Jay Gaulard Blog

YouTube, Culture, Yahoo! and Neutrality

Thursday, November 15th, 2007

YouTube co-founder Steve Chen, speaking at the NewTeeVee Live conference today, confirmed that high-quality YouTube video streams are coming soon.

Does Internet kill or promote culture?

This article by Jeffrey Barlow of Pacific University discusses the impact of the internet on modern cultures. Using 2 differing texts, he discusses how the internet positively and negatively effects the way we act in society.

Yahoo! Says the Future Will be Modeled on Facebook

The future of both email and start pages is in social networking, according to Yahoo, but what’s really at issue here are two concepts that Yahoo execs didn’t name explicitly, but which will be familiar to most of the readers here. RSS and Attention Data.

Once thought dead, ‘Net neutrality roars back to center stage

Network neutrality has lost some steam, but the boilers have returned to full pressure after two senators ask Congress for an investigation. AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast have only themselves to blame.

Hulu Launches! Should YouTube Be Worried?

While it may not live up to its billing as a “YouTube killer,” Hulu is as different as a web video service could possibly be from the market leader.

Web 3.0?

Friday, November 9th, 2007

Do you remember my rant about web 2.0? Well, guess what…it’s here (Web 3.0). I knew it wouldn’t be far behind.

Free Classifieds Experiment

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

The other day, I got an idea. I thought it would be cool to put together another free classifieds website with some new and different software. I have gotten quite used to the software that I am already using, so I thought it would be fun to play with something new.

I found a really simple script and installed it. I just finished a short time ago and really like it. It does have some shortcomings that I will have to discuss with the developer, but I think it will work out well. If those issues are dealt with, I think this website has the potential to become pretty large quickly. There are reasons for that I, which I am not going to get into. Hehe.

So, take a look at the site and let me know what you think. It is similar to a few other really large ones already on the web. The name of this new free classifieds website is “FigLeeg Free Classifieds,” just in case you were wondering.

How To Advertise Your Business Online

Sunday, October 7th, 2007

Ummm…yeah, I think I can help you out with that. This is an easy one. Whether you have an online business or a “brick and mortar” one, there are a few places online that can get you the exposure you are looking for.

The first place to start advertising is online classifieds. Here are some very popular ones, depending on your niche…

- Pet Classifieds
- Free Classifieds
- Motorcycle Classifieds
- Boat Classifieds
- Auto Classifieds

Now remember, more than one of these websites above might be right for you. Feel free to advertise on the ones that fit your business.

A second great place to get the word out about your business is an article submission website. The reason these types of websites are so effective is because the articles are written by you. You can include whatever you want, such as a description of your business, what you offer, address and phone number, website, etc…You get the picture.

The last (for this post) great place to advertise your business is in a business directory, of course. There are tons of people out there every day searching for businesses close to their homes. They remember the business name, but not the phone number or address. They search Google or Yahoo! and type in only what they remember. Chances are, if you listed your business in an online business directory, you will appear and get that phone call you are looking for.

Until next tiime and good luck.

Synonym Finder

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

I am not the most creative person, especially when it comes to thinking of good domain names. I usually use the most descriptive term that pops in my head at the time. That’s not good when I am trying to make things “catchy.” I don’t think “dogbedsandothergoodpettoys.com” is a very good domain name.

So what’s a guy to do? Well, I had a nice creative idea to help solve this little problem of mine. I would use a nice “Synonym Finder.”

Remember, synonyms are different words with identical or at least similar meanings. So, from now on, when I think of a lousy domain name, I can just play off of my original idea and find a suitable synonym.

Microsoft Live Search Link Command is Offline

Saturday, September 8th, 2007

I just might be the last known web dude on the planet to notice this, but the Microsoft Live Search link command is officially offline. Boy do I feel like a loser.

I was checking some backlinks today and read a little note on MarketLeap’s website that said…

*Important Announcement!
MSN has recently discontinued reporting results for the operator 'link:'. As such, our Link Popularity tool is no longer able to report MSN results. More information regarding their decision is available on the MSN blog.

Well, wouldn’t ya know, I strolled over to MSN’s blog and took a look at the “We are flattered, but…” post. Mind you, this post was written in March. Where the hell have I been?

So basically, here is a key line of the post…

We have been seeing broad use of these features by legitimate users but unfortunately also what appears to be mass automated usage for data mining.

Hmmm, Yahoo! and Google and other search engines still offer advanced query syntax, such as “link:, linkdomain: and inurl:,” or some variation thereof.

Now, MSN can do anything they want and I am not somebody who is going to complain about Windows and Microsoft and all that. I sincerely hope I am beyond that, not that I was ever into it. I am just saying, “look around.” Many people who use that advanced query syntax are acedemics, webmasters and programmers. Those are the exact people you want on your side. How much $$$ has Google made off of AdWords? Gee, who was Google’s first target market for AdWords and AdSense? Man, it doesn’t take a genious to figure out that they are the ones you should be catering to and that they can be very vocal on the internet. I gotta say, it takes a bold person to take away one of the very tools that a very important market uses quite often. Oh well, I suppose I will just have to get used to Google’s and Yahoo!’s tools that they continue to offer.

Website Templates

Monday, September 3rd, 2007

I haven’t paid nearly as much attention to my website template website as I should have. Shame on me.

Anyway, this has got to be just the coolest thing about today’s internet. Everyone wants a website, but so many designers charge way too much. Also, there really isn’t much use trying your hand at making your own website look good when there are thousands of talented and experienced template designers out there.

Here, let me show you. Check out some website templates here. You have to admit that they are probably better looking than any designer you know can do. I know I can’t make something so nice. Now, at around $50, you’de have to be crazy to do anything else.

Also, if you ever get itchy to make some money, you can join the website template affiliate program here. They practically sell themselves, so it’s hard to lose.

Search Engine Ranking Factors

Sunday, September 2nd, 2007

I was doing a little research this morning on search engine ranking factors and came across a great web page.

The page is pretty good. I read it almost to the bottom (it’s kind of long). If you are into SEO, this should do you some good. Here, check out the first line…

This document represents the collective wisdom of 37 leaders in the world of organic search engine optimization.

Now, that is something that might help your website.

Here is my favorite line. Paul should get a kick out of this. It pertains to HTML validation…

Validation? Please, oh please, make it go away. Validation zealots just plain freak me out. Walking under ladders, breaking mirrors and stepping on cracks probably has more influence on your SERPs than validation.

I like that one.

Popular Websites For eBusiness

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007

I thought this was interesting. I just found this article on Digg.

The article lists the top 25 eBusiness websites based on a few factors. I like this list, because I have visited a few of these websites. I do get a little jealous because I hate to see these huge numbers from other websites than my own. I mean, hey, more power to ya’, but still, it’s not me. Oh well.

Here is the list of the most popular eBusiness websites. I have probably visited the top six at some time or another.

If you are into SEO, eBusiness and things having to do with being a webmaster, you might want to bookmark this.

Is Someone Tasting On Your Domain Name Idea?

Monday, August 27th, 2007

Say you have the next best domain name. Say you go to a domain name registration website and type your domain name idea into the little search box. Hey, it’s available. You wait a few days to muster up all the hard cold cash it’s going to take to get this bad boy. You get the cash and go back to make your dream come true. This time, when you search for your domain, it’s gone. That is…it’s taken. Someone already bought it.

Why? Well, I guess there are many reasons. I read this article on the web earlier today. I though they hit the whole thing right on the head. They say it’s called “Domain Tasting.”

Wikipedia says that these domain tasters are using the five day test drive of a top level domain to see if it has any marketability. I can’t imagine a domain having any traffic if it’s brand new. Most of those good ones are gone. I bet they are after the ones that have already been purchased in the past, but let expire.

This actually happened to someone I know. If it’s happened to you, go ahead and re-search the domain to see if it’s come back available. If it is, this time, grab it.