Let's Use Your Dishwasher… to Clean Your Keyboard.

In the past we've discussed the importance of cleaning our keyboards. (Refresher: they become appallingly unsanitary and bacteria-infested become over time.)

Last week I chanced upon a brilliant DIY article that offered a great keyboard-cleaning alternative to the effective but time-consuming, labor-intensive methods we've (ahem-that includes you, right?) employed in the past. And this keyboard-cleaning alternative lets our dishwashers do the work for us.

Yep, that's right: the article walks you through the comparatively quick process of safely using your dishwasher to sanitize your keyboard.

Though I'd have liked to have tested the process before sharing the article with you, I purchased a brand new keyboard less than two weeks ago and it's still quite spotless. As keyboards don't stay clean very long though, I'm looking forward to using this technique in the near future.

And to answer your question: It's true, I purchased a new keyboard because I ever so gracefully spilled my drink across my old one.

Here's the link to the step-by-step article. Happy dishwashing: http://tinyurl.com/3db6eek

Tip of the Day: Are the Wrong People Seeing Your PPC Ads?

We've found that the majority of business owners who set up their own Google Adwords (Pay-Per-Click, or PPC) campaigns unknowingly display their ads to a high volume of searchers who aren't looking for their products or services.

Let's say you've setup a Google Adwords campaign to display your ad whenever someone searches for “Summit County restaurant.”

Can you confidently answer the following two questions?

1. Are your ads displayed to everyone in the U.S. that searches for “Summit County Ohio restaurant”?

2. Are your ads being displayed to everyone in Summit County, Ohio that searches for “Summit County restaurant”?

If so, you're making a common mistake by not targeting searchers who would most likely be interested in your restaurant. This means it's very likely that some of your marketing dollars are going to waste.

Why does it matter if your ad gets displayed to a high number of people who aren't potential customers? It increases the likelihood you'll blow through your daily/monthly budget far more quickly. It can impact your campaign's effectiveness. It can increase your costs per click. I encourage you to take a second look at your PPC campaign. Are your ads are displayed to a high number of people searching specifically for products, services, or business that aren't yours? If you can't tell, consider asking your webmaster for a review/consultation to prevent future marketing dollars going to waste.

Grab Bag: Your Five Links of the Week

1. http://tinyurl.com/3o4p4bq — Limited space for your laptop's workstation? Take a look at these tiny/minimal laptop desks meant for the smallest of spaces.

2. http://tinyurl.com/3r7zgdd — The IntelliVocab app for iPhones improves your vocabulary and auto-adapts to your progress. Very nice!

3. http://strollometer.com — “Presenting the world's first computer/speedometer designed to fit on any baby stroller.” For time-challenged mothers looking to get back into shape after having a baby, Strollometer suggests doing more of what you're already doing: strolling (while using their tool, of course).

4. http://tinyurl.com/3cej6gb — In today's News You Didn't Want to Hear: research is showing that mobile use before bedtime wrecks your sleep.

5. http://tinyurl.com/3tlc9rc — The best free clock screensavers you've (probably) never seen. Definitely some cool ones here.

erin pheil is the owner of timeforcake creative media — the Web design company voted #1 Best of Summit. Take a look at the timeforcake website at www.timeforcake.com or email her at erin@timeforcake.com.