Hi folks,
If you find this page please note that I really don't update this blog anymore. I'm a big fan of Social Media and WordPress and moved to that platform. Find me at http://www.dennisjsmith.com or read some of my older post here.
Thanks,
DJ Smith
Social Media and WordPress Consultant
Boise, ID
Keep On Top Of Your Social Media With Nutshell Mail
Feel like you are struggling to keep up with your social media? Don’t get buried in status updates, pokes, mail and Tweets. There’s a whole lot of services out there that make it easy to manage social media. The one I like the most is Nutshell Mail from the makers of Constant Contact. Setting up an account is easy and you can use Facebook Connect, MySpace or Twitter to start your account. It’s perfect for a small business or even for personal use and its free!
Nutshell sends all your social media updates, likes, tweets and more to you in a convent e-mail. You get to set the frequency of when you receive that e-mail. It’s also very customizable so you pick what information you want to see. Below is an example of the e-mail you receive to keep you on top of your social media. Think of it as a snapshot of all your social media sites.
No logging into several sites because Nutshell Mail takes care of all that for you. If someone has commented on any of your sites you can respond right from the email. It support Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Yelp, MySpace, YouTube, Foursquare, and Citysearch. See it in action today by creating your own free account here.
Know of another other great social media tracking tools? Feel free to comment and let other know below.
Content by Dennis J. Smith
Promote Your Business Or Cause Using Social Media
Available on Amazon.com in Paperback and on Kindle
Learn WordPress Plugins
The information below is part of an ongoing training course for customers of IgniteHost website and WordPress blog hosting. We will be releasing more training information on WordPress over the coming months. What’s your favorite WP Plugin? Please feel free to comment below:
What’s a WordPress plugin?
Plugins are applications that allow you to extend the power and functionality of WordPress. The Plugin Directory offers access to hundreds of useful plugins for your WordPress blog.
How do I install a plugin?
There are a few ways you can accomplish installing a plugin to your WP blog. Visit the Plugin Directory to find the Plugin that you’d like to install on your WordPress blog. You’ll find information on what the plugin will do for your blog. Download the .zip file to your PC and log in to your WordPress Dashboard. Select the Plugin Menu on the left-hand side of the dashboard and click “Add New”. Select “Upload” at the top of the menu and browse for your downloaded .zip file and then click the “Install Now” button.
The other way to install plugins is to search for a plugin by entering the name of the plugin you are searching for. Click the “Search Plugins” button and wait for the results to display. If the plugin you are searching for is in the results list you just click “Install Now” below the plugin name. Activate the plugin to have access to the plugins settings.
Don’t let the Ratings of a Plugin stop you from giving it a try since you can always uninstall any plugin you don’t like.
What plugins should I use?
IgniteHost recommends that you install the following plugins to your WordPress blog:
All in One SEO Pack – Improves your blogs Search Engine Optimization.
Disqus Comment System – Adds more functionality and options than the standard WP commenting system.
Odiogo Listen Button – Give your blog a voice. Translates your blog post from text and turns it into audio.
Sexy Bookmarks – Allows your readers to share your post to various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more.
Wibiya Toolbar – Displays across the bottom of your blog in toolbar form to give readers options to share, like your blog posting, view recent or recommended post, subscribe to your RSS Feed and more.
WP Touch – Transforms your WordPress blog into an iPhone like theme for those accessing your site from a mobile device.
WP FB Like – Places the Facebook “Like” or “Recommend” button at the top and/or bottom of your postings. Links will show in the wall feeds of the Facebook users who click these buttons.
WP-DBManager – Backup your WordPress database and download it to your PC or have it e-mailed to you.
How do I update plugins?
When you log into WordPress Dashboard you will be notified of any new updates to any plugins you have installed and those that are installed but deactivated. You can update one at a time or you can do a bulk updated by selecting all plugins with an update.
How do I delete plugins?
Plugins can be deleted in the same manner as described above by checking those plugins you would like to delete.
More resources:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/ - WordPress Plugins
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/browse/popular/
- Most Popular Plugins
http://codex.wordpress.org/Managing_Plugins - Managing Plugins
http://wpcandy.com/ - Blog on everything WordPress
WordPress Hosting from IgniteHost:
http://ignitehost.net/plans/index.asp?Plan=Ignite%20Blogger
Book Trailer–“Promote Your Business Or Cause Using Social Media
Promote your Business or Cause using Social Media is a handbook for beginner's interested in using social media to grow a small business or take any cause to the internet. Learn how to create a blog, start a blog radio show, upload videos to YouTube, Tweet on Twitter and build a fan page on Facebook with social apps and even eCommerce.
Purchase your copy today for just $9.95 through CreateSpace or Amazon.com:
CreateSpace – Order Now Online
Amazon – Order Now Online
- Learn how to add a shopping cart to your Facebook fan page and sell product right from your fan page.
- Learn how to get your own personal Facebook URL.
- How to get started with WordPress and your own blog.
- Twitter Tips!
About the author:
Dennis has been creating websites and browsing the web since the days of Netscape 1.0 while living in Seattle, Washington. His technology background goes back to the days of the Commodore Vic 20 and 64, Pong and Pac-Man.
He later turned his passion for technology and web design into a love for Internet Marketing, blogging and now Social Media.
He is the owner of IgniteHost website hosting, search engine optimization and social media consulting located in Boise, Idaho and writes the tech blog GigaDroid.com for the popular Android phones.
During his free time he enjoys road trips back to Seattle, exploring Idaho, microbrews, great coffee, sharing his knowledge with friends and Facebook acquaintances.
Android Most Popular Smartphone Operating System in U.S. Among New Users
Blackberry and Apple are meanwhile tied for second place, in a "statistical dead heat," says Nielsen.
Nielsen analyzed data from smartphone sales from January of this year through August to arrive at its conclusions. Among new smartphone purchasers, the Android OS is being adopted by 32% of handset buyers while RIM (makers of Blackberry smartphones) and Apple are tied for second with 26% and 25% of new users, respectively.
However, among all smartphone owners, RIM is still number one here in the U.S., but Nielsen notes its lead over the Apple iPhone (#2) is now declining. In this group, RIM has 31% market share, Apple has 28% and Android has just 19%.
This data is interesting given earlier reports from analysts at Gartner who forecasted that Android would become the number one operating system in the U.S. by the end of 2010 and could steal the number one spot from Symbian in global market share by 2014.
While the 2014 prediction is far enough off to cause some doubts - a lot can change in just a few years in this industry - the end of the year is only months away. If Nielsen's data is accurate, Android is indeed growing fast. But will it reach number one status in the U.S. with less than three months to go? That's still up for debate, it seems.
Content by Sara Perez
5 Must Have Social Media Plugins for WordPress Blogs
With the explosion of Social Media many bloggers are discovering the power of sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google Buzz and LinkedIn to name a few. With WordPress plugins you or your readers can share your blog postings with others just with a click of the mouse. Here are 5 plugins for Social Media that I think are the must haves if you are serious about promoting your business or cause.
WP FB Like
With the exploding popularity of Facebook this is a must have plugin because it post to the king of social media. WP FB Like is easy to setup and will add the Facebook “Like” Button at the top and bottom of all your post or pages. When your reader clicks on the button a link to your blog post is added to their Facebook wall. If their friends click on the link they are sent to your blog and directly to the post.
Sexy Bookmarks
Here is a WordPress plugin that does it all when it comes to sharing out your blog post. Sexy Bookmarks lets you pick and choice the social media networks you’d like your readers to share to. Plus you can drag and drop them into the position you’d like them to display on your page. You can display the social media networks at the top or bottom of your post. There over 80 social networks to choose from but I would suggest that you keep it under 20 so as not to overwhelm your readers.
WP Google-Buzz
With all the buzz about Google Buzz and Google's jump into the social media arena you’ll want this plugin for sure. If you prefer to keep a minimalist look to your blog you might want to consider going with just a few buttons. Facebook, Twitter, Digg and maybe even MySpace depending on the demographics of your readers. WP Google-Buzz is easy to configure and has several customization choices to fit any bloggers needs.
Disqus Comment System
This plugin replaces the default WordPress commenting system by adding elements that will drive more traffic to your blog. Both new and repeat traffic can be generated from the use of this popular plugin. Most major newspapers and news organizations use Disqus on their websites. Readers can check a like button just like the FB like button and can post their comments to Facebook and Twitter. Readers can also subscribe by email or RSS and get notified when someone replies to their comment. What’s not to like about this plugin?
PostRank
PostRank shows off the top post on your blog and is updated automatically as the rankings change. The look and feel of the widget can be set to match the color of your WordPress theme. Monitor your PostRank scores and social media analytic metrics right from the WordPress dashboard. The PostRank plugin is easy to install and setup is a breeze. Keep in mind that it might take a few hours for the top post to start displaying.
Wibya
The ultimate social media plugin for your WordPress blog is the Wibya Toolbar. Integrate both your Twitter and Facebook Fan Page feeds into your blog along with a host of other choices. Show off your YouTube videos or pick what videos you’d like displayed. Customize the look and feel of the toolbar to match your WordPress theme.
Do you use any of the above plugins with your WordPress blog? Have something else that’s a favorite? Please feel free to leave a comment below and add to this list by letting others know your recommendations.
If you know someone who could benefit from the information above please feel free to share with others. I appreciate it and hope you’ll return again. Thanks!
Being Social with Social Media On The Go or In The Air
The beauty of running your own business is that you are no longer tied down to the desk. With social media, a mobile hone and a laptop or even a new tablet PC you can promote your business while on the go. It doesn’t matter where you are at anymore to connect with the world and market your business.
It’s pretty common to find Wi-Fi in every city around the US and Europe. Plus services such as Clear, Rover and Sprint offer 4G in 50 plus cities across the US. That means you could be sitting on a park bench and connected to the internet at super fast broadband speeds. Think about how relaxing that 
I’ve given you a few ways you you can promote your business while on the go or even in the air. Suggestions? Ideas? Feel free to comment below and start the discussion.
Google Brings Voice to Gmail With Free Calls
Google Brings Voice to Gmail With Free Calls
Content by Jared Newman, PC World
Aug 25, 2010 1:33 pm
Google promises that phone calls will remain free "for at least the rest of the year," while calls to other countries start at $0.02 per minute. The voice service for Gmail will roll out to users over the next few days. To get started using the service, you will have to install the free "voice and video chat" Web-based service to your Gmail account here.
Here's how it works: First, you'll need Google's Voice and Video plug-in. Within Gmail's "Chat" window, a "Call phone" option will appear. Up pops a little number pad, on which you can dial the phone you'd like to call. Your Google Voice number, if you have one, will appear as the outbound caller ID, and can be used to receive calls within Gmail. Otherwise, a generic number is shown, Search Engine Land reports.
With the introduction of voice calls in Gmail, Google probably just made a few enemies. The first is Skype, which only allows free VoIP calls to other Skype users. With Gmail, all calls within the United States and Canada are free. I imagine Gmail's calling feature won't go over well with home phone alternatives such as Vonage and MagicJack, not to mention telcos that offer digital phone service.
But Google's going to make a lot of people happy, as well. Home offices could use the Gmail service in lieu of a dedicated landline, and people who don't have landlines and want to cut down on their cell phone minutes could use Google's service for long conversations. If Gmail phone calls remain free beyond this year, it may be time to invest in a wireless headset and a mic.
PayPal for Android gets a facelift
The PayPal Android app gets a makeover with a new cleaner look. PayPal 2.0 has a host of new features including the ability make a withdrawal from your account, request payments from others and calculate tips when you’re out on the town with friends. Now you can schedule upcoming bills and set reminders.
The built-in Bump technology lets you transfer money from your account to another individuals PayPal account by tapping your Android phones together.
Do you use your mobile phone for financial transactions? What financial apps do you use? Feel free to leave a comment below.
The application is free and can be found in the Android Market. Search for “PayPal”.
By Dennis J. Smith
GigaDroid
Promote Your Business or Cause Offline
Besides promoting your business or cause online using social media, you still have to use some traditional offline marketing. The internet has made it easier to use those traditional ways for marketing and keep the cost down. In promoting a few of my business endeavors I came across VistaPrint.com.
I took the advice of a friend and picked up a copy of a local business journal. From that I was able to gather the names of new businesses and their addresses. I then created a database using a contact database template I downloaded for free from Microsoft. I was able to add the information to the database and then use Word to print labels for the postcards I designed. The postcards were easy to create online and keep the look and feel of my book. I slapped on the labels and a $.28 cent postcard stamp. The 100 postcards were free thought VistaPrint (special promotion) and I only paid for shipping plus for a few modifications I had made.
Besides postcards there are many ways to catch the eye of a potential customer. You could create a t-shirt with your businesses logo and web address and give it away as a prize. With websites like VistaPrint you can even get your first t-shirt free plus shipping. There are tons of ways you can promote your business or cause offline and bring those new customers to your online endeavors.
Have fun with your promotion and feel free to post a comment with link to your offline promotional designs.
Find out more about Social Media at: Dennis J Smith – Social Media Author
How to set your Facebook Fan Page landing page
How to set your Facebook Fan Page landing page
By default the "Wall" tab is the first thing someone sees when visiting your Facebook fan page. But you can change that under "Edit Page" and then "Wall Settings". It's simple!
Wall Settings for Default Landing Tab
In the Wall Settings/View Settings section look for "Default Landing Tab for Everyone Else:" and choose your landing page from the drop down menu. Now when others land on your fan page they'll see what ever page you choose first. Keep in mind that the view you will always see is the default "Wall" view of your page. Plus by using FBML (Facebook Markup Language) you can create custom landing pages. There's more information on FBML and Facebook applications in Promote your Business or Cause using Social Media - The Book. If you find this information helpful please "Like" this page to stay current.
Article originally posted on Dennis J. Smith – Social Media Author
Google releases App Inventor for Android App Development
How to build your own Google Android apps
There are so many apps available for smart phones these days, it must be really easy to make them, right?
Video Preview: App Inventor
Usually, you need to have some sort of programming skills. But the folks at Google have come up with a way for anyone to create apps for its Android mobile operating system, with App Inventor, a by-the-numbers app building website.
As with most new things from Google, the site is closed to the general public, but Google is taking applications for invitations to join "over the coming weeks."
Below, a fun video from Google showing how you and the cat can get to work making apps, just by opening the program, and connecting your Android device to the computer.
Read more on Android Apps and reviews at GigaDroid.com
By Jefferson Graham – Reposted from USAToday.com
Write an eye-catching cover letter
With the amount of people unemployed across the country it's hard to stand out in a crowd. Besides having a well written resume it's also important to have an eye-catching cover letter. Focus on your strengths and why the company should hired you over many other applicants. The cover letter should compliment your resume and shouldn't duplicate what you already have in your resume. Modify your cover letter for each position you apply for so it doesn't look like a form letter. Instead tailor it specifically for the position you are applying for and focus on your strengths specific to that position.
Cover your bases
Start off your cover letter with where you came across the position you are applying for and how many years experience you have in the field you are applying for. "I came across the position for Web Developer on your website and would be a great fit." Make sure you include your contact information at the top of your cover letter including address, phone and e-mail address. Always make sure you are checking your junk mail folder for replies because you wouldn't want to miss out on an interview.
Make it relevant and on point
Now list your skills that match with the position you are applying for to show why you should be considered over other applicants. List these as bullet points and underline each one and include about 4-6 points. You need to give them reason to call you and offer you an interview by standing out in a crowd. Point out your past accomplishments or problem solving skills in previous jobs and how they benefited the company.
- I created a simplified process that reduced company waste by $25,000 a year.
- I created and maintain the popular techie blog WebGuyGuru.
- I created, own and maintain the website MyVolunteer.com which has had over 3,000 visits year-to-date.
- I am highly familiar with search engine optimization and internet marketing techniques.
Don't put stuff like "I'm very friendly with people" as a skill. It's pretty much a given that they are looking for someone that's friendly with people. What skills do you offer that are relevant to the position and that others might not have?
Seal the deal with appeal
Finish off with a reason why you should be picked and also how you will follow-up with the potential employer. If the posting list any information on salary then include a brief expectation of your salary requirements.
"I am confident that my skills will make me a great match and look forward to meeting with you in person."
Tips -
Save your resume and cover letters as a PDF and sent that instead of a Word document. Most everyone has the ability to read a PDF on any computer and not everyone is running Microsoft Word on their PC.
Use descriptive words that stand out like "confident", "eager", "leader", "energetic" or similar words.
Resources -
Does your wallet have the unemployment blues?
I've learned that while being unemployed some things have to be scaled back or cancelled completely. I recommend writing a list off all your bills such as power, gas, credit cards, cable TV, internet and any other bills you might have. Then start thinking about how you can cut back until you're back at work or your income is back to normal.
Call your credit card company
Call your credit card companies and advise them of your situation. If you have account protection you might be able to have your entire account balance paid off. You might have to be unemployed for a specific time before you can file a claim. But a simple call will get the ball rolling and the paperwork on the way. If you don't have account protection many card companies might have offers for those who have fallen on hard times. I recently called one of my card companies and was able to secure zero percent interest for 6-months and payments deferred for 2-months. Banks have fallen on tough times too and they want to make sure cardholders stay in good standing.
Cancel or cutback on non-essentials
Cancel services that you don't really need to get by such as cable TV or even internet service. Sometimes those companies might offer you a few free months of service to keep you as a customer. I was able to get 3 free months of XM Radio because I've been a paying customer for several years now. I cancelled my cable TV and enjoy clear reception with the new all digital local free channels. If you want to watch a movie or TV take advantage of services like Redbox where you can rent movies for just a buck. You can even sign up and get a text message code for a free movie on Monday's. If you have a computer and a newer HDTV you can connect the computer to the TV and stream video via services such as Hulu.com, Netflix or GreenCine.com. I connect my notebook to my HDTV via an HDMI cable and get a perfect picture. I can stream popular TV shows from FOX and NBC or play a DVD movie to take my mind off the job search. If you want to browse for a new job in style you can even view whatever is on your computer on your big screen TV.
Cancel your internet service
Did he just say that? I did. If you aren't going to be doing any video streaming like I mentioned above then cancel. Why pay 30-40 dollars a month when you can get wi-fi free at tons of places. Here in Boise most coffee shops offer free wi-fi service and you can get out of the house and socialize with others. You might even meet the love of your life or someone you can practice interview skills with. Plus it can get pretty depressing stay home every day and that's not a good thing. The local library even offers free wi-fi plus tons of books that are job seeking related. There are several branches around the city so there's bound to be one close to you. Check out your local libraries website for locations, hours, services available and even apply for a library card online.
Use coupons for grocery shopping
The price of groceries aren't going down and it can be tough eating right on a limited budget. Pick up the local Sunday paper and clip coupons and plan out your shopping trip before you go. I find that if I don't have a list then I'm grabbing things at the store that I really don't need. There's also several websites that show you how to save money at the grocery store and even offer online coupons you can print. Check out the Krazy Coupon Lady (http://krazycouponlady.blogspot.com/) for more information on how you can save a bundle.
Keep smiling things will get better
I given you a few tips on saving money while unemployed and I'm sure you'll find many more ways to trim the fat. Hang in there! I've learned over the years that things always get better so keep a positive attitude. See you at the local coffee shop!
Happy Freelancing for the Writer – A Book Review
Working Writer Happy Writer: How to Build a Thriving Writing Business from NOTHING (Paperback) – Sue LaPointe
Due to the economy and the desire to break free from corporate America I’ve been reading a lot of business related books. Anything from Twitter Revolution to the Bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad have been thumbed through lately. I’ve been on my personal quest to find something that can set me free and allow me to control my own destiny. I recently had lunch with a friend who was a former co-worker. Because of some health issues and the need to be a stay at home mom she had started to freelance. She told me how much she was making and about a woman she had met over the internet named Sue LaPointe. We talked about the book she had read that was written by Sue and how it was inspiring. I was interested in knowing more so I went home and did some research right after our yummy Thai food lunch.
Just Do It
I put off buying the book for several weeks because the bills to keep the power and heat on come first. But I did some searching and found some great freelance websites. Just recently I finally ordered the book and just finished reading it earlier this week. I’ve always said you have to spend a little money if you want to make money.
Freelance Freedom
It’s no wonder why Sue is at the top of her game and one of the top writers on Guru.com. She writes in a style that keeps you turning the pages and with a sense of humor tossed in. I now feel like I have the basic knowledge need to start my own freelance writing business or even web design. The book doesn’t go into depth but gives you enough information on how to get started. Readers are given a list of freelance websites to check out from Sue’s favorite Guru.com to Rent-a-Coder, the popular E-Lance and more.
It’s all about getting the Gig
Sue talks about getting your first gig (freelance job), finding local clients, building and updating your portfolio, setting your rates and more. I enjoyed reading about the 8 projects she recommends such as starting a blog. I already can check that one off my list because you’re reading this on my blog. Keeping your portfolio up-to-date and building on your work. Her recommendation is to keep your work in PDF format instead of its native format (i.e. Word format). It looks better and most everyone has the ability to view a file in PDF format. The most current version of Office will even convert from Word to PDF on the fly. Recommendation number 5 is advice to visit forums on a regular frequency. Warrior Forum is one that I’m a member of but need to visit and utilize more often. The forum not mentioned that I found a few months ago can be found on Freelance Folder. You’ll usually find me posting under DJInBoise on both the forums. I’ll leave the other recommendations for you to discover when you read the book.
Smart Goals
The last thing I want to mention is goal setting because it’s SMART (Goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely). I always try to set small realistic goals so I can attain them. Reading Working Writer Happy Writer was one of my short term goals. Never having to work for a corporation again in my lifetime is my long term goal. What’s your short term goal? What are your long term goals? This book gives you lots of information and ideas to make your own goals. It’s up to you to seize the moment and decide your future in freelancing.
DJ
Order the book on Amazon today and start your own journey!
Read more…
Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!
Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!
If you haven't discovered the latest trend on the Internet you're missing all the fun. Twitter is the latest phenomenon to sweep the Internet. It's growing at an even faster pace than Facebook at an astounding 1,382 percent from February 2008 to February 20091.
Imagine if your business grew at that rate? Twitter works like a mini-blog in which users known as Tweeters post messages that are 140 characters or less. Tweeters can post short messages (a.k.a Tweets) on how they are feeling, what they are doing or repost and suggest another article for others to view.
It is easy to get started by going to www.twitter.com and setting up an account and profile. You can find me at http://www.twitter.com/DJInBoise and click on "Follow". Now you can start following others from your friends, celebrities, politicians and even your mom. In turn others will start following you so you can broadcast yourself or a business to the world! Many companies are using Twitter as a way to market their products and services. Why wouldn't you when you have 7 million2 potential customers and growing?
Social Media websites are changing the face of the internet. Twitter, Facebook and MySpace are changing how we communicate and educate. Chances are that your friends and family members are already doing it or soon will be. Take the time today to get on board before you get behind.
Happy Tweeting!
Works Cited
1 Crum, C. (2009, March 19). Twitter is the Fastest Growing Community. Retrieved March 19, 2009, from http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2009/03/19/twitter-is-the-fastest-growing-community
2 McGiboney, M. (2009, March 18). Twitter's Tweet Smell Of Success. Retrieved March 19, 2009, from http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/twitters-tweet-smell-of-success/
Google Analytics - The Basics
Analyzing with Google
There are many ways to keep track of website statics like unique visitors, user browser preferences, location and other valuable information. If you already have an account with Google it's really simple to get started with Google Analytics by selecting it under "Try something new". Provide information regarding your websites and then simply paste the tracking code into your site, have Google verify that the code is correct and the rest is done automatically. Best thing is that it's free and has all the tools you need to discover the various trends of your website.
There are many ways to keep track of website statics like unique visitors, user browser preferences, location and other valuable information. If you already have an account with Google it's really simple to get started with Google Analytics by selecting it under "Try something new". Provide information regarding your websites and then simply paste the tracking code into your site, have Google verify that the code is correct and the rest is done automatically. Best thing is that it's free and has all the tools you need to discover the various trends of your website.
Overview of your websites
The opening screen is going to give you an overview of all your websites using Analytics which gives you a quick breakdown of current trends. Below you see some of my websites and what the trends are for the current week and comparing it with the previous week. You can also compare to the previous day, month and year depending on how long you've been analyzing your sites. Information at hand can be sorted by visits, average time on site, bounce rate, percent of change and website name. The information is valuable in knowing what kind of changes you might make on a site to keep visitors longer or where your traffic is coming from. By clicking on "View report" you'll get that more detailed information such as the type of browser one is using to view your site or what state, city or even country they are visiting from.
More Detailed Information
Right after clicking on "View report" the Dashboard for your site stats gets displayed with more valuable information. By default the date range is the same as the main Overview page and now gives you a graphical display and breakdowns of key site stats. The first stat you see is the amount of visits for each day in the date range and below that are the site usage information, visitor overview, map layout, traffic sources overview and content overview. By clicking on the down arrow on the Visits tab you can change the type of stat you want displayed here. You can choose from Visits, Pageviews, Page/Visit, Average Time on Site, Bounce Rate or the percentage of visits that are new. You can find description of each of these by visit http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics
What to look for
What kind of trends should you be looking for? Well that depends on what kind of goals you have in mind. If all you care about is getting visitors to your website then look for the Absolute Unique Visitors. But many of those visitors might have incorrectly made it to your site due to a bad search. The one trend I look at is the "Bounce Rate". The higher the bounce rate the more likely someone came to your site on accident such as bad search results. However if this number is low then chances are good search results got them to your site/landing page and they stayed and browsed. If they stay on your site then the next trend to check out would be "Average Time on Site" and "Pageviews". Those will give you a good indication of the quality of your website by showing you how long a visitor sticks around and how much stuff they checkout. It's most important to have great content that's relative to the visitor than just getting someone to visit your site. It's also great when people are coming back to your site so it's important to keep your content fresh and unique. Something noteworthy in the screen shot below is how many people are using Firefox, Safari and Chrome for their web browser. IE market share has been slipping and therefore it is important to keep this in mind when developing your website. I get frustrated when I can't browse a site correctly when I'm using Firefox. Firefox is one of the most respected browsers in the industry and I'm going to assume that Chrome is going to gain market share quickly. What's your browser of choice?
1-month view for one of my websites
Stay tuned
Next time we'll take a look at some of the other aspects of Google Analytics and how you can use those to increase the type of visitors you are looking for. Happy New Year!
More on AdSense and SEO
This is a follow up to the article I wrote on Making Sense of AdSense, Content and SEO. I recently received my first AdSense check from Google a few months ago for $100. That took me nearly 2 years to get to the $100 for payout. Now just 2 months after that payout I'm only $20 shy of getting my 2nd $100 payment from Google.
The Stats
Why the change you ask? SEO and good content on my website has drawn new traffic to my site and kept visitors there longer resulting in more clicks on the ads. I recently reviewed the website statistics provided by my hosting company 1and1.com. The trend was that visits to the site had increased each year and then took off this spring. I used the website tool Google Analytic installed on my site and checked the period of 6/01/2008-9/20/2008 vs. the same period last year for my sites statistics and showed 1660 vs. 651 visits for an increase of 154.99 percent. Page visits for the same period grew from 997 to 3739 for an increase of 275 percent. My studies of Search Engine Optimization started earlier this year by reading the book Search Engine Optimization - An Hour a Day by Jennifer Grappone and Gradiva Couzin.
Organic Search Results
There are 2 types of results when doing a search on sites like Google, Yahoo, Live and other search engines. PPC or Pay per Click allows you to bid on keywords and have more control where your site ranks. When someone clicks on your sponsored ad you pay depending on the value of the keyword that produced your search results. Depending on the amount of clicks this can be quite costly for those with a limited budget. That's why I've taken the time to learn about SEO because there's no expense involved in landing on the top of an organic search result. By reading the book I mentioned above and researching online I can now see the benefits.
Research
Do some footwork and check out what your competitors are doing online. Do a search using keywords related to your product or service to see who ranks near the top. I took the keywords "Volunteer Software" and searched Google and found out my site ranks 19th out of 411,000 results. Not bad considering that you want to land on page 3 or less on a search engine search result. Most lookers aren't going to go much further than that when looking for a product or service online. When searching for "Volunteer Management Software" the results are even better and the site lands on page one and ranks 4th out of 332,000 results. Not bad when you consider that I didn't have to pay anyone to get my website ranked high. There are several places to check your keywords for popularity.
Wordtracker
Wordtracker Free Keyword Tool
Google Keyword Tool
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal
Try. Try. Try and Try again
With your research behind you try and apply what you've learned to your website. Keep in mind that changes in ranking don't happen overnight and can sometimes take months. But it's your job to consistently be refining your site until you get the right results. It's a good idea to review your site daily even after you start ranking higher because a good ranking is never guaranteed.
I would suggest that besides your home page that you try creating a few landing pages with different keywords. Then monitor your visitor trends using something like Google Analytic to see which page draws the most visits to your site. Keep in mind that you want to use powerful keywords and repeat them on your page in a logical pattern. I have used the keywords "Volunteer Management Software" in several different areas of the home page of my site. Make sure you don't overdo it otherwise you might risk getting penalized by the search engines.
Final Thoughts
SEO doesn't mean your site will move to the first page of a search results overnight but eventually you might be there. I suggest check a local community college for possible classes in Internet Marketing and SEO. I've always learned web development by reading books, studying online and reading forms on the subject. Please feel free to comment if you have any thoughts or would like to contribute what has worked best for you.
Best wishes,
Dennis J. Smith
My struggles with careers
I'd like to say sorry to those of you that might return to this blog and expect to find fresh material. I've spent most of the year trying to get back on my feet so that I'm living on my own. Tough thing to accomplish in today's world. I left school for awhile and took a full-time job as a supervisor in a call center. We do technical support for a major cell phone carrier even though I don't work for that company. Hey at least my job is not outsourced overseas and I can make a decent income.
One of the things that I struggle with is that I really want go get back to web development and work for myself. I get tired of the corporate world and all the bullshit that goes along with it. Are there others that feel the same way? I've checked out E-Lance and it looks kind of tough to compete with others who might have more experience. Do you know of other sites out there for someone that wants to freelance? I've posted on Craigslist without much luck most likely because of the market size in Boise. Maybe I'm not applying myself enough and need to try harder.
I'd like to find a good school that had a 2 year degree offered in Internet Marketing. Then I could take my knowledge and skills to help others build and market great websites. My knowledge of SEO has already helped me get excellent results with my website MyVolunteer.com. I feel like there's lots of opportunity out there still for those with the right skills.
Anyway expect more articles on the stuff I'm familiar with and also things that interest me. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have the time to jot them down.
One of the things that I struggle with is that I really want go get back to web development and work for myself. I get tired of the corporate world and all the bullshit that goes along with it. Are there others that feel the same way? I've checked out E-Lance and it looks kind of tough to compete with others who might have more experience. Do you know of other sites out there for someone that wants to freelance? I've posted on Craigslist without much luck most likely because of the market size in Boise. Maybe I'm not applying myself enough and need to try harder.
I'd like to find a good school that had a 2 year degree offered in Internet Marketing. Then I could take my knowledge and skills to help others build and market great websites. My knowledge of SEO has already helped me get excellent results with my website MyVolunteer.com. I feel like there's lots of opportunity out there still for those with the right skills.
Anyway expect more articles on the stuff I'm familiar with and also things that interest me. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have the time to jot them down.
Connecting to a database via ASP
The ASP Connection
The next time you create a website think about how you want to get information to others. Is it information that is going to change or stay the same? If it's going to stay the same then you create your html document and you're done with it. However, if you want to change that information at a later date you have to update the document each time you have new information to add. Depending on how often you update this task can become a time consuming choir. There's a better way out there to serve up fresh web pages daily or even by the minute. We are going to explore the benefits of ASP (Active Server Page) technology and how to use it to connect to a database via your web page.
Getting Your ASP On
Example of an ASP tag
<% Response. Write "I'm an ASP Tag!" %>
ASP or Active Server Pages is a technology created by Microsoft back in the mid 90's. In non-technical terms it allows the web page to talk to the database and return results back to the web page via the server. ASP effectively allows you to create dynamic web pages rather than boring static pages.
The first thing you need to do is create an Access or SQL database to hold your information. I typically use Access first to design my tables that store the data. It's wise to map out your database design before you start storing data in it. That way it's not difficult to make changes to the structure of your database at a later time. In this example we'll create a very simple database that will secure your information by asking users to login in for access and create a table that will store and display links to favorite websites.
Setting Up Your Database Using Microsoft Access 
Information on how to create tables using Microsoft Access can be found on the Microsoft website:
Click Here
Next time I'll talk about hosting your database and explain how to make the connection between your database and your pages.
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