Inspiring articles to help plan, design, develop and market your business online and offline. /articles/ Fri, 09 May 2008 02:08 EDT /articles/2008/05/1771/image-manipulation-gone-wrong/ /articles/2008/05/1771/image-manipulation-gone-wrong/ By Michelle at Lazymask
Can we still believe everything we see in photos? With today's state of the art technology, we can absolutely do anything we want with photographs. From trimming down love handles to making your grandma look 20 years younger, the possibilities are endless. Many people believe that the manipulation of images started during the invention of the very popular Photoshop, but the truth is, there have been fake photographs even before it was mass produced. Though it was not that popular, mainly because purchasing such software, before, can hurt one's bank account, the knowledge on the how-to-do im...]]> /articles/2008/05/1771/image-manipulation-gone-wrong/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:42 EDT /articles/2008/04/1765/less-known-search-engine-optimization-techniques/ /articles/2008/04/1765/less-known-search-engine-optimization-techniques/ By Benjamin at Ben Bruner Web Productions
Search Engine Optimization has become a must when looking to drive relevant traffic to your website and gain top placement with Search Engines. This article will point out a few techniques that are not as well known or used as often by web developers. When used properly, these techniques may give your website the extra little push needed to capture one of the coveted top 5 positions. At the end we will review of just few of the more common techniques for the beginners who may be reading this article. Less Known SEO Techniques Technique #1: Separate content from presentation Most ...]]> /articles/2008/04/1765/less-known-search-engine-optimization-techniques/ Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:10 EDT /articles/2008/04/1763/too-many-social-networking-websites-too-little-time/ /articles/2008/04/1763/too-many-social-networking-websites-too-little-time/ By Brody at Something Creative, Inc.
In the past few weeks, I’ve come across several new social networking sites that, upon an initial audit, seem to be high-quality, active sites that might generate some business for myself and others. So, I proceed to set up my professional profile for each site, entering my carefully crafted bio and company contact information. Then I get to the common, but inimitable process of “inviting” others within my social network to join in the fun. Who should I invite? Oh look...this particular site allows me to invite all of my LinkedIn contacts in one click! Done deal. You know how the rest ...]]> /articles/2008/04/1763/too-many-social-networking-websites-too-little-time/ Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:38 EDT /articles/2008/04/1762/choosing-the-right-web-design-company-for-your-business/ /articles/2008/04/1762/choosing-the-right-web-design-company-for-your-business/ By Benjamin at Ben Bruner Web Productions
You have developed a business you are proud to put your name on and have established a reputation for great quality and customer satisfaction. Now, you want a website that conveys that message and properly represents your company. There are thousands of Website companies and Freelance designers to choose from and picking the one that is right for your business is not a decision to be taken lightly. A poorly designed website may actually end up costing your business money. I am sure you are already aware that having an effective website is becoming increasingly important to the success of y...]]> /articles/2008/04/1762/choosing-the-right-web-design-company-for-your-business/ Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:29 EDT /articles/2008/04/1761/using-a-search-engine-optimization-company-vs-hiring-an-in-house-expert-and-the-true-dollar-cost/ /articles/2008/04/1761/using-a-search-engine-optimization-company-vs-hiring-an-in-house-expert-and-the-true-dollar-cost/ By Scott at Medium Blue
It's a common question that companies who are considering hiring a search engine optimization company often face - is this something that we can do in-house? More importantly, can we do this in-house and get the same results that an expert search engine optimization company would provide? As this article will demonstrate, clearly the answer is "yes" to both questions. However, as this article will also demonstrate, getting the types of results that an expert at search engine optimization can provide will cost you - often more than outsourcing. For the purpose of this article, Im ignorin...]]> /articles/2008/04/1761/using-a-search-engine-optimization-company-vs-hiring-an-in-house-expert-and-the-true-dollar-cost/ Sun, 06 Apr 2008 06:57 EDT /articles/2008/04/1760/how-to-make-link-exchanges-like-an-expert/ /articles/2008/04/1760/how-to-make-link-exchanges-like-an-expert/ By Karl at SmithSoft, Inco
First of all you want to make it as easy as possible for webmasters to exchange links with your website. Give the what they expect. The expect a decent links page. Some prefer that you have a maximum of thirty five or forty links per page. So putting thirty five links per page is acceptable. You need to have categories and sub categories, so when webmasters visit your website they know you already have a place where you can put their link. Link to your links page from your homepage. Follow those guidelines or else many webmasters will simple not request a link exchange or disapprove your...]]> /articles/2008/04/1760/how-to-make-link-exchanges-like-an-expert/ Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:33 EDT /articles/2008/04/1759/-web-basics-for-potential-clients/ /articles/2008/04/1759/-web-basics-for-potential-clients/ By Brian at designB studios, LLC
Web design is a process of conceptualization, planning, modeling, and execution of electronic media content delivery via Internet in the form of technologies (such as markup languages) suitable for interpretation and display by a web browser or other web-based graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The intent of web design is to create a web site (a collection of electronic files residing on one or more web servers) that presents content (including interactive features or interfaces) to the end user in the form of web pages once requested. Such elements as text, forms, and bit-mapped images (GIF...]]> /articles/2008/04/1759/-web-basics-for-potential-clients/ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:36 EDT /articles/2008/04/1758/5-reasons-to-implement-seo/ /articles/2008/04/1758/5-reasons-to-implement-seo/ By Angela at Pilot Fish
If your company has made an investment in guaranteeing its first-page position on Google or Yahoo via pay-per-click advertising, is it worth the additional cost to have your site search engine-optimized? Yes. Here are 5 reasons why.

• Better Click-thru Results with SEO - Research shows that 70% of search engine click-thrus occur from the natural results. Pay-per-click provides instant positioning, but your click-thru rate on PPC ads will be much lower than what you’d achieve by being on the first page of search engine’s natural results.
• Better Customer Demograph...]]> /articles/2008/04/1758/5-reasons-to-implement-seo/ Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:32 EDT /articles/2008/03/1756/what-if-your-website-was-a-real-salesperson/ /articles/2008/03/1756/what-if-your-website-was-a-real-salesperson/ By Brody at Something Creative, Inc.
  In today’s business environment, every company needs a website. And if you’re a small business with a limited budget, a low-cost solution may be tempting. But what if your website was a real-life salesperson? Would your lack of investment in them set them up for failure? I’m forced to use this analogy more than I would like these days. While I can’t do anything about the people/companies that offer so-called high-quality website development services for dirt cheap, I can try to help small businesses understand why you need to make an appropriate investment in your 24/7 sales workhorse. <...]]> /articles/2008/03/1756/what-if-your-website-was-a-real-salesperson/ Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:51 EDT /articles/2008/03/1754/all-about-spyware-removal/ /articles/2008/03/1754/all-about-spyware-removal/ By Maneet at LeXolution IT Services P. Ltd.
  A boon to one may be the curse of another! And same is the case with web programs. In a bid to create make web surfing smoother, some companies have created what is termed as ‘Spy ware’ Blank space on the web pages, sentences with missing words, words highlighted in yellow and bronze, links that don’t lead anywhere... These are all consequences of the Spy ware on the system. Spyware is computer software that is installed scrumptiously on a computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's informed consent. How It...]]> /articles/2008/03/1754/all-about-spyware-removal/ Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:50 EDT /articles/2008/03/1753/hues-of-the-website/ /articles/2008/03/1753/hues-of-the-website/ By Maneet at LeXolution IT Services P. Ltd.
  First impressions, if hold true then website colors are the defining element in a web site. The colors of the website should be the prime concern of web designers while designing a website. This is because it is what either attracts or distracts the viewers at the first glance. The colors used in a website can make it look either monotonously plain that bores the visitors or so contrastingly chaotic that scares them away altogether. The web browsers can only recognize 256 colors, out of which only 216 colors are shared commonly by all the browsers. Thus, while designing the key elements of ...]]> /articles/2008/03/1753/hues-of-the-website/ Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:29 EDT /articles/2008/03/1752/build-your-business-with-long-tail-keywords/ /articles/2008/03/1752/build-your-business-with-long-tail-keywords/ By ZealousWeb at ZealousWeb Technologies
  What are Long Tail keywords? Long tail keywords are minimally multi- keyword phrases queries which used by visitors in search engines to arrive at your website. Long tail keywords are less popular, less competitive and less searched for, but long tail keywords are much more conversable than the general or main keyword topic and they exactly represent a visitor’s need for specific product or information. So if we choose many long tail keywords then it can significantly increase website traffic and conversions like lead generation, driving up sales and revenue from organic search. Thi...]]> /articles/2008/03/1752/build-your-business-with-long-tail-keywords/ Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:59 EST /articles/2008/03/1751/searh-engine-optimization-for-beginners/ /articles/2008/03/1751/searh-engine-optimization-for-beginners/ By Tina at TCM Marketing Solutions
  Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the front end content as well as the back end development of a web site specifically crafted for the purpose of helping the website to rank first in the organic search results of search engines for the most popular search terms when searching the web. SEO involves many skill sets, from marketing strategy to keyword research, to copywriting and back-end programming, to then analyzing your results and adjusting. Here are some top tips that you can do by yourself from the team at TCM Marketing: 1. Identify the top competitive keywords in your industry. ...]]> /articles/2008/03/1751/searh-engine-optimization-for-beginners/ Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:23 EST /articles/2008/03/1750/the-future-of-paid-content-and-subscription-web-sites/ /articles/2008/03/1750/the-future-of-paid-content-and-subscription-web-sites/ By Brock at Caribou CMS
  Much of the general public makes believes that, because many people download movies, music, and software, nothing online has any value. However, this is far from accurate. People just have different criteria for making their purchases online. In a world that seems to believe everything should be free on the internet, how can subscription web sites hope to survive? In answering this question, I will provide 5 tips that will keep your subscription web site profitable. Whether you are an online magazine, a money-making web site, a private community with memberships, or just a web site with...]]> /articles/2008/03/1750/the-future-of-paid-content-and-subscription-web-sites/ Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:22 EST /articles/2008/03/1749/choosing-quality-keywords/ /articles/2008/03/1749/choosing-quality-keywords/ By Benjamin at Ben Bruner Web Productions
  An important part of developing a good website is making sure the right audience is finding your content. When creating pages and writing content on your website be thinking about the individuals who would benefit from your services. Consider what keyword search terms they may use to find your business. In this article I intend to shed some light on how to choose keywords that will give you the best return on your investment (convert more visitors into buyers). I intend on doing this by focusing each page of the website on just 2-5 keyword phrases and placing the keywords into 2 categories...]]> /articles/2008/03/1749/choosing-quality-keywords/ Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:02 EST /articles/2008/03/1748/link-building-secrets/ /articles/2008/03/1748/link-building-secrets/ By Jagadeesh at Search Engine Optimization Hel
  On reading this post you should be able to do link building with simple steps that i believe should help you do effective link building.For a natural link simulation most of your back links should adhere to the following strategies: Your targeted keywords need to vary a lot in anchor. Limited number of “click here” should help you to have good link building. When it comes to English websites, it is commonly accepted that more weightage (not the page rank) is got from links of related pages. Try not to have the back links all over the footage of the site or at one particular location. Try sp...]]> /articles/2008/03/1748/link-building-secrets/ Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:44 EST /articles/2008/02/1747/using-differentiators-in-keyphrases-what-every-search-engine-optimization-company-needs-to-know/ /articles/2008/02/1747/using-differentiators-in-keyphrases-what-every-search-engine-optimization-company-needs-to-know/ By Scott at Medium Blue
  As any good search engine optimization company knows, in search, more so than any other medium, you have a very short window of opportunity in which to engage your prospect. The only way to get a solid competitive advantage in this arena is to utilize various techniques in order to make sure that you are giving a prospect exactly what it is that he or she is looking for. Otherwise, your prospect will simply click the back button and visit one of your competitors - a process that only takes seconds. One way to gain a competitive advantage, of course, is to work on the website itself. Any s...]]> /articles/2008/02/1747/using-differentiators-in-keyphrases-what-every-search-engine-optimization-company-needs-to-know/ Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:20 EST /articles/2008/02/1746/designing-sites-for-universal-success/ /articles/2008/02/1746/designing-sites-for-universal-success/ By Maneet at LeXolution IT Services P. Ltd.
  If the word ‘Infinite’ demands personification, then in all probability, the internet may be the ideal answer. The Web is an ever expanding pool of information, growing by the second. It transports imagination, transcends boundaries and connects the world. But as it continues to develop, the users with special needs would have to keep in sync too. People with disabilities need to have equal access to the web. One in five people in the United States, between the ages 15 and 64 have a disability. 30 percent of all American families have a member with some form of disability. This calls fo...]]> /articles/2008/02/1746/designing-sites-for-universal-success/ Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:18 EST /articles/2008/02/1744/what-is-social-networking/ /articles/2008/02/1744/what-is-social-networking/ By Shambi at JMB Designs
  Topicguru.net defines social networking as, “a phenomena defined by linking people to each other in some way.” We have all heard of the social networking websites such as MySpace, Facebook, Clasmmates.com, and Yahoo 360. You may have found the majority of people are using these websites to meet new friends, but a growing number of people are using them to network virtually with other businesses, and to find new customers. Join a Group I grew up in the early years of the Internet. I can remember using Bulletin Boards to communicate via the computer with other people. Now message b...]]> /articles/2008/02/1744/what-is-social-networking/ Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:33 EST /articles/2008/02/1743/viral-marketing-tactics/ /articles/2008/02/1743/viral-marketing-tactics/ By ciara at Website Copywriter
  Truly there is no trick to viral marketing, no strange equations such as those found in SEO strategies. All that is necessary is to get people talking about your website, emailing about your website and just generally creating a buzz. Every website owner should certainly include one or more of the following in his or her own e-commerce game-plan. Email Signature This is certainly the quickest and most simple method of 'infecting' the e-world with your message. Attach a message both intriguing and explanatory, with perhaps a touch of humor if it fits your niche. Then, just get into c...]]> /articles/2008/02/1743/viral-marketing-tactics/