…)

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Pinterest Invites - Social Improve Giveaway

Pinterest Invites

By on April 3, 2012 in Goodies

If you don’t know what Pinterest is, you’re missing out on the current big craze in the social media world.

Forget Facebook for the time being: everyone knows about that. Everyone is not talking about Facebook, though. Almost everyone IS talking about Pinterest.

Pinterest is the new social media sharing service which allows you to share images and videos in the form of pins which interest you or which can be of interest to others. Pinterest allows you to pin your life, or other people’s lives and work, for others to see. Pinterest is basically an awesome upgrade and the next version of Tumblr, without any of the porn or other annoying side effects.

That’s a good summary of the service. What makes the service stand out is that it’s very beautiful interface, and visually attractive profiles.

Pinterest is currently in an invite only mode, and everyone is on the lookout for an invite. Social Improve recently got an invite thanks to Janet and Clarence, so I decided to spread the love and offer invites to anyone who wants one. Tweet this

Get Your Pinterest Invite Now

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Avoid writers block by talking about writers block

How to Never Run Out of Blog Topics

By on March 27, 2012 in How to

There is a very easy way to avoid or get over writer’s block every time it happens.

Writer’s block, including the blogging version of it called blogger’s block, happens to people every minute of the day. It has probably happened to you many times too.

Running out of blog topics is not a new concept. Every time someone runs into a writer’s block, the usual reaction is to consider it a defeat and to try to run away from the block while feeling disappointed.

The feeling of thinking that one does not know what to think is more harmful than the concept of writer’s block itself.

You’ll run into people having writer’s or blogger’s block daily, because of not knowing what to write about, on sites like Twitter and Facebook.

While it may seem that there is no good topic you can think about at such times, think of this: you had the energy to write words to share your feelings about not being able to write.

How could that happen when you were having a writer’s block?

Why not always, when you have a blogger’s or writer’s block, turn your full energy and attention to the topic of the writer’s block itself?
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Use DMCA to Protect Your Copyright

How to Protect Your Copyright with DMCA

By on February 4, 2012 in How to

One of the ways of having happiness in your online life is to know how to deal with people copying your work and using it without your permission. If you post a lot of things online, one day people will start noticing and start using your own without your permission.

Such events of other people copying and using your online work, without your permission, can make you upset or even affect your daily life. This is specially true if you do a lot of online things, like blogging, posting to Flickr, and so on.

There is an easy way to take care of such things, so that you can continue being more optimal. Simply file a DMCA notice with the company that hosts your work without your permission. This will allow you to try and protect your copyright.

You send a DMCA Notice, often called a Copyright Notice or Copyright Violations Notice, to the hosts of the websites where your work is being used or shown without your permission.

This will also allow you to simply keep doing what you want to do, without having to pause your focus or passion of writing online.

Let’s go through DMCA a little bit to help you get your DMCA skills up to date. Some real DMCA letters are also included below, that you are allowed to use for your own DMCA pursuits.

Jump to: What is DMCA? | Godaddy DMCA | HostMonster DMCA | Limestone Networks DMCA | Host Ignoring Your DMCA Notice? | Person Copying Your Work Replies Back with Non-Compliance? | Protect Copyright without Stress | Are You Protecting Your Copyright?

What is a DMCA Notice?

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Can You Profit From a Digital Will?

By on February 1, 2012 in Questions

Have you thought about your online assets? What will you leave behind in your digital world, should you die?

An asset is something of value that a person owns. There are different categories of assets, such as tangible, intangible and digital. Yes, digital was added to the asset list.

Tangibles can be anything from houses to bank accounts, even family photos. Intangibles are things like copyrights, patents, and everything else that is not physical, or that ‘brands’ you or your company.

Digital Assets

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