| How to Borrow Books on Kindle Posted: 27 Jan 2021 04:00 PM PST This wikiHow teaches you how borrow an ebook that you can read on your Kindle. If you're in the United States, you can use a free service called OverDrive to borrow Kindle books from your local library branch or school. This usually requires having a library card at the desired branch, as well as a username and password for your library's website. You'll also learn how to lend books from your own Kindle library to friends and family members who also have Kindles (and vice-versa). [Edit]Borrowing with OverDrive on a Computer - Go to https://www.overdrive.com. OverDrive is a free service affiliated with most US-based libraries that lets you borrow ebooks for your Kindle.[1]
- You must have a library card to borrow Kindle books through OverDrive.
- When you borrow a Kindle book from OverDrive, you can read it like any other book on your Kindle.
- Click . It's a link at the top-right corner of the OverDrive homepage. This opens a map on the screen.
- Search for your local library. Enter your address, city and state, and/or zip code into the box at the top-left corner of the page to find participating libraries in your area. Press the Enter or Return key to display results on the map and in the left column.
- If you're borrowing from your school library, try entering your school's name.
- Click your library's name in the left panel. This marks your library on the map and opens a small window at that location.
- Click on the map. This takes you to your library's homepage on OverDrive.com.
- Sign in to your library account. This step varies by library, but you'll generally have to enter your library card number and a password to sign in.
- If you're signing in to a school library, you may need to use your school's web account instead.
- Search for an ebook. Click the Search icon at the top to search by title, author name, or keyword. If a book matches what you've entered, it will appear in the search results.
- Refine the search results to display only Kindle books. To make sure you're only looking at books that will work on your Kindle, double-click Ebooks in the left panel and select Kindle Book.
- If you'd rather browse for something new, click the Kindle Books link at the top of the page to refine the results, then use the menu along the left side of the page to browse by category and other criteria.
- Click the book you want to borrow. This displays information about the book, including whether any copies are available to borrow.
- Click . If the book is available, you'll see this option to the right of the book's cover image.
- Some libraries give you the option to choose a lending period at this point. If you choose a lending period, click Borrow again when you're finished.
- If the book is not available, you'll usually see the option to Place a Hold instead. Above this option you'll find the estimated wait time.
- Choose the option to . Depending on your library, you may see this option after clicking Borrow. If you don't, click the Accounts menu at the top-right corner of the page, select Checkouts, select the book, and then click Read now with Kindle. This opens your account on Amazon.com.
- If your Kindle is not connected to Wi-Fi already, connect it now.
- Select your Kindle from the "Deliver to" menu. If you're already signed in to your Amazon.com account, you'll see this option under the yellow button that says "Get Library Book." If you don't see it, skip to the next step.
- Click the yellow button. If you were already signed in to your Amazon account, this will add the ebook to your Kindle. If not, you'll be prompted to sign in now, select your Kindle, and then click Get Library Book to start the transfer.
- Your ebook will automatically be returned to the library after the loan period is over.
[Edit]Borrowing with OverDrive on a Phone or Tablet - Install the OverDrive app from the App Store or Play Store . You can use the free OverDrive app to borrow Kindle ebooks from most local United States-based libraries. Search for on your Android, iPhone, or iPhone's store, tap the option with a blue-and-white "O" icon, and then tap GET or INSTALL to install.
- Open OverDrive. If you're still in the App Store or Play Store, tap Open once the app is installed to open it. If not, tap the new O icon on your home screen or in your app list.
- Tap . It's the option at the top of the screen. This takes you to the OverDrive sign-up page.
- Sign up with your library card or create an OverDrive account. You can usually sign in with your library card number and password—this is the same info you'd use to access your library's website. To do this, tap the orange Library card button, select your library, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
- Another option is to fill out the form, create a password, and tap Sign up to create an OverDrive account. Once signed in, tap the top-left corner to open the menu, select Manage libraries or Add a library, and select your library to open its ebook list.[2] If you're using an Android, tap the star to add your library.
- If you're signing in through your school library, create an OverDrive account, add your school library, and log in using your school's credentials if prompted.
- Search or browse for an ebook. Once you're signed in to your library, you'll be redirected to their ebook collection. Browse the selection or search by title or author name.
- Tap the book you want to borrow. If the book is available for your Kindle, you'll see a Read now with Kindle option.[3] If not, keep browsing for another book.
- Tap if available. This will take you to Amazon's website or app (if installed) to finish the borrowing task.
- If your Kindle is not already connected to Wi-Fi, now would be the time to connect it.[4]
- Select your Kindle from the "Deliver to" menu. If you're already signed in to your Amazon.com account, you'll see this option under the yellow button that says "Get Library Book." If you don't see it, skip to the next step.
- Tap the yellow button. If you were already signed in, this will add the ebook to your Kindle. If not, you'll be prompted to sign in now, select your Kindle, and then tap Get Library Book again.
- Your ebook will automatically be returned to the library when the loan period is complete.
[Edit]Borrowing a Kindle Book from a Friend or Family Member - Ask your friend or family member to loan the book to you through Amazon. If someone has a Kindle book they'd like to loan you, they can do so for up to 14 days through Amazon.com.[5] The person who is lending the book to you should follow these steps:
- Go to https://www.amazon.com/mycd on a phone or tablet
- Sign in to their Amazon account.
- Locate the book they want to lend you.
- Click the Actions button next to the book title and select Loan this title.
- Enter your (the person receiving the book) email address and select Send.
- Select Send Now.
- Open the loan notification message from Amazon. When someone loans you a Kindle book, you'll receive an email with the subject "A Loaned Book for You." It should come within a few moments of being shared by its owner.
- If your Kindle is not connected to Wi-Fi already, connect it now.
- Click or tap in the email message. This opens a page on Amazon.com that will help you accept the loan.
- If you are not signed in to Amazon automatically, follow the on-screen instructions to sign in now.
- Select your Kindle. If you don't have a Kindle, you can follow the on-screen instructions to download the Kindle app to your computer, phone, or tablet.
- Click or tap . This transfers the loaned title to your Kindle so you can read it once away. After the borrowing period ends, the ebook will be returned to its owner automatically.
- The owner cannot read their version of the ebook while it is on loan.
- When searching for a book in your library's ebook listings, enclose the title in quotes in the search bar; that way you are most likely to find the exact match without having to browse through hundreds of titles.
- There are many websites that offer free ebooks, including Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) and The Internet Archive. https://archive.org/index.php
- Not all Kindle books are available for lending to others.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Enhance Your Online Branding Posted: 27 Jan 2021 08:00 AM PST If your brand isn't performing well online, don't worry! You have many options when it comes to brand elevation and visibility. Since your website plays a crucial role in effective online branding, a few simple tweaks there can have a big impact. Putting more emphasis on brand consistency and professionalism are other easy tricks that can give your online branding a major boost. [Edit]Brand Identity - Use consistent branding for a professional and authentic image. Cohesive branding communicates to the world that you have a clear and established brand identity. Customers are more likely to engage with and trust a company that presents itself in a consistent way. If you aren't sure where to start, create a brand guide. Be sure to give the guide to your employees so everyone's on the same page. Include specifics like:[1]
- Your brand's mission statement
- Brand voice and tone
- Official logo and colors
- Fonts and typography
- Marketing style and materials
- Product packaging
- Company culture
- Update your website to be easy to navigate and on-brand. Your website is the face of your business and the embodiment of your brand. It's crucial that your website looks clean, consistent, and unique. Set aside some time to audit your website and look for ways to improve it. As you look over your website, ask questions like:
- Is the site easy to navigate? Does information flow logically? Create relevant internal links that guide users from page to page. Keep navigation tabs simple and easy to find.
- Does the tone reflect my customer base? For example, if your customers are millennials or Gen Z, go with an informal tone. If your customers are business professionals or stock market investors, use a more formal tone.[2]
- Are the design elements attractive and consistent? Be sure use the same colors, formatting, graphics, personality, and emotions on each page.
- Where is the logo and what size is it on the page? It's best to put the logo in the upper left corner of the website. Make sure it's big enough to see easily.
- Post customer reviews and testimonials on your website to build trust. Most shoppers read customer reviews or testimonials carefully before buying from a brand for the first time. It helps to create a dedicated section or page on your website where you can post positive customer reviews and testimonials. This boosts credibility by showing that your brand has been "tested" by the public.[3]
- Try to include a variety of reviews that highlight your range of products and services.
- Promote any good press you get to solidify a professional image. Being mentioned in the press establishes your brand as a legitimate business that's worth talking about. Add a "Recent Press" section to your website and link to articles or publications that mention your brand. Be sure to share these posts on your social media accounts, too.[4]
- For example, create posts or press releases about awards your brand receives and circulate them on social media.
- Make sure the "Recent Press" section is easy to see and access on your website's homepage.
- Display trust seals on your website to make shoppers feel secure. Customers are more likely to make a purchase on your website if they see seals (or logos) of trusted e-commerce names like PayPal and Norton. These seals make customers feel secure because they show that your company protects their transactions and information.[5]
- Some of the most trusted seals/logos are PayPal Verified, Norton, McAfee, Verisign, and BBB Accredited.
- In a recent study, 75% of customers said they've canceled an online purchase because they didn't see or recognize the website's certified trust seals.[6]
[Edit]Web Presence - Optimize your website to be viewable on all devices. Customers are using mobile devices like smartphones and tablets more than ever before. If your website isn't mobile-friendly, you could be losing a ton of visitors and potential customers. Check out your website on your mobile device to evaluate the user experience first-hand.[7] Look for issues like:
- Slow loading speeds
- Loading improperly (for example, for video content to load properly, it should be square and vertical, subtitled, and no longer than 30 seconds)[8]
- Inaccessible areas, links, or pages
- Unattractive or unreadable content
- Lengthy content that takes up too much space on a mobile screen
- Too much text content/not enough images and videos
- Use SEO techniques to make your website easy to find. Optimizing SEO is crucial because it increases your search ranking and generates website traffic. Start by researching keywords and using the strongest ones in your webpage titles, general content, and meta descriptions so relevant users can find you easily.[9] You can also:
- Create new content with strategically placed keywords
- Insert internal links and backlinks
- Increase social signals by frequently sharing web pages on social media
- Display your business name, address, and phone number
- Check for coding errors that can impact your website's crawl-ability
- Create a brand blog with quality content that can be easily shared. A blog allows you to engage with your customers and share useful content that establishes you as a resource in your field. If you're sharing quality content, people in your industry are likely to use and share that content online. Remember to blog in your brand's unique voice and tone to be consistent.[10] Consider blog content like:
- White papers
- Case studies
- Infographics
- Online courses, workshops, or webinars
- Downloadable user materials[11]
- Network with industry influencers to increase your brand's visibility. Building positive relationships with industry influencers can have a big impact on brand awareness. If a trusted influencer mentions your product(s) or brand in their content, you suddenly reach a whole new audience of potential customers.[12]
- It's important to work together to cross-promote each others' brands so the relationship is mutually beneficial. Think of it as an unofficial partnership.
- Industry influencers, Instagram photographers, celebrities, and social media platforms are all viable options for this kind of partnership.[13]
- For example, if your company sells canvas art for home/office decor, ask an influencer to pose with an art piece you sold to them and share the photo on social media.
- Part of working with influencers is negotiating how much you're going to pay them. A fair price will depend on things like how popular the influencer is and how you'd like them to promote your product.[14]
- Use brand-personality content to maximize social media engagement. Getting likes, shares, and comments on social media boosts your visibility in a major way, especially on algorithm-based platforms like Facebook that prioritize content with good engagement.[15] Leverage your brand's unique personality in your social media posts to engage and grow your audience.
 - For example, the fast-food restaurant Wendy's increased their brand awareness by tweeting sassy and amusing comments aimed at the media and their competitors. In one instance, when a user tweeted asking where the nearest McDonald's was located, Wendy's replied with the image of a trash can.[16]
- Sassy Twitter humor works well for a fast-food restaurant, but if your business caters to stock market brokers, that isn't going to be effective. Instead, use a confident or educational tone and share something that gets their attention, like real-time statistics or a Wall Street case study.
- Be sure to mix it up on social media! Don't post the same exact thing on all platforms. Tweak each post to fit the platform's size and media requirements. For example, a vertical and square video posted on Facebook shouldn't be uploaded to YouTube as-is. Adjust the video size to meet the current YouTube recommendations before sharing it there.[17]
- Remember to tag your posts so users can find them! Make your tags specific so you have a better chance of being found.[18]
- Use analytical tools on a regular basis to guide and refine your reach. Tools like Google Analytics can provide invaluable information about how well your website and marketing campaigns are doing. Regularly review analytics data like reach, shares, likes, and page impressions to see how users are reacting to your content.[19] Tracking metrics can help you identify problems like poorly timed marketing campaigns, ineffective promotions, and whether you're reaching the right audience or not.[20]
- For example, if you post a promotion on Facebook that links to a specific landing page on your website, use Analytics to track how effective it was.
- "Total Visits" tells you how many people visited your website that day. Did the average number of daily visits go up?
- "Unique Visits" tracks first-time visitors. Did you have more than usual?
- "Popular Pages" lists the highest-performing website pages for that day. Did your promotional landing page rank?
- "Referring Websites" tracks how visitors got to your page. If a lot of visitors came from Facebook, you know your promotion was effective.
- If your promotion performed poorly, try changing the focus or posting it to Twitter to see if you get traction with that audience.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Preserve Applesauce Posted: 27 Jan 2021 12:00 AM PST There's nothing quite like opening up a jar of homemade applesauce. When you make it yourself, you know exactly what's in it, how sweet it is, and how long it's been around. But if you're making a large batch of applesauce, you might not be able to finish it all while it's still fresh. If you want to keep your applesauce around for a little less than a year, you can freeze it. If you're going for longevity, try canning it. Either way, you can preserve your applesauce to keep it around and enjoy it while it still tastes great. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Applesauce - of apples
- 1/4 cup (32 g) of granulated sugar (optional)
- 4 tsp (16 g) of nutmeg or cinnamon (optional)
- of lemon juice (optional)
[Edit]Planning Your Applesauce - Use crisp, firm apples to make your applesauce last longer. Since you'll be storing your applesauce for later, you'll want to pick apples that are tart, juicy, and crisp. You can also combine apple types for a sweet / tart combo to make your applesauce more interesting.[1]
- For tart, crisp apples, go for Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or Empire apples.
- For a sweeter variety, use Fuji, Gala, or Golden Delicious.
- Gather of apples for of applesauce. Now it's time for the important question: how much applesauce do you want? Obviously, the more apples you use, the more applesauce you'll get. A general template for getting the amount of applesauce you want is:[2]
- of apples = of applesauce.
- of apples = of applesauce.
- of apples = of applesauce.
- Add in sugar if you want your applesauce extra sweet. If you've got a sweet tooth going on, the natural sugar in apples might not be enough to satiate you. If you would like your applesauce extra sweet, you can add in sugar 1/4 cup (32 g) at a time until you feel like it's enough. It's all up to you, so don't be afraid to play around with it![3]
- Honey and maple syrup are also great natural sweeteners you can add in a little bit at a time.
- If you're using a lot of sweet apples, you probably don't need to use that much sugar.
- Pour in some cinnamon or nutmeg to give your applesauce a bit of spice. Apples taste great, but there's not much variety in that flavor. If you want to mix it up a bit, add 4 tsp (16 g) of cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice once your apples are all mashed up.[4]
- You can also add a bit of all 3 spices together if you're going for a super autumnal flavor.
- Add in some lemon juice to preserve the color. Apples turn brown when they're cut, and applesauce has a tendency to do the same. If you want to keep your applesauce looking fresh, add of lemon juice when you add in the sugar to your recipe. You'll preserve the color of your apples and give your applesauce a citrus tang.[5]
- Again, this is optional, so you can experiment with adding or not adding lemon juice.
- Can the applesauce to keep it around for years. If you're planning on making a large batch of applesauce, you might be wondering how best to preserve it. If you want to keep it around for years to come, go for canning the applesauce in jars. If you'd like to save it for up to 10 months, you can freeze your applesauce. If you plan on eating it relatively quickly, just store it in the fridge instead.[6]
- Canning applesauce takes more time than freezing it, and there's more risk of bacteria. However, it does make the applesauce stay fresh for much longer.
[Edit]Making the Applesauce - Peel and core all of your apples. Rinse off your apples in the sink and then grab your peeler. Peel the skin off the apples, then slice each one in half. Use a melon baller or a knife to cut out the core and remove the seeds and the stem so you don't get anything crunchy in your applesauce.[7]
- You can throw out the stems and the seeds or put them in your compost pile.
- If you'll be using a food mill to mash your apples, you don't need to remove the skins and the seeds since the mill will do it for you.
- Cut each apple into 8 pieces. To make the apples easier to work with, use a sharp knife and a cutting board to cut them down to 4 - 8 pieces each. They don't have to look perfect, but they should all be about the same size so they cook evenly.[8]
- If you want to, you can keep your slices in a lemon juice bath to make sure they don't turn brown as you're getting the rest of your ingredients together.
- Boil the slices in water for 12 to 15 minutes. The goal here is to make your apples soft enough to mash or strain. Put them in a large pot and bring it to a boil, then set a timer for 12 to 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the pot so it doesn't boil over as your apples get soft.[9]
- You can speed this up by covering the pot with a lid to trap the steam and the heat.
- Push the apples through a strainer. Here comes the fun part: making the applesauce! Drain out as much water as you can from your pot, then pour your apple slices into a strainer. Press the apple slices through the strainer with the back of a spoon into a bowl until the mixture looks soft and doesn't have any lumps.[10]
- You can also use a food mill (especially if you left the skins and the seeds in the apples).
- To make this easier, put your apples into a food processor or push them through a meat grinder instead.
- If you want chunky applesauce, don't push your apples through a strainer and instead mash them with a fork until they're at the consistency you want.
- Add sugar and spices if you'd like to. Now you can mix in your flavor ingredients. Granulated sugar, cinnamon, honey, nutmeg, maple syrup, and allspice are all things you can add in to make your applesauce taste better. Remember: the sweeter the apples you used, the less sugar you need, so go slowly.[11]
- If this is your first batch of applesauce, you can experiment by adding different flavors to different batches.
[Edit]Canning Applesauce - Sterilize your jars and lids in hot water. Wash the jars and the lids with soap and water and place them in a large pot. Fill the pot with warm water and then bring it to a boil for 10 minutes to sterilize the jars and the lids. Drain the jars and let them cool down for 10 minutes before you pour in your applesauce.[12]
- Working with sterile jars is super important during canning, since introducing bacteria from a dirty jar can lead to rotten applesauce.
- Pour the applesauce into each jar. Carefully pour your warm applesauce mixture into each jar, leaving about of space at the top of the jar. Try to fill up each jar evenly to spread out your mixture all the way.[13]
- If you're worried about spilling, use a funnel to pour the applesauce.
- Wipe off the rim of the jar, then seal it with a lid. Grab a clean towel and wipe off the inside and outside of the rim of the jar. Tighten the lid on top but don't push down the button on top to seal the jar just yet.[14]
- Wiping off the rim ensures that the lid will seal the jar airtight.
- Boil a large pot of water to . Grab another pot that can fit all of your jars (or at least a lot of them) at the same time. Fill it up with water and set your stovetop to high heat until you see large bubbles rising to the top of the water.[15]
- Lower the sealed jars into the water. Using metal tongs or a wire rack, slowly lower your sealed jars into the water, making sure they're fully submerged. Remember, this water is boiling hot, so be careful![16]
- If the water doesn't fully cover the jars, add more until it does.
- Take the jars out of the water after 15 to 25 minutes. The amount of time your jars will take to pressurize depends on your altitude. Once you figure out what your altitude is, you can set your timer and wait until your jars are airtight. The altitude times include:[17]
- For , boil for 15 minutes.
- For , boil for 20 minutes.
- For , boil for 20 minutes.
- For anything above , boil for 25 minutes.
- Let the jars sit at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. Take the jars out of the boiling water and set them aside. Let them sit on your counter for 12 to 24 hours so they can cool down and seal themselves at the same time. Don't touch or open up the jars unless you plan on eating the applesauce right then.[18]
- Store the jars in a cool, dry place. Write the date on the jars so you know when you made your applesauce, then put them somewhere out of the direct sun. While there's no exact timeline for how long your applesauce will last, it should be able to hold up for at least a few years before it starts to go bad.[19]
- If the lid on the top of the applesauce is popped up or the applesauce smells rotten, don't eat it.
- If the applesauce changes color or gets bubbly, don't eat it—it's probably gone bad.
[Edit]Freezing Applesauce - Cool the applesauce quickly by placing it in a cold water bath. Place your pot of applesauce in an ice water bath to cool it down to room temperature. As the water heats up, replace it with new, cold water to cool the applesauce down faster.[20]
- You can use a large bowl or just fill up your sink with water to make an easy ice water bath.
- Pour the applesauce into glass jars or plastic containers. Wash your containers with soap and water to make sure they're clean, then rinse them well. Pour the applesauce into your containers, leaving about of room at the top to make space for the lid.[21]
- Since you're storing your applesauce in the freezer, you don't have to worry about sterilizing your containers in hot water.
- You can use glass jars or plastic containers with a lid as long as they can seal up airtight.
- Leaving room at the top of your container is super important, since the applesauce will expand when it freezes.
- Freeze the applesauce right away. Put your containers in the freezer and write the date on the outside with a permanent marker. Don't leave the applesauce sitting at room temperature, or it could go bad.[22]
- If you don't want to freeze your applesauce, just keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Eat your applesauce within 8 to 10 months. Applesauce will stay good in the freezer for a little less than 1 year. When you're ready to eat it, let it sit out at room temperature until it gets a little slushier so that it's easier to eat. Then, dig in![23]
- If your applesauce smells bad or looks moldy, don't eat it.
- Try giving your applesauce as a gift by adding a ribbon or a length of twine to beautify it.
- You can use of applesauce instead of 1 egg in most baked goods.[24]
- You can feed applesauce to your baby if they're at least 4 months old.[25]
- Dogs can have a little bit of applesauce on special occasions, but the high sugar content isn't great for their health.
[Edit]Warnings - Always sterilize your jars and seal them in a water bath if you're canning your applesauce.
- If your applesauce looks moldy or smells bad, throw it away.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Making the Applesauce - Knife
- Cutting board
- Peeler
- Pot
- Strainer, food processor, or food mill
[Edit]Canning Applesauce - Glass canning jars with lids
- Pot
- Metal tongs
- Permanent marker
[Edit]Freezing Applesauce - Airtight containers (glass jars or plastic containers)
- Permanent marker
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
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