DIRT FORGE Blogs

BIG & EASY BUSINESS QUESTIONS: Considerations For A Joomla Virtuemart Ecommerce 300K Product Database Import

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:38:14 +0000

So, you're wondering "How to add 300,000-plus products easily?" Wandering around the Virtuemart forum, considering which ecommerce option I ought to use for an upcoming ecommerce web development project, I search for threads that shed light upon the status and direction of the open source project while simultaneously searching for threads I can contribute my experience toward assisting some one else. I consider it the least I can do for a project that has made my clients millions through the years. And I enjoy helping. But when I saw the reference to easy mated with the task of populating a website with 300,000-plus products, there was something there worth investigating.

Much could be added to the Virtuemart forum dialogue referenced below, but it provides a snapshot of considerations and procedures that would assist in the development of an ecommerce website, particularly one of such great magnitude.

THE QUESTION OF MEGA ECOMMERCE

daviat: "Does anyone know the best and fastest way to add 300,000 products in virtuemart. I have a client whose site requires that but being a one man shop I am finding it impossible. Any ideas?" SOURCE

VIRTUEMART CSV IMPROVED

BanquetTables.pro: http://www.csvimproved.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=775:csvi-40-beta-2&catid=1:news

MY ANSWER

I haven't used CSV Improved on 2.0 yet but have found that performing the import in 2,000 to 4,000 product batches is safer and easier, especially if you have a lot of data loaded into each product, then I would certainly limit the amount of products per batch import. Test and backup before each import, ensuring you have an intuitive way to quickly identify the backups should anything go wrong.

For this project, I would recommend nothing less than a dedicated server. You want speed and security. Hopefully the client realizes the enormous undertaking you're to embark upon and aren't going cheap on the hosting through some shared service. I wouldn't be surprised to have multiple people assisting with the development of the product database. Either way, the biggest strain is going to be upon the MySQL database attempting to serve a product and category database of that magnitude, a database size I have not heard of in Virtuemart. The max I have reached is somewhere around 10,000 products, for which the eventually search engine traffic alone was an issue for the startup, not to mention the nominal marketing initiatives. Definitely limit the use and even disable some of the product/category listing modules, at least during development, since some tend to call all the products within a category and could well cause timeout errors.

Furthermore, you will want to ensure you have the products categorized in a legible manner to the user and the search engines. Syncing these products with the category structure prior to import can be tricky, which is why I will often create a single product by which I can manually plant in certain categories and then perform exports to easily and accurately copy and paste the product category path for several hundred or thousand products at a time. This makes it simple for me, since products may exist in several if not hundreds of categories, considering I create my own manufacturer categories and sub-categories within those. The VM manufacturer sort is too limited when it contains a several thousand products. The search engine has difficulty finding anything beyond page one, and with that many products, there is virtually 10-20 other pages of content the search engine cannot see. Good luck.

In closing, funding and project planning for such herculean effort should not be taken lightly.

Consider that at a development cost of a dollar per product, which is a very unlikely rate, the cost is $300,000. A more viable rate that is more apt to deliver a nominal return on investment (ROI) might be a cost of $10 to $20 per product, which results in a $3,000,000 to $6,000,000 ecommerce web development cost. We're talking big bucks. And with that, there ought to be ample research and planning performed prior to the initiation of development. From my perspective, such an effort is easily a two to five person effort. The lack of search engine optimized copy writing could quickly kill a project of such magnitude or at least translate the difference between earning $50,000 in gross sales per month versus $1,000,000. There are many other factors to also consider. I would want a lightening fast Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet expert (Open Office Calc) for starters.

My take, from a business perspective, such a venture ought to be taken up incrementally with earnings milestones met in order to initiate the next phase of development, so as to assess and adapt development strategy to capitolize upon market evolution. This would also enable for a residual ROI amidst development.

Another of the many considerations to take account of is the software. Can it technically sustain the demand that a project of this magnitude requires? And does such an open source ecommerce platform possess the life and direction that will deliver enough years of faithful service to earn the ROI to see your business venture into the next decade before having to migrate elsewhere?

TECH NEWZ: From Small Business Strategy To Content Marketing To Social Search And Off-Road Television Ratings

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:50:25 +0000

Here's a brief snap shot of the news, reviews and analysis read throughout the week. Everything from business strategy, sponsorship, motorsports, television, advertising, marketing, retail, ecommerce and branding are referenced and well worth a look.

RACING FOR SPONSORS: Will Short-term And Shared Deals Be The Death Of Sponsorship?

In the beginning, stadium naming rights agreements were largely 20-year commitments, with a few 10-year exceptions. The bulk of NASCAR team sponsorships were for a full season, and marketers signed on to sponsor every stop of a concert tour. Today, we have Snapdragon Stadium—a 10-day naming rights agreement—race teams selling car sponsorship in five-race increments, and sponsors cherry-picking concert markets. There are many reasons, from financial to promotional, why this fragmentation would seem to make sense for both properties and sponsors. For sponsors, their cash commitment is lower and flexibility higher. If corporate partners are only interested in such piecemeal deals, then properties are forced to deliver them if they want any revenue at all. But this short-term thinking on the part of sponsors threatens to damage the entire sponsorship industry. Marketers are missing the point entirely that sponsorship is not a get-in, get-out medium. Treating sponsorship investments like spot TV buys will not work. www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jim-Andrews/January-2012/Will-Short-term-And-Shared-Deals-Be-The-Death-Of-S.aspx

TELEVISION: Measuring TV Exposure Does Not Capture Sponsorship ROI

There is much more to measuring the ROI of a sponsorship than accounting for the value of brand exposure during TV broadcasts, yet I continue to hear stories of sponsors that put nearly all of their measurement emphasis on that. Here’s an example: A representative for Europecar, a Paris-based rental car company that is the title sponsor of a French cycling team, said in a Wall Street Journal article after the team competed in the Tour de France that the company was “calculating every second that our logo is seen on the screen” and “there is no doubt this Tour has paid for itself.” Europecar paid an estimated $6 million for the cycling sponsorship. Even if they generated $30 million worth of advertising value during Tour de France broadcasts, does that mean they got a 5 to 1 ROI? No. All that means is the company’s logo was on the screen (along with dozens of other corporate logos) during the broadcasts. Did any of the TV viewers even notice the logos? Do they feel any better about Europcar because they sponsor the team? How much does the sponsorship influence their decision about which company they will use the next time they rent a car? These are all important questions that would need to be answered in order to truly determine ROI. http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Mark-Ording/December-2011/Measuring-TV-Exposure-Does-Not-Capture-Sponsorship.aspx

ENDURING THE DIRT: Baja 1000 TV Ratings From 12/11/11

I had forgotten that the World of Adventure Sports on NBC was going have its Baja 1000 segment this past Sunday. Then I saw the thread on RDC complaining about the coverage and decided to go back and get the ratings for the program to see how it compares to prior shows. The result? Zzzzzzz...same old same old. In truth, its no different than the ratings LOORRS is generating over on CBS for its broadcasts and not really different from prior World of Adventure Sports broadcasts. The 0.5 rating equates to 0.5% of the 115.9 million TV households tuning into the broadcast. With approximately 1.1 viewers per the 580,000 households that were tuned in, that means some 638,000 people viewed the brief 2011 Baja 1000 coverage. '09's coverage of the B1K on NBC and within the World of Adventure Sports program generated a 0.7 rating and had approximately 900,000 viewers. '10's World of Adventure Sports Baja 1000 program garnered only a 0.3 rating and about 382,000 viewers. http://nismostuff.blogspot.com/2011/12/baja-1000-tv-ratings-from-121111.html

LUCAS OIL OFF ROAD RACING TV: Wish I Had Better News...

regarding the ratings from this past weekend's LOORRS race that was broadcast on CBS.The LOORRS race that ran in this exact same timeslot one year ago saw a 1.2 rating and 1.53 million viewers for the broadcast. It marked a high point for short course TV viewership in recent memory. Dirt Sport magazine lauded the result in a following issue and many thought that people across the country had finally caught on.Not so much.Since that watershed rating the LOORRS broadcasts have garnered a 0.5, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, and 0.3 ratings all prior to this past semi-holiday weekend.This weekend's LOORRS broadcast generated another 0.4 rating equating to 510,000 viewers of the program (you can see prior posts on this topic as to how I calculate this number). Yes this is an uptick from the prior two broadcasts but I don't think anywhere near what was hoped for at the beginning of the year. With the consistency that these numbers show I think its clear that last Thanksgiving's ratings were a fluke--either a mistake in the ratings calculation or a remarkable stroke of lighting on that day. http://nismostuff.blogspot.com/2011/11/wish-i-had-better-news.html

ANALYTICS OF ECOMMERCE: A Look Back at the 2011 Holiday Shopping Season

With 2011 behind us, I thought you might be interested in some observations regarding what the holiday shopping season told us about the state of the consumer economy. comScore reported that e-commerce had a strong season, with sales for the period from Nov 1 through Dec 25 increasing by 15 percent over the corresponding days the year earlier. The National Retail Federation reported that it expects total sales to be up about 3.8 percent versus year ago, which falls short of the 5.2 percent growth recorded during the 2010 shopping season, but is still a respectable growth rate. Nonetheless, with a growth rate about 4x faster than total spending, it’s clear that consumers continue to be attracted to the convenience and lower prices offered by the Internet. So, how should we interpret these data? Are we seeing an improvement in the U.S. consumer economy? The answers seem to be mixed. One reason we’re seeing increased consumer spending may be because the personal savings rate — the percentage of after-tax income that is not spent — fell to 3.5% in November from 3.6% in October. As recently as June, households were saving about 5% of their earnings. And, until July, the savings rate had consistently been at 4.5% or higher since late 2009. The latest savings rate is still better than the housing bubble months of 2005-07, when it generally hovered between 1% and 2%. Even so, the recent drop in saving indicates that although consumers want to buy things they put off during the shaky recovery, they don't have the income growth to support a more robust ramp-up in purchase activity. http://blog.comscore.com/2012/01/2011_holiday_shopping_season.html

Optimizing a Page for Search Engines, Part 1: Keyword Research

In its purest form, optimizing content for search engines consists of modifying one page to send a strong keyword signal for one keyword or phrase. The amazing simplicity of this concept is often lost on marketers, many of whom think of content optimization like taking aspirin: If two is good then four must work even better. Sprinkling lots of keywords on the same page will not improve organic search rankings, nor will using the same keyword on lots of different pages. The key to content optimization for SEO is matching one keyword to one page in a methodical and disciplined manner. Scalable methods of optimization become necessary if the site is very large, but even the largest sites still "manually" optimize a selection of critical pages by matching one keyword to one page. Choosing the Best Keywords Before keywords can be matched to pages, the optimizer must know which keywords to choose. Make a seed list of the words that will be used on the page. Think of as many synonyms as possible and record them in a Word doc or Excel spreadsheet. Be warned, these are not the keywords with which you’ll be optimizing. The brainstorming process is only the start of the keyword research process. Optimizing with a seed list will result in content optimized for the way you think and search, not the way your customers do. http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/3294-Optimizing-a-Page-for-Search-Engines-Part-1-Keyword-Research

Ten New Years Resolutions for Open Source eCommerce (OSC) Makers

I've been an evangelist for users of Open Source eCommerce (OSC) programs for almost a decade now, and for users of other OS programs since I worked at Netscape in the mid-90's. As a user evangelist, my job is to speak up for users when they cannot or will not. I have watched the makers of these programs make the same mistakes over and over, starting out like a shooting star then plummeting to the ground.The line between OSC and commercial programs will be blurred this year like never before, and the OSC makers need to learn from the commercial guys or be wiped out. "OSC makers" include programs like osCommerce, Zen Cart, VirtueMart, PrestaShop, Loaded Commerce, Magento, UberCart, OpenCart, TomatoCart, WP e-Commerce, eShop, Jigoshop, Cart66, WooCommerce and many, many more ready to move up in the OSC world. www.practicalecommerce.com/blogs/post/913-Ten-New-Years-Resolutions-for-Open-Source-eCommerce-OSC-Makers

I resolve to get back to basics.

I will make it easy for new users to love me.

I resolve to be less condescending to potential customers.

I will document, document, document.

I resolve to have a kinder, gentler support forum this year.

I promise to get organized this year.

I will reduce wasted clicks.

This year I swear to stop the bloat!

This year I will be more predictable.

I will delight my real customers.

BRAND VISIONARY: 4 Ways to Tweet as a Visual Brand

Companies that rely on a visual or photographic web presence often find it difficult to convey their media on Twitter. Take, for instance, apparel brands that need to get social media eyes on their merchandise, or a design firm that seeks exposure. How can these types of businesses ensure that Twitter followers see their wares? E-commerce or design companies may prefer Facebook, due to its inherently visual and expansive nature. However, businesses these days can’t afford to bypass Twitter entirely -- especially because many people keep their Twitter feeds open all day long.Read on to discover four pillars of “visual tweeting,” or how to make sure that your Twitter followers get the picture. www.openforum.com/articles/4-ways-to-tweet-as-a-visual-brand

Twitter voice should be consistent and relevant

Favor native images

Pageviews are paramount

Backgrounds Still Matter

Create a Customer Loyalty Plan

You’ve won another customer! That’s awesome, and you have every reason to be excited. You’ll go to great lengths to make sure they are happy. After all, you care about each and every one of your customers.But what’s next? After this sale, how do you plan to keep them coming back again and again as a loyal customer? You need a customer loyalty plan.Having a great product and giving wonderful service at the time of purchase is a great start. But if you are going to build long term loyalty in a large number of your customers, there are a few things you can do to spur that along. http://blog.batchblue.com/create-a-customer-loyalty-plan/

CONTENT MARKETING: 10 Reasons Why “Liquid” Content Should be Included in Your Social Media Marketing

If you want to get serious about marketing for your business or organisation the foundation of any focused effort is creating unique and inspiring content to publish and promote that educates, informs and entertains.Content in fact should do much more than that if you are to succeed fast, far and large, at marketing your business and organisation.10 Reasons Why Liquid Content Should be Included in Your Social Media MarketingThe ”ultimate marketing goal” is to make content or ” ideas” so contagious that they cannot be controlled, this is “liquid content” http://www.business2community.com/content-marketing/10-reasons-why-liquid-content-should-be-included-in-your-social-media-marketing-0116357

MULTI-MEDIA ADVERTISING PORTAL: Google TV Ads: New year, new partner and new technology

Since launching in 2007, Google TV Ads has provided advertisers a smart, measurable way to run national TV campaigns, while at the same time helping our partners (including networks, cable and satellite operators) work towards maximizing revenue from their inventory. Over the past year, we’ve seen a 6-fold increase in the number of ads aired per day as our household reach across cable and satellite operators has tripled. Today we’re pleased to continue this momentum, to help both advertisers and partners get the most from TV advertising. New Partner - Welcome Cox Media Cox Media, the advertising division of Cox Communications, the third largest cable operator in the US with more than 6 million total customers, has entered into a strategic partnership with Google TV Ads, adding their inventory to our national TV buying network. Cox becomes the first major cable industry partner to deploy Google’s next-generation advertising management solution, a major update to the TV Ads platform. As a result of this partnership, advertisers who use Google TV Ads will have access to inventory on over 75 networks across Cox’s channel line up. Cox Media is available in many cities across the country. Building upon previously announced inventory deals with DIRECTV, Verizon FiOS, and Viamedia, Google TV Ads has nearly tripled its operator household reach since the start of 2011, to a total of 42 million households nationwide.

As the TV landscape has evolved from a few to hundreds of networks, audience attention has fragmented, making the process of reaching one large audience more challenging. At the same time, TV ad inventory is split between a number of players - national networks, regional affiliates, cable, and satellite operators. As a result, each has its own slices of inventory to sell - divided across many shows, in disparate regions, on lots of channels, at various times of the day. On its own, each slice may not have a large number of viewers, or enable a major advertiser to reach a nationwide audience. And it’s time consuming to buy and sell each slice individually. http://adwordsagency.blogspot.com/2012/01/google-tv-ads-new-year-new-partner-and.html

6 Strategies Small Businesses Should Adopt To Steal Customers From Big Brands

More often than not, small businesses re-found facing the pressure of the dire need to perform well so as to compete with the large and well established businesses and brands. Since small businesses do not have hat big a budget or wider reach in the market, it gets a lot more difficult for them to compete and at the same time focus on the growth of the business. However, there is much to achieve even if you have a small business. A small business has its own specialties with which the large business houses can not compete. It is very much possible for a small business to attract customers by simply focusing on the many plus points that come with being small. www.invoicera.com/blog/business/6-strategies-small-businesses-should-adopt-to-steal-customers-from-big-brands

Focus on Your ‘Simplicity’

Plan Strategies to Outmaneuver the Big Brands

Solve Users’ Problems

Be Fearless

Ensure that You Provide Excellent Customer Service

Work on Becoming a Big Brand

This type of strategy would make for an interesting discussion worthy of a live interactive webcast business form.

BUSINESS IS PERSONAL: The Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful Executives

Sydney Finkelstein, the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, published “Why Smart Executives Fail” 8 years ago.In it, he shared some of his research on what over 50 former high-flying companies – like Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, Rubbermaid, and Schwinn – did to become complete failures. It turns out that the senior executives at the companies all had 7 Habits in common. Finkelstein calls them the Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful Executives.These traits can be found in the leaders of current failures like Research In Motion (RIMM), but they should be early-warning signs (cautionary tales) to currently unbeatable firms like Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), and Amazon.com (AMZN). Here are the habits, as Finkelstein described in a 2004 article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2012/01/02/the-seven-habits-of-spectacularly-unsuccessful-executives/

Habit # 1: They see themselves and their companies as dominating their environment

Habit #2: They identify so completely with the company that there is no clear boundary between their personal interests and their corporation’s interests

Habit #3: They think they have all the answers

Habit #4: They ruthlessly eliminate anyone who isn’t completely behind them

Habit #5: They are consummate spokespersons, obsessed with the company image

Habit #6: They underestimate obstacles

Habit #7: They stubbornly rely on what worked for them in the past

These habits offer some clarity in the calamity of running a business.

2012 in Social Media: The Next Generation of Social Marketing

Summing up social marketing in 2011 and making predictions for the coming year is a daunting task! 2011 saw more industry growth than any other year; we saw the widespread acceptance of social marketing for B2B companies, and we witnessed moments that are likely to echo beyond 2011: the debut of Google+, the introduction of Facebook Timelines, and an amusing concession to social media silliness by the White House, via the now infamous rickroll. * This post was originally published in the Huffington Post. On the local front, we asked our Account Strategists about their observations of trends over the year. Our team of strategists works every day with the biggest brands in the world, hands-on in helping to craft and maintain the strongest social marketing strategies on the web. Our marketing strategists noted a dramatic rise in clients’ needs to set specific marketing objectives for each social campaign. Objectives fell into three key areas: http://blog.wildfireapp.com/2012/01/13/2012-in-social-media-the-next-generation-of-social-marketing/

Growth of the brand presence (fans, likes, follows, and subscriptions)

Engagement of the brand audience (comments, shares, and user generated content)

Monetization of fans (qualified leads, or sales driven from social pages)

SOCIAL SEARCH ENGINE EVOLVED: Google Merges Search and Google+ Into Social Media Juggernaut

Now we know Google’s master-plan for integrating Google+ ever more deeply into the Google ecosystem: Pour the whole thing into Google search. Starting today, Google+ members, and to a lesser extent others who are signed into Google, will be able to search against both the broader web and their own Google+ social graph. That’s right; Google+ circles, photos, posts and more will be integrated into search in ways other social platforms can only dream about. http://mashable.com/2012/01/10/google-launches-social-search/

This evolution of search and moreover social search has yet again landed in Google's hand.

SOCIAL SEARCH INSIGHT: How Google’s Social Search Shift Will Impact Your Brand’s SEO

In what could be hailed as the update that sparked an all-out Internet riot, Google has launched “Search, plus your World,” which pours personal social results into your public search listings. The catch is that it only factors in your Google+ social graph, leaving Facebook and Twitter, arguably the more active social networks, out in the cold. This could prove to be an even bigger search engine development than Google’s infamous Panda update, which aimed to remove sites with low-quality content. Why? Because it’s easier to write good content (or at least, hire someone to write good content) than it is to get people to share your content. http://mashable.com/2012/01/13/google-search-plus-your-world-seo/

With the introduction of social search or socially-filtered search, results will be heavily influenced by social circles (Google Plus Circles) over that of conventional organic search, thereby reducing an individual's global scope and perception of the visible world when peering the World Wide Web's sphere. This will deliver greater leverage to a person's social sphere. And for retailers as well as other brands looking to land itself into the hearts of these individuals, breaking into the walls of crowd sourced loyalty may very well become a more difficult task. As SEO consultant John Doherty says, this doesn’t mean that local SEO isn’t as important as we originally thought: It means that you need to be relevant, well-found, and well-liked (or at least, well-shared) by influencers. And as the blog post further states, if guest blogging is within your SEO strategy, you must ensure the rel="author" tag is used and is linked back to your Google Plus profile so as to garner greater clout and authority from the Google, the world's most influential search engine and perhaps the world's most ifluential Social Search Engine. So, get your Social Search Engine Optimization game on.

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY: The Top 10 News Organizations With the Most Google+ Engagement

A list published Tuesday reveals which news organizations on Google+ instigate the most reactions from their followers. Since Google+ brand pages launched in November, media outlets have been playing around with how to best use the 6-month-old social network.Based on +1s, comments and shares, The New York Times, Mashable and The Next Web appear to be finding the most success at roping in heavy engagement (see the top 10 and statistics in the gallery above). http://mashable.com/2012/01/10/news-organizations-google-plus-engagement/

Check this post out for more info and follow up on the link to the Google Plus Guide.

BUSINESS STRATEGY: Seven Mistakes Promising Companies Make

If they’re being honest, most accomplished entrepreneurs and professionals will say they learned more from their failures than from their triumphs. Failure doesn’t taste as sweet, but for those who survive it, the spoils are sweeter in the end. The challenge is getting people who have valuable experience and who take risks to come clean about their mistakes—in public, for all to see. 21 images Photos: Top 20 Americas Most Promising Companies 11 images It never hurts to ask, so we posed the question to members of the Forbes list of America’s Most Promising Companies. These 100 up-and-comers—identified with the help of CB Insights, a Manhattan-based research firm that tracks investment in high-growth private companies—have serious growth potential for a host of reasons. But as with any young small business, their fortunes can change very quickly. Being nimble enough to thrive demands learning from mistakes, shaking off the pain, and moving on. www.forbes.com/sites/groupthink/2012/01/13/seven-mistakes-promising-companies-make/

Not Having Enough Growth Capital

Thinking “I” And “The Company” Were The Same

Underestimating Market Perception

Thinking Too Small

Being Overly Optimistic

Scaling Up Too Fast

Hiring Our Own Sales Team

BUSINESS METHODOLOGY: Crowdfunding Bill Stuck in the Senate

In early November, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelming passed the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act, a crowdfunding bill which permits startups to offer and sell securities via crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter or social networking sites like Facebook. As I discuss below, this is a game-changer for startups and lifts certain securities law prohibitions that have been on the books since the 1930’s. The Obama Administration supports the House bill and noted in its Statement of Administrative Policy that: “This bill will make it easier for entrepreneurs to raise capital and create jobs.” Unfortunately, two very different crowdfunding bills have been introduced in the U.S. Senate, and committee hearings have been surprisingly focused on fraud concerns and other potential problems. Indeed, it is unclear whether the Senate will even pass a crowdfunding bill (and, if so, in what form). http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottedwardwalker/2012/01/13/crowdfunding-bill-stuck-in-the-senate/

Fusion of social media methodology for developing source code and business funding.

SOCIAL SALES: How To Use Social Media To Make Sales

An integral part of the sales process is getting to know your prospects and establishing relationships—and it turns out that social media can help you accomplish this quickly and easily. “Social media allows salespeople to see what prospects are saying and what others are saying about them,” says Janet Fouts, a social media coach and chief executive of Tatu Digital Media, an online marketing agency. “You can really get to know a prospect and his or her needs this way. Social media is a great way to research a prospect and initiate a sale, if you use it right.” Jennifer Fong, a direct sales social media expert, says, “Not only can it help you generate new leads, but it allows you to build deeper relationships with existing clients that drives them to purchase again and again.” http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2012/01/13/how-to-use-social-media-to-make-sales/

STARTUP EMPLOYMENT: Get A Job Startwire

Never feel in the dark again! Daily updates on your job applications from 5,486 employers via email and text message. Stay organized. All your applications in one spot. Track your progress and activity. Recommendations that get you hired faster. Find hidden insider connections & get great job search advice to accelerate your job search.Track your applications by forwarding your confirmation email to apps@startwire.com 1 2 ... or use our Track a New Application button Get automatic updates on your job applications from thousands of employers. 3 4 Find insider connections who can move your application to the top of the line. 5-new Get targeted recommendations based on your application activity, who you know, and your profile. http://www.startwire.com/

LIVE & INTERACTIVE: Soon Your TV Will Watch You, Too

Front-facing cameras are everywhere on laptops, tablets and phones. If the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was any indication, they're about to become ubiquitous on TVs as well. New TVs from Samsung and Lenovo used the show to introduce TVs that recognize you and others in the room, automatically logging you into Facebook and pulling up your favorite channels or websites. Lenovo's TV lets you use the camera as an ID service that blocks access to certain content or channels if a child is in the room. For Samsung's 7500 and 8000 series TVs, all you have to do is say "Hi, TV," when you walk into a room for the TV to turn on and know who's there. As one can imagine, this is all very exciting to the world's biggest advertisers, many of whom saw these new applications for the first time this week when they toured the show floor. These are the execs who spend billions on TV advertising but really don't know who's in the room when their ads air -- or whether their intended audience is busy with a mobile phone or tablet anyway. "Is anyone watching? This is why advertisers are so excited about front-facing cameras," Frank Barbieri, exec VP of emerging platforms at Yume, told a group of ad agency execs and clients during a tour. Yume powers advertising on smart TVs from Samsung and LG. http://adage.com/article/special-report-ces/tv-watch/232094/

Off-Road.com's Vertical Scope Snatches Pirate 4X4.com From Lance Clifford To Take Ownership Of Off-Road Market

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:35:09 +0000

Vertical Scope, the Canadian-owned giant that touts a whopping 30 million unique monthly visitors amid its 300-plus web properties, according to its Google Analytics report March 2011, announced yesterday via Twitter that rumors of its acquisition of what is purportedly the largest off-road website upon the web, Pirate4X4.com, were in fact true, adding to its massive portfolio of automotive, powersports, power equipment, sports, action sports and technology websites.

A healthy segment of Vertical Scope's properties consist of community-based forums. Though, in the off-road segment, this is not the case. In 2009, Vertical Scope purchased the once industry giant, Off-Road.com, which at the time was on its decline under the ownership Advanstar, who took reigns of what was once the second largest motorsports website in the world next to NASCAR.com. The editorial content-driven website, Off-Road.com, has seen its community forums dissapate in recent years, while other forum-based sites such as Pirate4X4.com and Race-Dezert.com (RDC) have filled the void of the niche industry.

With the acquisition of Pirate 4X4 from site founder Lance Clifford, who will remain on the payroLl, Vertical Scope now owns a massive footprint, particularly for such a nich industry that has enjoyed growth throughout recent years. The question remains, though, how will VerticalScope monetize its arsenal?

With Off-Road.com, little has changed since it has taken ownership. Content production is at a lull in comparison to its heyday with very little viral leverage amid its social media assets.

Just as was the case when Advanstar took over, Vertical Scope changed content management system software platforms. Advanstar, in its takeover from a largely HTML-based website in the early-to-mid 2000s, mangled or inadvertantly deleted profitable tech and historical content that was timeless in scope. Vertical Scope, executed its transition to (according to my memory) Red Dot CMS, which is now Open Text, seemingly flawlessly.

With Lance Clifford still behind the wheel, the edgy Pirate 4X4 community is less likely to declare mutiny over the Canadian conglomerate that now owns the VBulletin-based community website, which suffers greatly in the content organization department on its editorial-based landing page but reportedly manages a favorable income from its conventional sponsorship/advertising as well as from its community-derived monthly membership upgrade fees.

On the other hand, Off-Road.com, which boasts no significant advertising initiatives beyond Google Ads, maintains a relatively well-organized content structure, which may well make for a perfect match. Add to that both website forums make use of the commercial forum software VBulletin, which has proven relatively easy to merge to separate forums into a single install.

While that's not to say the sites would or should be merged, it is certainly a viable plan, so long as the powerful Pirate 4X4 community brand is not upset and sent into a viral rampage. With such an fusion of resources, both can quickly benefit from the merger. Editorial professionallism meets viral community with advertising horsepower. If this is to be the case, the road ahead requires a strong, savvy and forward-thinking leader. And with that, RDC and its hold upon the off-road racing market, could well be led to meet a formidable competitor.

TWITTER ANNOUNCMENT: https://twitter.com/#!/vertscope/statuses/157479890982158338

AutoGuide welcomes Pirate4x4 - the largest off roading website in the world to the group! Very excited!

PIRATE 4X4 FORUM THREAD: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1035378 / http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=13838870#post13838870

(Lance Clifford:) The rumors are true (sceep ), and Pirate4x4.com has been sold to Vertical Scope as of today.

It's been a hell of a ride. From its humble beginnings as a fun hobby back in 1996 to an industry power house with millions of visits a month, Pirate4x4 will always be my baby.

I know what you all are thinking. Change sucks. I couldn't agree more. However, I have been hired by Vertical Scope to continue to run the site so it will be business as usual around here. Will there be changes? I don't expect many, if at all. Their advertising structure will be nearly identical to what we currently have in place, so things should be virtually transparent to all users.

I love Pirate4x4, and I thank each and every one of you for being a huge part of making this place what it is.

Editorially Integrated Direct Engagement Social Media Marketing & Advertising

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:30:42 +0000

Early in the year, Race-Dezert.com was approached for the purpose of initiating an advertising campaign. A fraction of the initiative was unconventional and something I had yet to see upon the web. I wanted to park a brand's Facebook and Twitter widget in the direct line of site and embed it above the fold of editorial and community-created forum content. The conventional banner ad was a no-brainer. But the direct engagement social widget advertising was a request that seemingly fell upon death ears.

With the evolution of search engines and the enduring morph into social search, such requests ought to be enacted, albeit with considerable social tact as well as marketing strategy that edifies every facet of the relationship. As depicted in the graphic, which displays Monster Energy Athlete and FunCo Motorsports off-road racer, Chad George, revealing his engaging flare, Mashable is making this method of direct engagement happen. It has deployed direct engagement social media marketing, advertising and promotion with Wendy's, who is pushing its Wendy's Value Challenge promotion.

Such direct social engagement marketing will inevitably become more imperative as social search leverage strengthens and conventional search drops further down the search engine results page (SERP). The target market will evolve from one of conventional demographics into breaking the social sphere of influence and loyalty, a sphere that may be summarized by the Google Plus Circles initiative and might well prove to be difficult to break. Aside from the tunnerl vision of the social graph, the increased bombardment from updates the average user will inherit through increased likes and follows will potentially weaken a startup's chance to gain appeal and acceptances amids the social noise.

Now, not to knock Race Dezert, but instead pointing out the forward-thinking savvy that continues to reign amid the off-road industry and the of off-road business associations that fuel it, a lot of gripes have been belched out amid forums about its failures. Most of the gripes are nothing more than verbal reactions and rarely amount to tangibly edifying action but instead little more than bickering and banter up until the next mad dash the weekend's race or trail run.

I've worked in virtually every facet of the media, beginning my career in the conventional media and ultimately landing most of the eggs of my basket in my love affair with the off-road industry. I have therefore been a huge advocate of building such a faction of professionals that would serve as a proactive initiative to heard the cats rather than watch than attempting to call them to assembly when the next shots are fired at the industry. What to do?

Overview And Methodology Of My Local And Offsite Business Data Backup & Recovery

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:28:00 +0000

In the process of reconfiguring a computer for the purpose of producing a live streaming webcast, some of the actions I am taking include removing old redundantly archived files and unnecessary software, modifying the data structure logic for improved workflow and adding hardware that includes external hard drives as well as audio and video equipment. In the midst of this, I was reminded that my system of file backup has not been fully operational for several months, the key element of which is the cornerstone of the operation, Backblaze, which I allowed to expire when switching between multiple computers and transition between data backup methodologies. Nevertheless, my data backup and recovery methodology still requires maintenance and revision according to the evolution of team workflow and relations.

SOME BACKGROUND ON MY FILE BACKUP

Personally, I have conducted numerous online backup reviews as well as comparisons for the purpose of my own business as well as for the purpose of consulting and managing client operations. I keep up to date on the topic via numerous keyword related searches and RSS feeds. But among the best online backup services are those which provide unlimited online backup, the three best of the lot being Backblaze, Mozy and CrashPlan.

Really, it's virtually a toss up between the three, all with similarly stellar features, namely unlimited online backup, but each distinctive in their relatively minor differences. Amid the chief features of Backblaze that I enjoy is its approach to backup and the subsequent file structure it defaults to, including attached external drives. I also appreciate its configuration options as well its business model and innovative hardware infrastructure, which is extremely solid. Just as with open source software, a company's stability is particularly important to me, particularly when it concerns the backup of critical data.

I manage media, marketing and communications for multiple companies and in doing so produce as well as manage a considerable amount of content, raning between 15-50 gigabyte per month, including websites, documents and graphics with the bulk of the data arriving in the form of videos and photos.

CURRENT STATE OF MY DATA BACKUP

Organizing the data is a notable undertaking. For now, in addition to my 750 Gb internal hard drive I have three external hard drives regularly connected to my primary machine, one Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk External Drive 3 TB external hard drives, one Seagate 500 Gb and one Western Digital External Hard Drive 2 TB (recommend upgrade to USB 3.0 or Firewire) external hard drive. At the end of the year, when the off-road racing season dies down, I will reorganize the data on this primary computer as well as my secondary computer and several others I use on occasion. I will consolidate all my data and distribute them exclusively to three different Seagate 3 Tb external hard drives.

The Seagate external hard drives have been more reliable, particularly when seeminglessly switching between PC and Mac operating systems, both of which I and those whom I work with regularly use. This is a crucial feature to maintaining fluid workflow when sharing files amid a team of videographers and photographers in a very fast-paced and often ardous working envirorment. Add to the interchangability between the two operating systems, I also appreciate the consistency of the hardware and maintain the methodology throughout most every facet of my gear and equipment, whether it be video equipment, still camera equipment, tools and camping equipment.

During the downtime at the end of the year, I will modularize the data between amid the three drives, delegating one exclusively to the archive and recording of live webcast productions, since the amount of data created after a four to eight hour broadcast is incredible. Considering we are soon launching several monthly and weekly interactive web shows and adding additional event coverage to the schedule at LiveOnDIRT, it is possible that I would add one additional hard drive by the end of the year.

The great thing about Backblaze is that all this data, including that stored upon the external hard drives, is continually backed up. And although these external drives can be and are frequently removed and the data shared with clients for additional redundancy to the backup methodology, the backup of that drive resumes upon reconnection.

MY IDEAL BUSINESS DATA BACKUP METHODOLOGY

As for my backup methodology, my computer stores all active files for all relatively active projects. The external hard drives attached to the computer each have a specific purpose. One external drive stores all photos and videos. The second stores all non-active archives as well as monthly website backups. Monthly website backups include files and databases. Ecommerce websites are generally, depending upon the activity of the site, backed up to one of these local external drives weekly, which includes files and databases. In addition to weekly backup, databases are also backed up daily to these external drives for ecommerce operations that exceed $1,000 per day in sales and multiple times per day for anything over $2,000 per day. And because you should never rely upon your host to backup your files, I also automatically backup these ecommerce as well as active forum-based sites to a DIFFERENT host on weekly and even hourly intervals.

Now, all the local files are backed up monthly and even weekly to external drives, depending upon the influx of data on any given week. Backing up locally to external drives ensures the backups are quickly applied rather than having to wait for online backup to catch up and risk data loss. These local, onsite backups are not continually connected and are only connected to perform mirror backups of all the data. This way, these drives are not accessible to the internet for security purposes, they are turned off to reduce the working longevity of the hardware and are stored away from the primary office space to reduce the risk of damage to both sets of data.

In addition to the local mirror backup drives, local working drives (working files and archive files) attached to my primary computer, the data is backed up offsite using Backblaze. That same working data is also backed up to a web host, where it is locked down. It is worth mention, though, that once upon a time, several gigabyes of MP3 music and interview files went mysteriously missing some years back, and I assume that, while it could have been an accidental deletion on my part, the host deleted them for the fear of piracy.

For client specific files, depending upon client activity and interest, I regularly deliver complete file backups to the client. While they often perceive this as a hassle, I view it as my ethical duty, which they would appreciate when I should give up the ghost. All passwords are available through these backups as well as through various other means and accessible at any given moment.

For photos and videos, I also backup to SmugMug, which provides unlimited data storage. I perform the backups (uploads) via SmugFTP, which is the fastest and most consistent method of uploading to SmugMug. The developer, Wong Liang Zan, has been great to work with. Not only is he very cordial but also a hard working developer with an ear toward improving the product through the experience of others. Check him out at Zanliangzan.net.

As for one of the other key elements of communication, there's the smart phone, which is the Google Android Droid X. I connect this device via Bluetooth and have the photos, videos and related file data auto backup to a mobile drive directoy upon my laptop. As for the contacts, I generally push all those to sync to Google Contacts cloud service. And for redundancy, I push those to Batchbook CRM and also to MailChimp Newsletter.

Flip Video Delivers Facebook Video App For Your Avatar

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:43:42 +0000

Just found this slick new Facebook app from the makers of Flip Video Cameras, which enables you to upgrade from the standard photo avatar to a video avatar for your Facebook profile.

For more information, check out the Facebook app on the Flip SG Fan Page.

READ UP: From Facebook Checkins Marketing And Promotion To Mobile Ecommerce And Klout Social Media Analytics Services

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:22:37 +0000

As the day began at the crack of dawn, just prior to the sunburst emerging from behind the eastern horizon, I filtered through the various RSS feeds and and categorized favorites upon my top Firefox bookmarks. And what follows is a snapshot of what I read through, which includes blog posts that span the gamut of technology, marketing, advertising and retail ecommerce and mobile commerce. Amid the favorite items of interest is Facebook, specifically Facebook Places, as I am engaged in the launch of similar Facebook Check In marketing campaigns for two clients in the coming months.

5 Creative Facebook Places Marketing Campaigns - http://mashable.com/2011/01/10/facebook-places-campaigns/

Facebook Places, Facebook’s (Facebook) location-based feature that launched in August, allows Facebook users to see where their friends are and to share their locations in the real world. It has also become another powerful Facebook marketing tool for businesses, who can design campaigns around the checkin service to build awareness, grow their fan base and engage and reward customers. Each time a Facebook user checks in to a particular location on Facebook Places, Facebook broadcasts the checkin to that user’s friends’ news feeds. This is not only viral marketing for the company — it also allows businesses to provide incentives for people to come to their physical locations or events.

Discounts for Checkins: Westfield Valley Fair - A simple but powerful way to use Facebook Places is to reward fans for every checkin.
Leveraging Events: Electronic Arts UK - Events provide a ripe opportunity for companies to use checkins to promote their brands.
Creating Event-Specific Places: Onitsuka Tiger by Asics - Onitsuka Tiger by Asics also used Facebook Places in a brand marketing campaign as part of its sponsorship of the Sydney Bicycle Film Festival, working with retail marketing agency IdeaWorks.
Daily Checkins: University of Kentucky - Just weeks after Facebook Places was announced, the University of Kentucky saw an opportunity to use the collective reach of its student’s networks to build awareness among prospective students.
Facebook Places Leader Boards: VisitBritain - VisitBritain, the UK tourism promotion agency, and Betapond, a Facebook and social technology development company, recently launched a Facebook Places program that uses a leader board (among other tactics) to promote various UK landmarks and the country as a whole.

Deal Breakers in E-commerce - http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2011/01/10/deal-breakers-in-e-commerce/

With £2.8bn spent on online shopping during Christmas in UK alone it’s not hard to see that in 2010 e-commerce has become equally important to brands as brick and mortar stores. As e-commerce gains in popularity, the shoppers’ expectations rise along. Consumers look for a rich online experience and have high standards about customer service and product experience, while at the same time the financial crisis “trained” them to compare prices and go after price for value purchases. A Forrester research study indicated that 88% of consumers have abandoned an online shopping basket, suggesting that even if retailers manage to stand out and lure the consumer to their online selling points, they still need to place extra effort to close the sale. So what are the deal breakers for online shopping?

Poor Product Experience: Many consumers visit online stores for product research but make the actual purchase in-store as they prefer having a hands-on experience with the product.
No Social Media Integration: Social media has slowly turned the shopping experience from brand centric to customer centric.
Delivery Issues: According to the Forrest research mentioned above, 44% of consumers have abandoned a shopping basket for cost of delivery.
Lack Of Flexibility: Consumers have the option to access a product and make a buy on different platforms but expect to get same quality service on all.
Sales Fever: The recession has made consumers really aware of where they spend their money and price comparison across the web has become part of the buying process.
Poor Customer Service: Retailers should make it easy for customers to get in touch not only online but also via telephone, always providing them with the time frame in which they’ll get back to them with a solution to the problem.

Why Mobile Shopping Could Be As Big As Online Shopping - http://mashable.com/2011/01/10/why-mobile-shopping-could-be-as-big-as-online-shopping/

Although few consumers make purchases using their phones, smartphones are playing a critical role in purchasing decisions, according to a study released by ForSee Results on Monday.The study, which surveyed 10,000 visitors to top e-retailer sites, found that 11% of them made a purchase using their phones this holiday season, compared to only 2% at the same time last year.

Discovery Triples Threat - http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/digital/e3i60e757316c16345aed6167db102a3764

Discovery Communications, which last year unearthed the formula for a successful Web video series, is set to triple its output in 2011.After rolling out four well-received brand-sponsored originals in 2010, the cable conglomerate is planning to greenlight a dozen new series, all underwritten by advertisers.Already on the docket are two renewals: the Hunt’s-sponsored Sauce Boss, which stars Buddy Valastro of TLC’s Cake Boss, and A Conception Story (pictured), sponsored by First Response. Discovery also is shopping Dog Park, a six-part reality series produced for AnimalPlanet.com, which tracks a group of New Yorkers who are regulars at a dog run, while TLC is pitching brands on Maternity Leave, a series chronicling a group of new mothers using Web or Flip cameras. They include a mom with multiples and one with a challenged child.

Foursquare Bolsters Local Content With New Partnership - http://mashable.com/2011/01/10/foursquare-examiner-com-partnership/

Examiner.com, the content farm that claims more than 22 million monthly uniques, has inked a deal with Foursquare to offer ratings and other extras on the location-based service.Starting Monday, consumers who log on to Foursquare (foursquare) will get access to content from 68,000 “examiners” around the country who contribute to Examiner.com. For instance, someone who checks in while in Manhattan will get access to reviews of local restaurants and news about nearby book signings, along with other information, says Suzie Austin, senior vice president of content and marketing for Examiner.com. “It’s going to appear in local checkins,” Austin says of Examiner.com content. “There will be reviews, recommendations, previews of concerts coming and it will tell you the best place to get a seat.”

NOTE: As a business model in the content delivery segment, Examiner.com has excelled since its inception in 2008. Hire writers on the cheap and base pay upon performance. Cover the gamut of topics. Earn eyeballs. And pay for it all via advertising. Add to that this deal with Foursquare, where no money was changed hands, and you have a winner. It seems both are going after a Yelp-style game plan.

6 Awesome Alternatives to YouTube - http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2011/01/10/6-awesome-alternatives-to-youtube/

The old adage that success breeds success underpins most monopolies. Whether it’s search engines or social networks, hegemony stems from success.Video-sharingA good case in point is Google, which not only has the lion’s share of the search market, but it’s also the world’s most visited website according to Alexa’s ranking system. And Google-owned YouTube is the world’s third most visited website, testament to the popularity of video-sharing among the Web’s populace.

Klout Snags $8.5 Million to Measure Social Media Influence - http://mashable.com/2011/01/10/klout-8-5-million-infunding/

Klout, the social media analytics service, has received $8.5 million in new funding. The San Francisco-based company worked with the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byer sFund with participation from Graycroft Partners. Other investors in the round include ff Asset Management, Paige Craig, Howard Lindzon, Thomas McInerney and Bobby Yazdani, among others.

Is Groupon Developing in the Right Direction for the Long Term? - http://www.excitingcommerce.com/2011/01/is-groupon-developing-in-the-right-direction-for-the-long-term.html

2010 wasn’t only an eventful e-commerce year for Amazon, but also for Groupon. Alexander Graf of German e-commerce/tech blog Kassenzone posted an interesting analysis a while ago (in German) which is still worthwhile to summarize here. Graf distinguishes Groupon’s development into four phases:

Payments News from National Retail Federation BIG Show 2011 - http://www.paymentsnews.com/2011/01/payments-news-from-national-retail-federation-big-show-2011.html

Two payment-related themes are emerging from NRF conference being held this week in New York: POS encryption/tokenization and mobile payments acceptance. For retailers, end-to-end encryption and tokenization are all about reducing PCI scope:

40+ Things You Need to Watch in 2011 - http://mashable.com/2011/01/09/things-to-watch-2011/

If the popular misreading of Mayan mythology is correct, we have fewer than two more years left on this Earth. That leaves precious little time for the tech industry to develop and perfect of all the cool technologies that sci-fi authors have dreamed up over the years. Still, while a December 2012 apocalypse may spell doom for the commercial viability of hovercars, it doesn’t mean that the next couple of years in tech will be dull — quite the contrary. 2011 is already shaping up to be a banner year for tech and web innovation.

Opinion: The Loyalty Myth, and Other Misunderstandings - http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/features-and-opinions/

Sooner or later, every company that sets out to increase repeat business arrives as an arresting conclusion: Increasing repeat business is hard work. Worse, hard turns to impossible when you confuse repeat business with customer loyalty. Repeat business does not depend on customers being loyal to you but on your perceived faithfulness to a specific, unique customer value. Allow me to try to translate that.

The 4 Biggest Stories in Tech & Social Media This Morning - http://mashable.com/2011/01/10/verizon-iphone-klout-funding/

The day's top stories in the "First To Know" segment: Verizon iPhone Available in Late January? Klout Snags $8.5 Million in New Funding. YouTube Rolls Out Drag & Drop Video Uploads. Despite Rumors, Facebook Is Not Shutting Down March 15

A Great Resource For Video Editing Tutorials Using Adobe After Effects

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 06:28:06 +0000

In search of a buddy who has helped produce video for me in the past, I wandered onto a series of useful Adobe After Effects tutorials on Vimeo that I thought were worthy of note. If you're interested in post video production, specifically the task of editing using video effects, you may want to have a look at Aharon Rabinowitz's Vimeo channel, which is in support of All Bets Are Off Productions and Red Giant Software. Both the channel and website possess some valuable video editing tutorials. Check it out.

In this tutorial, Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to create a awesome force field effect in Adobe After Effects – with no 3rd-party plug-ins. He’ll also cover some basic color correction techniques. Warning: This tutorial is almost 40 minutes long. Go get some snack and hit the head before you sit down to this one. You may also want to tell your spouse your going out to buy groceries and then sneak back in through a window so you can have some quiet time. Hint: Use headphones & close the door. Oh, and apologies in advance to Andrew Kramer and J. J. Abrams…

Awaiting Gallery3 Integration Via Wordpress Plugin

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 05:10:23 +0000

Perhaps a bit premature or perhaps not. One thing is for certain, I'm not the only one looking to get integrate the best blogging software into one of the greatest photo gallery scripts. That would be integrating Gallery3 into Wordpress via a simple Wordpress Plugin. As it stands, such a powerful combination of capabilities has yet to emerge, but there are several forums that have have emerged that may be worth watching.

Integrating Gallery3 (G3) with Wordpress (2.8) - http://gallery.menalto.com/node/88398
Wordpress Plugin to Integrate Gallery3 - http://gallery.menalto.com/node/94866
Wordpress WPG3 Plugin - http://wpg3.digitaldonkey.de/Home

Why I love Menalto's Gallery (Gallery2 & Gallery3) over some of the other Wordpress options? It is a full-featured photo gallery script that includes the capability to run a photo ecommerce website, and it enables you to do so upon your own website, from within many content management systems (CMS) or blogging scripts, which translates into adding value to your website and your website's brand and not delegating the duty to some other website. And I love it's dynamic watermark capabilities. Sure, the Gallery2 photo commerce was relatively crude in comparison to photo hosting sites such as SmugMug, as Gallery2 generally relied upon PayPal as it's payment gateway, but retaining the volume of traffic on your site was generally well worth the benefits of hosting on pro photo hosting sites. I have always loved it for it's search engine optimization (SEO) performance and the added inbound links earned from hosting killer photos on the websites I manage.

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY: A Website's Narrow Gateway At Igniting A Call To Action From Its Marketing Message

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:34:10 +0000

It's great when the clock strikes 9 am, and you've already put in a several hours worth of work, allowing for more time to work or play throughout the rest of the day. In checking some quick web analytics (Google Analytics / Woopra / AWstats) on several websites that I am actively performing modifications upon, I was directed to Google Labs and its Browser Size graphical analytics report, which is a graphical visualization of browser window sizes of people who visit Google. Such information as this is critical in assessing website usability and web design effectiveness at conveying your brand's marketing message. As you can see by the visualization, you can see, that unless the average website visitor scrolls on many larger format websites, much of your page is useless. So, be sure to have the important elements of your web page, such as critical call to actions, within the window of opportunity.

Google Browser Size is a visualization of browser window sizes for people who visit Google. For example, the "90%" contour means that 90% of people visiting Google have their browser window open to at least this size or larger.

This is useful for ensuring that important parts of a page's user interface are visible by a wide audience. On the example page that you see when you first visit this site, there is a "donate now" button which falls within the 80% contour, meaning that 20% of users cannot see this button when they first visit the page. 20% is a significant number; knowing this fact would encourage the designer to move the button much higher in the page so it can be seen without scrolling.

To view your own Web site with this same visualization overlaid on it, simply type its URL into the "Enter URL here" textbox at the top of the window and click Go.

Notes:

You can change the opacity of the overlay by clicking the gray boxes next to the word "Opacity" at the top of the window.

As you move the mouse around the window, you will see a transparent rectangle following the mouse pointer. This feature allows you to interact normally with the page you're examining even though it has a graphical overlay atop it.

The sizes represented in this contour are client area sizes, not browser window sizes. This means they represent the size of the browser without the title bar, toolbars, status bars, etc., and thus give a true representation of how much content can be seen by a particular segment of the Web-using population.

Browser Size works best on web pages with a fixed layout aligned to the left. If the content reflows as the width is adjusted or it is centered, then the results can be misleading. In this case, you can obtain more accurate results by reducing the browser width to a percentage column, e.g. 90% and seeing what content falls below the 90% horizontal line.

We're actively looking to develop and improve the tool. So if you have comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at browser-size-external-feedback@google.com.

SOURCE: Google Browser Size Team

DEADLY DOMAIN NAME SEARCHES: Avoiding Simple Internet Security Protocol Can Be Perilous To Your Computer

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 06:13:19 +0000

It's been somewhere around two to three years since I've been struck with any form of malware on any of my computers. After just over a month on the road, I finally had an opportunity to hunker down behind the primary computer and get some operational responsibilities up to date and catch up on some of the work required to support the road trips. In the midst, I had three old friends call with similar requests. One was to get a fairly large skateboard website migrated over to Joomla. The other is a set of racer friends who is now charged with launching a startup from beneath the umbrella of a global manufacturing enterprise. The third was a friend who wants to get his ecommerce operation into high gear. It was the latter that led to virtually killing my computer.

The guys who run the off-road retail parts business already have a site, using the GoDaddy Quick Shopping Cart. Although I don't have a lot of working experience with this software, I strongly advised against it, instead referring them over to Virtuemart and Magento. The GoDaddy Quick Shopping Cart is a hosted application, which is difficult for those who are used to digging directly into the actual templating files to tweak. It uses a graphic interface. Likewise, tweaking the actual code is not possible, as far as I know. With Virtuemart or Magento , all of this is possible and each has its own distinct advantages. Personally, I lean more toward Virtuemart, but that's because I have a slightly different strategy on most websites and require the extensibility to execute that strategy.

Anyhow, I became side tracked after receiving several phone calls from this friend Tuesday. This was to be my first official week back in action here at HQ. And as we're talking, he's conceptualizing how things are going to work. I'm actively feeding this thoughts into my Mozilla Firefox QuickFox Notes Addon and simultaneously prospective domain names into the Network Solutions Domain Name ringer. Attempting to get this conversation concluded so as to move onward to my main objective, posting JustinTV highlights (you've got to highlight your live video within a week or loose it forever) onto various sites, I begin to take a dangerous short cut. When I found that several obscure but catchy and well-targeted domain names were taken, I began to copy and paste those domain names directly into the URL bar and press enter, so as to see who would want such a domain name, what they had going on the site and whether an acquisition was possible.

Copying and pasting any unfamiliar domain name is a huge FAIL when it comes to internet security. If you're not familiar with or are directed to a website via an non-credible source, it is wise to first query a search engine to see whether it is legit. Otherwise, you're playing Russian Roulette. Somewhere into the 15 minute conversation, I recall landing on at least one very questionable site that took an unusually long time to load for such a graphically bland website. Immediately upon loading, my Firefox web browser was jumped by multiple popups, causing me to flee and stop the practice immediately. For a scant moment, I feared for my computer's well being but quickly forgot, until some strange things began to ocurr.

So, finally, after several blind attempts at removing the malware, I am now reverting back to Geeks To Go, one of my favorite tech websites. The support there is phenomenal and friendly. They even offer malware removal certification for its contributors, which is an intensive and highly respectable program.

Though, the last time I had a virus, I submitted it to the malware removal forums to request assistance. Having very little patience and the drive to understand endeavors in great depth, I managed to solve the issue prior to receiving any help, but it took a few days, an enormous amount of notes and a lot of research.

COMPUTER VIRUS / MALWARE INFECTION: AV Security Suite

For the lowdown on what I seemed to have been infected with, check the AV Security Suite Removal Instructions. Beyond the normal annoying results of an infection, such as uncontrollable popup ads, this computer virus does not allow you to open most programs and causes your audio to not work. There are workarounds, but the best bet is to simple eliminate it.

GEEKS TO GO DEFINITION: The Malwarebytes research team has determined that AV Security Suite is a fake anti-malware application. These so-called "rogues" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have been compromised. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these threats. In extreme cases the false threats are actually the very trojans that advertise or even directly install the rogue. You are strongly advised to follow our removal instructions below.

MALWARE RESOURCES (From My Bookmarks)

ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE - MALWARE / SPYWARE / ROOTKITS / TROJANS: SpywareBlaster; ZoneAlarm - Proactive Firewall protection with multiple layers of security that stop inbound, outbound, and program attacks; AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic - More than Security; Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition; AVG Free Advisor - AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition; F-Secure Support pages: F-Secure Online Virus Scanner; HD Tune website

VIRUS RESOURCES - FORUMS / BLOGS: You Must Read This Before Posting A Hijackthis Log - Geeks to Go!; Malware and Spyware Cleaning Guide; Removal instructions for AV Security Suite; So how did I get infected in the first place? - SWI Forums; Defragment: Cannot Defrag All Fragmented Files - What can I do about this?; Incomplete Defragment - Geeks to Go!; RootkitRevealer v1.71; HELP! This is my HiJackThis Log [RESOLVED] - Geeks to Go!; MajorGeeks.com - Download Freeware and Shareware Computer Utilities.

WORDPRESS ECOMMERCE PLUGINS (From My Bookmarks)

WordPress e-Commerce Plugin a WordPress Shopping Cart Plugin by Instinct | Instinct Entertainment

WordPress eCommerce

Market Theme - Wordpress Shopping Cart - Wordpress Ecommerce

Shopp — plugin ecommerce for wordpress

Premium Upgrades | GetShopped.org

WordPress e-Commerce Plugin a WordPress Shopping Cart Plugin by Instinct

ShopperPress - Wordpress Shopping Cart

Wordpress and Magento

Magento Connect - Lazzymonks Wordpress Integration 2.61 - Overview - eCommerce Software for Growth

4G: Kicking Verizon Wireless & Craving Sprint HTC EVO 4G & It's Rave Reviews & Big WiFi Bandwidth

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:08:50 +0000

I've been hunting around for a way to migrate from my old school Motorola Q9M that I initially purchased due to its integration with Qik and subsequent video streaming capability to Mogulus, which has since become Livestream. At the time, Qik was the only way by which you could stream video from mobile device to Mogulus. With some hacking, I was able to get the phone to work down south in Baja and streamed some audio and video from the Baja 1000 as well as a Baja 500 or two. But the phone is archaic, running on an outdated Windows Mobile operating system and proves this with extremely sluggish performance. Well, there was the Google Nexus that raised an eyebrow. Then there was the Verizon Droid. Both run on the Android operating system. Yet today, Sprint has just upped the anti and is going big with its Sprint HTC EVO 4G, as in four gangsters can beat up on your clan of three when it comes to the battle of big bandwidth.

Now, for the practicality of such a purchase, one has got to realize my Verizon Wireless contract ends this coming January 2011. With the way technology is pushing the envelope of exponential updates, the duration equates to eons, particularly when I've got a real need for the capabilities of such a phone. Social media management is merely one reason for the anxiety of an upgrade. The camera quality for photography and videography is yet another huge incentive.

And that perhaps is the biggest reason why, when at the end of last month I encountered a billing issue, I nearly squeezed the trigger and took one home. But because Verizon persisted on charging me full pop, the sum of $529.99, for the phone, when I could wait some six months a pick it up for free with a new contract. Ain't happening. I'm much too frugal.

So, I did some thinking. And I became caught up with other operations. And then the man at the helm of Speed Technologies, John Harrah, added a quick quipe that belittled the wireless carrier in question, which was the cause of the woes we had at a recent off-road race. The result was a Sprint WiFi hub that boasted 3G that actually worked. Problem solved. There were "3Gansters" in the house and hooking us up with the stream.

Now, here's the deal. If I were to find another great phone with another wireless carrier that equalled or surpassed the HTC DROID INCREDIBLE, then that would very well make the world right for me to upgrade and get away from having to use my archaic Motorola Q9M. Sure, I'll be paying for two wireless services for a few months, but I'll get the capabilties that have become a neccessity to my operation and ultimately have the greatest phone of the last 30 days at a cost of $199 that includes much better service in my region.

Here's what I am definately digging about the Sprint HTC EVO 4Gansters

HD video capture
8.0 MP camera
Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G1
HDMI output
World's First 3G/4G Android Phone
Built-in mobile hotspot functionality with the HTC EVO 4G allows that up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the Sprint 4G experience

More Sprint HTC EVO 4G Reviews

HTC EVO 4G review - http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/19/htc-evo-4g-review/
As a mobile platform, the EVO 4G's Android foundation is still an infant -- well, okay, perhaps it's a tweener -- but in its two-odd years in the public spotlight, the list of truly revolutionary devices to use it has been a significant one: the G1 for being the first to market; the Nexus One for ushering in a new (and subsequently killed) retail model; perhaps the CLIQ for introducing Motorola to the platform or the Droid for bringing the company some desperately needed, long overdue success. For the moment, anyway, a whopping fraction of the world's most important phones are running Google's little experiment.
HTC EVO 4G hands-on - http://www.slashgear.com/htc-evo-4g-hands-on-2378816/
It’s big, it’s fast and it’s enough to lure us into a two-year Sprint agreement, and when was the last time you heard that? The HTC EVO 4G is a monster of a smartphone, and having gone hands-on with it here at CTIA Wireless we’ve only just grazed the surface of its potential. Packing the best of the HTC HD2 – including a 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen, 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and HTC Sense UI – together with WiMAX 4G and EVDO Rev.A connectivity, the HTC EVO 4G promises to really shake up the smartphone ecosystem when it arrives Summer 2010. More hands-on first impressions after the cut.
CNET's Best of CTIA Awards - http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12261_7-20001222-10356022.html?tag=smallCarouselArea.0
Another CTIA has come to an end, so it's time for CNET to pass out our Best of CTIA awards. We had to make a tough choice this year and break away from our traditional categories; because most of the major handset announcements in Las Vegas this year were smartphones (you can blame Android for that) we consolidated the traditional Best Phone and Best Smartphone categories into a category for Best Phone, plus a runner-up. We also couldn't find a worthy nominee for Best Software/Service so we did away with that category completely. So now, on to the winners.
First 4G Android phone looks a Sprint winner - http://blogs.ft.com/techblog/2010/03/first-4g-android-phone-looks-a-sprint-winner/
The first 4G phone in the US, the HTC Evo unveiled by Sprint at the CTIA show on Tuesday, ticks just about all the boxes for my ideal phone. We await details of pricing and plans and exactly when the handset will be available this summer, but the features are mouth-watering enough to satisfy the thirst of smartphone addicts for the time being. Details after the jump. Speed - the Evo is the first 4G phone in the US and the first 4G Android phone anywhere. That means data speeds probably four-times faster than 3G phones in WiMax coverage areas, with 6 megabits per second possible. WiMax is expected to have launched in many major cities by the summer, including New York, Washington DC, Houston and San Francisco.
The Next Best Phone: HTC's Evo 4G Smokes the Competition - http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-03/next-best-phone-hycs-evo-4g-smokes-competition
It's not often that one phone can cram in as many buzzwords as the Sprint HTC Evo 4G. Next-gen 4G network speed? Check. One-gigahertz processor? Yup. Google Android 2.1? Of course. That phrase so oft-repeated--iPhone killer? Well, at least an exceedingly capably alternative... Yes, when Sprint and HTC unveiled their handset earlier today it was hard not to take notice. The wind has been blowing more and more towards Android over the last several months, starting with the Motorola Droid right on through to T-Mobile's Nexus One.

World's First 3G/4G Android Phone, HTC EVOTM 4G, Coming this Summer Exclusively from Sprint

HTC EVO 4G offers one of the most robust multimedia experiences on a wireless phone today; features Android™ 2.1, one of the industry's largest touch-screen displays, 8.0 MP camera, HD video capture, HDMI output, Mobile Hotspot capability and HTC Sense™
Pre-registration begins today at www.sprint.com/evo

LAS VEGAS — Sprint (NYSE: S) and HTC Corporation today announced summer availability of the world's first 3G/4G Android handset, HTC EVO 4G exclusively from Sprint. HTC EVO 4G delivers a multimedia experience at 4G speeds that is second to none, making it possible to download music, pictures, files, or videos in seconds – not minutes – and watch streaming video on the go with one of the largest pinch-to-zoom displays, at 4.3 inches, in the wireless industry.

"Sprint continues to lead the 4G revolution as we introduce HTC EVO 4G to give our customers an experience that is unlike anything available in wireless to date"

Sprint 4G offers a faster wireless experience than any other U.S. national wireless carrier, and Sprint is the only national carrier offering wireless 4G service today in 27 markets. Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G1, giving HTC EVO 4G the fastest data speeds of any U.S. wireless device available today.

"Sprint continues to lead the 4G revolution as we introduce HTC EVO 4G to give our customers an experience that is unlike anything available in wireless to date," said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO. "Not only is this feature-rich device incredible on our Sprint 3G network, but Sprint 4G speeds will take mobile multimedia, including live video streaming, gaming and picture downloads, to a whole new level."

Customers will be able to purchase HTC EVO 4G through all Sprint channels and through national retail partners, RadioShack, Best Buy and Walmart, this summer. Pricing will be announced at a later date. Pre-registration begins today at www.sprint.com/evo.

HTC EVO 4G device beyond compare

HTC EVO 4G delivers a robust list of features, including a 1GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor ensuring a smooth and quick user experience. With dual cameras – an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera – HTC EVO 4G unleashes the ability to create, stream and watch video that far surpasses expectations of what is possible on a phone today.

With built-in mobile hotspot functionality, HTC EVO 4G allows up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 4G experience. Users can easily share an Internet connection on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device.

With integrated HD video capture and 4G speeds, HTC EVO 4G makes slow uploads and grainy video a thing of the past. Now, it is possible to post high-quality video to YouTube™ or Facebook, or share moments in real time over the Internet live, via Qik. After these videos have been captured, it is easy to share them on an HDTV via an HDMI cable (sold separately).

The custom Web browser is optimized for HTC EVO 4G's large display and Sprint 4G speeds to deliver a full, no-compromise Internet experience. Adobe Flash technology ensures that rich Internet content, such as embedded video and animation, are displayed the way they are meant to be seen. Pinch-to-zoom and automatic text reflowing provide easy Web page views.

HTC EVO 4G features the newest version of the highly acclaimed HTC Sense user experience. Along with all of the HTC Sense features first introduced on HTC Hero, HTC EVO 4G adds a number of new features, including Friend Stream, which aggregates multiple social communication channels including Facebook and Twitter™ into one organized flow of updates; a "Leap" thumbnail view to easily switch between home screen "panels"; the ability to download new, interactive widgets; and a "polite" ringer, which quiets the ringing phone once lifted up.

"HTC and Sprint have a strong history of working together to bring consumers technologies and advancements that make their lives easier," said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC. "We believe that the HTC EVO 4G represents the best of Sprint and the best of HTC working together to bring an unmatched device to the U.S. This combination of HTC and Sprint innovation will allow people to do even more while on the go, faster than ever on the Sprint 4G network."

Experience Android at 4G

HTC EVO 4G, the world's first 3G/4G Android handset, features the latest iteration of the increasingly popular Android platform. Leveraging the Android 2.1 platform, HTC EVO 4G can deliver a wide array of useful new features:

Android 2.1 enables a new way to search with pictures instead of words. Google Goggles™ works with everything from books, DVDs and barcodes to landmarks, logos, artwork and even wine labels. A picture taken of the Golden Gate Bridge returns all of the information anyone would need to know about the structure. By just taking a picture of several restaurant options, HTC EVO 4G will provide restaurant reviews to ensure the best choice.
Text messaging and email composition feature built-in voice-to-text technology. By simply pressing a microphone button on the screen, messages can be composed by just speaking, making keeping in touch faster and easier than ever.
Through Android Market™, HTC EVO 4G users have access to thousands of useful applications, widgets and games to download and install on their phone, with many more to come.

In addition to today's Android apps, the performance of which will be enhanced by 4G speed, application developers will be introducing new apps that take advantage of 4G power in new ways – games and communications tools and other apps that bring together video, presence and location simultaneously, and capabilities that haven't yet been imagined. For example, an application developer might create an app that allows a customer to simultaneously watch a streaming sporting event while pulling down stats and conducting a video chat with a friend.

A Sprint 4G developer guide is available today from the Sprint ADP Web site http://developer.sprint.com. The Sprint 4G developer guide explains how to develop on an Android 2.1 handset and how to take advantage of 4G and unique hardware/software capabilities, including how to use a forward-facing camera in an app; how to use HDMI output; and how to build in network detection (3G, 4G or Wi-Fi) to optimize quality of data in an app. The Sprint 4G developer also will include sample apps and source code that highlight these features. It will supplement the Android 2.1 SDK. As a charter member of the Open Handset Alliance™, Sprint is actively engaged with the Android community. Sprint has employed an open Internet approach, and the Sprint Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party developers since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in 2001.

"Sprint and HTC have come together to propel the Android platform into the 4G world with the introduction of HTC EVO 4G," said Andy Rubin, vice president, mobile platforms at Google. "The Android platform was developed to give people unmatched mobile connectivity to the Internet. By combining this vision with the promise of Sprint's first-to-market 4G technology, HTC EVO 4G makes accessing thousands of applications from Android Market, using Google™ services like Google Goggles, Google Earth™ and the all-new Gesture Search, or simply browsing the Web faster, easier and more enjoyable than ever before."

Blazing trails with Sprint 4G

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Today, Sprint 4G covers more than 30 million people and expects to have up to 120 million people covered by the end of 2010.

Sprint currently offers 4G service in 27 markets, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Portland, Ore., San Antonio and Seattle. Following is a comprehensive list of markets by state where Sprint 4G is currently offered: Georgia – Atlanta, Milledgeville; Hawaii – Honolulu, Maui; Idaho – Boise; Illinois – Chicago; Maryland – Baltimore; Nevada – Las Vegas; North Carolina – Charlotte, Greensboro, (along with High Point and Winston-Salem), Raleigh (along with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham); Oregon – Portland, Salem; Pennsylvania – Philadelphia; Texas – Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, Wichita Falls; Washington – Bellingham, Seattle. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

In 2010, Sprint expects to launch service in multiple markets, including but not limited to, Boston, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Sprint is harnessing the power of 4G as the majority shareholder of Clearwire, the independent company that is building the WiMAX network. Sprint is the only national wireless carrier to offer 4G services on the Clearwire WiMAX network.

TV PROGRAMMING: Google TV Aims To Be An On-Demand Web Portal For Television

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:02:21 +0000

I was a bit bewildered when I querried a tech-savvy buddy in between rounds of this weekend's Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC) about what he and the others in the room thought about Google TV. Each one had an iPhone or other Smart Phone. One even boasted an iPad that was being passed around in conjunction with the chip bowl. The latest scores of various games were streamed in live. Yet neither had heard of Google TV. But perhaps that's because they were more sports junkies and than tech junkies.

Google TV: It's what television ought to be - on demand.

With as little television as I actually watch, finding what I want to watch when I have the time to sit down and indulge is daunting. In fact, it's what leads me to simply migrate back to the computer for entertainment. Television programming simply sucks. There isn't enough good programming for the motorsports, action sports and military-minded individual. Sure, there's FuelTV and perhaps MavTV, but we've become accustomed to the on-demand mentality the internet has fashioned for us.

Anyhow, it seems Google TV will serve as a web portal for television programming, providing a platform for a myriad of sources, including such websites as Hulu. In reality, it may merely serve as an end or perhaps a transformation television programming and perhaps the traditional duties associated with a television programming director.

Take a look at some of the latest stories below.

Rumor: New $100 Apple TV takes aim at the cloud - http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/gaming.gadgets/05/31/wired.apple.tv/
For its next Apple TV, Apple may ditch the set-top box form factor and instead cram a media player into a tiny device running the iPhone OS, according to Engadget. The blog cites an anonymous tipster who claims the next Apple TV has been described as "an iPhone without a screen," containing only two ports -- the power socket and the video-out -- and the same internal architecture as an iPhone (A4 CPU). The next Apple TV is also rumored to feature 16GB of Flash storage and support for 1080P HD.
Google TV aims to bring order to programming chaos - http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/21/business/la-fi-google-tv-20100521
Google Inc. is attempting to answer the increasingly difficult question posed by television viewers faced with hundreds of programming choices: What should I watch? At the company's developer conference Thursday in San Francisco, Google predicted it would "change the future of television" with an effort to bring order to programming chaos in the same way that it organized the fire hose of information on the Web.

Here's a quote from the original PR post on Google's blog regarding Google TV. You may find it below just as well. Enjoy

If there’s one entertainment device that people know and love, it’s the television. In fact, 4 billion people across the world watch TV and the average American spends five hours per day in front of one*. Recently, however, an increasing amount of our entertainment experience is coming from our phones and computers. One reason is that these devices have something that the TV lacks: the web. With the web, finding and accessing interesting content is fast and often as easy as a search. But the web still lacks many of the great features and the high-quality viewing experience that the TV offers.

So that got us thinking...what if we helped people experience the best of TV and the best of the web in one seamless experience? Imagine turning on the TV and getting all the channels and shows you normally watch and all of the websites you browse all day — including your favorite video, music and photo sites. We’re excited to announce that we’ve done just that.

Google TV is a new experience for television that combines the TV that you already know with the freedom and power of the Internet. With Google Chrome built in, you can access all of your favorite websites and easily move between television and the web. This opens up your TV from a few hundred channels to millions of channels of entertainment across TV and the web. Your television is also no longer confined to showing just video. With the entire Internet in your living room, your TV becomes more than a TV — it can be a photo slideshow viewer, a gaming console, a music player and much more.

Google TV uses search to give you an easy and fast way to navigate to television channels, websites, apps, shows and movies. For example, already know the channel or program you want to watch? Just type in the name and you’re there. Want to check out that funny YouTube video on your 48” flat screen? It’s just a quick search away. If you know what you want to watch, but you’re not sure where to find it, just type in what you’re looking for and Google TV will help you find it on the web or on one of your many TV channels. If you’d rather browse than search, you can use your standard program guide, your DVR or the Google TV home screen, which provides quick access to all of your favorite entertainment so you’re always within reach of the content you love most.

Because Google TV is built on open platforms like Android and Google Chrome, these features are just a fraction of what Google TV can do. In our announcement today at Google I/O, we challenged web developers to start coming up with the next great web and Android apps designed specifically for the TV experience. Developers can start optimizing their websites for Google TV today. Soon after launch, we’ll release the Google TV SDK and web APIs for TV so that developers can build even richer applications and distribute them through Android Market. We've already started building strategic alliances with a number of companies — like Jinni.com and Rovi — at the leading edge of innovation in TV technology. Jinni.com is a next-generation TV application working to provide semantic search, personalized recommendation and social features for Google TV across all sources of premium content available to the user. Rovi is one of the world's leading guide applications. We’re looking forward to seeing all of the ways developers will use this new platform.

We’re working together with Sony, Logitech and Intel to put Google TV inside of televisions, Blu-ray players and companion boxes. These devices will go on sale this fall, and will be available at Best Buy stores nationwide. You can sign up here to get updates on Google TV availability.

This is an incredibly exciting time — for TV watchers, for developers and for the entire TV ecosystem. By giving people the power to experience what they love on TV and on the web on a single screen, Google TV turns the living room into a new platform for innovation. We're excited about what’s coming. We hope you are too.

SOCIAL FILE BACKUP: Online Backup / Offline Backup / File Hosting / File Sharing

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Mon, 31 May 2010 11:58:08 +0000

Trouble lurks during the length of every computer's operating life. And I've endured more than a few doomsday scenarios when it comes to computers. To thwart the throat-wrenching latch that a imperiled computer hard drive crash might have on my operation, I have used virtually every means of backup one can imagine. I've backed up to web server (still do), DVD backup, CD backup, floppy disk backup (oldschool), zip drive backup, cassette tape backup (ancient), thumb drive, removable drive and on it goes. Perhaps the greatest, though, is offsite backup, as it work regardless of what calamity goes down at the office. Furthermore, the new file sharing capabilities of these online backup services is incredible from a social media perspective as well as from a satellite working perspective for your business sub-contractors and work from home employees. Here's a quick list of some local onsite and offsite online backup options. Contribute to the list as you see fit.

MOZY PRO / MOZY FREE - http://mozy.com/

NOTES - This is one of my favorites of the automatic online backup services. It's file sharing capabilities do not
FROM THE SOURCE - * Convenience and speed of local backup* Offsite protection of online backup* Best of both worlds with Mozy 2.0 for WindowsIntroducing 2xProtect2x-protect-iconA complete backup strategyA sound backup strategy involves both a local and an offsite copy of your data. The latest in Mozy innovation delivers both with Mozy 2xProtect™, included in Mozy 2.0 for Windows.icn-hdsIntroducing Mozy 2xProtect™Mozy 2xProtect™ automatically backs up files locally to an external drive in addition to a Mozy data center for double protection of your personal and business information.icn-spdmeterFaster BackupsWith local backup, you’ll be able to back up large amounts of data quickly—usually within minutes—ensuring your files are backed up locally while they transfer to our servers.Mozy 2.0, easier and faster than everMozy 2.0 prepares files up to 75 percent faster than previous versions and transfers up to 25 percent faster. Its easy-to-use interface allows you to pause a backup and displays how many files have backed up and how many are left to back up, so you can verify that files are stored securely.Available now!What are you waiting for? Sign up for Mozy 2.0 for Windows today and back up your data locally and online! Digital data is rapidly growing at a rate of 80% each year, and businesses like yours are responsible for maintaining 85% of that information. Data loss happens Hard drive crashes, spilled drinks, and accidental file deletion can occur at any time and put your company’s future in jeopardy. In fact, 93% of all companies that suffer significant data loss close down within 5 years! You need to do more with less Traditional backup solutions can be expensive and take weeks to implement, leaving your business vulnerable to revenue and productivity loss. The MozyPro advantage Backup that's simple Manage multi-user environments, schedule automatic backups, and monitor the health of your backups from the convenience of a single web-based admin console. Maximum security You can count on Mozy’s strict security policies, military-grade encryption, and world-class data centers for optimal data protection of your business’ computers and servers. Ultimate affordability Mozy’s pay-as-you-go model saves you time and money with no setup fees, no hardware to purchase, and little management required.

PHOTOPLUG - http://www.pogoplug.com

NOTES - This is a trick setup that may be the way to go for those who want a local network and online backup system that is available for a one-time purchase price. I don't have one but am considering this option for use primarily for multiple computers, laptops and a mobile device. Furthermore, you can use the device for file sharing via any social network.
FROM THE SOURCE - The Pogoplug connects your USB drive to the Internet so you can easily share and access your files from anywhere. The Pogoplug is the perfect accessory to your connected life. Imagine accessing all your files and media at home from any laptop or desktop computer, anywhere in the world, or sharing this content with friends and family without having to upload. There's even an iPhone application so you can always "phone home" to get your files! Buy one now! Easy to Install All the files from your external hard drive can be viewed or downloaded through your Web browser, with no need to download or install extra software. Full Web Access Installing your Pogoplug is as simple as connecting two cables, then visiting our website. No need to call your office networking guy, we'll do all the work for you! iPhone Support Access all your media from an iPhone, and even send new pictures from your iPhone straight to your home, with a single click. Works Just Like Your Hard Drive Your Pogoplug is accessible through Windows Explorer and Mac Finder. It's just like using a drive that is directly connected to your computer. Add-ons Pogoplug is getting even better all the time. Our system is expandable over the Web. Soon, your Pogoplug can connect directly to popular sites such as backup, file synchronization, photo printing and more. Specs * Power requirements: 100-240V, 50/60HZ * Drive connection: USB 2.0 * Drive Formats: NTFS, FAT32, Mac OS Extended Journaled and non-Journaled (HFS+), EXT-2/EXT-3 * Network connection: Gigabit Ethernet * Operating Systems: MS Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Mac OSX 10.5 and above (Intel and PowerPC) 32bit kernel only, Linux * Web browsers: Safari, FireFox 3, IE 7, IE 8, Chrome

MEDIAFIRE - http://www.mediafire.com/

NOTES - I have multiple accounts from Media Fire. Perhaps the greatest thing to getting a Media Fire account going is that it is free. Setup and upload is quick, simple and the interface is intuitive. While it is not automatic backup, it does feature unlimited file storage as well as file sharing capability. My expeirience with file sharing has not always been easy, but I realized the limitations I encountered were due to the limitations in the free version.
FROM THE SOURCE - Easy to use MediaFire uploader 1. Upload up to 500 files at a time with no total limit. Easily select your files and watch as they automatically are added to the queue and upload. 2. Hide the uploader along the bottom of your browser window so that you can continue to manage your files without interupting your upload progress. 3. Share your uploaded files with friends before the upload completes. A unique upload link URL is generated as soon as you start your upload so you can easily share it while your files continue to upload. 4. Upload progress, speed, and estimated time remaining are clearly graphically displayed so that you know how long your upload will take to complete. My Files Page 1. Easy to use file management tools let you create folders, tag, move, email, or delete or modify multiple selected files at a time. 2. Folders work just like you're used to, there's nothing new to learn so you can jump in and start sharing folders right away. Create as many folders as you need, there's no limit! 3. Upload directly to the folder you're viewing, without ever having to leave the page you're on. 4. Bulk download entire folders with a MediaPro account. Never have to download files one by one again! 5. Sort your files to easily find a folder or file by name, upload date, size, or number of downloads. 6. Easy access to sharing options that allow you to Email files or folders to a friend or a distribution list, embed the file in a web page, or share them with copy and paste codes for instant messengers. My Files Image Galleries 1. Easily toggle between File Manager view and Image Gallery view for on-the-fly gallery creation and sharing. All you need to do to share a photo gallery of your best shots is to upload or move your photos into a folder. 2. Change thumbnail sizes for detailed or rapid browsing through large galleries. 3. Simple folder based navigation just like you're used to using. No new concepts to learn, just jump in and start creating and browsing galleries today. 4. Optional large image preview so you can view your images in detail without ever having to leave the gallery page. 5. Simple sharing tools let you see image information, email the image, share the image by instant messenger, or embed the image on your website. 6. Bulk download entire galleries with one click. With a MediaPro account you'll never have to download pictures one by one again! Easy to use MediaFire uploader 1. One-click to download an entire folder of files or select several files individually and download them all. 2. Files are zipped and downloaded instantly. It's never been easier to download entire folders of files or entire image galleries. Easy to use MediaFire uploader 1. No download limits, no waits and download links are instantly available. One click to start your download, no hoops to jump through. Alternatively MediaPro account holder's files bypass this download page completely and launch a download without ever having to visit MediaFire.com. Learn more about MediaPro and direct-linking here! 2. Easy access to sharing options that allow you to Email the file to a friend or a distribution list, embed the file in a web page, or copy and paste codes for instant messengers. 3. MediaPro account holders can additionally browse their files or non-MediaPro account holder's files with no advertisements.Sign up now! 4. That's it, no waiting, no entering codes - just a simple and professional file hosting and download tool. Sign up now! MediaPro Advanced Statistics 1. Select your prefered report type - you can choose to show your data by Popularity, Geography, Referrers, and File Type. 2. Once you've selected the type of report you'd like, you can then specify the time period for which you would like to show data. 3. Advanced report settings allow you a greater level of control over the data you choose for your report. You can specify country, region, file size, sort variables, file extensions, number of results to display, bandwidth limits, and minimum or maximum number of downloads. 4. When you generate a report that you'd like to generate again later, you can save your report settings and load them at a later time without having to re-enter all of your advanced settings. 5. Your report will be generated both graphically and tabularly with an easily printable version just a button click away.

DROPBOX - http://www.dropbox.com

NOTES - I have a limited amount of time working with DropBox, specifically client DropBox accounts, and was not entirely satisfied with it for a variety reasons I cannot quite recall. If I remember correctly, the user interface was not up to par, but that was a year or more ago, and it appears things have changed. What I do like about the latest additions is the ability to automatically sync between muliple computers and its current interface. These additions earn encouraging reviews. The big factor and having this serve as the one place for all my offsite backup purposes is its online storage limitations. Free accounts are limited to 2GB, whereas the top paid account is a scant 100GB. For me, one weekend working as a motorsports photographer or event photographer can easily add 5GB of photos. Add to that the fact that I am actively doing more video work, and 100GB is quickly a quandry, especially when considering all the graphics files I keep on the hard drive for quick access and fast changes to a myriad of websites. One thing I absolutely do not like about the DropBox web application is that, while you can select a directory (folder) on your computer to backup, it chooses to make its own folder within that folder, calling it "My Dropbox." When wanting it to backup an entire hard drive or folder that already exists and working in sync with other software applications, such as one of my secondary drives G:\PROJECTS, it would cause great trouble to rework all my software and get it to resync with G:\PROJECTS\My Dropbox\, which doesn't work, particularly with every application due to the space in the folder name. This is a no-go for me, but its file storage limitations are the real reason to drop DropBox. I am uninstalling.
FROM THE SOURCE - File Sync Dropbox allows you to sync your files online and across your computers automatically. * 2GB of online storage for free, with up to 100GB available to paying customers. * Sync files of any size or type. * Sync Windows, Mac and Linux computers. * Automatically syncs when new files or changes are detected. * Work on files in your Dropbox even if you're offline. Your changes sync once your computer has an Internet connection again. * Dropbox transfers will correctly resume where they left off if the connection drops. * Efficient sync - only the pieces of a file that changed (not the whole file) are synced. This saves you time. * Doesn't hog your Internet connection. You can manually set bandwidth limits. File Sharing Sharing files is simple and can be done with only a few clicks. * Shared folders allow several people to collaborate on a set of files. * You can see other people's changes instantly. * A "Public" folder that lets you link directly to files in your Dropbox. * Control who is able to access shared folders (including ability to kick people out and remove the shared files from their computers). * Automatically create shareable online photo galleries from folders of photos in your Dropbox. Online Backup Dropbox backs up your files online without you having to think about it. * Automatic backup of your files. * Undelete files and folders. * Restore previous versions of your files. * 30 days of undo history, with unlimited undo available as a paid option. Web Access A copy of your files are stored on Dropbox's secure servers. This lets you access them from any computer or mobile device. * Manipulate files as you would on your desktop - add, edit, delete, rename etc. * Search your entire Dropbox for files. * A "Recent Events" feed that shows you a summary of activity in your Dropbox. * Create shared folders and invite people to them. * Recover previous versions of any file or undelete deleted files. * View photo galleries created automatically from photos in your Dropbox. Security & Privacy Dropbox takes the security and privacy of your files very seriously. * Shared folders are viewable only by people you invite. * All transmission of file data and metadata occurs over an encrypted channel (SSL). * All files stored on Dropbox servers are encrypted (AES-256) and are inaccessible without your account password. * Dropbox website and client software have been hardened against attacks from hackers. * Dropbox employees are not able to view any user's files. * Online access to your files requires your username and password. * Public files are only viewable by people who have a link to the file(s). Public folders are not browsable or searchable. Mobile Device Access The free Dropbox application for iPhone, iPad, and Android lets you: * Access your Dropbox on the go. * View files from within the application. * Download files for offline viewing. * Take photos and videos and sync them to your Dropbox. * Share links to files in your Dropbox. * Export your files to other applications. * Sync downloaded files so they're up-to-date. A mobile-optimized version of the website is also available for owners of Blackberry phones and other Internet-capable mobile devices.

SYNCTOY V2.0 - http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/synctoybeta.aspx

NOTES - I have yet to use this application and don't know that I ever will, as my needs for file sharing are generally not amid multiple local computers. But this application is free and worth a look for those using a Microsoft operating system and in need of a syncronized network amid those PCs.
FROM THE SOURCE - SyncToy 2.0 for Windows is available as a free download from the Microsoft Download Center. The easy to use, customizable application helps you copy, move, rename, and delete files between folders and computers. There are files from all kinds of sources that we want to store and manage. Files are created by our digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops. Increasingly, computer users are using different folders, drives, and even different computers (such as a laptop and a desktop) to store, manage, retrieve, and view files. Yet managing hundreds or thousands of files is still largely a manual operation. In some cases it is necessary to regularly get copies of files from another location to add to primary location; in other cases there is a need to keep two storage locations exactly in sync. Some users manage files manually, dragging and dropping from one place to another and keeping track of whether the locations are synchronized in their heads. Other users may use two or more applications to provide this functionality. Now there is an easier way. SyncToy, a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows, is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories. Most common operations can be performed with just a few clicks of the mouse, and additional customization is available without additional complexity. SyncToy can manage multiple sets of folders at the same time; it can combine files from two folders in one case, and mimic renames and deletes in another case. Unlike other applications, SyncToy actually keeps track of renames to files and will make sure those changes get carried over to the synchronized folder. We have collected feedback from the discussion forum on the Windows XP Professional Photography web site, from customer feedback surveys, from a large number of professional and hobbyist photographers at Microsoft, and from various world-wide forums, sites, reviews, and blogs on the web. Based on your feedback, the following features were added to this release of SyncToy: * Dynamic Drive Letter Assignment: Drive letter reassignment will now be detected and updated in the folder pair definition. * True Folder Sync: Folder creates, renames, and deletes are now synchronized for all SyncToy actions. * Exclusion Filtering Based on Name: File exclusion based on name with exact or fuzzy matching. * Filtering Based on File Attributes: The ability to exclude files based on one or more file attributes (Read-Only, System, Hidden). * Unattended Folder Pair Execution: Addressed issues related to running scheduled folder pairs while logged off. * Folder Pairs With Shared Endpoints: Ability for folder pairs associated with the same or different instances of SyncToy to share end-points. * Command line enhancements: Added the ability to manage folder pairs via the command line interface. * Re-Architect Sync Engine: The SyncToy engine has been rearchitected to provide scalability and the ability to add significant enhancements in future releases. * Sync engine is also more robust insomuch that many single, file level errors are skipped without affecting the entire sync operation. * Sync Encrypted Files: Sync of Encrypted files works when local folder and files are encrypted, which addresses the common scenario involving sync between local, encrypted laptop PC folder and remote, unencrypted desktop PC folder. * 64-Bit Support: SyncToy now has a native 64-bit build (x64 only) for 64-bit versions of Windows. * Folder pair rename * Sub-folder Exclusion Enhancements: Descendents created under excluded sub-folders are automatically excluded. Usability improvements for the sub-folder exclusion dialog. * Folder Pair Metadata Moved: Folder pair metadata removed from MyDocuments to resolve any issues with server-based folder pair re-direction setup. * Setup Improvements: Integrated setup with single self-extracting archive file and no extra downloads if you already have .NET Framework 2.0 installed. Enabled silent install for the SyncToy Installer file (see readme.txt file for more information). Removed combine and subscribe actions. * Removed combine and subscribe actions. Note: We've taken great care to ensure that this tool operates as it should, but it is not part of Windows and is not supported by Microsoft Technical Support. For this reason, Microsoft Technical Support is unable to answer questions about SyncToy. To speak to other users and contribute feedback about your experiences with SyncToy, please use the forums.

BOX.NET - http://www.box.net/

NOTES - No comment.
FROM THE SOURCE - A smarter way to manage all your documents and mediaBusinesses create, analyze, and share all kinds of content every day. Box not only lets you store files in a single location, it also makes it a snap to organize, share, and archive all your documents and media. Now it’s easy to keep all your documents relevant, up-to-date, and easily accessible from anywhere.Organize and track files using a familiar, customizable folder structureView documents, media, Photoshop and other files in your web browserCreate and assign tasks requesting others to review and update filesEdit and collaborate on files with integrated third-party servicesControl who can access files, and for how longReceive updates on file uploads, downloads, updates, and commentsHow does it work?Organize all your contentWith Box, all your content can live in one place. Box lets you upload documents, spreadsheets, and presentations along with image, audio, video, and creative files. Set up as many folders and sub-folders as you want to organize all your content, so it’s always easy to navigate through files, no matter how many you have.Organize all your contentUpload documents and mediaBox acts as an online, virtual file server. You can use it to store all your documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs, Photoshop and Illustrator files, images, audio and video – if you can store it on your computer, you can store it on Box. Upload files one at a time (up to 1 GB each for Business and Enterprise customers) or drag and drop multiple files all at once. You can even preview most standard files online within Box, using integrated services from Google, Zoho, Scribd and others.Upload documents and mediaView documents, media and other content instantlyOnce your files are on Box, you can view them instantly, without ever leaving your browser. Box's integrated file view feature lets you view the most popular file formats, including documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs, images, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator files, audio and video. You can flow through all your content in one place, without downloading or worrying about whether you have the right application to view a file. Box takes care of all the heavy lifting for you.Make sure you’re leveraging your best contentShare content securelyWhether you’re storing a few dozen files or a few thousand, finding what you’re looking for is simple thanks to Box’s built-in search engine. Search for specific file names, for user-assigned tags or, with Box’s Business and Enterprise editions, for specific words or phrases within text-based documents.No matter how you share content, with Box, you’re in complete control. It’s simple to set passwords for shared files, modify who can access them at any time, and even limit how long a file can be accessed by others. Enterprise Edition: Secure cloud for your company * Encrypted storage and transfer * Group based permissioning * Complex password enforcement Scalable content management * Full custom branding * Full reporting and activity history * Unlimited external collaboration Custom integration * API access for custom integrations * Salesforce.com integration * Premium OpenBox applications Dedicated account management * Fast-start services

FILES ANYWHERE - http://www.filesanywhere.com/

NOTES - No comment.
FROM THE SOURCE - * Sync Folders, Schedule Offsite Backups * WebFolder Drive Mapping, Direct File Editing * Share Files using Dropbox Links * View / Edit Documents and Pictures Online * Photo Slideshows, Video and Audio Streaming * Search Files by Content, Custom MetaData * SSL Encryption, Secure FTP, WebDAV * Add SubAccounts to Create a Workgroup * Version History with Checkin/Checkout * Private Site Branding for Businesses Login Pages * Web Basic * Web Basic SSL * WebAdvanced * Secure FTP Transfer Tool Client Apps for Windows * Backup/Sync for Windows * Outlook Add-in * Windows Desktop App Client Apps for Mac * Backup/Sync for Mac * Mac Desktop App Mobile Apps * Iphone * Android * Mobile Login Social Networking Tools * Facebook * Twitter Backup Information * Sales information * Support Center * Plans and Prices * Features * What's New * Private Sites Demo Request * WebEx Session

IBACKUP - http://www.ibackup.com

NOTES - No comment.
FROM THE SOURCE - IBackup guarantees superior performance, security and ease-of-use for all of its desktop applications, compared to other online storage providers. Extensive enterprise-class feature set including Snapshots, which enable you to view older copies of data, Network Drive for easy drag-n-drop operations, Sub-Accounts, WebFolders, sharing and collaboration options, make us a leading player in the business of online storage market. IBackup Drive and IBackup for Windows applications perform at 30% or better, vis-à-vis competition.* Online BackupOnline Backup IBackup offers enterprise-class online backup to consumers and organizations. More IBackup Drive Maps your online storage account as a local drive on your computer. Drag-n-drop, open, edit and save files directly from Office applications. IBackup Drive More More WebFolders IBackup provides both browser and desktop-based access to WebFolders for drag-n-drop and direct edits of Office files like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. WebFolders More More Web-Manager The web-based application allows collaboration to share data and manage account. Features Media Gallery, drag-n-drop and file search. Web-Manager More More Sub-Accounts Create Sub-Accounts within your main account for collaborative online storage and access. Sub-Accounts More More IBackup Drive for Mac A desktop interface between your IBackup account and Mac. Features include copy-n-paste, drag-n-drop and direct editing. IBackup Drive for Mac More ILite Access data on your IBackup account on the move, using handheld devices like iPhone, Blackberry, PocketPC and Treo.

IDRIVE - http://www.idrive.com

NOTES - No comment
FROM THE SOURCE - Automatic Selection Continuous Data Protection (CDP) True Archiving / Sync When you install IDrive for the first time, a default selection of most commonly backed up data including Documents, Pictures and Videos is created with a random after hours schedule. You can customize the selection and schedule.more IDrive automatically recognizes the modified parts of file(s)/folder(s) and backs them up every 10 minutes, thus offering hands-free backup of data. more No data is deleted from your IDrive online account until you manually delete or run sync to match your desktop data to your account. You control your backup data. more Open/Locked File Backup Mapped Drive Backup IDrive Explorer Performs reliable backups of open/locked files like Outlook files (.pst), QuickBooks, MS-Excel and so on. more Supports backup of mapped and external hard drives - even if your system is logged off. more IDrive Explorer offers a 'virtual drive' view of your account to access and restore backed up data. You can drag-n-drop files for restore from your online drive to the local system. more Search and Restore Time-Line Restore Versioning Fast search and restore of your data from the IDrive desktop application or the web interface. more Restore option with time-line choice for a set of data. This helps in restoring related data as of a point-in-time. more IDrive retains and allows you to restore the last 30 versions of all files backed up to your account, to any location on your local computer. Better yet, your storage is computed only for the most current version; historical versions are stored free. more Retrieve data from any location Web Based Backup Management Manage multiple accounts Login via any browser to your account to access backed up data, view log reports and restore data on the local system. more Manage your Backup set, its schedule and view backup logs from any browser. more Create and manage multiple accounts from a single account, via the web. more * Incremental and compressed backups that significantly reduces your network bandwidth usage by transferring only modified portions of files * Enhanced security with 128-bit SSL encryption on transfers, 256-bit AES encryption on storage with a user defined key that is not stored anywhere on IDrive servers more * Works behind most firewalls; proxy support enables you to setup connections via proxy network connection * Easy options to control bandwidth usage; Auto-Pause makes intelligent guesses on pausing and resuming backup to enable optimum desktop appearances during user activity more * Add files and folders to Backup set from anywhere on Windows Explorer more * Scheduled backup even if system is logged off; automatic power off after completion of the job * Hands free backup of most common types of application and data more * Detailed status of backup logs via the web more

BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS: From Hosted Exchange Servers To Product Registration And MobileRider Video Content Management Software

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:35:00 +0000

Today I had little time to sift through the wealthy list of links, particularly since there are a few links, while upon public domains, included some collectively confidential subject matter. So, for what it's worth, here are some goods that included a web TV video platform as well as a product registration and upselling platform.

MOBILE RIDER - http://mobilerider.com/

FROM THE SOURCE - What we do? Custom Platforms for Media Management and Publishing. The MobileRider Platform allows you to easily manage and publish your digital media assets in today's interactive world. By using the MobileRider Platform and networks, your videos, music and photos are managed, published and delivered to Web, Mobile, and Wireless. Effortlessly, and in Real-Time. How does it work? Point, Click, Publish. Your Media Files: World Wide Web Ready. 1. We allow you to customize the platforms to meet the look, style and feel of your website. 2. We provide you with a fully hosted, web based Admin Control Panel that is a management, publishing and reporting tool. 3. Simply upload a web-ready piece of media into the Admin and it is converted, published and delivered across all MobileRider Platforms.

GRASSHOPPER - http://grasshopper.com/

FROM THE SOURCE - Toll free or local number - local or national presence * Unlimited extensions - for departments & employees * Call forwarding - work from anywhere * Voicemails via email - play online or on cell phone * Manage online or by phone - no hardware to purchase * ANY PHONE NUMBER * Toll Free Number * Local Number * Number Portability * SOUND PROFESSIONAL * Custom Main Greeting * Unlimited Extensions * Name Directory * On Hold Music * Unlimited Call Handling * Conference Calling * STAY CONNECTED * Call Forwarding * Call Screening & Announce * Voicemail & Fax Delivery * Virtual Fax * Live Call Transfer * Play on iPhone & BlackBerry * MANAGE ONLINE * Easy Online Administration * Tag, Map, View Messages * Enhanced Call Reports * MORE FEATURES * Away Greeting * Call Routing Extensions * Fax on Demand * Informational Extensions * Q&A Extensions * OPTIONAL FEATURES * Read Your Voicemail New! * True 800 Number * Voice Studio

REGISTRIA - http://registria.com/

FROM THE SOURCE - Registria offers everything you need to maximize the effectiveness of your product registration and cross-selling process, allowing you to learn about your customer and tap new revenue channels. With our SaaS solution, you create your own personalized customer interface, set specific cross-selling criteria by product or customer, and use our advanced reporting dashboard to learn about your customer. Brand your own customer portal In a matter of minutes, you can setup a customer registration portal that matches your company’s design and collects the information you need from customers. Import your custom HTML and CSS with a single click, and use our sample templates to choose the fields you want to collect. Or create your own fields. Your choice. Target products and services Registria offers everything you need to maximize the effectiveness of your product registration and cross-selling process, allowing you to learn about your customer and tap new revenue channels. With our SaaS solution, you create your own personalized customer interface, set specific cross-selling criteria by product or customer, and use our advanced reporting dashboard to learn about your customer. We’ll even handle the backend merchant services (such as tax compliance and credit card gateways), and send you a check each month. Reporting Powerful reports that let you better understand your customer. Explore high-level data, drill-down to a specific customer, and assess the effectiveness of your promotional and cross-selling campaigns. Automate Selling Registria handles the entire selling process. We’ll invoice the customer and communicate with your fulfillment provider. We’ll even handle the backend merchant services (such as tax compliance and credit card gateways), and send you a check each month. It couldn’t be simpler.

DNA MAIL - http://www.dnamail.com/

Hosted Exchange through DNAmail is one of the best descisions your business can make. You'll be going with one of the most reliable Mail Providers in the sector. We stand behind our 99.99% Uptime Guarantee and even offer services for your Exchange to function 100% of the time. You also don't have to give up any of the standard and added features we offer just because of our low price. Every Standard or Unlimited Exchange mailbox setup with us gets a FREE copy of Microsoft Outlook 2007 or Entourage 2008. Each domain also gets 50MB of FREE Windows SharePoint Services storage and much, much more! Google Apps is not just email. It is a collection of productivity applications to help your business collaborate. Best of all is your employees can access critical information when they need it using the Internet or mobile devices. As a Google Apps Authorized Reseller, DNAmail can help your company migrate into Google Apps Premiere Edition ensuring your company’s existing email, accounts, and passwords all make it properly into Google Apps. We help you take the worry out of moving your organization over to Google Apps Premier Edition.

SEO TOOLS: Fast Links Culminating From A Fast Morning

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:51:42 +0000

Last night I had an interesting conversation with a friend whom I had not previously spoken to regarding his career. He's got a day job since moving from the East Coast to Southern California and it has nothing to do with his background as an opera singer and web developer. As a vocalist, he's phenominolly gifted. As a website designer and developer, he's garnered some interesting experience.

Of note was project he's working on that is a year in the making and will likely work toward an official launch within the next six months. The mashup of talent and strategies was fascinating. From editorial to search engine marketing, the concept was very savvy and seems to have properly fused the gap between a video log (Vlog) and a blog.

This morning, I landed upon a few new links for my list of SEO tools. It is by no means comprehensive but worthy of consideration for your list of SEO tricks. Check it out. And add to it as you see fit.

WEB SEO ANALYTICS - http://www.webseoanalytics.com/

FROM THE SEO SOURCE - Professional SEO Tools created by Internet Maketing specialists for Professionals and Developers We are a group of SEO experts, composed of programmers, web developers, web editors and marketers. After several years of intense work to provide our clients, regardless of sector and size, highly search engine optimized websites that generate targeted traffic and convert visitors into customers, Web SEO analytics idea was born. Our team of SEO & online marketing professionals imagined a software producing clever online tools that is able to scan and collect but most of all to analyze the huge amount of parameters involved in the process of indexation & ranking. The development of intelligent tools now makes Search Engine Optimization profession more effective and discharge SEO professionals from exerting themselves in collecting information that is today tremendous and almost impossible to cover without the help of tools. Web SEO Analytics Tools are the essential "must have" of any company. From Strategic Planning to SEO tactics improvement our tools give you the weapons to increase visibility and achieve your online business objectives. SEO Blog: Search marketing professionals talking to you We are constantly monitoring search engines changes by following daily new SEO techniques and Online marketing trends. Because knowledge sharing is the basis of any progressive online community, our active Blog, frequently updated with innovative themes by search marketing professionals, will enable SEO addicts to read and share about online marketing latest trends, Tips & SEO techniques. Our Internet Marketing Blog covers most of Online marketing major subjects, from SEO tips to Social Media, Landing Pages, Content Optimization, On page techniques, Analytics and much more. At Web SEO Analytics, we aim at being the partner in your online marketing day-to-day activities, providing you practical, professional and informational tools. Please feel free to contact us for any enquiries concerning our services.

SEO CHAT KEYWORD DENSITY - http://www.seochat.com/seo-tools/keyword-density/

FROM THE SEO SOURCE - The keyword density tool is useful for helping webmasters and SEOs achieve their optimum keyword density for a set of key terms. Keyword density is important because search engines use this information to categorize a site's theme, and to determine which terms the site is relevant to. The perfect keyword density will help achieve higher search engine positions. Keyword density needs to be balanced correctly (too low and you will not get the optimum benefit, too high and your page might get flagged for “keyword spamming”). This tool will analyze your chosen URL and return a table of keyword density values for one-, two-, or three-word key terms. In an attempt to mimic the function of search engine spiders, it will filter out common stop words (since these will probably be ignored by search engines). It will avoid filtering out stop words in the middle of a term, however (for example: “designing with CSS” would go through, even though “with” is a stop word).

SEO BOOK KEYWORD DENSITY TOOL - http://tools.seobook.com/general/keyword-density/

FROM THE SEO SOURCE - Thinking Beyond Keyword Density (ie: it's not 1997 anymore) Please note that keyword density is a fairly meaningless measure of relevancy. However, using a keyword density analysis tool on a competitor's website can help you discover some good keyword phrases to use that you may not have noticed at a cursory glance. Dr. E. Garcia explained why keyword density was a bad measure of relevancy in The Keyword Density of Non Sense. * Search engines may place significant weight on domain age, site authority, link anchor text and usage data. * The page title is typically weighted more than most any other text on the page. * The meta keywords tags, comments tags, and other somewhat hidden inputs may be given less weight than page copy. * Page copy which is bolded, linked, or in a heading tag is likely given greater weighting than normal text. * Weights are relative. If your whole page is in an H1 tag that looks shady, and it does not place more weight on any of the text since all the page copy is in it. * You probably want to avoid doing things like bolding H1 text as it is doubtful it will make a page seem any more relevant. * Lots are queries are a bit random in nature. When people tweak up page copy for an arbitrarily higher keyword density they typically end up removing some of the modifier terms that were helping the page appear relevant for many 3 and 4 word search queries. * Semantic related algorithms, may look at supporting vocabulary when determining the relevancy of a page. If you pulled the keyword phrase you were targeting out of your page copy would it still be easy for a search engine to mathematically model what that phrase was and what your page is about given the supporting text? * When people focus too much on keyword density they tend to write content which people would not be interested in reading or linking at.

SEO QUAKE - http://www.seoquake.com/

FROM THE SEO SOURCE - Seoquake is a powerful tool for Mozilla Firefox, aimed at helping web masters who deal with search engine optimization and internet promotion of web sites. Seoquake allows user to obtain and investigate many important SEO parameters of the internet project under study on the fly. Project Seoquake is being constantly polished and enhanced. All SERP changes are tracked down and taken into account. Update your version regularly.

SEO RANKS - http://ranks.nl/

FROM THE SEO SOURCE - Keyword density analyzer Shows your keyword density and placement. Among other things the tool features options to show the page's headers, page elements, outgoing links, Google Pagerank, the guessed language and location of the server and more! *Extra features for Ranks Friends Compare Search Engines Tool to compare up to 5 result sets. How does msn.com compare to msn.nl to msn.de ? Altavista.com to Altavista.fr ? Findwhat to Yahoo? What's up with the Google update ? Does Lycos show pure Fast results ? Find out here. *Extra features for Ranks Friends Keyword Proximity Analyzer This tool is made for analyzing the use of a specific phrase in the body of the HTML of a webpage. It will tell you the proximity of one part of a phrase to the other part, the exact matches and other statistical data. Even better, it allows you to compare two pages to each other on their usage of the phrase you want to analyze. Keyword Combinations A keyword list generator. The Keyword Combinations tool is made to create phrase / keyword lists by combining keywords. The generated lists can be useful when advertising on PPC search engines such as Google Adwords or Yahoo Searchmarketing. *Extra features for Ranks Friends Extra Tool: Multi Adgroup Creator Available to Ranks Friends only Save days setting up your Google Adwords campaigns. The Multi Adgroup Creator is intended to optimise your Google Adwords campaigns and the results generated by this tool can be imported into Adwords Editor. The tool will create an adgroup for each keyword (or small group of keywords), with matching ads. This way adgroups become highly focused, and usage of the wildcard is avoided. The keyword can be inserted automatically by the tool into Display URLs, Destination URLs and Ad Texts. Extra Tool: Words To Links Available to Ranks Friends only A simple tool to quickly create a list of hyperlinks from a list of words. Useful if you happen to work with mod_rewrite or if you have other reasons to convert word lists to link lists. The output can be customised to create links seperated by breaks, comma's, pipes and other seperators. Spaces in your keywords will be converted to the seperator you desire and accented characters will be converted to the corresponding character without accent to create valid filenames. Extra Tool: SiteStripper Available to Ranks Friends only Sitestripper is primarily intended to strip content from a website for re-processing into another website design. It allows you to strip selected elements from a part of HTML and keep the rest. You can also use it to quickly copy the headings, title and meta tags from a page. Useful for example for affiliate marketeers who want to use parts of the merchant's content in their own website . Extra Tool: Domain-IP Researcher Available to Ranks Friends only This tool is intended to quickly look up the ip adresses of multiple sites. It can be useful to research a network of sites before doing a link exchange for example. Input is a list of urls or domains, and output is the ip adres, c-class and servername of each domain. Color codes and counters indicate what ip adresses, server names and c classes occur more then once in the list. File Differences Compare two files and see the differences. Compare your homepage to last month's homepage to see why you might have gained or dropped search engine positions. Find a mistake that is in one file but not in the other by finding the difference. Compare cgi script versions... A universal webmaster tool. Environment Variables See what your browser tells about you when you visit a web site. Only environment variables that have a value are shown. You can also use this address to test if your proxy is anonymous. Validate Email Look for free email address providers here. This tool is intended to help you reduce credit card fraude by checking if an email account is a known free email account. Link Validator Outgoing links require maintenance. Do all links on your website still validate today ? Use this tool to check for broken links. Screen Resolutions Do your pages still look good at 800x600? 1024x768 ? Try a few different screen resolutions here! Extra Tool: Google APIKey URL collector Available to Ranks Friends only Need a list of URLs ? This tool is intended to quickly get a list of up to 1000 URLs or Domains from a Google query. The tool requires you to use your own Google API Key.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION: Mixed Signals Around Basecamp But A Simple Fix Within The Backpack

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Thu, 06 May 2010 05:24:46 +0000

I've been slammed with the demand for skills that span the gamut. I love it. Not so much on the web end or social media end, since that's unfortunately taken a back seat to developing media and marketing infrastructure but also extended into business strategy and implementing practices and associated business software applications.

Because of my lack of time, posting here has taken a back seat to shifting gears through the twisties of life, something along the lines of a sitting behind the handlebars of a Honda CBR600RR and working my way through Highway 2 that spans the ridges of the Angeles National Forest. Pardon the day dreaming. The weather's right. And we're in Southern California. Granted. I'm more into dirt. But I almost had a associate editor gig at a motorcycle magazine and happened to be doing some working slightly related to crotch rockets.

Anyhow, I've been eyeballing 37 Signals software for years and even integrated it into the operational backbone of a few businesses. The other day, we launched its Backpack software, primarily used for fast Twitter-like communications and scheduling amidst business teams. It almost has a and Facebook-like feel to it and appears intuitive. And it is. But it's not as intuitive as I would have imagined. Sometimes, there are aspects of its various means of updating, where you just don't know where it fits. And its various features don't cross post within the overall hosted software application. It is good at organization, but it's not just doesn't connect the dots the way I'd like it to, which is why we initially leaned more toward its Basecamp offering, the project management software.

But, as with Backpack, the Basecamp project management software is not complete. It lacked an essential component, scheduling upon a multi-category and multi-person calendar. And you would think each of these software applications, Basecamp and Backpack, would work together as one, but they don't.The same goes for its real-time chat, code sharing and file sharing software, Campfire. Integration just isn't there.

While there are some major companies using each of these applications, I am amazed not only at each application's lack of completeness in concept but also its lack of seamless integration between them. I could probably or at least almost get a more complete package out of a cloned Joomla install I have. It has project management components but also a list of components that can handle many of the tasks just as well. Tossing in an install of Simple Machines Forum might even work just the same.

Would I have made the same decision to use this software a week ago if I would have known what I know now? Possibly. But I would have actually taken one or two other applications for a longer test drive before pulling the trigger. Amid the dozens of hosted applications that are out there, I wanted an application that was hosted, since I did not want to stretch myself too thin on maintain the code or even the server the software was on. Likewise, I wanted an interface that was simple to understand and required very little of a learning curve, especially considering that much of the staff are not particularly savvy on computers and need encouragement when adapting new methods, not discouragement by a daunting learning curve and distraction by an onslaught of unnecessary bells and whistles. We need to a simple and focused intuitive interface that fosters communication amidst the regional teams and results in the fruits of simplified team collaboration and results in improved productivity. Basecamp fits.

This is not a review by any stretch of the imagination. It's just some random thoughts to get me off the idea of deadlines for a few minutes. With some coercion, I can expand upon my insight in greater detail.

SEO Audience Targeting As Well As Recyclable News Aggregation And Follow Up

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

I absolutely love the topic of news and how it has evolved with the onslaught of social media and the web in general. Hacks have earned the accolade of online news sources. Seasoned news hounds from the stuffy print newspaper newsrooms have been scooped and charge around with chips on their shoulders. Print editors who have allowed stories to slip in favor of allowing someone to slide have been greeted with pink slips. And infotainment editors who charge their way into the Google News feed serve as little more than the day's muckrakers of sensational and sometimes fraudulent headlines who often perform as nothing more than human aggregators or regurgitators. Well, the first link of the lot is not necessarily focused upon the specific subject of muckrackers but is an interesting piece on user-led content and the terms breaking news. Also in the mix is audience targeting when crafting SEO content for your blog or other social media outlet. Conversion rates and followup are also covered. Get your business on.

How 'Newsful' is Your Content?

INTRO TEXT - In the world of user-led media, one form of content is always coveted by the recipient more than most. Surprisingly, it's not something which always stirs debate. And, it's not necessarily 'breaking' news. In the world of user-led media, one form of content is always coveted by the recipient more than most. Surprisingly, it's not something which always stirs debate. And, it's not necessarily 'breaking' news.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Editorial Ethics / Journalism / Editors / Journalists / Social Media Journalism / Writers / Media / Media Ethics

The 8-Step SEO Strategy, Step 1: Define Your Target Audience and Their Needs

INTRO TEXT - Until recently I headed up technical marketing for Yahoo Media, where our competition was in verticals like news, sports, movies, games, and finance to name a few. In terms of online competitiveness, this is nothing to sneeze at. This is how I learned to base everything I do on strategy.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - SEO / SEO Strategy / SEO Strategies / SEO Target Marketing / SEO Targeting

When Conversion Rate Isn't Enough

INTRO TEXT - The history of web analytics has read a bit like the quest for the Holy Grail. We've gone through a list of candidates searching for the one true metric: Hits, Page Views, Visitors, Unique Visitors... stopping at each one to admire its purity and virtue while denouncing the heresy of whatever metric it replaced (usually, one whose purity and virtue we were just praising the week before).
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Conversion Rate / Page Views

Follow-up Is the Momentum Building Power Tool

INTRO TEXT - Woody Allen was attributed with the quote – “eighty percent of success is showing up” but I would add that in marketing it’s all about following up.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Business / Sales / Sales Strategy / Sales Follow Up / Follow Up Marketing

Facebook Fan Page Apps To Link Building Nudging And The Generation Y EMM / Social Media Convergence

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:00:12 +0000

Today's links focus primarily upon promotion of your business through social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook but also include business link building by way of calls to action. The favorite amid the day's links I've read is the Facebook Fan Page app for those looking to boost their brand page's functionality. There is also a link for those interested in youth marketing, which focuses on Generation Y, specifically the convergence of email marketing and social media. And lastly, for those looking for last week's news today, check out the sneak peak on Twitter's redesign.

5 Types of Tweets to Boost Your Biz

INTRO TEXT - Made up of a little bit art and a little bit science, proper tweeting is essential if you want your Twitter account to work for you, and not against you. There are a lot of opinions out there about the right way to tweet. Like so many things, it really comes down to the fact that there isn’t a single answer. It depends a lot on the type of business you have and what you’re trying to accomplish with your Twitter account. So how often you tweet and which combination of the types of tweets you use is not addressed here. But it’s just as important to explore the different types of tweets and know what your options are. So here’s a breakdown to get your brain working:
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Personal Tweets / Useful 3rd Party Tweets / Re-Tweets / Thank Yous / Promotional

Sneak Peek: Twitter’s “Huge Redesign” Is Coming [PIC]

INTRO TEXT - Social Media Now we know for certain: Twitter is working on a major redesign of its web interface. Doug Bowman, the head of Twitter’s design team, posted a teaser picture displaying the new interface. While it doesn’t reveal much, it does show that the profiles are being overhauled, and so are the stats that are displayed on profiles.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Twitter / Twitter Design / Twitter Redesign

Whiteboard Friday - Link Building with Nudges

INTRO TEXT - Real-time search is all the rage right now, but how can you turn your real-time content into SEO-Friendly material for your sites? All of those tweets, chats, feebs (that's short for facebook status updates--let's make it happen, people), etc. add up to a lot of content...unique content that belongs to you. For instance, if you don't somehow reclaim those couple thousand tweets you've made, all of that content stays with Twitter and gets lost in their archives (which don't rank) .
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Facebook / Facebook Friends / Social Media / Social Media SEO / Social Media Capitolist

Generation Y says “Yes” to the Convergence of Email and Social Media

INTRO TEXT - Due to the growth of social networking and micro-blogging sites the survival of e-mail marketing has been questioned for quite a few times in the past year.The recent researches by eMarketer and StrongMail once again prove that there is nothing to be afraid for e-mail marketers. The reports also provide some interesting insights about Millennials and how they adapt to the changing media environment and their relationship with social media and e-mail marketing.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - EMM / Email Marketing / Social Networking / Micro Blogging / Millennials / Media / StrongMail / eMarketer

8 Essential Apps for Your Brand’s Facebook Page

INTRO TEXT - Not even a year ago, Facebook was still being dismissed as a silly site intended to help college kids slack off. Indeed, that is what helped the social network take hold with a large number of users, but it has proven its worth in business and by now, nearly everyone is on board. Companies of all sizes are scrambling to get on the site and reach both new and current customers with a Facebook (Facebook) Page, the Facebook preferred method for user interaction with a brand, company or public figure.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Facebook Apps / Facebook Applications / Facebook Pages / Facebook Page Strategy / Facebook Page Apps

Social Media Strategy: Are You Marketing or Communicating?

INTRO TEXT - Woody Allen was attributed with the quote – “eighty percent of success is showing up” but I would add that in marketing it’s all about following up. follow-upMost marketers get that at the most basic level – you send out a mailing, someone asks for more information, and you jump on the phone and try to sell them something.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Prospects / Customers / Referrals / Referall Sources / Suppliers

From Small Business Search Listings SEO To Content Targeting And Public Relations Tools

Fidel@DIRTFORGE.com (Fidel Gonzales) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:28:19 +0000

Got links? Here are some good reads. Perhaps the best of the lot is the 10 free social media tools every public relations (PR) pro should master. And if you're a small businesses and looking for some insight on how to increase the eyeballs landing upon your good name when conducting local business searches, then there's a great link for optimizing your business listing. For those looking for domains for an existing business or a startup, there are five tips to get you started. Got content? There's an excellent strategy for those charged with developing a web content strategy. In my experience, especially for those working as contractors, you'll want to maintain an open stream of communication between client and client assets. Social media strategy, tactics and success is yet another link worthy of a read.

Optimizing Your Business Listing for Local Search Supremacy

INTRO TEXT - SMB's (Small To Medium Businesses) have just two meaningful representations in the local search space: a website and a business listing. If there was a Layman's equation for Google's local search algorithm, it would perhaps look something like this: Ranking = Location + Information + Corroboration + Input + X.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Small Business / Small Business Search / Small Business SEO / SMB

Dealing in Domains – 5 Tips to Get Started Now and Do it Right

INTRO TEXT - Buying, parking, and selling domain names can be a fantastic business. It takes very little money to get started; overhead is minimal; the learning curve is relatively short; you can do it on a very part-time basis; and it can be extremely lucrative. So, what are the downsides, and why isn’t everyone doing it? First, even though the learning curve is pretty short, you do need to educate yourself on the right way to do it if you hope to make any money. Secondly, it takes persistence and patience, which some people just aren’t good at. In fact, if you’re looking for a way to make a quick buck, the domain trade is not for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a revenue stream to add to your life that will build over time and has very low barriers to entry, keep reading.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Choose The Right Domain Names / Domain Name Help / Domain Name Parking

Build Your Brand a Social Content Ladder in 5 Steps

INTRO TEXT - Sure, social media takes a lot of time, but probably not as much time as you think. Too many companies and organizations are reinventing the content wheel for every social outpost they maintain. A better approach is to create a content ecosystem that allows you to repurpose and cascade your best information. Instead of a series of self-contained initiatives, build yourself a content ladder.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Brand Building / Social Content / Content SEO / Taxonomy / Google Analytics / Social Mention / Frequency Schema

10 Free Social Media Tools Every PR Pro Should Master

INTRO TEXT - I'm always a bit hesitant when it comes to writing posts about social media tools. However, on this occasion I think the tools / resources I'm about to walk you through MUST be part of a modern communicator's arsenal, if not today, then by the end of 2010. For some of you, these might seem basic, for others, they might seem a little foreign, but no matter which camp you are in, they should be part of your daily routine...no excuses!!
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Social Mention / Real Time Search / Bing Real Time Search / Real Time Twitter Search / Twitter Search / Klout / BackTweets / Wordle / Google Trends / Alexa / SWiX / Public Relations

Social Media Success: It's About More Than Tactics

INTRO TEXT - Later this month I’m the keynote speaker at the Dutch Marketing Conference Digitaal willen we allemaal in Utrecht. I’m speaking about the danger of building your social media strategy on tactics (“We need to use Twitter” or “We need to use Facebook”) rather than focusing on ongoing and sustainable engagement. Long-term success comes from a strategic (not tactical) approach to social media and from properly evaluating why you are using social media in the first place and how you will measure its success against overall business objectives as well as any individual campaign aims that you might be focused on at any given time.
TOPIC KEYWORDS - Social Media Strategy / Social Media Strategies / Social Media Success / Social Media Engagement / Facebook / Twitter