Archives for November 2007

Web Experts Say Fix Your Online Shopping Cart

November 18, 2007 By Logical Expressions Staff

Press Release: Fix Your Cart

Give Holiday Shoppers an Early Present: Fix Your Shopping Cart

Authors Offer Tips Based on Ecommerce Book

SANDPOINT, Idaho — Even with years of usability studies and information to draw on, many shopping carts are poorly designed and a source of frustration for online customers. The holiday shopping season is approaching and Susan Daffron of Logical Expressions, Inc. has a few tips for merchants that are inspired by her book “Web Business Success: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Web Sites That Work” (ISBN: 978-0-9749245-0-2; LCCN-2006909228). Daffron says that the key to increasing online sales this holiday season is to make it easy for customers to complete their online transactions. To improve shopping cart usability:

1. Reassure people. When people shop online they are worried about being ripped off. They want to know that the business is for real and to understand what it is going to do with their personal information, particularly their credit card number. To provide this reassurance, businesses should offer a complete privacy policy, evidence of a valid security certificate, and membership in reputable online business organizations, such as the BBB Online Reliability program.

2. Design (or redesign) the shopping cart so it is as easy to use as possible. Navigation that “is really cool” to a designer or Web programmer often is incomprehensible for online shoppers. Get your mother or grandmother to sit down and try out your site navigation. If Mom is confused, redesign the interface so it makes sense even to “newbie” computer users.

3. Tell people what is going on. For example, if the checkout uses a multi-page wizard interface, make sure it includes graphics or text that shows people where they are in the process. Also let customers know that their order was received. If there is a delay (such as for custom merchandise) be sure the customer is informed. It sounds old fashioned, but if necessary pick up the phone and call. Good customer service goes a long way online.

When it comes to ecommerce sites, Daffron says the site should not get in the way; ideally, it should be effortless for customers to buy. By updating their sites now, merchants may be rewarded with more sales this holiday season.

For more information about “Web Business Success” visit the Web site at www.WebBusinessSuccess.com.

For information on other products, visit: www.logicalexpressions.com

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ABOUT LOGICAL EXPRESSIONS, INC.
Logical Expressions, Inc. is a software and publishing company based Sandpoint, Idaho. The company offers affordable books, software, tools, and services that help businesses with print and online publishing projects.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Daffron, President
Logical Expressions, Inc.
311 Fox Glen Road
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-265-6147
http://www.logicalexpressions.com
Email

Web Business Success Web Site
http://www.WebBusinessSuccess.com

Press Release Online
http://www.logicalexpressions.com/pr11-07wbs/

Pet Care Book Author Offers Tips to Avoid Pet Poisoning

November 18, 2007 By Logical Expressions Staff

Press Release: Avoid Pet Poisoning

Watch for Food Poisoning in Counter-Surfing Pets

Many Common Human Foods Are Poisonous to Cats and Dogs

SANDPOINT, Idaho — Not all human food is good for pets, so during the busy holiday season, pay attention to cats and dogs who like to “counter surf.” The author of two pet care books “Happy Hound: Develop a Great Relationship with Your Adopted Dog or Puppy” (ISBN: 978-0-9749245-2-6; LCCN-2006909898), and “Happy Tabby: Develop a Great Relationship with Your Adopted Cat or Kitten” (ISBN: 978-0-9749245-3-3; LCCN-2007906436), Susan Daffron of Logical Expressions, Inc. offers these pet safety tips based on her books.

Keep pets away from these common household foods:

1. Candy, particularly chocolate. Chocolate contains caffeine and a chemical called theobromine, and in large amounts can be extremely toxic to pets. The toxicity depends on the type of chocolate. White chocolate is the least dangerous and dark baking chocolate is the most dangerous. The toxicity also depends on the pet’s weight. If a small dog eats a lot of candy, it can be fatal.

2. Rich fatty foods. If a dumpster diving dog gets into a great cache of leftovers, he may be rewarded with a case of pancreatitis. The classic problem is that the dog gets into the Thanksgiving turkey, gorges on it, and then gets very sick.

3. Dairy products. Many cat owners don’t realize that milk isn’t well tolerated by most cats. Dairy products in general are often overly fatty; it’s best to avoid giving dairy to dogs too.

4. Bones. The traditional “give a dog a bone” idea isn’t necessarily a good one. Although dogs love snacking on meat bones, the bone can splinter and puncture the stomach or intestines. Chicken and other poultry can be particularly dangerous as the bones become brittle when they are cooked.

5. Alcohol. Even small amounts of alcohol can be toxic to pets. Pay attention at parties where pets may be able to get into drinks. The scent of alcohol on the animal’s breath or behavioral changes may indicate ingestion, so call the vet as soon as possible. Alcohol toxicity can be fatal.

6. Spoiled food. Keep garbage in tightly covered garbage cans. Both cats and dogs often enjoy the challenge of getting into the garbage and seeing what leftovers they can find. Spoiled food can make a dog sick, the same way it makes people sick.

Be sure to keep all these foods out of reach. With a little vigilance on the owner’s part, even die-hard counter surfers can be thwarted.

For more information about “Happy Hound” visit the web site at http://www.HappyHoundBook.com. For more information about “Happy Tabby” visit the web site at http://www.HappyTabbyBook.com.

For information on other products, visit: http://www.logicalexpressions.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Daffron, President
Logical Expressions, Inc.
311 Fox Glen Road
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-265-6147
http://www.logicalexpressions.com
Email

Press Release Online
http://www.logicalexpressions.com/pr11-07pet/

Self-Publisher Uses IdeaWeaver Writing Software to Produce 3 Books

November 18, 2007 By Logical Expressions Staff

Press Release: IdeaWeaver Helps Self-Publisher

Self-Publisher Uses Writing/Creativity Software to Produce Three Books in One Year

IdeaWeaver Made It Easier to Compile Information and Organize the Manuscripts

SANDPOINT, Idaho — A writing and creativity software program called IdeaWeaver from Logical Expressions, Inc. has made it possible for a self-publisher to release three books in a year. Before using IdeaWeaver, the text for these books had been languishing in word processing files for months.

Author Susan Daffron now has all three books available for sale. Web Business Success: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Web Sites That Work (ISBN: 978-0-9749245-0-2; LCCN-2006909228) was published in October 2006, Happy Hound: Develop a Great Relationship with Your Adopted Dog or Puppy (ISBN: 978-0-9749245-2-6; LCCN-2006909898) appeared in November 2006, and “Happy Tabby: Develop a Great Relationship with Your Adopted Cat or Kitten” (ISBN: 978-0-9749245-3-3; LCCN-2007906436) was released in October 2007.

“Before I used IdeaWeaver, I didn’t want to look at the files for my books because the mess I had made of the project was just too depressing to me,” Daffron said. “Books are really long and I’d get all bogged down and confused with the organization, get completely disgusted with the project, and avoid working on it.”

By putting the text of each book into IdeaWeaver, Daffron was able to rework the manuscript and finally release the books. IdeaWeaver features an intuitive interface that lets writers see their entire document on one screen. Writers can put in their ideas as they occur and then organize them later into an outline. Because all of the information is on one screen, it is easy to determine where transitions are required and more text is needed.

IdeaWeaver takes the old “index card” approach to writing and converts it to digital form. As with index cards, each idea or concept is a discrete unit so writers can reshuffle and reorganize their thoughts at will. When they are done, writers can export the ideas in their outline for use in a word processor.

“IdeaWeaver” is free to try for 30 days. A license costs $49.95. The free trial download of the software is available at: www.IdeaWeaverSoftware.com. The site features a free “getting started” video, case studies, and a free e-course called “Get Unstuck! 15 Ways to Jumpstart Your Creativity, Get Organized, and Finish Your Writing Project.”

For more information about IdeaWeaver, visit the web site at www.IdeaWeaverSoftware.com.

For information on other products, visit: www.logicalexpressions.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Daffron, President
Logical Expressions, Inc.
311 Fox Glen Road
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-265-6147
http://www.logicalexpressions.com
Email

IdeaWeaver Web Site
http://www.IdeaWeaverSoftware.com

Press Release Online
http://www.logicalexpressions.com/pr11-07/

Self-Publishing Company Offers Publishize Newsletter and Podcast

November 7, 2007 By Logical Expressions Staff

Press Release: Publishize Newsletter and Podcast

Logical Expressions Inc. Offers “Publishize” Newsletter and Podcast

Print and Online Publishing Information Available in Newsletter and Audio Formats

SANDPOINT, Idaho — Book authors and publishing experts Susan Daffron and James Byrd of Logical Expressions, Inc. are producing a free weekly newsletter and podcast. The Publishize Your Way to Success podcast and the associated Publishize newsletter feature techniques and tips for business owners who want to use the power of print and online publishing to promote their expertise.

The term “publishize” marries two terms: publish and publicize. Publishing a book or informational Web site can be a powerful way for businesses to gain new clients. As the owners of Logical Expressions, Daffron and Byrd have been helping businesses with publishing projects since 1994. The couple have more than 100 Web sites, four books, and a couple of software products to their credit. They have been able to earn their living largely through online means since moving to a small town in northern Idaho in 1996.

People who sign up for the print version of Publishize also receive a free report called “The Nine Lives of Content: How to Turn Just One Idea into Multiple Products That Promote Your Expertise.” Back issues of the newsletter are archived online at the Publishize Newsletter Web site at http://www.thebookconsultant.com.

Recognizing that some people learn better by listening or simply don’t have time to read these days, Daffron and Byrd also offer the Publishize information in audio format. The Publishize Your Way to Success Podcast is available at http://podcast.logicalexpressions.com/publishize/

The Publishize newsletter and podcast cover topics such as how to get more writing done in less time, the ins and outs of “print on demand” or POD printing, making money with online advertising programs like Google AdSense, print and web design tips, information on ecommerce and more.

For more information about the Publishize newsletter and podcast, visit the web site at www.publishize.com.

For information on other products, visit: www.logicalexpressions.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Daffron, President
Logical Expressions, Inc.
311 Fox Glen Road
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-265-6147
http://www.logicalexpressions.com
Email

Publishize Web Site
http://www.publishize.com

Press Release Online
http://www.logicalexpressions.com/pr11-07pod/

What Do You Feed Vegans on Thanksgiving?

November 1, 2007 By Logical Expressions Staff

Press Release: Vegan Thanksgiving

What Do You Feed Vegans on Thanksgiving?

Author of Vegan Success Cookbook Offers Suggestions

SANDPOINT, Idaho — People who are faced with having vegan friends or family members at their Thanksgiving dinner may be wondering what to feed them. Vegans don’t eat turkey, so what is a cook to do? Susan Daffron of Logical Expressions, Inc. offers a few tips on how to feed vegan guests at the Thanksgiving table, inspired by her book “Vegan Success: Scrumptious, Healthy Vegan Recipes for Busy People” (ISBN: 978-0-9749245-1-9; LCCN-2006907834).

1. Embrace traditional side dishes. Every year at Thanksgiving, Daffron and her husband make a stuffing and potato casserole that even non-vegans enjoy. Make traditional bread stuffing and mashed potatoes. Put the stuffing in a casserole dish, top it with the mashed potatoes, and bake.

2. Consider your ingredients. For example, it is easy to make a vegan stuffing or gravy if you simply avoid using meat-based broths. Instead of chicken broth, use vegetable broth or soymilk for the liquid in gravies. For a gravy, make a standard base sauce with flour and liquid. Cook up some mushrooms, throw it all in the blender, and you end up with a thick savory gravy that everyone will enjoy.

3. Provide vegan options for condiments. If you like sour cream on your mashed potatoes, consider purchasing the vegan equivalent. Vegan alternatives exist for almost every dairy product and many meat varieties as well. Check the ingredients list on the package. With dairy products, be sure the package says it is vegan and not just vegetarian. Many soy cheeses contain casein, which is a milk protein and not vegan.

A vegan Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be tasteless. Include all your favorite holiday spices like sage, thyme, and marjoram in your recipes and people may not even miss the bird.

For more information about the Vegan Success cookbook, visit the web site at http://www.VeganSuccess.com.

For information on other products, visit: www.logicalexpressions.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Daffron, President
Logical Expressions, Inc.
311 Fox Glen Road
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-265-6147
http://www.logicalexpressions.com
Email

Vegan Success Web Site
http://www.VeganSuccess.com

Press Release Online
http://www.logicalexpressions.com/pr11-07vs/