Twitter with an exponential growth has left no choice for businesses but to join. And not just join, have their each department join with a separate account. Which becomes crazy when few people are tweeting for all accounts at the same time. Specially when talking about small businesses and specially website owners. Twitter is not only good for popularity with word of mouth advertising, but it also helps with SEO because it tends to rank high with status updates and the profile page keywords. Which is why I am seeing a trend where webmasters are making separate twitter accounts for each of their websites. Also some people don’t want to relate their personal life with business which is why they make separate twitter accounts. Well if you are one of them and are looking for a feasible solution to manage multiple twitter accounts this article is for you.

The method of logging out each account and logging back in is very inconvenient. Well since I have multiple twitter accounts myself, I have tried out multiple services before I picked the ones that I use. This list has a lot of options, although I will highlight which ones I use.

1. Seesmic Desktop

It has no limitations on how many accounts you can use. Each account will be on a separate column makes it very easy to manage. It is a strong desktop client which is very efficient in running. It can also be integrated with Facebook. I tried this one, but I did not like the look of it, but it has gotten a lot of positive reviews on other websites.

2. HootSuite

HootSuite is a very powerful web based script which allows you to have as many accounts as you like. The best part is, that you can have multiple administrators as well. It works out well if more then one person in the company is working on the twitter accounts. HootSuite also lets you schedule tweets ahead of time which is very convenient because there are sometimes in the day when more people on twitter are active. HootSuite lets you post to ping.fm as well. If you use their url shortener, ow.ly, it also shows you the link stats. I am currently using HootSuite to manage my twitter accounts because it is remote as it is a web based script. It is completely free of charge.

3. CoTweet

Cotweet is a very powerful software which is still in Private Beta. I unfortunately have not tried it, but I saw a lot of good reviews on the web. This is a software that many major companies are using such as Pepsi, Starbucks, Ford, Microsoft, Sprint and others. It adds a strong business layer which means multiple users can use the same account. It prevents duplicate tweets, allows scheduling, allows assigning of tweets to coworkers and users can leave note for each other. Since it is in Private Beta you must apply and hope you get accepted.

4. Twhirl

Twhirl is one of the most famous powerful desktop client that gives Tweetdeck alot of competition. Twhirl stands at #6 in Twitter Client Stats. It allows multiple accounts and cross posting to ping.fm

5. Twibble

Twibble allows users to manage multiple twitter accounts. It also includes viewing options, location awareness, and keyboard shortcuts.

6. Tweetie for Mac

Tweetie for Mac is a very cool software for Mac OS. It also has a version for iphone. Tweetie for Mac does an excellent job managing multiple accounts and keeping the screen less cluttered. The powerful keyboard shortcuts are just what power users love.

7. Nambu

Nambu is great for managing multiple accounts at Twitter, Identi.ca, and Laconi.ca. Nambu account holders get to use tr.im to shorten their urls and pic.im for better quality photos then twitpic. It also includes Twitter trends, saved searches, filters, link aggregation, and groups. Nambu all to all is a great software. It is also free for iPhone.

8. Tweetlater

Tweet Later lets you manage multiple accounts, and have bulk scheduling options. It can also let you set up an automated DM for your new follwers. Remove people who are not following you. And it has more options for professional accounts which is paid.

9. TwittBot

Twittbot allows you to update multiple accounts at the same time. It also allows multiple accounts to update one account. It sets up bots that looks for @replies to be reposted to an account specified. The security levels of these bots can be adjusted. This is perfect for twitter accounts that aggregate stories from multiple places.

10. SplitTweet

This is originally designed for businesses that want to manage multiple accounts. It allows tracking of brand mentions, but this software is not as good as HootSuite or as CoTweet defines themselves. I suggest you try HootSuite instead.

11. Digsby

Digsby is a one in all solution for all your needs. As Digsby combines IM, Email and Social Networking at one place. It allows you to manage multiple twitter accounts, and it can handle your other social profiles as well. It has features that lets you manage your IMs from all different messengers. You can also manage your emails from different service providers as well.

12. Matt

Matt is a fully carsonified version of updating multiple twitter accounts. It is a simple web app that lets you update multiple twitter accounts.

13. Tweet3

An advanced, Web-based Twitter client that supports grouping, Facebook, stats, multiple accounts,
pretty pictures, trending topics, and all sorts of other cool, awesome, and fantastic stuff Thats what I got from their website. Never used this site before, but I heard integrating with Facebook is one of their strong points.

14. TwitterFox

Twitterfox is a firefox extension that lets you add multiple twitter accounts in the bottom right hand corner of your browser. You can browse through them in a single column view as you choose. I have this installed in my firefox. I had it activated, but then I unactivated it because I am a true HootSuite user for the most part, or WEB Directly.

15. Twitterrific

Famous for its superb quality iphone app, they also provide a desktop client for Mac. It is a free app for iphone that lets you manage multiple accounts in a very organized way. It also has advanced search features. Same features are in the Desktop Client for Mac.

If I have missed any software or application here, feel free to let me know in the comment box. Also if you have used any of these, and you have a preference, please share it with others, so they can learn from your experiences.

It is important that we provide our users and audiences a way to contact us which makes our contact pages one of the most important one. On many sites, contact pages are the least cared about. On some it is mis-aligned, or on some it has some other design problems. Well they need to be fixed, and if you want to give it a spectacular look, then I have collected some of the most amazing contact forms on the web that definitely worths a mention in here.

If I missed something, you are welcome to share it in the comments.

1. Created 201 Studios

No doubt this form incorporated in flash is by far one of the best contact forms I have seen on the web.

2. Substrakt

This post card style look of substrakt designers is just a very creative use on a google map background. This really shows creativity at it its best.

3. Qwertcity

Another retro colorful style of postcard design for the contact form. This style is getting more famous as we see more and more retro designs in the trend.

4. Tony Yoo

Tony’s contact form can be best described as well-organized, neat, and simple which makes it very pleasant on the eye.

5. Frexy

Min’s contact page might be very simple, but the color combination around it on the background of the page just makes this contact page to be featured in my list.

6. Alexandru Cohaniuc

People try very hard to make their contact form spectacular, but what they don’t understand is that it must incorporate into the design. Alexandru shows how well you can incorporate the contact form in the design with his grunge style contact form design.

7. Bert Timmermans

Bert’s book style contact form is just fabulous. The neatness of it, creativity of it is just superb.

8. Chemistry Recruitment

This folder style look in the contact form really goes well with chemistry recruitment’s whole design.

9. swFIR

10. Point of Entry

Very effective use of the notepad is being displayed on this website. Usually you see the notepads on the corner of the page as just a placeholder, but in this case it is a contact form. Very creative.

11. Deluge Studios

Another great example using their map in the contact form. Very nicely incorporated contact form.

12. Headscape Web Design Solution

Headscape shows a very creative touch in their footer. They not only just highlight their contact form, but they also put their staff with their phone lines. This is a good way, but if you have a bigger staff, then you will find difficulties.

13. Envero

If you look at this contact form, you wouldn’t find anything special. But the fact that it is so neat and well organized with a good color combination and spacing, this deserves to be in the list to show that simple contact form are great.

14. Bcandullo

Brian likes the artsy touch to his design. He loves to make corrections therefore you see alot of pencil use on his design. His contact form is well incorporated with the design and goes with the flow.

15. Veboo Labs

Use of a cartoon character right next to the contact form always bring life to your contact area. Veboo labs do just the trick. Their cartoon is very eye friendly and make their contact form stand out.

16. Intuitive Designs

Another example of adding a cartoon next to their contact form is displayed here. This technique really works and it can spice a simple form up.

17. BubblesSoc

I love the work that Bubs put out on the website and the contact form is just one of that. This contact forms goes well with other aspects of the design and it is a perfect example of a well incorporated contact form.

18. Kev Adamson

Kev really knows how to highlight small features when presenting creative work. His contact form fits in a compact area. It does the job, and it has a small little captcha button which I find very cool.

19. Sidebar Creative

A simple text next to the contact form is always catchy if you use good fonts and spacing. Sidebar Creative does just that. Their contact form is very simple, but the organization of it is just noteworthy.

20. Five Cent Stand

Five Cent Stand has a very interesting design and a contact form that fits in it is even more interesting. Because I don’t think I could’ve made a contact form to fit in.

These are just some of the jaw dropping examples of beautiful contact page designs on the web. I am sure there are more that I missed. So you are welcome to share them in the comment box. Folks contact forms are important, so add them in your site because it saves alot of trouble to your users. I see some people put an email in the image, or just text which does the job, but contact form is always preferred.

WPBeginner offers a free wordpress setup service for all our users. Now this offer is available for new users and experienced users who don’t have the time to do the setup themselves. The setup will contain all plugins, tools, and necessary advices that you need to start a successful blog.

I want WPBeginner to be a community site where anyone can contribute, therefore I have left the option for anyone to contribute their resources. There is no possible way that I can collect all plugins, or new themes releases, therefore developers are welcome to write about their products on WPBeginner. This is advertising for them without any cost, and resourcesful information and tools are being offered to new wordpress users.

The goal of my team is to make WPBeginner a one stop shop for all Wordpress users. It will take time and support of our audiences. So if you have any feedback to give us, please feel free to do so either by using the contact form at WPBeginner, or the comments on Balkhis.

WPBeginner is powered by wordpress and I have to say I love Wordpress because it has infinite possibiltes. Please check out WPBeginner and follow us on twitter.

Right now Transformers is at #1 in Box Office with 112.0 Million, and I will say the main reason is because they have loyal followers. So in this post I will share why they will have alot of sales in the second movie.

Quality Product

They have a quality product. Their first movie was so good that people rushed to see the second movie. Now second movie in itself was good, but without the first movie, it wouldn’t generate a buzz like it did. So remember if you have known to produce good products, your next product will automatically be trusted. Learn to Gain Trust.

They had loyal followers

Since they have gained trust, they got loyal followers. Who were eager to see the next movie which is why they rushed to see it. The key in series products is to have loyal followers. So whatever you produce, whenever you produce, they will be there to buy it.

Original Plot

One of the main reason why I love Transformers is because of its original plot. Even though the second one was a sequel, it had its own unique touches. You must not forget when making a series product, don’t let it too heavily dependent on the previous post. Leave enough room for people to start from this level.

Hot Girl in the Cover

You think this technique doesn’t work? LOL. It will always work as long as there are men in the world. Megan Fox in this movie got alot of people to go and watch the movie.

Now even though I saw it in theatres, when it comes out in DVD, I will buy it as well because I am a crazy fan of this series. I think if they keep going, they will surpass James Bond and Harry Potter.

Most webmasters have a different mindset then the mainstream population. Us mainstreamers are serial monogamists to the end. We find one interest, one career, one hobby, and we try to do our best at it. When we feel satisfied, we leave that interest behind and pick up a new one. We do this on and on ad nauseam until the end of our lives. Webmasters on the other hand, are project polygamists. You have no idea how many dinner conversations have detailed new ideas for project now and in the future that will be operating parallel to the current set of sites. It is this unique mindset that gives webmasters the potential for success, but keeping all these ideas in order is the real trick to master.

Spitballing:

If you are one of those people who likes to go over your ideas with your friends or family, always carry paper and pen with you. Sometimes the best ideas can come to you at midnight at a Steak and Shake, so make sure you have something to write all your stellar ideas down on, otherwise you will be left with nothing but a faded memory when you try to put your plan into action.

The same goes for conferences or conventions that you attend. When we attended the 2008 Izeafest, Merlin Mann of 43 Folders was incredibly inspiring and had some solid common sense ideas for those who attended. Now, almost a year later, his powerpoint presentation is little more than a blurry image with isolated sound bites, but the notes from his presentation and the ideas it conjured still survive. Putting these paper notes into a three ring binder, an accordion folder or typing them and putting them in a folder for idea fragments could give you a well of ideas to dip into when you have the resources for a new project.

Images:

Designers are notorious for doodling. Having Uzzz Productions in addition of Balkhis means that there are pages and pages of drawings and memory cards full of photos for background images, design concepts or just inspiration. Now depending on your circumstances, it might be beneficial to scan and save all your drawings or to just find a large plastic folder to toss all of your sketches in.

Partially Completed Projects:

When you finally decide to start on a project you know that your timeline is constantly evolving. This is the time when you want to start creating a folder for each of your projects. Include things your drafts, your original ideas, and of course the names of contacts who will aid you along your way. Always remember, keep any copies of contracts you sign “in real life” and it might be prudent to scan a copy into your computer as well.

Remember that a good webmaster is organized and keeps up with their own projects. Make sure to review your list of projects a couple of times a year so that you don’t forget about that little directory or forum that you wanted to start up months ago. Being organized and being able to switch back and forth between multiple projects is an asset that will serve you well now and in the future.

Every day I open Firefox and open Google to search about whatever random thing I need to know about that day. When I first heard about Bing, I didn’t even give it a second thought. I figured it would go the way of the other search engines I have tried (like Scour) that slowly faded out of my search routine. Google was my bread and butter search engine, so why the heck did I need to try another search? Television was why.

About two weeks ago I started seeing commercials for Bing. The first time the “search overload” commercials were cute, but then I started seeing the same thing seven times a day. If I hear “moms who wear jeans to match their teen’s jeans” I was going to stab the television, so to prevent premature television death I decided to try out Bing.

The first difference from Google is the colorful background that Bing has adapted. I don’t know if it is an attempt to be the ultimate anti-google, but it is kinda cool to see an image instead of the white screen that permeates my dreams. Even better, Bing’s backgrounds have these little information squares that pop up in random places when you scroll over the screen. That is not to say that they are particularly informative little squares, but it breaks up the monotony of a plain background.

Now for the actual search. Both Google and Bing offer suggestions to correct incorrect spelling, which is a plus, but there is a definite lack of cross search results on Bing. Google at least offers some image results in the web results section, but I can forgive that. Bing does have two things that I really admire, one is the related searches panel on the left side of the search results, which I am sure will give me new and interesting ways to procrastinate via search engine, and the other is the lack of ads. Now I know that Google needs to make some money too, but I am so tired of telling the web illiterate in my family that “Sponsored Links” are no better than normal links. Now I am sure that ads will come to Bing in time, but I will enjoy the lack of ads while I have it.

Image time! Google decides to take this time to remind me that lightbulb is actually two words, but Bing is surprisingly quiet. Hmmm, maybe the magic of Bing makes my spelling automatically correct? If it does I could totally dig that, but anyway onto the images. Google proudly displays its images in its little grid as does Bing. But wait a minutes, what is this? Bing’s scroll bar lets you see up to 1,000 images on one page. As someone who is prone to flip forward multiple pages only to decide on one of the first pictures I saw, the scroll bar makes things more convenient.

Who knew that there were so many light bulb videos? I certainly didn’t. This yet another place where Bing is superior to Google. As much as I love Google’s very large video on the right hand side I much prefer Bing’s grid of videos to Google’s listing. If I was looking for a detailed description of each video, then Google is my main squeeze, but for the most part Bing’s bare bones video name and images is all that I need.

Now when I do my online light bulb shopping, I am going to have to default to Google. Bing’s image and website list is decent, but Google’s bold price to the right of each listing is just too darn good. So as far for shopping (or “product search” as Google calls it) Google is the winner.

Now when I first decided to look at Bing, I didn’t think that I would find a darn thing about it that I even remotely like. Google was just too good and too easy, and I can’t resist those creative logos on holidays. But I have to say, Bing grew on me. The video search and the image search both let me see more results that Google and the related search options give me fodder for millions of pointless searches. I have to say, for the casual user, Bing would be the search engine I would endorse.

But there is a caveat. Bing isn’t for the not-so-casual user. Along with the images, videos, and web searches Google has so many other features that Bing just can’t keep up with. My Gmail, Google Scholar, Google Documents, and heck even Google Books are all things that I use each week. So until Bing can trump Google in all these things and have the recognition that Google has there is no way that it will be my ultimate choice for a search engine. Good try Bing, maybe one day you will win out overall.

We do interviews of successful bloggers on our blog, as we believe that learning from those who have already learn’t saves a lot of time. That’s one of the reasons why I keep reading balkhis.com .
We constantly come up with new traffic generating strategy and most of which receive a lot of traffic!, back links and thumbs up in social media sites.
Recently one of the article 60+ Ways To Increase Your Twitter Followers got huge support from many “A” grade bloggers and most of them voted for it.

And all other things like conducting contests, polls etc will be periodically held on our blog. We also have a “Top 10 Commentators” list on our front page[which has the highest pagerank] to give link juice to people who participate in the conversation.

We have a lot of interesting articles on our blog. We could realize that only when we got back links from sites like labnol, quickonlinetips, techie-buzz etc!

Our aim with Technotip.org is to build a community around the blog. So we will also be starting a forum shortly, after we build a small community around our blog. We are committed to provide value to all our readers and it will be our number 1 priority.

Thanks for Syed Balkhi for providing me the opportunity to talk to you guys. All your feedback are welcomed.

I would like to see all you guys on my blog. Please make sure, you visit the blog atleast today, as its the 1st BirthDay of our blog. If you like our blog, then please make sure that you subscribe to our blog updates.

Now comes the crucial part: I will not be writing about your product. YOU WILL.

The posts will be published as is, without any changes, so make it good. Remember images in the post helps explain alot.

One user can submit upto two products, sites, or blogs.

Now the terms are simple:

You must be a subscriber to Balkhis RSS Feeds via EMAIL

You cannot use affiliate links in this post!

When you write these posts for balkhis, you understand that these will not be reposted anywhere else on the web. If this review is posted somewhere else, then I will remove it from Balkhis. So basically I am saying is make it unique. At least make an effort.

Tip: If you have a blog, highlight some of your best articles in the post. Give Balkhis readers a reason for visiting your site.

Before anything you must pick the right niche for the forum, and make sure you have a lot of knowledge in that field. Then you have to pick a forum software, there are many paid and free softwares available, I recommend vBulletin as it is THE best and most popular. Then you have to pick a good design, custom made if possible and lastly some add-ons.

Now to the main stuff:

You need to get members to join. You can hold a contest, which is the best way. You can also invite your friends who can help you.

Then as an admin you yourself have to be very active and post threads which inspire and make people post. You have to post threads that not only cannot be found anywhere else but also really help people. People mainly join forums to learn new things, if you only have posts like ‘How old are you?’ it really is not going to work.

As the forum grows you have to appoint moderators, try and pick people you know. You can face many problems if you pick a bad team. You must pick friendly people who also know how to use the forum software you are using; also your moderators must contribute regularly.

Keeping the momentum going- At some point of time you will reach a stage where activity slows down. Here you just have to do something. Either you can hold contests or hire paid posters.

Now you must remember that forums are not something that you can make in a day, or a month. Successful forums take a lot of time to make. You have to keep putting in effort till the forum settles down. Promotion- Remember the more posts that take place, the more individuals will join. This is a “snowball” effect of forums, thus marketing must be done consistently and properly.

Ways of promoting your forum:

-Signature links in other forums of your niche.
-Mailing friends.
-Pay Per Click advertising.

Just like any other Internet venture, you need to take care of the hosting and maintenance of your forum. If your forum regularly has “downtime”, you will definitely lose members quickly, and a forum that has many coding mistakes will quickly frustrate all your visitors. You have to settle with a reliable host. If your forum is growing a lot, you may have to take a VPS.

You may be spending a lot on your forum. You just cannot keep spending a lot and not getting anything back in return. You have to monetize your site. But you have to keep in mind two things:
-Do not over monetize and stuff it with advertisements, as you will tick members off.
-Do not monetize it too early when you have very few members.

The best methods of advertising are private advertisements, but if your forum is new it is very tough to find advertisers. After using many alternatives, I think the best solution is Google AdSense. The rates per click is decent and you can earn even with a new forum. However, after some time people will turn blind towards these ads.

I have covered all the basics in this post and I hoped you liked it and learnt something from it.

This post was written by Farrhad A who has run many forums in the past and recently has started a new forum, Webmaster Peers. If you own a website and want to learn and interact with other website owners and developers you should join the forum.