(NewsUSA) – Today people are bombarded with more information than they can process. Simultaneously, websites, blogs and social media have the public trained to consume information in bullet points, sound bytes and tweets containing 140 characters or less.
No matter how you are trying to get your message across, whether through social media, a website or blog, an ad or even a presentation, the best way to pique someone’s interest is through compelling imagery. Photos must be engaging enough to get someone to focus on what you’ve got to say.
When choosing an image, it pays to be selective. Great images have the power to inform, inspire, confuse, shock, delight, empower, enrage and enlighten. Start by thinking about things like:
* Whom you want to reach?
* What message you want to communicate?
* What sort of tone you want to set?
* What kind of reaction you want?
While the image should relate to the overall topic, it doesn’t have to do so literally. This gives you the artistic freedom to have fun with your image search. It also will help you remain open to inspiration as you search.
As to effective image searches, sifting through millions of images on the Internet via a simple search engine query is highly ineffective. The chances of finding something the right size, shape, resolution and quality are low. Copyright and privacy issues also arise — particularly if the photos will be used commercially.
Fortunately, there are places to get inexpensive imagery that can be legitimately used for a whole host of purposes. Stock pictures can be purchased from places like www.photos.com for as little as a dollar or two.
For blog posts, budget-sensitive projects and nonprofits, Photos.com offers easy searching from numerous categories in several subject areas. You can buy a single image, packs of images at various resolution sizes or even annual subscriptions.
For images to be used for an extended time, as in a website, or a marketing brochure, more highly art-directed imagery can be found at www.iStockphoto.com. Both sites have powerful search engines that make short work of finding the perfect image.
Image Is Everything
The New School Year Has Begun! Talk to Your Teens About Vehicle Maintenance
We all remember that amazing feeling of freedom our first car gave us. As our teens head back to school this fall, Firestone Complete Auto Care encourages parents to take a few deep breaths and be sure to go over, not only in-vehicle safety, but also vehicle maintenance procedures so their teens can have that “new car” freedom by keeping their vehicle running newer, longer.
• Change the engine oil. Use the recommended grade of oil, and change it according to your owner’s manual, usually every three months or 3,000 miles. Prolonged driving without an oil change may cause severe engine damage.
A Bright Spot for Your Rainy-Day Savings
(NewsUSA) – Ben Franklin once declared, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Yet, equally enlightening are his thoughts on expenses: “Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.”
And there are plenty of “leaks” that can scuttle an already-tight budget. For instance, a spouse idled by the sour economy, a fender bender with the family car, or an unexpected hospitalization. That’s why financial advisors recommend that you have a rainy-day fund — enough liquid assets to cover three to six months’ worth of emergency living expenses. In case of financial emergency, access to additional money will save you from relying on credit cards or loans that simply compound the problem.
When starting an emergency fund, there are a few key points to take into consideration:
1. Determine what amount is best for you. Most experts agree that you should keep between three and six months worth of your living expenses set aside in your emergency fund. Your specific situation — whether you have children, carry substantial debt and types of insurance coverage you have — will determine what amount is best for you. Examine your situation — your income and your needs — to decide how much you should save.
2. Start small. Starting an emergency fund can be as simple as depositing $100 into your high-interest savings account. But before you begin, be sure that you’re meeting your basic living expenses. And as you build your emergency fund, be sure you’re also reducing your spending and avoiding debt.
3. Stick to a schedule. Get into the habit of making regular deposits. Whether it is weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, create a schedule and stick to it. Once you make saving automatic, you won’t even have to think about it.
4. Consider an online savings account. In many cases, an “online” savings account may make more sense than an account at a traditional, bricks-and-mortar bank. That’s because many traditional banks are not currently offering a savings option with interest rates high enough to meaningfully beat inflation. In addition, an online savings account is a reliable way to manage your money.
AAA and Discover Bank partnered to bring members highly competitive rates on an online savings account. The AAA Online Savings Account is a great option to begin building a rainy-day fund:
* Preferred member rates over five times the national savings average
* $500 minimum opening deposit and no minimum balance required
* FDIC insurance up to $250,000
To open your Online Savings Account, visit AAA.com/Deposits.
Tire Pressure Is Key During Summer Travel
It’s summertime, and vehicles are rolling out of garages and hitting the pavement. Warm weather offers a variety of outdoor travel opportunities and roadtrip fun. And to be sure your vehicle is operating safely, it is important that tire pressure be at proper levels.
Most motorists know that routine tire-pressure checks can preserve tire life and help drivers to avoid potential accidents from blowouts, uneven wear and under inflation. Even so, tires can lose air pressure without appearing to be underinflated, and motorists may not notice a slow leak. New technology is taking the guesswork and potential for human error out of the equation.
Enjoy the Fourth of July to the Fullest – Be Safe and Save Money on Your Daily Drive
Fireworks, sparklers and hot dogs, oh my! The Fourth of July is upon us, and it’s a great time to think about little ways you can show your patriotism and celebrate being an American. One way you can celebrate the nation’s birthday is by not only protecting yourself and other while on the road, but also guarding your wallet from high gas prices.
Firestone Complete Auto Care would like to honor this July Fourth with tips on how you and your vehicle can save money and stay safe on your daily commute.
Summer Car Care Takes Top Priority When it Heats Up
If you ask anyone, whether it be your friends, your neighbors or your colleagues, all will tell you the best things about summer are the surf and the sun! For many of us, a day at the beach is like a mini-vacation, but if you’re not prepared, your lovely day trip can turn into your worst nightmare! The team at Firestone Complete Auto Care would like to offer the following tips to get you ready for your summer beach trips:
• Make sure your vehicle’s fluids and filters are fresh and the air conditioner is working properly, as this will help keep your vehicle cool in the summer heat.
Hybrid Cars Get New, Racier Image
When most people think of hybrid vehicles, they imagine practical, mild-mannered vehicles. But could we soon see hybrid race cars burning up the tracks?
In March of 2010, Porsche unveiled three hybrids at the Geneva Auto Show – one for the road, one for the race track and one that is a genuine Porsche supercar. These innovative new Porsches – the Cayenne S Hybrid, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid and the 918 Spyder – show that hybrids can be sporty, fast and powerful.
Vehicle Features That Make Mom’s Life Easier
(NewsUSA) – Parents have plenty to worry about when packing their kids in the car and heading out on the road. Luckily, car manufacturers have been designing vehicles with parents in mind to make these trips a little easier.
“Manufacturers are really embracing family-friendly features, and not just in minivans,” says Jennifer Newman, editor at Cars.com. “Besides things like DVD players and other entertainment options, parents need to consider step-in height, latch connectors and other features that most people might not have even known existed.
Newman’s 10 best features for families include:
10. Easy-to-Use Latch System. Few automakers offer Latch systems that are easy to use, but some do get it right. Latch systems in the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 wagon, 2010 Chevy Traverse and 2011 Toyota Avalon stand out.
9. Flip-Up Trash Bin Ring. The 2011 Honda Odyssey has a lot of family-friendly touches. One of Cars.com’s favorites is the second row’s trash bin ring that can hold a plastic grocery store bag.
8. Ford’s MyKey. This safety feature from Ford allows parents to keep a modicum of control over their teen drivers — even when they’re not in the passenger seat. Parents can limit the car’s top speed and radio volume. It also allows parents to block explicit satellite radio stations.
7. Integrated Sunshades. Retractable window shades mean no more fiddling with aftermarket shades that barely cover the rear windows and don’t keep the sun out of a napping child’s eyes.
6. Easy-Folding Third Row. With the 2011 Toyota Sienna, the third row can be quickly folded into the floor with minimal effort. If you go for a higher trim level, you can get a power-folding third row in the minivan.
5. Power Sliding Doors. Power sliding doors make it easy for kids to get in and out of the car on their own with just the push of a button. Another bonus is it removes the chance that your overzealous child will fling open a car door into another car in a parking lot.
4. Inflatable Seat Belt. This safety feature is found in the backseat of the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer. The optional seat belts look like traditional seat belts, but in a crash they inflate to help distribute crash forces across a greater area on the passenger’s chest
3. Seat Belt Icon. Some automakers — Cadillac and Jaguar — are helping out parents by providing a simple icon in a car’s instrument panel that indicates who’s buckled up in the backseat.
2. Backup Cameras. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently proposed that by 2014 all cars must have a 180-degree view around the car, which means requiring backup cameras on new cars.
1. Expanding Second Row. Leave it to Honda to score the top spot. In all but the base model, the 2011 Odyssey’s second-row seats can be moved together to form a bench seat that will easily hold three child-safety seats. If you have adults riding in that position, the seats can be moved apart to create three individual seats and some shoulder room.
Stay on Track to Your Destination With Regular Tire Maintenance
(NewsUSA) – When the rubber meets the road this summer, will you be prepared? Summer heat can be tough on tires, which makes regular tire checks a critical part of your general vehicle maintenance schedule. Heat combined with improper tire pressure, uneven wear or damage and poor alignment can cause potentially dangerous driving conditions and put a damper on your summer road trip plans.
“Unfortunately, 83 percent of motorists aren’t aware of how under- or over-inflated tires affect a vehicle’s steering and breaking control as well as fuel economy,” explained Mark Ballard of Discount Tire, the world’s largest tire and wheel retailer. “In addition, regularly checking your tires for uneven or worn tread and bald spots, as well as replacing all four tires instead of one or two at a time, will help avoid hazards like blowouts and keep you on track to your destination.”
According to the Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (RMA), more than 23,000 tow-away crashes were due to flat tires.
Here are the top five tips to ensure proper tire safety:
1. Get Pressure Right. In its 2011 Tire Care Awareness Survey, the RMA found that 62 percent of drivers don’t know where to find the correct inflation pressure for their vehicle. The specific inflation pressure number can be found on the vehicle placard located on the driver’s side doorpost, glove box door or fuel door or in the owner’s manual. For accurate pressure, check tires when cool, and don’t forget the spare. A properly inflated tire will save you nine cents per gallon at the gas pump and improve vehicle fuel efficiency by 3.3 percent.
2. Don’t Overload Vehicle. Overloading decreases fuel economy due to increased wind drag and cargo weight. Handling, control and braking are also negatively impacted.
3. Rotate Before You Go. Regular rotation helps achieve uniform tire wear and improve road performance. Tires rotated every 6,000 — 8,000 miles prolong the life of the tire and help maximize your tire investment. It makes sense to get a tire inspection when you rotate.
4. Straighten Up. Proper tire alignment provides safe, predictable vehicle control as well as a ride that is smooth, comfortable and free of pulling or vibration. Proper alignment helps tires wear evenly and last longer.
5. Bald Isn’t Beautiful. The RMA survey also found that 52 percent of drivers do not know how to tell if their tires are bald. Lack of tread affects the tire’s ability to grip wet roads. Make sure tires don’t have uneven wear, high or low areas or unusually smooth areas that can increase the risk of road accidents.
To get more information on tire maintenance and safety, visit www.tires.com.
Every Car Needs a Little TLC ? How to Maximize Vehicle Life
(NewsUSA) – During the winter months, cold weather gives way to the warm, fuzzy feelings brought on by the presence of that certain special someone. But it’s not just your significant other that deserves attention — your hard-working vehicle needs some extra TLC as well. Tires Plus offers a few tips to keep your vehicle running strong:
* Listen to each other. Keep your engine properly tuned. A vehicle that has a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can decrease gas mileage by as much as 40 percent. A single misfiring spark plug can cut fuel economy by up to 4 percent.
* Keep your vehicle refreshed. Change the engine oil. Use the recommended grade of motor oil for your vehicle, and change it according to your vehicle owner’s manual, which usually says every three months or 3,000 miles. Prolonged driving without an oil change may cause severe engine damage. Regularly check your vehicle’s fluid levels, including transmission, power steering, windshield washer and coolant.
* Keep in constant contact. Maintain your tires. Check inflation pressure monthly, and make sure your tires are properly balanced. Don’t forget to rotate your tires according to the maintenance schedule and have the alignment checked at least once a year.
* Be considerate. Use good driving habits. Accelerating quickly and stopping abruptly can prematurely wear your vehicle’s engine, transmission, tires and brakes. Aggressive driving also wastes gas.
* Protect it from the elements. Keep the exterior washed and waxed to preserve the paint finish and protect your vehicle from the environment. Salt, water, sand and even de-icing chemicals on the road can cause rust or other damage to a vehicle.
Every relationship takes work, even the one you have with your car. Never underestimate how far a little tender loving care toward your vehicle can go!
