http:// 2013-05-06T05:33:04Z 2013-05-06T05:33:04Z new-australian-aviation-record

Tim Howes, who took his first flight at age 13 years old, has smashed the Australian record for the most number of take offs and landings in a day. He achieved 122 – exceeding the previous record of 102. The record was achieved on Saturday, 4 May at a private air strip near Lismore using an open cockpit ultra-light aircraft called a Drifter. "The day was destined for success from 6:16am, the first take-off time. The conditions were perfect. ‘Lil Popsy’, the aircraft, hummed away all day with no issues, the dogs were angels, and the Friends of the Hound support staff were amazing. We couldn’t have asked for more!" said Tim. Tim dedicated circuit number 103 (the record breaking circuit) to Wayne Fisher who passed away while completing a test flight at Lismore Airport on 24 March 2013. Wayne, “Mr Drifter”, was an extraordinary man and aviator. Wayne was also instrumental in preparing Tim for the record attempt. By breaking this record, Tim also hopes to raise awareness of the plight of Greyhounds and how great they are as pets. As a proud owner of a Greyhound adopted from ‘Friends of the Hound’ six years ago, raising awareness about these dogs is close to Tim’s heart. Friends of the Hound Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer based group whose aim is to promote the breed’s suitability as family pets and companions and raise awareness and educate the public about Greyhound welfare. Money raised from the event will help Friends of the Hound to continue its work to save the lives of Greyhounds. “It is a record that I have wanted to crack for some time now. I also wanted some way of letting people know about Greyhounds as pets. So this was a perfect opportunity to do both”, explained Tim. “Greyhounds are gentle, friendly and really affectionate. They are quiet, great with kids and other animals, and surprisingly lazy,” Tim said. Lisa White, President of Friends of the Hound said, “There are still misconceptions about the breed and we are extremely grateful for Tim’s help in promoting Greyhounds as pets and changing the perception of them as ‘just a racing dog’.” Tim hopes his achievement will help raise funds for Friends of the Hound. For more information or to donate, go to fly.friendsofthehound.org.au. Contacts 0416 194 864 – Lisa White, President, Friends of the Hound Inc. 0401 099 163 – Tim Howes, record breaking pilot enquiries@friendsofthehound.org.aufly.friendsofthehound.org.au facebook.com/friendsofthehound twitter.com/fothrescue   About Friends of the Hound Inc. ·         Non-profit, volunteer based group. ·         Rescue, rehome, and promote greyhounds as pets. ·         Rehomes over 100 greyhounds a year. ·         Aim to raise awareness and educate the public about greyhound welfare and the breed’s suitability as family pets and companions. ·         More than 40 volunteers across NSW and QLD.

2013-04-30T06:36:57Z professional-perth-photographer-warns-don-t-trust-your-cherished-memories-to-an-amateur

Perth, WA, April 30, 2013 - In a recent blog post on his website, Perth photographer Geoff Fisher gave a long, detailed answer to a frequently asked question: “Why should I hire a professional photographer?” Fisher, who has been the owner of Fisher Photography for the past 35 years, holds “Master Photographer” status, awarded by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP). In addition, he has won a Gold Award, and many Silver Awards, and has been named AIPP Western Australian Portrait Photographer of the Year. In the post, Fisher explained some of the pitfalls of hiring an amateur photographer, and described some of the factors that differentiate professional photographers from amateurs. Since the advent of digital cameras, amateur photographers have had access to much better equipment than they used to. Unfortunately, this has inspired many amateur photographers to buy the most expensive camera at their local department store, take a few pictures, and offer their services to friends and acquaintances as photographers. While some of the more expensive digital cameras on the market do, indeed, take great pictures, they are still, by nature, point and click devices. The amateur photographer simply points the camera, waits for it to focus, and snaps a picture. While this can produce the occasional good picture, professionals view the default settings on any camera to be a starting point: not a finishing point. Professional photographers use equipment that is far more expensive and elaborate than the cameras at the local department store. Professional photographers use their own lighting. Their studios are designed to allow for perfect lighting, and their cameras allow for more adjustments. Professionals pay close attention to variables such as angles, exposure time, distance, and different lenses. Professionals undergo extensive training, and then add experience to that training. Fisher, for example, has personally trained everyone in his studio, regardless of their past experience. Professional photographers leave nothing to chance. Their protocols ensure that there’ll be no surprises, such as cameras without batteries, or lights that don’t work. Amateur photographers, even those who mean well, are simply lacking in the equipment and experience to provide a product on the level of a professional photographer. Fisher believes that the risks are too high and the rewards are too low for anyone who needs professional photos to trust them to anyone but a professional photographer. According to Fisher, “Your photographs are extremely important. While amateurs are certainly capable of taking decent photos, they cannot come close to producing the kind of quality your professional photographer can. Professional photographers have years of training and experience, and they have access to equipment that outclasses anything an amateur can buy.” Fisher continued, “We have been taking professional photographs for over 35 years. We have seen every situation, and have taken photographs for all kinds of people. All of this experience has taught us how to consistently uncover the best of anyone’s inner qualities, and allow them to come to the surface to be photographed. When those photographs are taken under controlled conditions with professional equipment, they always turn out perfect.” Fisher concluded, “Professionals have the best training, the best equipment, and the most experience. If you want professional results, hire a professional photographer.”Fisher receives a lot of testimonials; a recent one comes from CJ Halvorson, who is Vice President of Strategic Accounts in Asia, Pacific, and Japan for a major IT Company: “Hi, Geoff: Love the photo and getting great reviews already.” Fisher Photography provides professional photography in Perth and the surrounding area. They offer many services, including portrait photography, family photography, and corporate photography to their Perth area clients. For more information, call (08) 9381 2233 or visit their website: http://fisherphotography.com.au/

2013-04-30T01:09:22Z video-production-firm-shares-tips-for-maximising-online-video-marketing

Perth, WA, April 30, 2013 - Video marketing is rapidly becoming one of the most popular strategies for attracting visitors to business websites. According to generally accepted industry numbers, over 100 million videos are viewed online everyday. In addition, visitors to retail sites with videos stay an average of 2 minutes longer, and industry numbers indicate that videos make a visitor 64% more likely to purchase products from website. Small businesses that include videos in their profiles report 18% more calls, 30% more profile clicks, and 24% more sales.However, simply producing a video and putting it on YouTube is no guarantee of results. Due to the success of video marketing, the competition is fierce, and those who wish to succeed must execute a solid marketing campaign.Tip number one is to always have a plan before producing a video. Every second of every video should have a reason behind it, and be part of an organised, targeted marketing campaign.Tip number two is to have a concrete goal in mind. Video production costs money, and requires time and effort. Having a goal before shooting the video increases the likelihood of a strong ROI.Tip number three is to always provide compelling content for those who will be viewing the video. If the video does not either entertain them or give them the information they were looking for when they clicked on to the video, they will simply abandon the video and go someplace else.Tip number four is to focus on quality over speed or quantity. Your online video is a company’s “best foot forward”. It will often be the viewer’s first impression of a company; a positive impression is a must and a negative impression can lose a potential customer forever.Tip number five is to make sure that the video can be viewed anywhere. If a viewer has to click somewhere else to watch a video, they are likely to not return to the original website.Tip number six is to take advantage of multiple distribution channels. These should at least include a website, email, YouTube, and a Facebook page.Tip number seven is to always leave the viewer wanting more. In the opinion of many Internet marketers, 60 to 90 seconds is the ideal length for a promotional video. In an era of reduced attention span, where people have multiple people, places, and things competing for their attention, they are unlikely to spend longer than 2 minutes watching a promotional video. Also, while it is crucial to give the viewers some of what they want, it is also crucial that the viewer doesn’t get everything they want. If they do, there’s no motivation for them to complete the next desired action, whether it is to purchase a product or join an information list.Tip number eight is to make the video engaging to the desired audience. The more interesting and engaging a video is, the more likely it is for the visitor to stay and watch the entire video, and to move on to the next desired action.Tip number nine is to always include a call to action. If there is no call to action, the viewer usually won’t take the desired action.Video Labs is a video marketing and production company in the Gold Coast and Brisbane areas. They specialise in well-produced campaigns, attention to detail, and great results. For more information or to start a video campaign today, call 1300 881 783 or check out their website: http://videolabs.com.au/

2013-04-23T01:55:16Z four-death-moves-guaranteed-to-sabotage-your-video-marketing-campaign

Perth, WA, April 23, 2013 - Due to changes in Google’s algorithm, video marketing has become a very important part of most serious Internet marketing campaigns. Videos, if promoted correctly, can not only be seen by thousands, but can also help vault a website to page one of Google for very competitive keywords.  This has led to a virtual flood of videos on sites like YouTube, with mixed results. Sometimes the most professionally produced video fails with a resounding thud, while a teenager’s smartphone video of a friend doing something stupid can go viral and get a million views overnight.  While nobody can guarantee with 100% certainty that a video will or will not be successful, savvy video marketers have noticed a pattern in what does and doesn’t work. In particular, knowing the worst mistakes to avoid can save any company, large or small, a lot of time and effort, and produce much better results. The first common error is often called “set it and forget it.” Many marketers think that they can simply put a video up on YouTube, and it will automatically be seen by thousands of viewers. In reality, very few YouTube videos are ever seen by as many as 1,000 people without a lot of help. The second common error is thinking that one video makes an entire marketing campaign. One video can be seen by thousands of people, but forgotten the next day. Statistics, surveys, and anecdotal data all agree that it takes a series of videos to be successful. The third common error is making a video advertisement instead of a video that provides great information, great entertainment, or both. People go to websites or videos for information or entertainment. They do not go to be bombarded by commercials. If a video looks like a commercial, the viewer will not finish watching it. The fourth error is to not have a plan or strategy. Human development gurus communicate this concept thusly: ”If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Michael Hanson, Owner  and Founder of Video Labs, a video production company in the Gold Coast, has extensive experience in helping businesses not only avoid these strategic errors, but in mitigating the damage done to a business by faulty video marketing strategy. According to Hanson: “These errors are really easy to avoid, because they are merely errors of omission: not errors of commission.” Michael went on to describe his deceptively simple system for maximising the results of a video campaign: “First, you must have a marketing strategy. It does no good to throw a bunch of videos around with no concrete plan. You might as well save the time, money, and effort, and watch videos with your kids instead. Second, your plan must feature repetition and consistency. One video is not enough; you must have serial content to make a serious dent in the market.” He continued, “The last thing you must always remember is that you must make a video that is worth watching. Obviously your agenda is to move your product. Unfortunately, the viewer’s agenda is to obtain great information or be entertained. If you fail to do at least one of these, there is no reason for anyone to watch your video.” Video Labs is a video production and video marketing firm serving Brisbane and the Gold Coast areas. They have produced numerous successful video campaigns, and specialise in results. For more information, call 1300 881 783 or visit their website: http://videolabs.com.au/

2013-04-17T01:57:24Z record-breaking-flight-helps-greyhound-plight

Tim Howes, who took his first flight at age 13 years old, is reaching for the skies to break a new Australian aviation record. Tim plans to set a new Australian record for the number take-off and landings completed in a single day – all in the name of helping greyhounds. He will attempt to beat the current record of 102 take offs and landings aiming for 120. He’ll complete the feat in an open cockpit ultra-light aircraft called a Drifter near Lismore, on May 4, 2013. As well as breaking records, Tim also hopes to raise awareness of the plight of greyhounds and how great they are as pets. As a proud owner of a greyhound adopted from ‘Friends of the Hound’, raising awareness about these dogs is close to Tim’s heart. Friends of the Hound Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer based group that aims is to raise awareness and educate the public about greyhound welfare and the breed’s suitability as family pets and companions.  Money raised from the event will help Friends of the Hound to continue its work to save the lives of greyhounds. “It is a record that I have wanted to crack for some time now. I also wanted some way of letting people know about this cause. So this was a perfect opportunity to do both”, explained Tim. “Greyhounds are gentle, friendly and really affectionate. They are quiet, great with kids and other animals, and surprisingly lazy,” Tim said. Lisa White, President of Friends of the Hound said, “There are widespread misconceptions about the breed and with Tim’s help we can promote greyhounds as pets and change the perception of them as ‘just a racing dog’.” Tim hopes to achieve this record and raise funds for Friends of the Hound with help of friends and sponsors. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information and sponsorship opportunities go to fly.friendsofthehound.org.au.

2013-04-02T04:13:47Z viral-videos-found-to-contain-common-key-elements

Brisbane, Australia, April 2, 2013 - Many companies, large, small, and in between, have realised that video marketing is a very important part of any effective advertising campaign. Consequently, those companies have started using videos in their campaigns, with mixed results. Two years ago, including a video on your site almost guaranteed a spot on page one of Google, and the traffic comes with it.In this era, however, it takes more than a shoddily-produced and ill-conceived video to gain traffic. The sheer number of companies employing videos in their advertising campaigns has “upped the ante” considerably. It now takes a professional video and at least a modicum of creativity to see results from video marketing.One thing, however, hasn’t changed from two years ago: the viral video. A viral video is loosely defined as a video that receives thousands of views due to sharing on social media websites. This is the Internet era’s version of “word of mouth” advertising, but it only happens if the video is epic. Videos that “go viral” have seven characteristics in common. If a video is missing even one characteristic, it probably won’t go viral, and potentially loses a lot of money for the company using it. Here, then, are the seven characteristics shared by all viral videos.First, it either evokes an emotional response, answers a question, or both. Second, it addresses a current topic that receives multiple searches or dominates conversation. Topics that are trending on Google, Twitter, or Facebook are a great guide.Next, the description, title, and video thumbnail must all drive clicks and must be compelling. This gives people three potential reasons to plaster it on their social media accounts. Next, the video must be long enough to not lose viewers before it is finished. Most viral videos are under two minutes. Also, most experts agree that a video has fifteen seconds to grab a viewer before they click elsewhere.Although a video can go viral by itself, most business videos that go viral get some “help” in the beginning. This is best accomplished by submitting it to every possible outlet, and paying for traffic in the beginning if necessary. Another very important trait: the video must serve at least one of four functions: provide value, generate discussions, align with the sharer’s identity, or maintain and grow relationships.The last thing a video must have to go viral is actually what it can’t have: material that is too toxic to make people want to share it. If it’s offensive, it must be left out.Michael Hanson, Owner and Founder of Video Labs, has been personally responsible for many viral videos: “The best thing about a viral video is that it’s like finding money on the ground. It takes the same amount of money to produce a viral video as it does to produce one that goes nowhere. Unfortunately, more than 95% of marketing videos go nowhere.”Hanson continued, “Believe me, it’s worth it to make the extra effort to do your homework and choose the right company to shoot  and create your video. It’s also worth it to come up with compelling material that grabs viewers and forces them to click on to your video.”Hanson concluded, “If you have the right strategy, viral videos are easy. If you don’t, they’re impossible.”Video Labs is a video marketing and video production company in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. They have a wealth of experience in producing videos that go viral. To get started today, call 1300 881 783 or visit their website: http://videolabs.com.au/

2013-03-21T05:18:24Z more-advertisers-now-turning-to-viral-video-marketing

Brisbane, March 21, 2013 - As Internet usage continues to rise, and more mobile devices are now connected to the Internet, viral videos are rapidly gaining a reputation as “traffic magnets” among savvy Internet marketers. From sole proprietors of small Internet marketing operations to multi-billion dollar companies such as Nike, more and more advertisers are leveraging the power of viral videos to provide traffic to their websites. A viral video is loosely defined as any video that receives large amounts of views on the Internet on the strength of being shared multiple times. The sharing usually occurs when a video is mentioned on numerous blogs and numerous social media accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter. For example, a recent search on YouTube revealed a video titled “Inspired Bicycles” which received over 32,000,000 views in three years. A video with 100 movie insults received over 21,000,000 views. Recently, a major marketing company conducted an international survey of executives at top media buying firms and creative advertising agencies and their clients. The results of the survey were a source of encouragement for many in the video production industry.  According to the survey, 80% of the professionals who participated in the survey referred to themselves as “very familiar” with viral video. Approximately 49% are “interested” in viral video, and approximately 23% expressed what they called a “high level” of interest. 56% of clients who conducted a viral video campaign were “pleased” with the results they obtained. Less than 3% of the clients reported being “displeased” with the results of their viral video campaigns. Opinions differ greatly on what constitutes a successful video campaign. Participants were given the choice of using 100,000, 250,000, 500,000, or 1 million as a benchmark for success. While 28% of those who responded chose 1 million as their threshold for success, the other three numbers shared the remaining votes almost equally.Approximately 95% were of the opinion that tracking and reporting effectiveness of campaigns had room for improvement. When asked to choose which benefits they had received from viral video marketing from a list, slightly over 92% chose “exponential views”, while 87.2% chose “brand engagement.” Other factors commonly chosen were online reach and having an image as a forward-thinking brand. According to Michael Hanson, owner of Video Labs, the results of the survey are great news, not only for everyone in the video production industry, but his clients as well: “We have been aware of the benefits of viral video marketing for a long time, but we are always glad to see industry studies agree with what we have experienced as truth. We have seen firsthand how powerful and effective video marketing can be, for both small and large businesses.” Hanson continued, “The magic of viral video is that it becomes viral by the most effective form of advertising known to man: word-of-mouth advertising. Before the dawn of the Internet age, word-of-mouth marketing was still very effective, but not nearly as far-reaching. Now, because the Internet allows instantaneous communication, and social networks are so effective, a video that goes viral can be viewed by millions of people.” Hanson concluded, “It only takes one great video to put your company in front of millions of people.”Video Labs is a video production company primarily serving the Brisbane and the Gold Coast markets. They specialise in extremely effective, high quality video production. If you want to create the next viral video, call them at 1300 881 783 or visit their website http://videolabs.com.au/ for more information.

2013-03-21T05:01:11Z online-pet-accessories-implores-pet-owners-please-keep-your-pets-safe-from-disasters

Ellenbrook, Western Australia, March 21, 2013 - It’s been a rough year for natural disasters in Australia. More often than not in 2013, a typhoon, a flood, or a bushfire has been in the news. Online Pet Accessories, who distribute discount pet supplies, such as dog collars and dog toys, have found themselves put into the position of being an authority on keeping pets safe and healthy.This is even more important and more difficult during and immediately following a natural disaster. Whether a family stays at home during a disaster, or whether they evacuate, it creates a new and unfamiliar set of circumstances for both the family and their pets.Online Pet Accessories carries a full line of products for most pets, including most supplies that are necessary to keep pets safe during natural disasters. Consequently, they often find themselves in the position of offering advice to their customers. In the spirit of helping people keep their pets safe, Online Pet Accessories recently published a blog post designed to serve as a guide for pet owners who are either enduring or fleeing from natural disasters.Their first piece of advice is to make sure that every pet has a collar and tag with the pet’s name, and the household address and phone number. They also mention the availability of microchips which can be implanted into a pet, thus allowing the pet to be located at all times.Online Pet Accessories also recommends that pet owners compile a list of places where they can take their pets in case of a natural disaster. They suggest that the list include facilities from many different areas, as those in the local area will be sustaining the same natural disaster as the pet owners, and therefore would not be of much use. Suggestions include motels, hotels, grooming facilities, boarding kennels, and veterinary clinics which may open their doors during a natural disaster.Another suggestion is to take at least one week’s supply of food for any pet. Dry food should be kept in waterproof, airtight containers. If the food is canned, it cannot be left out in the warm air, as it can cause pet food poisoning. The post also reminds pet owners to make sure that they have a can opener that works, or cans with pull-tops.The blog post goes on to provide the makings of a disaster plan template for keeping pets safe. Jason Balchand, owner of Online Pet Accessories, provides a strong voice as an advocate for the rights and safety of animals: “Years ago, we established Online Pet Accessories for one basic reason: we love animals. Since then, we’ve been fortunate enough to be in a position where a lot of people ask us for advice on how to take care of their pets.”Balchand continued, “When a natural disaster strikes, people are somewhere between stressed out and panicking, and sometimes it’s difficult for them to remember everything they need to do to ensure their pet’s safety.”Balchand concluded, “We carry all the pet supplies necessary for your disaster kit. We hope you never have to use it, but it feels a lot better knowing that you are prepared for any emergency that arises.”Online Pet Accessories is an online retail outlet which provides discount pet supplies, and accessories such as dog toys and dog collars. Call them at (08) 9296 7544 or visit their website for more information http://www.petshop-online.com.au/.

2013-03-05T09:25:04Z video-marketing-produces-staggering-statistics-in-2012

Until 2009, online advertising was almost non-existent. According to a report from ContentWise, through 2008, online advertising was so small in scope that it was virtually non-existent in content marketing industry stats. All content advertising was done in print. In 2009, the first online and video advertising showed up in mainstream use, with businesses spending $30.9 billion on print, $12.1 billion online, and $4.2 billion in the “other” category, which includes events and video.  The numbers remained relatively stable in the next two years, but 2012 represented a “tipping point” for the video component of online marketing.We are still a month or so away from having some of the stats we want to see from 2012, but the projections and stats that are available are very encouraging for video marketing. At the beginning of 2012, businesses were asked whether they planned to spend more, the same, or less on seven different content marketing media. The largest percentage, 54%, said that they would increase spending on video content. The next-largest number, at 35%, was for virtual events and website updates, which both received that number. 54% is a huge increase, and would be an impressive number for any medium or any industry segment.The actual numbers for 2012 aren’t in yet, but the overall industry stats that are available from 2012 indicate that the projected rise may have been too conservative. An infographic from Brainshark contains stats from the US, but US stats have been found to usually mirror most English-speaking countries, including Australia.According to the report, 53% of the population viewed video online during 2012, for a total of 167 million viewers. Of those viewers, 54.6 million used their mobile devices to watch the videos. In surveys, respondents usually report that they retain information from videos longer than they do with the written word. Videos are now the sixth-most popular online marketing medium, with approximately 70% of marketers using them. Online videos can be used to sell brands, services, features, or products. They can also be used to educate the public, by sharing commentary, tips, or ideas. Some of the most effective videos are those that entertain by delivering content that makes people laugh.According to Michael Hanson, Creative Director and Founder of Video Labs, the numbers from 2013 could easily surpass those from 2012: “We’re not surprised by any of these numbers. We had a great year last year, and we are on a pace to grow even more this year. We have plenty of testimonials from satisfied customers who have seen traffic to their websites skyrocket from using professionally produced videos to deliver their marketing to the public. Everyone loves a good story, and what better way is there to tell a good story than a professionally crafted video.”Hanson continued, “We are getting a lot of people to page one of Google, and we have had great viral activity on many of our videos. YouTube provides a huge marketing leverage for large, medium, or small businesses for two reasons: First, videos are the fastest way to get to page one of Google, giving a huge return on investment. Second, people have a tendency to share videos with their friends on social networks. This gets more views and produces some great backlinks for your website.”Hanson concluded, “Video marketing makes ‘the’ difference.”Video Labs specialises in video production and video marketing, especially in the Brisbane and the Gold Coast markets. To learn how easy it is for your business to utilise video, call 1300 881 783 or check out their website:  http://videolabs.com.au/.

2013-03-01T04:19:42Z recent-online-marketing-survey-names-video-fastest-growing-trend-in-content-marketing-for-2013

For numerous reasons, online video has become a very popular marketing technique for businesses, not only in Brisbane and Gold Coast, but across the world. According to a recent survey from Social Media Examiner, YouTube and video marketing were cited by 76% of those who responded as their top marketing expenditures in 2012. Of those who responded, only 1% reported that they plan to spend less on video marketing in 2013.According to a survey recently released by the Content Marketing Institute (CMI), in September 2012, more than 85% of Internet users watched online videos. A surprising 46% said that, after watching videos about a product, they would be more likely to click through for more information, than without a video.An estimated 70% of online marketers now use video, which makes it the sixth most popular content marketing tactic. 61% of online marketers post videos on YouTube, which averages around 4 billion hits a day. Another surprising find: viewers using mobile devices watch videos three times as long as those on laptops and desktops. As of now, approximately 54 million people have mobile devices that are able to access videos.According to video producers, marketers, and businesses, one of the main reasons why so many now use video is that they are so easy and inexpensive to produce. Cloud-based services also make it easier for companies and marketers to host videos and show them to prospects and customers.Another reason for using video is that YouTube videos often produce high rankings in Google. In addition, YouTube videos are easily accessed via tablets or smartphones, thus giving businesses access to many customers for most of their waking days.Another aspect that makes videos so attractive to marketers is the opportunity for them to go viral. When a video goes viral, it can get millions of views, without any extra cost to the company. In addition to the great publicity and reach a viral video provides, it can also provide a lot of high-quality backlinks to the company’s website.Michael Hanson, Founder and Creative Director of Video Labs, has seen firsthand the power of video marketing: “Video marketing is very hot right now, and for great reason. The first reason is that videos allow companies to reach a lot of customers that they wouldn’t reach if they didn’t have a video up. Not only is YouTube and other video sites a different place than their website, but a video can propel a company to page one of Google. That brings you a lot of prospective customers who are searching for exactly what you have to sell.”Michael continued, “In addition, a video that goes viral can literally bring in a million views overnight. That is a lot of advertising, and it doesn’t have any added costs once the video is completed and uploaded. Also, many people understand videos better than a webpage or a text ad. Videos allow you to say a lot that would be cumbersome or take too long to read on a webpage.”Michael concluded, “It’s no accident that video is the fastest-growing medium in online marketing. It flat out works!”Video Labs specialises in video marketing and video production in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and across Australia. For more information, call Video Labs at 1300 881 783 or visit their website at http://videolabs.com.au/.

2013-02-20T06:13:50Z evidence-mounts-in-favour-of-therapy-pets

Recently, the Children’s Hospital in Westmead threw a 10th anniversary party for the Delta Society, marking the tenth year that the Delta Society has brought therapy pets into the hospital to visit patients. For many, pet therapy is something new, but pet therapy has been around since 1945.The first therapy dog was named Smoky. Smoky had been rescued from a battlefield in New Guinea by Corporal William Wynne. Wynne was hospitalised with fever, and some of his fellow soldiers brought Smoky in to help cheer him up. Doctor Charles Mayo, of the Mayo Clinic, served in the hospital where Corporal Wynne was taken, and noticed the effect Smoky had on Corporal Wynne, and decided to take Smoky with him on his rounds.Smoky would eventually serve as a therapy dog for 12 years, and Dr Mayo had a great story to tell his father, founder of the Mayo Clinic. However, it would be nearly 60 years before the Mayo Clinic would have their first and only, as of this writing, facility-based service dog.A US nurse working in England, Elaine Smith, would create the first organised program for dog therapy in 1976, after she noticed that a chaplain at the hospital where she worked brought along a golden retriever and got better results than other chaplains did. Smith’s dogs mainly visited hospitals.In 1982, a non-profit organisation called Tender Loving Zoo was established by an ex-Los Angeles Zoo employee named Nancy Stanley. When Stanley worked at the zoo, she noticed the effects of animals on the handicapped, and started researching therapy pets.Her first therapy pet was Freeway, her miniature poodle. She took Freeway with her to the Revere Developmental Centre, a facility for the severely handicapped. Stanley would eventually start TLZ with $7,500 of her own money, and eventually persuaded owners of a local pet store to loan her various animals to take to hospitals and convalescent homes. Stanley generally gets credit as the first person to use an animal other than a dog as a therapy pet.Australia wouldn’t have a pet therapy program until 1997, when the Delta Society was founded. The Delta Society is a registered charity, and depends on charitable contributions for funding. The pets and their owners are all volunteers, as are the officers.Jason Balchand, Owner of Online Pet Accessories, wants to see more funding for pet therapy: “There are so many programs out there that don’t get half of the results that pet therapy produces when pets are taken to hospitals and facilities for the elderly. There is a lot of research that points to many benefits for patients who spend time with therapy pets.”Balchand continued, “Some of the documented effects include rises in oxytocin and dopamine, and lowering of cortisol. The net effects are a decrease in blood pressure, higher self-esteem, and even more effective communication with doctors, nurses, and other patients. With medical costs going through the roof, why can’t our medical system or government find more money for something that is so inexpensive, but works so well?”Balchand concluded, “If a doctor at one of the world’s most powerful hospitals knew that our pets can help us heal almost 70 years ago, why hasn’t the medical community embraced pet therapy on a larger scale?”Online Pet Accessories supplies dog toys, dog collars, and various discount pet supplies through their online pet shop.For more information, please call 08 9296 7544, or visit their website http://www.petshop-online.com.au/.

2013-02-20T03:41:30Z your-pet-has-a-new-second-best-friend

Associate Professor Pauleen Bennett, of La Trobe University, was recently chosen as president of the ISAZ. Bennett is on a mission to increase pet ownership in Australia, and to convince politicians to repeal many laws restricting ownership of pets.Bennett believes that pets benefit not only their owners, but their communities as well. According to Bennett, “Pets help us to feel better about our lives, and when we feel better about our lives, we feel more motivated to do great things for our community.” Bennett remarked that her “grand plan to save the planet is to have more pets.”Bennett has a lot of support from colleagues across Australia. Recently, the ISAZ held a workshop in Melbourne, which was attended by around thirty of those colleagues. Nearly all agreed with her position that more urbanised living and tougher pet laws are having a negative impact on communities, and depriving too many of the benefits of pet ownership.Many communities and apartment buildings don’t allow pets. In addition, almost no nursing homes or similar senior housing allows pets. Some seniors even have to have their pets put down because they have nobody to take them. This causes profound sadness and stress, adding guilt and loneliness to the powerless feeling a senior gets when taken to a group home.Bennett feels that only through more research will politicians become convinced that pet ownership provides health benefits, and should be encouraged whenever possible. Consequently, she has formed the Australian Anthrozoology Research Foundation (AARF).AARF was formed to promote and fund more research into how pet ownership affects both humans and animals. Through her affiliation with Monash University, and now La Trobe University, Bennett has created and mentored eight studies about pets and owners.Bennett likes to cite a lot of other research, too. Various studies have found that pets increase humans’ levels of such beneficial neurotransmitters and hormones as serotonin and oxytocin, thus elevating mood. There have also been studies indicating that pet ownership has a positive effect on blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, and depression. Recent work indicates that pets help delay the effects of ageing.Bennett estimates that pet ownership saves the Australian health system as much as $2.2 billion in a year, but she sees a disturbing trend: “about two-thirds of households…have at least one pet... but Australia’s pet population stopped growing (10 years ago).”Between 1994 and 2009, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data indicates that the number of dogs declined by close to 10% and the number of cats declined almost twice that much. Professor Bennett and her colleagues want to reverse that trend.Jason Balchand, owner of Online Pet Accessories, an online discount pet supplies store, fully supports Bennett’s agenda, and is glad that she is getting some recognition for her work: “We are in this business because we love animals, and we are all for anything that can quantify the benefits that pet owners gain from their pets.”Balchand concluded, “We have long thought that too many politicians treat pets like they are a nuisance, and refuse to even listen to anyone who suggests that there is anything positive about pets. If Professor Bennett, through the AARF, can provide scientific information to prove to the public what pet owners already know, we will all benefit.”Online Pet Accessories has an extensive inventory of discount pet supplies, including a wide selection of different dog toys, dog beds, and other pet supplies. Visit their website here http://www.petshop-online.com.au/ for more information, or call them at 08 9296 7544.

2012-12-17T09:01:56Z online-pet-accessories-implores-pet-owners-don-t-let-your-pet-become-a-holiday-casualty

During November and December, people behave differently than they do the rest of the year. A new Online Pet Accessories post explains why this can have a negative effect on their pets. More pets are lost or poisoned during the holidays than in any other months of the year. The Veterinary Pet Insurance Company reported that policyholders spend in excess of $22.8 million last year on holiday-related conditions. The most expensive incidents involved pets ingesting foreign bodies that had to be removed through surgery, at an average cost of $2,328 for each incident. Enteritis and gastritis were the other most common conditions, “only” costing $279 and $105 per incident.Pets don’t have the “filter” that humans do, and don’t know what is good for them and what isn’t. Pets see a lot of new shapes and bright colours, and smell a lot of new foods. Both dogs and cats tend to ingest a lot of things that can harm them if their owners aren’t careful to restrict access to them. Pets can choke on decorations, and loose decorations or trash should be kept out of reach of the pet.Pets are great at “begging” and the standard human response is to give their pet human food, especially during the holidays, when generosity is in full favour. Sadly, many foods that people enjoy during the holidays are toxic to dogs and cats, and can even kill them in too high an amount. For example, chocolate, grapes, and raisins are all toxic to dogs and cats. Many kinds of nuts are toxic, too. Too much chocolate can kill your dog or cat. Onions, garlic, and scallions can also be harmful to pets, because they damage a dog’s red blood cells. Foods with too much fat, such as gravy, roasts, and eggnog, can inflame a dog’s pancreas, which causes pancreatitis. If a dog or cat doesn’t have enough water in its bowl, it might try to drink from the Christmas tree water bowl. If there are chemicals or bacteria in the water, they can be harmful to the pet. Decorations such as tinsel and ribbon can be very harmful to cats when swallowed, due to the shape of a cat’s intestines, and can require surgery to remove.Dogs and cats alike both like to chew on Christmas lights and the power cords. The danger here is obvious.  Even holiday plants, such as lilies, red azaleas, holly, philodendron, and Christmas rose, are toxic to pets. Poinsettias and mistletoe can also be harmful. Christmas morning can be dangerous for pets if ribbons and discarded wrapping isn’t immediately put out of their reach. Anything that looks like a chew toy to a pet becomes one, especially snow globes, which contain poisonous anti-freeze.Jason Balchand, Owner of Online Pet Accessories, an online pet shop offering cheap pet supplies, wants everyone’s pets to be safe for the holidays: “The reason we got into this business is because we love animals. We want everyone’s pets to make it through the holiday season safe and sound. The only way for that to happen is if people are careful and aware of what can be harmful to their pets.”Balchand concluded, “The best way to keep your pets out of harm’s way for the holidays is to keep potentially harmful objects and foods out of your pet’s way.”Online Pet Accessories is Australia’s leading online pet store for discount pet supplies such as dog toys, dog collar, pet medication, and many more.Check out their website: http://www.petshop-online.com.au/ or call them at 08 9296 7544 for orders and inquiries.

2012-09-13T07:23:12Z photo-books-made-for-you-for-the-busy-professional-and-mother-with-no-time

Brisbane, QLD, 13 September 2012 – Everybody loves to have a memento of their special occasion. The amazing holiday, their wedding, the honeymoon, the birth of each child, the first steps of a child and all the other important moments in their first year, the list goes on and on. A photo book or calendar made with photos is the perfect way to capture those special occasions. But when do we have time to make a beautiful photo book or calendar in our busy lives? Photo books ‘Made 4 You’ is the solution for anybody who doesn’t have the time to make a photo book themselves, but would love to share their memories with friends and family! The owner of Pix2print hears it all the time when she tells people what she does for a living. “I wish I had the time to make a photo book of my holiday, can you make one for me if I give you the photos?”, “I would love to have the photos of my wedding in a photo book so I can show my friends and family the special moments of our beautiful day, do you think you could make it for me?” are some of the comments she hears over and over again. And now the busy professionals and the mums without time can have that beautiful photo book too as the professional designers from Pix2print can create a high quality photo book especially ‘Made 4 You’. “It took some time to set up as it needed to be done professionally, but the service also needed to be affordable”, says Jude Mulhuijsen, owner of Pix2print. “People need to feel they are getting value for money with a service like this. And we believe we can now offer them that value for money by only charging $100 for the design service.” And now, after a few months of creating photo books for friends and setting up the perfect process, it is finally available for anybody who wants to have a photo book to share their memories without having to spend any time on it. The process is simple. All you have to do is send an email to let them know you want to create a photo book. A professional designer will respond and let you know the different options to send your photos safely and securely. After that the process is as little or as much hands on as you want. There are options to pick your favourite photo and lay-out for the front cover, you can select a style for the photo book and you can even send text you want added. Or, if you prefer, you can just kick back and relax and let the professional designer do it all for you. Most people want a photo book of their holiday or honeymoon, but other popular themes for photo books are weddings, children and pets. If you are one of those busy professionals or a mum with no time to make a photo book, make sure you check www.pix2print.com.au/made4you.htm and send in an email requesting your photo book made for you.For additional information on high quality photo books Made 4 You, contact Jude Mulhuijsen or visit www.pix2print.com.au. SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE OFFER: If you would like to trial this service, please contact the owner Jude Mulhuijsen via email (jude@pix2print.com.au) to receive a 50% discount on photo books ‘Made 4 You’. Offer valid until the end of September.

2012-08-21T02:40:37Z don-t-accidentally-poison-your-parrot-with-a-new-aviary

Melbourne — August 21, 2012 — Today Sheds4Less started to take orders and sell what they believe is the first widely available bird aviary that uses 304 quality stainless steel mesh which is guaranteed not to subject birds to zinc poisoning. Alex Cochran, founder of Sheds4Less said; “Over the years in the hardware retailing business we heard some real horror stories about bird lovers that had purchased a new aviary for their pet only to see their loved one start to fade away and die.” The culprit here is zinc poisoning. Birds are highly sensitive to this heavy metal, particularly if they chew on the aviary mesh, which more often than not is coated in zinc plating to resist rust. Cochran went on to say; “You can reduce the probability of zinc poisoning from this type of mesh by scrubbing it down with a solution of vinegar and water before you put your birds in your new aviary. Most aviary instructions include this warning, but sometimes customers forget this step and the consequences are often tragic. We wanted to give our customers a quality product that is safe for their pets, so we decided that we would manufacture an aviary that uses stainless steel mesh rather than zinc. Stainless steel is clinically proven to be 100% safe for birds so it doesn’t matter if they chew on the mesh, they won’t poison themselves. Now stainless steel mesh is more expensive than zinc mesh, but if there is a danger of poisoning the family pet I know what I would choose.” It’s About Love not Money A lot of shed and aviary makers are always trying to cut the costs of manufacture so they can sell products for the cheapest possible price, however sometimes this is really not the best course of action. “We are all for reducing costs and passing these savings on to our customers. In fact that this is what our business is founded on. After all you can’t have a business name like Sheds4Less and not live up to your promise. However where we cut costs is in our innovative packaging and distribution system which allows us to get sheds and aviaries directly to peoples home. We actually invest those savings into making a better product, plus passing some cash onto our customers.” Cochran added. Innovation is the Key Cochran said that Sheds4Less had a number of customers that had asked about manufacturing an aviary. “At Sheds4Less we believe that being responsive to customer requests is a big part of our competitive advantage. Our best ideas come from our customers, it is then up to us to interpret these ideas and bring a product to the market in the quickest possible time and at the best possible quality we can produce. Because we are a shed manufacturer not just a shed retailer this means that we can respond faster and better than a lot of our competitors. We are already working on more products and more processes that will bring innovation to the shed market. In the end it is the customer that votes with their patronage, that’s where the buck stops.” About Sheds4Less Founded in 2012, Sheds4Less is a pure online garden shed retailer that has developed products and systems to make buying, erecting or installing a garden shed cheaper and easier. ######### For more information, press only: Sheds4Less – Alex Cochran , Phone: 0419 019 469, Email: alex@sheds4less.com.au For more information on Sheds4Less http://www.sheds4less.com.au For more information Zinc Poisoning in Birds http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-diseases/lead-and-zinc-poisoning-in-birds.aspx