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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Monday, August 27th, 2007
Get ‘em quick. That’s my advice. Where? You can register a domain name right here.
You know, that’s pretty funny. I wasn’t going to make this a pitch for my domain name registration service. It just happened. I was just sitting here with Laura reminiscing about when I bought the domain name, “Gaulard.com.” I know, it was a little strange when I bought it. I think Laura thought it was funny because it was my last name. Well, would it be funny if Bill Gates registered “Gates.com?” I think not.
Actually, I think it’s becoming quite fashionable for someone to register their last name, that is, if it’s not a very popular one. I mean, I think Mr. Smith or Ms. Jones may have some trouble.
Back when I registered Gaulard.com, I never in a million years thought anyone would ever register any other Gaulard domain name with a different extention. I thought I was in the clear. Well, guess what? Good thing I got it when I did, because both Gaulard.net and Gaulard.org are taken. By who? Probably some long lost cousins in France. I think one of them emailed me once.
So, what’s the lesson here? If you think you should register a domain name, even if it’s wacky and wild, go ahead and do it right now. If not, someone else may beat you to the punch.
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Saturday, August 25th, 2007
Sometimes people name things and think they are very very cool for doing so. People hear these cool new names and start using them in everyday conversation. I bet you know what I am talking about.
Let’s say…”24/7” for example. I for one, think this is a very stupid little saying, but it seems as though just about everyone has jumped on this bandwagon. At this point, there probably is no stopping it. Once the Pope says it, it’s over.
Lately, I have been hearing little things here and there about “Web 2.0.” I read “Revenue Today” magazine. There are articles with hints of the “Web 2.0″ phrase. I kind of roll my eyes each time I come across it because it seems like people are trying too hard to grab hold of something. This is what got me going.
Have you ever seen any shows on HGTV? Well, if not, let me explain. HGTV is a channel devoted to home improvement. I watch it because I like to see the gardening stuff. Sometimes I have to grin and bear it through the DIY shows. When you were a kid, what did you call the box in your house that you had all of your stuff and your bed in? Your “room,” right? Yes, your room. Not anymore. Now they call it your “space.” Since when did we call everything a space? “Yeeeeeezzzzz, well, hhmmmm, mumzy, pleeeease move the Range Rover into the space.” “You mean the garage?” “Yeeeezzzz, the garage space.” Do you get what I am saying? If not, here it is. I am saying that calling a kitchen a kitchen is good. Calling a room a room is good. Only those people call things “spaces.” Unfortunately, even the homeowners (those whose homes are being worked on by HGTV) are now made to call things spaces. “Yes, we sure would love a teensy weensy little bit larger coffee table in our space.” That just sounds dumb. It almost feels like there is some huge effort in Hollywood to change what we call a room. Can you imagine getting wicked pissed at your kid and yelling, “You little $%#^%, go to your space!!! No dinner for you!!!”
Anyway, sometimes it seems like this is what is happening on the web. Kind of like in the corporate world. If you have ever worked in that world, I am sure you are well aware of the idiotic things people make up names for. Someone has got to stop them.
So, without further ado, let’s get to looking at Wikipedia’s definition of Web 2.0.
The phrase Web 2.0 refers to a perceived second-generation of web-based communities and hosted services — such as social-networking sites, wikis and folksonomies — which aim to facilitate collaboration and sharing between users. It became popular following the first O’Reilly Media Web 2.0 conference in 2004, and has since become widely adopted.
Although the term suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to Web technical specifications, but to changes in the ways software developers and end-users use the web as a platform. According to Tim O’Reilly, “Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform.”
Some technology experts, notably Tim Berners-Lee, have questioned whether one can use the term in a meaningful way, since many of the technology components of “Web 2.0″ have existed since the early days of the Web.
Let’s look at the first sentence. “The phrase Web 2.0 refers to a perceived…” Ok, let’s stop right there. This is exactly what I am talking about. A perceived…this means that someone made this up and it is being pushed on the rest of the world. I gather that because this phrase has become so popular.
Let’s look at the first sentence in the second paragraph. “Although the term suggests…” Let’s stop again. The word “suggests” to me, means that I can not use this phrase with any seriousness in the least. I like actual meanings of things.
Let’s look at the third paragraph as a whole. I agree with Tim Berners-Lee. We are floating on the same brain wave if you are catching my drift. Why in the world would anyone try to give the simple and natural evolution of something a name like Web 2.0? Oooohhh, yeah, version two baby.
I remember back a few years ago, a local radio station tried the whole 2.0 thing. This is when the web was just getting all heated up. They were so proud of themselves. The announcer would say something like, “Yeah, the best music of the 40s, 50, 60s, 70, 80s, 90s and today!!! J98.6FM — version 2.0.” That didn’t last long. I think once someone in management realized that no one on the planet had any idea what they were talking about, they put a stop to it.
I was down at the hardware store this morning and the paint guy asked what I was up to. I told him that I was going to head home to really dive in to the intricacies of Web 2.0. I told him that I was going to envelope myself in what I would seriously consider the lightening fast and exponential explosion of how “Web 2.0″ has defined what we call the web. Ok, that didn’t happen, but I am sure it would’ve if I had gone to the hardware store.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have truly noticed a shift in what has happened on the web. I am just not sure it should be called the second version. As a semi-ex website designer, I have noticed a squeeze in my profession. People still come up to me and ask if I can design websites for them. I am a little puzzled at why they are asking. I tell them to just set up a blog. They look at me all confused and then I remember that these people only spend a fraction of the time I do on the web. I mean, c’mon, just set up a site file, a folder structure, buy a domain name, set up a hosting account, download the latest version of Wordpress, set up a database and go to the install URL. Hit go, and if you want to get fancy, download a nice theme.
Is that too much to ask? Sorry, did I answer the question?
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