Since 2007 I have called Honolulu, Hawaii my home. After traveling around the world for many years, from Ecuador to the United States to Canada to Germany to Italy to Mexico and then back to the United States, I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Living in the island of Oahu, I am surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and I love it. With my wife we love to practice many ocean sports, particularly surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and spearfishing. Based on our ocean adventures here in Hawaii, I recommend these four great gadgets for ocean sports.

Underwater Camera

If you don’t have a picture, it didn’t happen.

People often believe us that we can get out there and spearfish.

This ought to put the naysayers at ease.

One of the most fun things to do while out in the water, it is to play around with a durable, underwater camera.

We have found that the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 (pictured below) is a very versatile and user friendly camera to shoot any activities underwater.

Both the spearfishing picture of my wife underwater and the picture of me surfing near Diamond Head were shot with the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010. As you can see the camera performs great both above and under water.

Underwater Audio

Stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking can be a lot of fun but it definitely they can get a bit monotonous after a while. The perfect solution is to have some great tunes while out in the ocean. The Waterproof iPod Shuffle from Underwater Audio is a tiny, lightweight device that can clip just about anywhere.

Here you can see how it can easily attach to a strip of a bikini top.

I recommend it because it is both Mac and PC compatible, holds hundreds of songs, has a strong clip and can be controlled with your voice or a single click.

And my wife just loves that she can choose from several colors so it can match her bikini.

The guys at Underwater Radio offer you the choice of getting a brand new one or sending yours in for waterproofing.

Underwater Phone Case

Depending on what beach you visit here in Oahu, you may run into the danger of getting your broke into. It is always a good idea to never leave any valuables inside your car. Even a smartphone can tempt people to break into your car or truck. While not necessary a very high tech gadget, we recommend a waterproof case. The Mini Whanganui from Aquapac is a good option because it fits most popular phone models (iPhone 5, HTC Desire, HTC Droid Incredible 2, HTC Thunderbolt, Motorola Droid 3, and Samsung Galaxy S)

This waterproof case is submersible up to 15 feet while keeping full functionality, except for making a call, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to go spearfishing. I recommend that you tie it up to your float instead.

Underwater Digital Watch

Last but not least, it is a good idea to invest in a durable underwater digital watch. You have no idea how many times we have been out there literally for hours thinking “oh yes, we have been only out here for 2 hours or so” and then we found out that we were out for 3 or more.  I am a fan of Garmin products and the Garmin Forerunner 310XT is a great investment because you can use it in and out of the ocean.

With over 20 hours of batter life, the rugged Forerunner 310XT is a triathlete’s dream training tool. It is GPS-enabled, water-resistant to 164 feet, and sends data wirelessly to your computer.

Enjoy the Ocean with Cool Gadgets

Mahalo for reading and catch you later!

Does this picture seem familiar? It may even reflect how you are sitting right now. Now you may even be rearranging your sitting position as you are reading this. As a blogger and marketing consultant I spend a lot of time sitting down in front of a computer typing away and taking calls. I am guilty of improper posture myself. Since one of my coworkers, who is around of my same age, got diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and had to go through a very invasive surgery, I have taken several steps towards improving the ergonomics from my workspace at both the office and home.

In the process of doing so, I have realized that if you are looking for to start a business with  a high potential for success, and one that can change lives for the better, entrepreneurs should consider the world of ergonomic consulting.

The Market and Demand

In a nutshell, ergonomic consultants advise businesses on how to work efficiently to increase worker productivity, while decreasing worker injury rates. You can apply ergonomic principles to a multitude of work environments – from the factory floor, to the board room, to the kitchen at your local pizza parlor. Recent statistics show that there there is a definite need for ergonomic consultants in the US and UK:

• The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports an estimated 591,000 workers were injured at work in 2011 and 2012. Of these workers, approximately 212,000 missed at least three workdays due to their injuries, and approximately 156,000 missed seven days or more. The injuries fall into several categories including slip and fall injuries, repetitive stress and lifting injuries, and other, unspecified injuries. Carpal tunnel syndrome may fall under the unspecified injuries category.
• The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports similar numbers with an estimated 117 per 10,000 workers reporting days off due to a work-related injury or illness.

These rates of injury and absence not only affect worker productivity, they affect the company’s bottom line in a multitude of ways.A company that offers paid-time-off is paying workers to not work; companies that rely heavily on rigid employee scheduling must run short-staffed during peak hours; and, high employee absences also put strain on the remaining employees, which can result in more workplace incidents.

So, a consultant practice that can show a company how to avoid these pitfalls would be high in demand.

How to Become an Ergonomic Consultant

Ergonomic consultants need training in body mechanics, kinesiology, and anatomy. Some consultants start off with degrees in occupational or physical therapy, however, those who do not can receive training through certification programs.

In the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) both offer Ergonomics Certifications, and other training for individuals seeking careers in ergonomics. The Board of Certified Professional Ergonomists (BCPE) also offers training and certification for individuals holding Bachelor or Masters degrees from accredited universities.

In the UK, COPE offers training courses on workplace ergonomics and other facets of occupational health. UK residents can also contact the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors to get accreditation yourself, or your practice.

Of course, you can always forgo getting certification and take on a managerial role instead. You can hire people with the requisite training and professional backgrounds to do the actual hands-on consulting, while you handle all of the work behind the scenes. However, even if you opt for a managerial role, you should have some ergonomic coursework under your belt. Because the more you know and understand, the better you can manage your business and people. So, consider a weekend course, or self-study with ergonomic text books.

Equally important is to become well versed with the vendors that provide ergonomic solutions in your local market. Having this  knowledge will allow you to better advise your clients on how to make their businesses more efficient at a reasonable cost. Also keep in mind online based ergonomic retailers like www.sitbetter.com so that you can always get several quotes for your clients. This way you can show both that you are performing proper due diligence and acting in the best interest of your clients.

Conclusion

Given the statistics on costs due to workplace injuries, there is a big opportunity for entrepreneurs to help companies   take preventive measures through ergonomic consultancy.

Image Source: Dr. Stephanie Maj

Here is the second part to the list of Pinterest imitators that have risen to ride on the wave of popularity from the social media site.

Trippy

The main point of Trippy is to create Pinterest-style boards for travel so that they will help and guide you on your next trip. You connect to the app through Facebook so that the app can find whether your friends are using Trippy and if in the case that they cannot, then they can suggest friends of friends who are using it. Also, the app features a couple of well known artists and travel experts (e.g. Andrew Zimmern), who have saved places in your destination of choice.

Snatchly (Warning: NSFW!)

Pinterest is well known for catering more to female users. However, this has not deterred other startups from trying to create a Pinterest-like formula that will work mainly with the male audience. While we already covered Manteresting, it is important to point out that this site is completely devoid of porn. It was only a matter of time that somebody would fill that gap: meet Snatchly, the online board for porn.

Unlike other online porn boards, this site has actually been praised by Venturebeat for its features and integration with major porn sites like RedTube, PornHub, and  Tube8.

Even though in March 2012, Snatchly boasted more than 15,000 registered and more than 100,000 unique visitors, the traffic data has fluctuated between 6,000 and 14,500 unique visitors according to recent data from Quantcast.

Mighty bell

Launched by Ning co-founder and former CEO Gina Bianchini in 2011, Mightybell aimed at helping users create step-by-step private guides for anything. In late 2012, the startup shifted its focus slightly away from the private, step-by-step product into a more collaborative, open public platform for people to share their ideas in groups.

According to the site, Mightybell is a place for making space for ideas, interests and adventures with friends. The idea of  ”spaces” is the equivalent of Pinterest’s “boards”. Within Mightybell spaces, users can assume the role of either host, contributor or follower. Hosts are able to post, chat, and organize meetings, designate Co-Hosts, customize the space, adjust the space settings, edit and delete posts, and add or remove members. Contributors can lead conversations with new posts, chat, invite others to the space, and organize meetings. Finally, followers have limited interactions within the space, which are set by the host.

Mightybell is a hybrid between Pinterest and Google Plus.

Fab

The most well known from this list of Pinterest imitators, Fab has been able to monetize the board concept quite well. Fab is an e-commerce company focused on everyday design across all price points and all verticals, but completely avoiding the mass-market.

According to the site, Fab’s mission to help people better their lives through the discovery of everyday design products at great prices. And their mission statement seems to be working as it is the world’s fastest growing e-commerce site, having grown from 175,000 members at launch in June 2011, to over 10 million as of December 2012. Forbes reported in December 2012, that throughout 2012 Fab was able to raise over $100 million in venture funding.

In a May 2013 webinar, Peter Goodman, VP of Salesforce Marketing Cloud, discussed the current state of advertising in the social media space. He took a look at the major advertising platforms on the leading social networks.

Goodman explained how social advertising is the hottest topic in advertising, forecasted to reach a $11 billion in the US by 2017, according to BIA/Kelsey in April 2013. He explained that one of the critical decisions for advertisers is what placements to select. Goodman has found that while desktop placements see an engagement of 1 to 3%, mobile placements see over 3% engagement. If you are a US advertiser, you also need to consider that  eMarketer, reported that in 2012, 62.2% of US Gen X-ers and 62.2% of US Millenials access the Internet from mobile devices monthly.

If you combine these two statistics, it becomes clear that any successful digital marketing strategy in the future needs to have a mobile component. So, this is why responsive design is 2013′s design trend.

What is Responsive Design?

Ethan Marcotte coined the term responsive web design (RWD) in a May 2010 article in A List Apart. Responsive design is a website design approach aimed at crafting sites to provide an optimal viewing experience—easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling—across a wide range of devices.

Instead of worrying about every single platform individually, developers using responsive design establish a framework to address all devices simultaneously.  This way a site is tablet- and mobile-ready from the initial wireframes as opposed to having to rejigger the desktop version to other formats.

Live Example of Responsive Design

While responsive design may seem a trend for avant-garde techie publications such as The Verge and Mashable,  savvy business owners are realizing the benefits of having a site that is optimized for the mobile web.  HaymoreEndodontics.com, an endodontics practice in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, is a good example.

Here is a screenshot of the desktop version of the endondontics site:

Now here is the mobile version of the same site:

As you can see from these two screenshots, the following has happened:

The site has been designed to adapt according to the width of the screen from user’s device. A key element from this design approach is that long navigation bars, in this example: Home, About, FAQ, Procedures, Insurances, Blog and Contact, are minimized into a single menu button. If you click on it, it will expand to reveal all menu items.

Evaluation of Responsive Design

As business are considering how to increase traffic to their sites, social ads and mobile traffic have to be considered. Given the stats presented above by BIA/Kelsey and eMarketer, it is hard not to. However, in order to implement mobile Internet strategies, your site needs to be ready to correctly present the information to those visitors. Web design is a cost effective and efficient approach.

While other alternatives such as HTML 5 and native app development are also available, you will find that these options can quickly become expensive. If you go want to develop a native app, will you alienate Android users? A first response may be no, until you find the price tag of developing an iPhone app and an Android version. Did I mention that there is also Windows Phone and Blackberry? While every site has a different mix of mobile and tablet visitors, it becomes apparent that instead of having to choose a single device or a limited set of devices, it would be much better to address all of them at once. Responsive design does that.

This is why responsive design is 2013′s web design trend.

As a previous user of Pandora and a current user of Spotify, I understand the increasing trend of U.S. consumers ages 13 to 35 to use digital sources for music listening.

While AM/FM radio is still the primary source for music listening, Internet radio (e.g. Pandora, Spotify) is quickly catching up. From the graph above, it becomes obvious that Internet radio will eventually take over AM/FM radio.

Where the Digital Music Listeners Are

From those tuning in to online music services in the United States, here is an approximate breakdown as of Q4 2012:

In another study from the NPD Group released in February 2013, the research organization found that close to 56% of U.S. smartphone owners use it for music listening and that a 65% use apps. Here is a list of iPhone radio apps and Android radio apps. Back in July 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek reported that 79.3 Million people listened to Internet radio weekly. This number will just continue to increase, but AM/FM radio will still be around. Why? Because it is free for the user!

The Radio Marketing Landscape is More Complex

Given this transition period in the next couple of years between AM/FM radio and Internet radio alternatives, it becomes obvious for online marketers that they need an expert radio advertising agency to develop an appropriate media plan.

There is Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and satellite radio. Which channel should I use?

As a person daily involved in making client suggestions regarding their media plans, I can tell you that if you are using the “which channel” question, you are asking the wrong one. You have to ask “what audience”. And most of the time you can answer the audience question through radio personalities. Listeners listen for a reason – they feel CONNECTED to their favorite radio personality.  They listen to what they have to say about life, politics, food, family, health and they laugh and rant and cry. Think Howard Stern. Think Oprah. Think Leo Laporte.

Just like in the case of social media, using the appropriate celebrity may increase your website traffic and increase awareness of your products.

Most see the do-it-yourself entrepreneurial business as fairly lucrative because they are the sole beneficiary of revenue although most don’t see the work that goes into it. Common mistakes continue to repeat itself in this business which plagues entrepreneurs each year. The key is to seek guidance as well as to follow the standards that work.

Entrepreneurship is the definition of hands on learning in a fast paced environment. People tend to choose this lane because they can work under their own terms, on their own time. They are capable of choosing their own team to work with and working in a field they truly love rather than a job that may just pay the bills. But what is required of the business is an internal drive because in the beginning everything relies on you, you are the business. Major attention to all costs is also a large part of the self-starter job because there isn’t any room for financial mistakes. Seek outside advice from credible sources and relations so that you are prepared for what is to come.

Start a Business Strategy

The hardest things to come by in the entrepreneurial business are the most essential resources, time and money. With a limit on time and money, entrepreneurs have to make the most of opportunities but they have to explore those that are worth it because time can be wasted chasing dead ends. Learn from this list of 7 Lessons From Aspiring Entrepreneurs by Forbes and prioritize to take small steps to reach big goals. A strong strategy in place can focus the work so that the output of the business is in places that can maximize the benefits of the business’ work.

A thorough strategy does this through a number of methods. Identifying a particular audience that will be the main customer base is important because your product or service should cater to that population. When you identify an audience you will begin to gain a steady stream of customers from that base. For example, if one was to begin a business making custom t-shirts and they produced colorful, cartoon graphics then their target audience is most likely the younger crowd. The t-shirts they produce now fit the desire of the young, creative audience and from there they build a steady stream of clientele.

An in-depth strategy also analyzes the competition. One of the top Self Marketing Tips is that you need to learn how to develop and write a market feasibility study such as as the Knowing who you are up against in your field is important because you need to set yourself apart from those in the same business. Entrepreneurs know where to differentiate themselves from their competition because they have an understanding of the surrounding businesses. This includes the competitors’ target audience, general approach, and unique service or product.

An Entrepreneur Needs to Become a Self-Marketer

Marketing is a large part of a business’ success and doing it yourself can be tough at times. Attracting a customer population comes from marketing your product and catering it to their needs. Advertising is a major part of a marketing campaign that requires a detailed planned to really work effectively. Plans that introduce your business to the public may bite into your costs so as an entrepreneur you must find the most cost effect way to market your brand.

Choosing a marketing agency can be difficult but if you base your decision on basic marketing principles then you can find the right company for your brand.

Finding an agency that understands your target customer base is critical. Your agency needs to have expertise in your industry because it needs to understand your company’s place in your market. The more experience that an agency has in your industry, the better the chances that it can develop a specific strategy for your particular need. Besides a portfolio of relevant clients, here are some other important criteria to consider.

Planning a Strategy

Strategic planning is needed so that your company is headed in the right direction. Assess the experience of the agency and see if they have constructed similar strategic plans. Evaluate their execution of the strategic plans as well, such as which methods of marketing did they use whether it is digital marketing, social media, or other alternative methods.

The marketing plan must be effective and executed according to the client’s needs. If the client’s target audience is the older crowd then the type of marketing should rely on more traditional methods rather than a digital strategy that involves an immersion into social media.

Develop a Target Audience

Do they have a team that can define a specific target audience and create a plan to attract a steady following of that crowd. The marketing must cater to the type of people your company wants to attract and create content in the most effect format to get the target audience to actively engage and steadily. If your company is a young, innovative technologically based company then your target audience may be the younger crowd that is the largest buyers of smartphones.

Agencies should be well versed on many different mediums other than online tactics or print advertisements. They should have an arsenal of approaches to ensure they deliver the message to the right people in an effective manner. Most agencies incorporate a three prong approach which are online (web or mobile), print, and a direct contact method.

Technology Integration

In this day and age the technological advances have made marketing reach more surfaces than ever before. It is essential that you find a company that utilizes all of those methods and platforms. Do they have technology resources that they can use to expand your customer base? Does the agency use social media, project management software, and customer relationship management to ensure success of your company? A good marketing agency knows how to integrate technology into their planning as well as other effective methods, a good balance is ideal.

Media Whiz, for example, is a marketing solutions company that integrates digital media and performance marketing that puts a special emphasis on acquiring customers at a profitable rate.

Understanding Your Backstory

Your chosen agency should understand the culture behind your company so they know what is going to work and what type of perception your brand is looking to portray. Your company and the agency you partner with will be working together so it is best they know the direction you would like to head in and where you are coming from.

With the skyrocketing costs for life’s basic essentials a mere norm. It is refreshing to find that there is still a perk or two left out there. Like mobile applications that will kick start your children’s computer aptitude without breaking the piggy-bank. These free apps from the leading toy maker Fisher-Price expand the company’s edutainment vision to encompass today’s technology. Adults can get a breather from their grown up problems when they responsibly supervise their charges’ mobile computing activities. So even grownups may learn a thing or two when as the rock group Queen advised, they “Play the Game”.

Rock Star Mickey

Rock Star Mickey encourages kids’ early adoption of music. Show them guitar mode and step back as they hone their riffs. Studies have shown that early exposure to music appreciation leads to improved math and science skills over those children who are not introduced to its resonant refrains. And you thought that the prolific mouse was just a fun diversion. Though it might be that no studies have yet been done on fashion and learning, being able to help the star chose his wardrobe, must count for something towards churning out more stylish offspring as well, Paris ‘look out!’

Fisher-Price: BIGFOOT the Monster

Fisher-Price: BIGFOOT the Monster proves once and for all the existence of the furry mammal that has been the subject of so much speculation. Luckily Bigfoot is friendly and as it turns out, a good baby sitter to boot. The app will help your budding wiz kids’ thinking and analytical skills develop. Share the experience of fulfillment in doing a good turn for Sasquatch as you navigate the mazes to help him find his ball. Speaking of navigation, kids learn in the doing when they search the world for the elusive creature. This app is more fun than a barrel of apes!

Moments of Joy

Moments of Joy is kind of like a clubhouse and support group for parents and a Facebook for kids all rolled into one. Throughout history, most fathers and mothers have believed that the whole world should see their home movies. Now they can with Moments of Joy. The app encourages storing those cherished memories in the clouds. It makes it simple to upload them as an image, video or text object from your trusted servant, your iOS mobile device. It is an easy way to jump start that scrapbook that you should have already begun. Yet it’s eminently more practical than a real scrapbook, because you don’t have to worry about spilling coffee on it.

Laugh & Learn Learning Letters Monkey App

Laugh & Learn Learning Letters Monkey App is a swell way to introduce kids to beginning education. The app stands well on its own as a valuable tool in your child’s preschool arsenal. Wield it to begin to unlock the power of education for your child’s betterment. Speaking of unlock, it will be hard not to go ahead and purchase product #X4544, the Apptivity Monkey to complete the package. It runs on 3 AA batteries. You may want to have a spare iPhone to insert into the simian’s green stomach. The Learning Letters Apptivity Monkey will not work with the iPhone 5 series.

For even more Fisher-Price apps for kids, visit SmartAppsForKids.com.

Back in February 2013, we reviewed that online sellers are quick to think that in order to increase their sales, all that they need to do is to attract more people to their sites.

While this is one part of the equation, it is not all of it. One industry that has a  particularly big challenge in turning digital shoppers into digital buyers is the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPGs).

Great Outlook, Even Greater Task

From the graph above, it is easy to see why CPG online retailers believe that it is a simple matter of being a great online marketer. CPG brands have invested millions of dollars in creating robust brand sites and digital marketing campaigns—all in the interest of engaging loyal buyers. A good example is Pepto Bismol with their Millenial-targeting ads

However, as much as CPGs invest in driving traffic to their sites, some of their sites do not even have a “shop” button. Wrigley.com I am looking at you! While it is understandable that a CPG company may be not prepared to deal with the issues of fulfillment and shipping at the moment, they need to realize that they need to become a better ecommerce site builder in the future. Diving into ecommerce fulfillment is a good investment.

The good news is that online shoppers all look for the same features. According to an Integrated Marketing Services survey in February 2012, Millenials, Generation X and baby boomers all are looking for better prices, free shipping and same-day service as much as possible. There are no generation specific features to worry about.

Creativity is Key

CPG online retailers have to deal with well established incumbent juggernauts: Amazon.com, Walmart.com and eBay.com. CPGs online retailers must rely on creative strategies to increase direct site sales. A great example is Rogaine.

Let’s say I am looking for a 3-month supply of Rogaine. At Rogaine.com, I find:

I wonder whether I can beat that $49.99 price. A quick search reveals that I can beat this deal at Walmart.com.

Nice! Not only would I have to pay just $45.97, but also it qualifies for free shipping because it is a purchase over $45.

However, I remember that the Rogaine site was offering a 4-month auto delivery option. I wonder what’s that.

The 4 month auto delivery program allows me to have Rogaine foam directly shipped to my door every 4 months so I never run out. The idea is pretty good because it allows you to save time.

While the savings equation is not as easy as they put it, Rogaine does make an effort and encourages you to try it out by providing an additional $10 discount.

This kind of creative thinking is necessary for CPG online retailers to stand out.

Everyone loves freebies, but not everyone knows how to get them. They seem to believe that they have to be some kind of money-saving guru to get something for nothing, and that just isn’t the case. All you have to know is where to look, and you would be amazed at the free stuff you can find. From product samples to full dinners without paying a cent, it is out there.

These are my five personal favorites for free birthday meals, super cheap products and giveaways.

1. FavoriteCandle.com

Probably my favorite freebie database right now is FavoriteCandle.com. This is a huge listing of companies – sorted by location – that offer free birthday meals and other items (desserts, appetizers, percentage off the bill, ect) for members of their clubs. You don’t have to sign up for anything to use it. Simply put in your zip code and it will give you a collection of every business near you that has birthday offers. You can then click the link to go to that companies page for redeeming those coupons, where you can join their club for free. Many companies also offer introductory offers for sign ups, like a free menu item at your next visit

Others also send periodic coupons to use throughout the year, regardless of your birthday. You can visit Favorite Candle any time for updates to the database, and new special offers to take advantage of. Most coupons will be good for 30 days before or after, but it is specified on the Favorite Candle website. Listings are good for both US and Canadian users. Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch?

2. Swagbucks

I wouldn’t normally suggest a point earning site that has you get cash through offers. I have tried too many, and they are by and large a waste of time. But not this one. Swagbucks doesn’t just make you sign up for offers or do surveys for points (though they do allow you to do either, if you choose). They have a search engine that awards points for use, free videos, trial pay for services you would probably check out anyway, like Gamefly or Netflix, and much more. The prizes are excellent, as well. Think PayPal cash cards, gift cards to Amazon, and whole gaming consoles. Even doing it casually will reap great, free items.

3. The Krazy Coupon Lady

One of the most heavily featured blogs on the web, KCL teaches users of any couponing level how to make the most of their money. You will find quite a few coupons on the blog itself that can be printed out and redeemed, updates on great deals from online retailers, advice on everything from family life to finance, and a whole lot more. Both beginner and advanced coupon lovers should have this blog on their subscription list.

4. CrayZ-Bee’s Freebies

Do you like contests and giveaways? How about free samples or deals where you only pay shipping and handling? This Facebook group continuously updates through the day with the best deals on the web, and some off of it as well. A lot of businesses provide inside scoops to the maintainers, which means followers are the first to know. Be sure to change your settings to get notifications when they update, so you can be sure not to miss a single freebie.

5. Freebie 2 Deals

A lot of what is posted on this blog are deals from retailers like Walmart, Target and the Disney store. There is definitely a family tone to the whole thing. But they post just about anything you can imagine, and a lot of freebie offers as well. They also have frequent giveaways of items and gift cards, so they are worth keeping up on. They also have a Facebook page if you want updates on your news feed instead of through RSS.

Conclusion

Want to get even more use out of these sites? Make a calendar that has you checking each site in rotation. For example, check Favorite Candle once every ten days, Swagbucks once every weekday, and keep the Facebook or Twitter profiles of the others on your feed so you get updates whenever they are available. You would be amazed at how much free stuff you can get with just a few minutes per visit at each source.

Know of any other good sites for freebies? Let us know in the comments.

About the Author: Annie is the self-improvement blogger and frugal house-keeper.