We’ll start out with some general, steadfast rules for anyone interested in self-publishing, in print or online. In the end, which route you choose will be up to you, and either way know that you’re signing up for some major work.

But when you’re feeling overwhelmed or a little disheartened, just remember what author Philip Unwin said: “The long-lived books of tomorrow are concealed somewhere amongst the so-far unpublished manuscripts of today.”

So get cracking on that manuscript!

Getting Started

1) Determine your goal. Decide who you want to read your book and how many copies you’ll need. Do you want just enough to hand out to co-workers, family, and friends, or are you going for a larger audience? Of course you’ll have to decide whether you even want printed copies, but that’s coming up…

2) Make sure you’re not repeating something. Take a look around at different books in your genre to make sure A) you haven’t just come up with something that is already on the market, and B) how books similar to yours are selling. If you’ve written the latest and greatest Fiction about a family of cats, for example, but the market is not responding to Fictions about families of cats, well, you might want to re-think your story, or at least how you present it to people.

3) Determine your format. Okay, now you decide: hardcover, softcover, or eBook. Hardcover and softcover are your typical printed books. EBooks are online only and can be downloaded on peoples’ computers, tablets, phones, or eReaders.  So here’s the lowdown on your options:

• Printed books are slower to reach the market. It can take weeks or months until they become available to major book resellers
• EBooks books have a huge variety of formats
• Either way, if you’re a self-published author, you’ll need to be ONLINE to promote, promote, promote, and then promote some more, because with self-publishing, you are essentially a one-man team.

If you go with eBook option…

We’ll go over the two options that seem to be the most widely used, the easiest, and generally most beneficial to authors (they both offer their authors up to 70% in royalties.) Those options are Amazon’s Kindle and the iBookStore.

How to Publish with Amazon’s Kindle

1)   Sign up at KDP.amazon.com. Here you can use the same username and password you ordinarily use with Amazon, or you can create a new one.

2)   Add your title.

3)   Add your book’s information (author name, subtitle, genre, etc.)

4)   Add your book files. Here you’ll upload your book file and your cover art. Kindle accepts PRC formatted files, and if you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry. Just check out the Kindle formatting guide and they’ll walk you through it.

5)   Establish your price, distribution rights, and royalty level.

*A Tip on Price from CNET’s David Carnoy, an eBooker himself: “You should sell your e-book for less than $4.99. Most successful e-book authors are finding the greatest success in the $0.99-to-$2.99 range.”

Royalty Options: 35% royalty or 70% royalty. The 35% applies to titles under $2.99 and the 70% applies to books between $2.99 and $9.99

6)   Wait for publication. That’s it: you’ve published a book in 5 steps. Now you just have to wait, usually a couple of days, and then there it will be available to the public in the Kindle bookstore.

How to Publish to the iBookStore

According to eBooker and CNET reporter, David Carnoy, getting your book into the iBookStore is becoming increasingly important, with the rise in the iPad’s popularity.

1)   Create an Account. Click here to create an account with the iBookStore in order to upload your books. Read over the initial requirements, make sure you can meet them, and proceed.

2)   Enter your basic information. In this next step you’ll need to enter your first and last name and your Apple ID and password (the same one you use for app downloads, iTunes, etc.) If you don’t have an iTunes account, click here to create one.

3)   Enter more basic information. Here you’ll enter information like your name, address, and tax ID number (which is your social security number.) They’ll need this because the revenue you get from selling books is a bit different than the revenue you get selling apps or other things online.

4)   Upload your Book. The tool they use to help you in uploading your book is called iTunes Producer, an app produced by Apple. According to eBook-writer Dragos Roua, the process is very simple and easy to follow

5)   Enter your book’s information. This will include title, subtitle, genre, etc. Easy peezy.

6)   Wait for review. Once you’ve submitted your book to the iBookStore, Apple will review it. According to Dragos Roua, this process can take some time (for him about 2 weeks), but once it is done, barring any complications or big red flags, your book will be published and ready for purchase in the iBookStore.

*With the iBookStore, you will make 70% of the royalties and Apple will make 30%.

And that’s it! For more on self-publishing, in print or online, check out this great article with 25 things you need to know. Happy writing, everyone!

Have you written a book, or are you interested in doing so? What are your thoughts on self-publishing?

Sources: SelfPublishingResources.com, SelfPublishingAdvisor.com, WritersServices.com, Dragosroua.com, Reviews.cnet.com

The one thing about this changing of the season is that, well, it is changing. In just a couple of months or even a couple of weeks (like here in Texas), spring will fade into summer, trees will lose their flowers, and suddenly heat will replace that spring freshness.

So we thought we’d bring you a deal that can help you capture it. For a limited time only, Walmart is offering this DXG 5MP HD Digital Camcorder—a chic, blue, sleek looking thing that can record full-length 1080p HD video with amazing clarity. Perfect for zooming in on those cherry blossoms.

This easily transportable and super slim camera was originally priced at $99.00 and is now being offered at just $49.00! CLICK HERE to check it out today, as the deal is only good while supplies last; and besides, spring won’t last forever either.

So get out there and capture this wonderful season!

What’s your favorite part about spring?

Sources: Walmart.com

Remember the days when a resume was all about presentation? When we’d spend painstaking hours finding the exact right font, the perfect layout and design, and then spend a bundle to print it out on that perfect cardstock paper? Finally we’d hand it over to our potential employer like some kind of gift, smile, and hope that our careful presentation would pay off. Well it seems as though those days are coming to an end. When was the last time you actually printed out your resume on nice paper? When was the last time you actually mailed it or handed the physical copy to a person?

These days, resumes are sent in via E-mail more often than not, and I hate to break it to you, but computers also usually look them over before human eyes ever take them in.

Yes, we’re in the era of machines, and those machines are critiquing your resumes.

So how do you write a resume to wow… a computer? Check out these seven tips.

1)   Include a target job title and include it high up on your resume. This portion of your resume is favored by computers’ algorithms, much like it would catch the eye of a person (if one was actually reading it.) It sounds simple, but many times people forget to include a target job title at the very top of the page.

2)   Include a performance profile just below your job title. This will describe your ability to do the job.

3)   Include a description of your professional skills next. According to CareerCast.com, placing these skills near the top improves your performance with those search engine algorithms…”

4)   Include these skills over, and over, and over… This is sometimes hard to wrap your head around when your whole life you’ve been taught that being too repetitive is bad, but when a computer is doing the reading, it is looking for repeated keywords. So further down when you talk about past employment experience, repeat these key skills as often as you can.

5)   Include nouns rather than verbs. When hiring managers search through the database of resumes, they search by keyword, and usually they search by nouns. EX: it is easier for them to search “Database programmer” than “designed and implemented databases.” Make sure that you use these noun keywords to describe your industry.

So what are these magical keywords that you should be using? Well it is different for everyone depending on what kind of job you are applying for, but there is a pretty simple method to finding the ones that are right for you. Check it out.

6)   Include text only in your resume. Bullets, tabs, italics, etc. will do nothing to impress the computer scanning your information; in fact, it might just confuse the poor thing.

7)   Include a font that is easy to read. Stick with something simple like Times or Ariel, size 12. Even if you hand in a physical copy of your resume, businesses these days usually scan them in, then have the computer search for keywords, and then hand them over to a person. Fancy fonts and symbols will blend together in these scans and might turn up as misspelled words.

For a great resume example, click here and simply open the PDF.

And remember, these 7 steps will help you get past the computers, but that is just the first part; after that it’s all about acing the interview. Check out our posts on how to dress and show up for an interview. Happy hunting, everyone!

What do you usually focus on most when applying for a job? (Resume appearance, resume content, cover letter, etc.)

Sources: PSU.edu, Squawkfox.com, CareerCast.com, Hunklersearch.com, CNBC.com

The best things in life are free, and that includes things online. The web is simply filled with great free offers—free downloads, free photos, free videos, etc.—but with all of these freebies, it can be time consuming to weed through them. So we’ve done it for you.

Check out these top ten online freebies.

1)   Free TV and movies: Hulu.com

Hulu offers a huge variety of free TV episodes and movies, and now you can even stream it on your phone or iPod. Just visit www.Hulu.com to get started.

2)   Free books: Questia.com

At the bottom of the home page you’ll see a link for “Free Books.” They offer over 5,000 complete literary classics for absolutely no charge. This isn’t the best option if you’re looking for a new release, but hey, we all need to catch up on the classics every now and then.

3)   Free music: Spotify.com

The free version of Spotify does come with some occasional commercial breaks, but these short pauses in music are well worth it. This app can be downloaded onto your computer and phone, and the unique thing is, it allows you to see and hear what your Facebook friends are listening to.

4)   Free long-distance calls: Skype.com

A lot of people think of Skype as strictly a webcam communicator, but the truth is, even if you don’t have a webcam you can simply use it as a phone. It’s free, which is a lot cheaper than talking up the bill on your phone plan.

5)   Free homework help: Cramster.com

If your kiddos need some homework help, but not quite enough to justify hiring a tutor, Cramster is your solution. Here your kids can ask real educators questions, and they even have a section for parents who need a little refresher!

6)   Free language course: LiveMocha.com

Brush up or learn a completely new language with this free service. You can even interact with other speakers around the world.

7)   Free text-messaging: Textem.net

Sign up online for free and then just enter your friends’ cell phone numbers and carriers so you can text each other. Since the website is the one sending and receiving all the messages, there is no cost to you.

8)    Free games: Pogo.com

This site offers over 100 games that you can play online with friends or on your own. It’ll keep your brain sharp and your wallet happy!

9)   Free toys: TruBdayClub.com

Visit this site and sign your kids up for the “Bday Club.” Every year for your child’s birthday, he/she will receive one free toy and a card from Geoffrey, the Toys R Us Giraffe himself.

10)   Free Products and Coupons: ThatFreebieSite.com

At ThatFreebieSite.com you’ll find a variety of coupons, product samples, and a section for surveys and contests if you’re feeling lucky. Unlike a lot of those other “free” sites out there, this one is actually free—no fees and no need to invite friends to redeem your freebies.

Can you think of any other great freebies online? Share your ideas below!

Sources: AllYou.com, Shine.Yahoo.com, Top10ReallyFreeStuffSites.com

Of course you’ve heard of Facebook, you probably have an account, and you’re likely even logged in right now. But did you realize that all of those hours you spend chatting, updating your status, or secretly photo stalking an ex, you could be making money on Facebook? Well that’s why we’re here, our Online Aficionados. Here are the five ways that you can make money online with Facebook.

1)   Sell items in the Marketplace. Facebook Marketplace is an often-overlooked feature of the social media site, but don’t underestimate the selling power here! Not only will this app alert your Facebook friends when you’re selling something, but you’re also told when businesses and friends in your area are selling something that you Like (that’s capital L, as in you really Like it on Facebook.) Marketplace on Facebook is a great option if you don’t want to deal with the strangeness of eBay or Craigslist—you can sell items to close friends, friends of friends, or acquaintances, and feel good about the transaction.

2)   Invent something awesome. Okay, that makes it sound a little more complicated than it is, but it sounded cool, huh? What I mean is, if you have an idea for a Facebook Application (the game Mafia Wars, Farmville, or even the Marketplace app are examples of these), if you can bring that idea to fruition, it can really pay off. Don’t worry, if you’re not a computer whiz, there are plenty out there who might help you out—you could even post an ad on Marketplace! Remember, you don’t need to know how all of the pieces will come together in the beginning; you just need to have the idea. Check out this inspirational video to see how one man created his app, Up Up Ubi.

3)   Write an eBook. Last week we discussed selling an eBook on eBay, but you can also sell them in Facebook’s Marketplace. And what better topic to cover than something you are passionate about (a.k.a. something you’re really good at.  Many people with specialized knowledge take it for granted and an eBook is a perfect way to capitalize on your special skills.

4)   Show some ads. Do you have a ton of Facebook friends? Well then that means you have a large audience and could make some money by simply hosting ads on your Facebook. Check out Chitika or Google AdSense to find out more (you can just search for them in Facebook’s search bar!)  You can even customize the ads to reflect what your friends are interested in!

5)   Become an affiliate. This is very similar to showing ads on your page, but it is a bit more direct. You can register with an affiliate networking site, like ClickBank or Maxbounty, and pick a product that your Facebook audience (your friends) would be interested in. You’ll be given a link with your affiliate ID embedded in it, and whenever one of your friends clicks on the ad and buys that product or service, you’ll make a small commission. It isn’t a fortune, but hey, you’re on Facebook anyway, right? Might as well make some extra cash.

And those are five pretty simple ways you can make money online with Facebook. I hope you guys have enjoyed this series! Now go forth, Facebook Fanatics, and make some money!

Do you have any other tips for making money online?

Sources: Slideshare.net, Blogstash.com, Chitika.com, Accounts.Google.com

Now as we all know, eBay is an online auction site. People place items online, customers bid on them or pay the full asking price, and the seller makes a profit. Seems pretty simple, right? Well it is; but selling items isn’t the only way to make money with eBay. So never fear, if you don’t have a closet full of vintage purses to sell, eBay is still a great tool to earn some cash. Here are five ways you can make money with eBay.

1)   Become a seller. Okay, this is the first and most obvious way to profit from eBay, but there are some less obvious tips to selling that you might not know about.

1. Look to your own things. Ever heard the saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” Well take a good, hard look at the things you already own—vintage shoes, bags, furniture, old records, etc.—take a photo, write an excellent description, and put them up with a low bidding price.
2. Use the “social hours.” As any eBay pro will tell you, there are optimal times to end your auctions on eBay to make the most profit. The most suggested times are Sunday afternoon and evenings and Wednesday evenings. For business-related items, end your auction Monday or Tuesday during office hours.

2)   Buy and resell. If there is a seller on eBay getting rid of a collection of something—say it is a collection of dolls—and they list them altogether, it is a bit of an eBay fact that they will get a lower price, had they listed them separately. So as a seller, you can buy their collection, and then resell them separately for a higher price.

3)   Sell some eBooks. All you need to do here is pick a subject that you know a lot about and are somewhat of an expert on, write about it, and then sell it as a PDF under your eBay account for a small profit. Let’s say you are a computer whiz and can replace a hard drive with your eyes closed (not literally—though that would be pretty impressive.) Write up a short report and then just put it up for bid. Here’s an example.

4)   Become an Auction Manager. An Auction Manager is a person who sells other people’s items on eBay. He/she will do all of the grunt work (sets up the account, monitors the auction, etc.), and in the end comes away with a nice commission. If this is something you could do, just place an ad on Craigslist, in the paper, or start by spreading the word with family and friends.

5)   Become an affiliate. eBay rewards affiliates by giving them a commission on any purchase made by someone they’ve guided to eBay. So if you have a blog or website, you can write posts or reviews about certain eBay products and link readers to eBay, and as an affiliate, you will earn a commission if those people you referred end up buying something or opens up an account. Check it out.

*You can also place AuctionAds on your website. This is pretty similar to the Affiliate Program; the only difference is, rather than directing people to eBay through text links, you’ll be directing them through banner ads on your site. You can sign up with AuctionAds with your personal details and your site’s URL.

And those are five pretty simple ways you can make money with eBay. Don’t forget to come back next week when we’ll tell you how you can make money with Facebook!

Do you have any other tips for making money online?

Sources: Reviews.Ebay.com, HowToDoThings.com, MakeMoneyLog.com, Ebay.com

The idea of making money by doing something unique and that you love is by no means a new one, but in today’s tough economy, people seem to be growing more and more innovative in the ways that they pay their bills. Talented cooks are opening food trailers or becoming caterers; photographers are advertising unique photography packages and deals through discount networks like Groupon; artists, jewelers, crafters, and carpenters alike are writing blogs and creating a bigger presence on social media. The rules of the game have changed dramatically in the last few years.

And yes, among these creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial go-getters are people, just like you and me, who have a passion for playing video games.

The gamers.

Whether you like it or not, video games do play (pun intended) a major role in our world today. 183 million people in the United States alone spend at least one hour a day playing video games, and in the world, we spend a whopping 3 BILLION HOURS A WEEK playing video games (Jane McGonigal, author of Reality is Broken.)

So it only makes sense that some of the more expert players would cash in on their passion. From becoming professional video game testers to entering into tournaments, gamers all over the world are not only earning some side cash, but also in some cases, earning a living with their skills.

Video gaming is just one of many options to make money doing what you love. We’ll follow up with some more examples in later posts, but for now, ask yourself this: What are your talents? What are your passions? Try to come up with an innovative and creative way to combine these skills, whatever they may be, with a way to make a profit.

And if you’re stumped, check out our post on Side Hustles for some inspiration!

5 Innovative Ways Some Gamers are Cashing In:

1)   Tournaments: Once upon a time, professional gamers ruled the videogame tournament world, but that seems to be changing these days with a handful of companies that allow individual players to challenge friends and strangers with similar levels for cash.

2)   Warcraft: World of Warcraft adepts are making a profit these days by leveling their characters above 70 and simply selling their “gold.” You WoWers out there will know what that means—and you’ll know that it isn’t as “simple” as it sounds!

3)   Second Life: In this virtual reality game players can take on jobs to earn “Linden dollars,” which can be converted into US dollars (one Linden is worth about half a cent.) Some more experienced players out there take on more intensive jobs to earn more money, and in the case of Anshe Chung, even earn millions (of dollars!)

4)   Starcraft: There are a few ways players are cashing in on Starcraft. They’re entering tournaments (as seen above); they’re offering their services as coaches for other gamers; they’re becoming “casters” for tournaments or on YouTube; and companies are even earning a profit by advertising within the game.

5)   Professional Testing:  Remember in the movie Big when Tom Hanks gets paid to play with toys? Well, as a full-time tester, people are doing just that (except with video games, of course!) Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

What passions or skills could you put to use to earn some extra cash, or perhaps even a living? Share your idea below—perhaps you’ll even see it in an upcoming post!

Sources: Ted.com, CNBC.com, BringIt.com, EHow.com, SingularityHub.com, ChickJunk.com, PC.Ign.com, Sloperama.com

The first question you should ask yourself is “Do I really need a new computer?” Try these tips to make your old computer faster and see if they don’t solve your technology terrors. Now, if your computer had to be taken out back and put down…

The second question you should ask yourself is “What do I actually need this computer for?” Is it just to browse the web and type up a few documents, or to download music and stream Netflix? Will you be using it exclusively for work or school?
Here is an infographic we did last year that can help you decide which computer might be right for you.

Really consider these things first, because it can be the best way to avoid spending more for something you don’t need. Here are some of the most pertinent and common questions people have about buying a new computer.

Desktop vs Laptop? What about a Netbook vs a Tablet or Smartphone?

A Computer used to be a giant humming super machine the size of a room, but now they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

Mac or PC?
This is the question that will most likely start World War 3.  I will refuse to say one is better than the other, because really they are very similar in many ways. One of the most important things that many forget to consider is, does your company or school require special software for one or the other? Some classes will require you have software they just don’t make for the mac, or your office might only use mac products so your chance to work from home will be limited to say the least. For the more tech savvy out there, it is noteworthy to mention that you can run a Mac OS on Windows, and vise versa, but expect your budget to increase dramatically if you want both operating systems.

A common misconception is that Apple computers do not get viruses. In the past, the dominance of Windows based machines spurred many to write viruses and malware exclusively for the operating system, much to everyone’s dismay. But the more people that migrate to Apple products everyday, you can bet that the problems will follow. With either Mac or PC, you can stay safe by having the latest anti-virus software installed, but the best protection is to be a smart internet user!

Additional Software?
Many who haven’t purchased a new computer in the last 5 years are unaware that much of the software that used to be included isn’t any longer. The Microsoft Office suite is the software most computer buyers miss the most after opening the box, and it can be pretty pricey on its own. I recommend using some really cool free options out there. Here is a blog post we did about Google Docs, and Open Office is also a great, free alternative.

Many new computers also come with additional software you don’t want, and they may even slow down your machine or require additional purchases. Many big box retailers offer services to remove this extra stuff for you, but to save money it is usually easy enough to do on your own. Here are some tips for a PC, and some for a Mac.

Warranties and Service Plans?
Major retailers LOVE adding additional charges on things like warranties or peripheral devices, because they usually make very little profit on the machine itself.  There are some that suggest these plans are all scams, and while some may not be the best idea, I wouldn’t go so far as to deny them outright. In fact, some can even save you money.  A lot of computer plans will cover the replacement of the charger and the battery, which are two things of the most common problems on laptop computers. Yes, you can buy replacement or universal chargers as well as new batteries yourself, but chances are it is a better buy to get the cheapest service plan at the time of the computer, and cash in on these replacements before your plan expires. Just remember to actually request these replacements! They wont just send them to you automatically, and in most cases are hoping you will forget about them.
Another reason you might be happy you have a service plan is if the motherboard fries. That is usually an irreparable item and will cost more to fix than a new computer is to buy. Hey, maybe that’s why you are reading this article in the first place!

Now that we no longer have to worry about Skynet, what computer are you considering to purchase in 2012?

Sources: HowStuffWorks.com, ZDNET, Wikipedia, NYTimes, PewInternet, LifeHacker, Apple.com, Mobiz, NetSquirrel, MacRumors

But those days are quickly coming to an end. It’s not because we’re getting lazier… Okay, it’s not entirely because we’re getting lazier; mainly it’s due to the huge advances in technology as of late, and in particular, the mighty App.

The App (or “application” for you people still looking in coupon books) has revolutionized the way we shop, save money, and find deals. We no longer have to go from store to store, or even from Website to Website, to find out which business will give it to us for less; there’s an app for that.

And now that there are all these apps that will consolidate deals for you, we thought we’d publish a post to consolidate apps for you. So here you have it: Our five favorite, free apps (good for all device types) that will help you save money. Enjoy!

ShopSavvy: “Find the right product at the best price! Now the fastest, most accurate and most comprehensive scanner around. It won’t find everything in the world, but it is close. Now you can be savvy when you shop!”

GeoQpons: “The GeoQpons app empowers consumers to save significant dollars at their favorite local and national retailers and contains more offers than any other mobile coupon application today…”

ZipList: “Create and manage your grocery shopping list, find and save your favorite recipes from across the web, get great savings and share with your entire family – for free!”

UrbanSpoon: “Urbanspoon’s mobile apps are a kind of restaurant slot machine. Just hit the Shake button (or shake the phone) and the wheels will spin, until they settle on a good nearby restaurant. You can also lock down the neighborhood, cuisine and/or price range to narrow the results.”

PageOnce: “Rather than providing its own set of services, PageOnce Personal Assistant aggregates your online accounts and feeds them to your [device] in one handy, streamlined interface”… “You can automatically track your money and pay all your bills in this one app.”

Do you have any favorite money-saving apps? Share them below!

Images From: ShopSavvy.mobi, GeoQpons.com, Get.Ziplist.com, UrbanSpoon.com, PageOnce.com

Sources: ShopSavvy.mobi, GeoQpons.com, Get.Ziplist.com, UrbanSpoon.com, PCWorld.com, PageOnce.com

(Insert appreciative applause here.)

But we’re not just here today to thank you for your readership; as a matter of fact, we’re here to give something back to you precisely for all those hours of reading.

Of course we love and appreciate your dedication, but as we all know, hours of reading and staring at a computer can be a little hard on the eyes (believe me—I know!) So we thought, what better gift to give our readers than a little break from, well, reading?

So take a break; turn off your monitor for a while; and simply sit back, relax, and listen to the financial happenings around you. (After you’ve finished reading this post, of course!)

Check out our top 5 favorite, free, financial podcasts from around the world. (Just click the name of the program to visit its site!)

1)   Marketplace: Here you have the option to subscribe to Marketplace, the Marketplace Morning Report, the Marketplace Tech Report, or Marketplace Money. OR you can subscribe to the “Marketplace All-in-One Podcast” and get them all—all for free!

2)   CNBC’s “On the Money”: This podcasts is dedicated to helping you make the most of your money. CNBC’s Carmen Wong Ulrich, a leading personal finance expert, delivers practical and personalized tips and tricks to survive in today’s economic climate.

3)   The Clark Howard Radio Show: Clark Howard is a nationally syndicated “consumer advocate” who is heard on the radio everyday on over 200 stations in North America. With this podcast, though, you can listen to his programs on your own schedule. 

4)   Freakonomics: These guys take a look at economics from a slightly different angle. From looking at “what makes a donor donate?” to the reasons behind Americans’ food choices, this podcast is a blend between sociology, pop culture, and economics. Very cool.

5)   BBC’s “On the Money”: This podcast, of course, focuses on news in the financial world; but because it is BBC (and BBC is awesome), it often takes a more worldly view, covering topics that you won’t hear about from most sources in the US. Besides, who can resist that ever-so-charming British accent?

What is your favorite free podcast?

Sources: Marketplace.org, iTunes.Apple.com, ClarkHoward.com, Freakonomics.com, BBC.co.uk