So, when Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 was released, I purchased the Home and Student version which comes with 3 product keys from Amazon.  Only one problem:  there is no Outlook.  If you wanted Outlook, you had to buy the Business version.   When you load the home and student software, they suggest you try the Trial version of Outlook, which I did.  It expired, so I decided to upgrade.  Sounds simple enough, right?

Well you can upgrade for $99 and get only 1 product key.  I was upset that I couldn’t do the upgrade on the 3 products keys, but it took me 45 minutes on the phone with several Microsoft employees and supervisors to decide that I would finally upgrade with 1 key.  I then tried to purchase online for 4 hours.  In between, I called Microsoft and asked for help since their website would just spin and spin and could not complete the transaction.  I got put on hold after being shuffled to 4 people.  Each took my phone number “in case we get disconnected” and I had to reiterate my story each time.  The last person put me on permanent hold, and disconnected me completely, but never called me back.

You may wonder at this point why I wanted Outlook.  I had already imported and customized my email(several issues, but all ultimately resolved).  I finally decided that perhaps the browser was the probelm, so tried Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.  Finally got connected and purchased, but this experience has made me even more of a hater.

After talking to 9 different Microsoft customer service people, I finally had to resolve the problem myself.  In all my years of using Apple customer service, I have never had any issues even remotely resembling this.  So Microsoft, perhaps you need to take a lesson from a company that provides excellent customer service and keeps their customers coming back to buy more.

Do you have a WordPress blog and need help learning how to do something?

Do you hate reading instructions?

Do you hate searching online in forums for the answers to your problems and frustrations?

The solution: WordPress Blog Training Videos

This is an incredible bargain.  For $97 you get 40 videos on a wide range of topics that relate to blogging including:

• How To Set Up a FeedBurner Account and How To Use It

• How To Setup and Use AWeber and Get Response Email Newsletter Systems

• How to Create a Static Front Page in WordPress

• How to Use WordPress Widgets in The Sidebar

• How To Install and Upgrade Plugins Automatically and Manually

You can watch these online or download to your computer.  The videos work on PC and Mac and require no exotic software.  You even get a transcript!

Learn tips and tricks for improving your blogging.  Add the features and services that will make you more successful.

If you are a newbie and want to start a blog from scratch, there are videos that guide you through everything from getting your domain and hosting to installing wordpress and your theme.

So, at 3am, when you are stumped trying to fix something on your blog, just view the appropriate video on your own.  Pause when necessary so you can resolve your own problems.

Check out WordPress Blog Training Videos with 30 day guarantee.

Web Marketing for Dummies is a must read!  We were impressed by this economical, great resource for all internet marketers in this new release by Ian Lurie and 5 other authors.  It is actually 8 books in 1.  Some information is very basic (which is a great help to newbies), while other hints are appropriate for internet marketers who have not specialized in a particular area.  A $25 Google Adwords credit is included, so essentially you can get the book for free!  Frankly, it would have been a deal with only one of the 8 books.

The book includes sections on search engine optimization, web analytics, email marketing, blogging and more.   Each section has tips, warnings, and examples of real world uses.  The illustrations are helpful and assist in making the book easy to read.  The book is chock full of tips that you can use instantly.

This is certainly the heaviest paperback I have ever owned with 893 pages!  That is a criticism as well as a compliment.  Appreciate having all the information in one place, but would have preferred it in 2 volumes to be able to tote easier.  Of course, there is a solution to this.  Get the Kindle version!

In summary, this should be the one book that anyone attempting to do business on the internet should have as a desktop reference.