Online Filipino Worker - OFW Din!

SEO in 2014 - Be the business you want to be, and SEO follows

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 14:07:00 +0000

Search engine optimization (SEO) strategies and results have changed faces a lot over the years, but there is one strong strategy that will always work.

I came around to write on websites when silly black hat techniques still worked, when we as internet users were overriddled with nonsense websites that did not deserve the top spot in search results. I have been doing on-page SEO before the Google animals were introduced. I have also spent a few sleepless nights whenever animal updates were up, and I and co-workers had to re-write content quick, or substanitally lose customers. I focused my work elsewhere for sometime, and when I came back, boy, the SEO strategy changes were fast and too many! I felt kind of threatened, unsure if I can keep up with the rapid changes.

The good news is there will always be that overarching, unchanging SEO strategy that worked before, and still works now, regardless of software and apps that were introduced, or no matter how organic search seemed to have become so complex with the details. In the old days of search, just having the root words in so many mentions is enough. These days, I still see job adverts that look for SEO writers and require them to write 10 articles per day on the same topic, and I wonder how far this kind of speedy, quality-at-risk, unsustainable practice will take the business.

Content that talks to people automatically qualifies for good SEO

Personally, I find it strange why current SEO requirements have to be uptight about quantity and repetition. I have seen that regularly talking to website users - addressing their needs, identifying their concerns and answering questions - will easily fill up the website with quality content that people will find and go back to, and forward to their friends.

Search engines might at first glance look like they are after quantities of words, but really they aim to capture human interaction in the web that will benefit other people as well. It just happens that keyword mentions and links indicate that real interaction is happening, but this cannot be faked by long articles that no one bothers to look at.

By communicating with customers, these quantities of keywords easily fill up search engine optimization requirements, even without thinking about it. When search engine spiders see that not only do you have a keyword rich site, and that people are responding using your keywords, and linking to it, and having users' friends come over and mention all those keywords too, then the spiders know your website is a reliable, recognized source in your industry or niche.

This also means that, as you get to know your customers, marketing ideas will open to let you tweak your website and pages frequently. Make your web pages easy to use. Make it a pleasure to buy from your website. Be the business you want to be, just online: strong, reliable, trustworthy. All these will have effect on your SEO, you will see.

By thinking about your customers first, you will then find that your snippet in Google search results does not capture what your customers want from that page. You will wonder why you rank top three for this keyword when all you ever wanted was to rank no.1 for the other keyword. So you will think, and ponder, and see connections that hey, my target market shows recurring patterns in preference for this, that's why my main keyword is not working so well. So you and your SEO team adjust. And after you do, then SEO results adjust, then customers adjust, and traffic behavior changes, then you adjust, etc. etc. At this point, you and your target market are interacting, and SEO will see human interaction really is happening on your website.

Some side activities that are important for SEO in 2014

I call these activities because, even if they are called SEO strategies, they are SEO tasks that yield to attainment of the SEO strategy. These tasks interest people to approach you, maybe talk to you, and ask their friends to come near as well.

Make content that people need and like. Infographics, guest postings and items that may go viral make people like your site, your company and your product. These may not be out to directly sell your product, but it puts your product at the back of their heads for something to watch out for, and engage in in the future.

Ensure your analytics and user testing are in place. From there you can continuously monitor if your keywords are working and if more should be added. You can also use it to check if your website changes are working for people. User testing is also an important component that gets to the root of how you should write your copy, how easy or difficult it is for potential buyers to do what they want to do, etc. Use these well. As mentioned, by going after the interests of the customers and fixing your website accordingly for them, even the SEO improves indirectly.

Old school, on-page SEO. After presenting your item comprehensively and presenting clear, easy to understand information after the interests of customers, give a quick run-over of the page and check that it complies with SEO standards. You will be surprised, that with little tweaks (or none at all), it will usually come up to SEO standards.

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My "Formal" Internet Voice,

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 16:20:00 +0000

... does not sound like me.

Flipping through my posts, I'm all serious and criticizing and whotsit. I sound like this:

When really, I look like this as I type:

Maybe it's the topic? Maybe, maybe.. maybe.... Excuses. Okay, I'll just accept I'm a Tard. For now.

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Blogging in the Age of Microposts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 01:00:00 +0000

It feels kind of strange having to write long posts again.

We are so used to tweeting in 140 characters, fb posting in as fewest sentences as possible (if at all), pinning pics, instagramming pics and vids, etc etc.

Blogging feels kind of retro now, reminiscent of a seemingly distant past, but we all know it's not so distant. It's just that tech changes have been on uppers, behavior patterns on tech usage whiz by just as fast. Before we know we've changed, another set of behavior is the it behavior.

But nothing beats having the venue to explain things as short and/ or as long as the reader wants...

Still and always be about the reader/ user.

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Office desk and chair on my mind

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 08:51:00 +0000

Office furniture is pretty much on my mind these days as I am preparing to come back to working from home. When one works at home, simple furniture such as one's desk and chair is taken for granted.

My unsolicited two cents for you, work from home-r, is spend on your work areas. After all, it's where you sit going to and from your work, and incidentally, also where you work. lol. If you have the means to, but just don't want to, allocate a bit more for your:

- comfort. Helps you work long and fast hours.
- some white space. Helps you breathe, which makes you relaxed, making you more focused, making you more productive.
- posture. Take care of your body, and this includes having the right posture as you work for hours on end.
- prettiness factor. If where you are inspires you, all those long hours pass by quickly, with better results.

I'm still looking, and haven't found the perfect office desk for me yet. I'm also planning on having a small computer desk for the balcony. and also a portable, when-I-feel-like-it-I-stand-up work table. All this, even if I now live in a tiny shoebox.

Warning: I will bore you in future posts about desks and chairs. ;-)

Help me out please, post links to pics of your favorite desks and chairs. I need some inspiration besides the usual ones we see in local stores.

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Use your web space efficiently with copy relevant to customers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 09:22:00 +0000

Summary: When writing product copy, consider the page where the copy will appear in, note what you want the web user to do in that page. Then attract, interest and build desire in potential customers through giving relevant information on why the product will be useful to them. You have just a few seconds to do so, so put the meat right in. Whimsy copy is useless and turns off customers.

----

Finally, one local coupon site has stopped using psycho and useless product copy. Hallelujah!
Another site who does this practice has hidden the weird copy in the middle of the product page.
The only local coupon site that I've seen who used copy optimally is Cashcash. The others were just yikes. (Or maybe I'm not subscribed so I missed it.)

As a loyal customer and a copywriter for usability, I always cringed at their weird product copy.

Example:

... Traditionally, lasers have been used to point out important portions of slideshow presentation, to shrink one's children, or as a super villain's go-to weapon of mass destruction. Find out what good things lasers can do for you with... ?

This is from an email I received just this June.

As of today, their site only has 1 product with weird copy, the others are more efficiently written.

The writer definitely knows how to write, but it is big waste of web real estate. I click these ads when I want to buy something, and I expect the blurb on the email to tell me:

a bit more about the product,
if the feature I'm excited about is mentioned, or
if I have a question, seeing it answered immediately on the snippet under the attractive picture.

Any of these would really excite me to click "View It" to lead on to the product page. And of course, if all information and terms are satisfactory to me, I would buy at that very moment.

In writing copy, let us treat each page as having its own objective. Then we write according to that objective. In the photo I posted above, the conversion objective is: to click on the View It! button that leads to the product page. I am not clicking to read on shrinking one's children. Truth to tell, since I did not glance at the title, I didn't know what the product was. If I liked the picture and price, I would click the button, but the desire for buying is held off until the next page, when desire to buy could have been built directly on the email received, even before landing on the product page. Time is wasted.

Unfortunately, hurt as it may, but as your buyer too, I can say that most of your sales come from the pictures, the price, the no-nonsense product headline, and in the product page. But that blurb, it turns me off, and I'm sure a lot of us cringe at those blurbs because it's (sorry) quite cheesy, given the context. In the past, there were instances when I see people in my timelines snickering about the product copy. Many times, I have been impatient with this copy as it is not helpful and quite annoying and takes up my time when all I want is to learn more about the product.

I am not sure if it's a management policy to write this way, or a personal preference of the writer, but whoever decided to stop it, well, props to you.

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Great example of internet marketing campaign in the Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 17:45:00 +0000

SM plays smart internet marketing with the Sarah Jessica Parker campaign.

As I have recently resurrected this blog, one of the last posts from 2012 was SM finally advertising in an email site. I wanted to find out the update so this morning, at the office, I logged in to my Yahoo mail.

I found... tada!, Sarah Jessica Parker endorsing dresses for SM.

Good call, I noted, and showed it to my cynical office mate. Her face lit up first, then smirked when she noted it was from the masses' department store.

What? I asked her.

"Why did they choose her? And is she endorsing their higher end dresses?" Clearly, she was cynical of the effectiveness of the endorser vis-a-vis SM's market.

I explained that for this web campaign, SJP was perfect. I love nitpicking through marketing strategies, especially online ones.

For the web users ages 30s-40s, Sarah Jessica Parker is the perfect endorser.

First, this was advertised in Yahoo mail.

Yahoo mail people are in their late 20s (if any, lol) but mostly 30s and 40s.

Yes, these are the same people who were around when Sex and the City was THE default setting for cool.

Sarah Jessica is the goddess for shoes and dresses if you knew that show.

And yes, these same people who still use Yahoo, associate Sarah Jessica with dresses and shoes coincidentally are also earning now AND surely can afford those dresses and shoes... and wait! also do the grocery shopping, hold the toys shopping budget for their kids, etc etc.

"And since you now have money, of course you won't buy your dresses from SM. But now they have SJP to lure you back in to SM to buy dresses at first. And since you're there anyway, this will also carry on to buying everything else from them -- food, equipment, toys, hardware.. Salamat kay Sarah Jessice Parker." *evil laugh* Muhahaha ... I love it!

I concluded, if only for the internet marketing side, this campaign is brilliant. SM may or may not use SJP's ads in print, I think. For the Filipino internet users though, who identify with her and have the spending powers, Sarah Jessica Parker is perfect, and advertising at the Yahoomail log in page is smart.

Again, great work, SM marketing and web team!

But of course, the best metric is still sales, so I wonder how that plays out. But still, this is very well played.

PS. Tonight, I sauntered over to the Yahoo mail log in, but saw Ramon Bautista for Smart instead. Brilliant use of scheduling for accessbility of the target market. Mornings for email are the best times to flash your dress ads for the working ladies/ mommies.

Yey. I love how they know their market.

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noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 16:19:00 +0000

I totally loved this when I saw this a year or two ago. I just had to say it to my computer-psycho kid then. Someone re-posted it today, but now I tell my kid the opposite. He much prefers to be downloaded, I think (and over at Pirate Bay too, for additional irreverence).

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Internet Trends Happening Too Fast, Not Furious

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 15:06:00 +0000

Seeing that my last blog entries are from almost three years ago, I cannot help but marvel at how vast the differences are in lifestyle now and then. These differences in integrating lifestyle and internet use directly reflect things I have missed in my online work, since, technically, even if I reported to a brick and mortar office, the circumstance is that I almost live under the rock (internet skills wise).

Top differences in internet use that happened too fast under your nose you barely noticed it:

Of course, the convenience and dependence on mobile gadgets. And we have finally come to that age when we can carry our internet with us everywhere. We get to pick whether we view it in large, medium, or small, thanks to tablets, large phones and smart phones. I used to have a hard time getting to chat with my sibs thrown everywhere. It was always a pain to have everyone pasted in front of their computer, camera and microphone. And I never realized we would all suddenly be able to talk because of the smart phone. Yup, still using the phone, but only because of the internet.
Internet speed, definitely up. I knew the day would come that all of us would zoom through our surfing, movie watching, uploading, downloading, but I never expected it to happen (even to my country with greedy internet caps) in a year or two. I don't even need to buy movies now. Never expected I could go watch a movie anytime even if I was huddled in a corner toting just my phone.
And because of handy gadgets and speedy access, everyone talks everywhere. Finally, it's the consumer who gets to have a say now. The once 1-way communicators, the big companies, politicians, and other opinion makers, have finally gotten the message that customers like to talk to them, and they talk quite a lot. And customers/ clients/ stakeholders expect to be replied to. So be very careful about throwing your weight around.
We used to tell our stories through text and pictures, now it's a happy assortment of copy, still and moving visuals, and sound. Opinion makers, wanna-be opinion makers, and people who just want to share get to pick the sense they find it easiest to appeal to the most. Because of the speed and convenience, instagram, video uploads, soundcloud, pinterest, maps, weather updates from the other side of the planet are easy to use, putting the followee and the followers in total control of their preferences.
Integration of all media, accessible in one gadget of choice - net, phone, tv casts, radio, etc. Taking one media venue and being able to access all of them in one big or small gadget (whatever you prefer, like I said) blows my mind away.

For my friends who scan through my ancient posts, you will notice how I like comparing the current to the recent past. I am fond of this exercise as I like being awed at the rapid changes escaping me in the present.

I am writing all these things down for me to ponder on what issues to address for my internet marketing studies. As I sift through these happenings, I am content. These are fast, happy times for the internet-using public.

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Why Hire Online Filipino Workers?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 14:42:00 +0000

Would it be worth it to hire online freelance workers from the Philippines? Even Google and Yahoo does not encourage telecommuting anymore. Why should I if the gurus have tested it and seen it does not work?

My observation all these years is: Not all people with an internet connection can work at home. However, there is a very small percent of people who DO thrive, perform well and even enjoy working for you, regardless of physical location.

So my answer to your question is, yes, it would be worth it to hire online Filipino workers because:

They continue the work you need done as you spend time with your families and on yourself (because of the time difference).
As you come in to work, the work for those hours off are now done.
You will have the time to strategize and grow your business, as the little things (maybe even big ones) are being taken care of.
The real online workers have the initiative to work on their own, with minimum supervision
They research how to do tasks if there is a small detail they do not know how to do, and learn quick.
Filipinos find it easy to talk to you in English, at least better than other online counterparts.
A lot are university-trained and can tackle advanced, strategic or managerial tasks as well.
A lot are respectful, honest, and hard working

When you do find your reliable and honest online worker, ensure they are comfortable and they will do a lot for you so you can focus on growing your business.

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You know internet marketing is finally mainstream in the Philippines when...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:37:00 +0000

... when SM buys ad space in the Yahoomail sign-up page.

Gudjab, SM! (nice ad too, btw)

Do you have banner blindness in sign-up pages?

Hmm... now I'm thinking if people are so accustomed to having banner blindness on signup pages, especially in a page where they've been signing up for years... I wonder if it will be that effective (if the objective is getting people over to their FB or Twitter account). We'll only know if they check their traffic over at fb and twitter if the people came from the yahoomail signup page.

Not interested because...

For me, they got my attention, yes. However, I am not interested to click links leading to FB or Twitter because:

1) I want to sign in to my mail because I need something there (work-related). Have to attend to that now, the SM accessories online page can wait.
2) Since I'm an SM homegirl anyways, I have decided that next time I go there, I'll check the accessories department.

So, SM web team, do not lose heart if the traffic from the Yahoomail signup page is less than you expect. Lots of times, conversions manifest in the brick and mortar stores, not really online and traceable by web analytics.

For a big org like SM Department Store, most likely conversions of a campaign will happen offline.

Still, like I said, good job!

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Wondering about some online workers' comprehension

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:05:00 +0000

How does it happen that when I post Freelancer Available ads, other freelancers still apply to me?

Copy of the ad is clear: "I am available to provide service to your company."

Title of the ad is also clear: Available - (insert freelancer title here)

And when these people write in their cover letters, they are obviously very fluent in the English language.

So yeah, I do not get why freelancers pretend to not comprehend simple ads like this. Much of our work as freelancers rely on quick understanding of written instructions. This kind of comprehension simply will not do for online workers.

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Yay

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:59:00 +0000

I haven't updated in a million years... but the other day, my friend, now also an online worker, told me that she has broken in to one project in ODesk.

Masigabong palakpakan, everybody. *plak plak plak*

And the nice thing is, she ACTUALLY read ofwdin posts before getting her feet wet into the world of online work.

"Really?", I said.

"This blog actually has some use?"

How nice to help in one's own little ways.

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Sudoku in Google Plus

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:00:00 +0000

I look forward to trying out all the games in Google Plus, but I suppose my favorites will be Sudoku and Diamond Dash.

Hi, I'm ofwdin. Wanna play?

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Friendster 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:59:00 +0000

Simple interface. Bookmark your favorite game and it goes at the top.
Shoutouts and friends' status are way below the fold.
So yeah, it's a games world.

Every now and then, I get restless with my favorite social networking sites and want to try something new.

Last weekend, I nearly gave my son a heart attack when I blurted out, "I want a Friendster account!"

"Whutt???" He gasped, as though I said something really scandalous/ immoral. I suppose for an 11 yr old, having anything to do with a social suicide site IS scandalous and immoral.

For the life of of me, I didn't know why I suddenly wanted one, only that I'm bored and heard that the new version is out.

Even if Google+ came out, I wasn't too hot about it since it's on limited invitation basis only. I remember being burned with Google Wave, etc. Desperate to get first dibs then for what? A bulky, slow-loading interface, etc.

Anyhoo, so I signed up for Friendster the other day, and what I found was: It's early Facebook! (Well the early version 3 or 4, I think.) Version 2 of fb was amusing with the pokes and sending gifts and drinks. Version 3 grabbed people with the cute games like Pet Society, Mafia Wars' etc. Because of users' daily pre-occupation with games, eventually fb was able to grab Friendster's throne (here in the PH at least, Myspace elsewhere) of listing friends, from right under Friendster's sorry ass.

So Friendster is now a games site, where you 1). Play games, 2) Make friends with people you play with and 3) invite all your real-time friends and collect your newly harvested gaming friends. This is exactly how I did my early Facebook v3. And by the time fb was established as a real friends' site, I've stayed away. Sorry, was bored. To backtrack even earlier than that, that is exactly how I did with my Friendster v1. By the time everyone was in Friendster, I was playing games and poking in FB.

BUT! I noticed Friendster's flash games load much quicker than fb's flash games. The reason why I stopped doing fb's games were the horribly impossible loading times of pet society, chocolatier, etc etc. The Friendster games also have a chat window. It's suitable for those who want to make new friends. I don't know about the coins to keep playing the games though. You can buy pre-paid cards in 7-11 etc plus there's (groan) Paypal, so I hope I don't lose sight of my sense and splurge on online sudoku. Booo.

Back to my pondering on FB vis-a-vis Friendster: Everything's just a VICIOUS VICIOUS cycle eh, and whoever gets the social networking throne, we the users are ALWAYS in the line of fire. You think?

They can all grab each other's thrones, back and forth. I don't care. I just want my cute games. And yes, I always go home to Plurk after I tire of all the drama and switching sides.

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MMDA Traffic Navigator

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:01:00 +0000

I am so excited with this website, the MMDA Traffic Navigator (tears of joy forming). I have always wanted to write about MMDA and commend their pro-active use of the internet, just haven't gotten around to it yet. The different online avenues they use are always so helpful and easily accessible.

And now, this. The Traffic Navigator shocked and awed me. Happies!!! :-D
I have not fully used it, but so far, I have found that the usability of the site is excellent.

Areas are easy to find
Color coding of degree of traffic is simple so it will be quick to see at a glance. This is especially handy when people tend to check their mobile phones for traffic.
The 2 items in the Navigation is a top need (south/ north bound and areas)
No. of minutes ago updated is shown
Plus a map of the area is provided and easily seen

Still in beta, so works only in the mornings, for now. But two thumbs up!

Monitors 6 areas:
- EDSA
- Quezon Avenue
- Espana
- C5
- Roxas Blvd.
- SLEX

Just click then it will show more specific areas, and whether traffic is light, moderate, heavy.

See http://mmdatraffic.interaksyon.com/system-view.php

This is the type of work I expect from the government and all its agencies.
Kudos also to ABC-5 for this joint project.

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Cheap Gadget Review: China Android Tablet

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:35:00 +0000

Someone gave me an i-pad clone for my birthday, which I fondly refer to as I-dap, I-dep, I-dop.

At first I wsn't sure what to do with it, as I am content with my speedy mobile net and the desktop.

I've had it for 3 weeks now and all I can say is it's nice to have one.

If you use your computer for simple internet and office tasks, I can vouch that this China I-pad clone is more than enough for your needs.

- You can easily check emails (most email sites have a mobile version and will automatically revert to it)
- Facebook, twitter, etc. comes in the mobile version, so it's easy to use.
- Youtube - quick, continuous upload.
- Blogger is okay, I'm using it now.
- Has a docs, spreadsheet and presentation software, so you can also give one to your child for school work. (Assuming your child takes care of things properly.)
- PDF reader. The main use of this gadget for me. I've finished one e-book this weekend. I wanted to read the book from my phone but couldn't, and now I was able to. Yehh!

The tablet clone I got can be used with a keyboard. It has a hub thingy for 2 USB ports and a modem connector.
Keyboard is of course too small to what you're used to, but it's supposed to fit in an 8-inch wide board.
Batteries last for about 2 hours, based on my own usage of using wifi, brightest lcd display, etc. I haven't timed how long to charge it.

Oh, yeah, I still don't have Angry Birds! The Android version of this baby is 5.0 lolz. But my friend Troy got a tablet too, his Android version is 2.2 and he immediately was able to put in one. I don't care too much for games, so it's okay with me.

All in all, for the price of this 'game and watch' (kids, ask your parents what that is, lolol) for around Php3?4?5?K (another friend got hers for only Php2,700 at 999 Mall in Divi, while Troy got his for about 4k? in Ortigas), this baby is 2 thumbs up.

Overall satisfaction? Very content
Sturdy? Mine seems so, brand is MID
Speed? Of course, slow to middle only. If you're expecting more, spend for a laptop.
Laptop or clone tablet? Clone tablet
Why? Lighter, does the same things, touch screen too.
Okay to have even if you have the other gadgets? Yes.
Do you recommend this to friends? For the non-brand conscious with simple computer needs, yes. But if you feel you are a better person because you have the i-pad, I suggest get the I-pad. Apps are also easier to get, obviously.

(Omg, I honestly did not realize this was in the style of Orange Monster's Quick and Dirty Notes. lolz. Oh well...)

If you have your own China Android thingy, please tell us your experience with it so that our readers can judge better if they should buy or not. Don't be shy, leave a comment below.

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Check for 'False Right Margins'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 May 2011 15:26:00 +0000

It used to be web conversion/ usability people had to check just for 'false bottoms'. You know, when there's this considerable space just somewhere below the "above the fold" on your monitor. And people think it's the end of the page and they leave. If your Buy or Sign Up bottom lies below your false bottom, you'll be in deep trouble.

Today, I was surfing on my phone and came upon a page where I had to register. I was used to this phone being able to fit pages. So I registered, and wondered why the form only asked for my first name and not my family name. Attributing this to design error, I filled in my whole name in the First Name field and proceeded to click 'Register'. After waiting for some time and nothing was loading on my phone, I realized the page was incomplete. I scrolled up and down again, and everything looked fine. Later, I found that if I scrolled to the right, the other fields were there, such as Family Name.

Fed up, I left the Registration Form.

This got me thinking, with lots more people surfing the net compared to 3 years ago, conversion and usability people should now also monitor the right margins, since yes, phones are narrower than your trusted computer or iPad. Maybe this can be adjusted too by not putting too much space apart for each field? Or you can also do the stuff you used to to avoid 'false bottoms' only this time apply it to the right side of the page. Just do this sparingly since people do not usually care to scroll to the right, especially from a phone.

And of course, always check how your web page looks like from the different mobile units. You lose valuable conversions, like sales or sign-ups with this tiny oversight.

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noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:29:00 +0000

Currently reading "Mastering Online Marketing" and I super like this quote for online businesses (and everything else, in general):

"Manage the system, not the people."

I'll always remember this, even for family matters.

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Web redesign for a development org site

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:19:00 +0000

Our website is undergoing a major redesign and I can't help but be excited. Obviously, geeky me tingles on matters related to these.

When I first heard of the redesign, I immediately looked up the group contracted to do the redesign and I found a simple white website with forms. Most people might think why would I hire these people with a plain white website? Me, after checking their rather spartan landing page, I grew excited and knew this group would know exactly what to do in giving our site a much needed rejuvenation.

I saw the designs today and wasn't disappointed.

1. Besides the initial professional, modern look, the first thing your eyes will wander to are the prominent nav bars for the types of users that visit the site. You will immediately see buttons for journalists, NGOs, academe, etc. People can immediately click whatever group you're from and from there find options what your groups needs.

2. Search button more prominent at the right. People instinctively look for it at the top right. Great thing is after clicking there are scrolldown filters according to country, item needed, etc.etc.

3. Landing pages now have stories right up at the top of the nav bar. Even for a worldwide development org, stories on how help is extended to countries are always welcome. People understand stories more so that's a big plus. Hyfalutin project documents are also easily available for groups whose main interest is to look up projects.

4. Top traffic landing pages, aka most in-demand pages, were prominently linked also at the top of the nav bar.

5. New items are easily seen, such as newest articles, publications and events.

Overall, I am very pleased that the site not only looks great, but is easy to use for visitors to get what they need. i noticed there isn't a favorites box, but I expect it'd look really hodgepodge with the assortment of opportunities, media releases, etc. that different groups of people need. Great design is when web owners are happy with their site, plus users are happy because it is easy to get what they need. Yup, great job!

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Lawsuit against bloggers?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:18:00 +0000

Even if you aren't paying attention, the obvious is stark. Bloggers and other quickie social media have arrived in influencing public opinion. You know this format of messaging has arrived because the people using these media vehicles are now getting lawsuits from posting their opinions.

With our kind of justice system, (plus the relative power of new media) I do not believe any kind of landmark decision on blogging will happen anytime soon. But I kinda like this happened to remind people to be more conscious about their accountability. If you want to say something, say it as you want to say it with apt caution.
These kinds of things are not for the weak of heart. Now the truly passionate ones will be separated from the flock.

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Office Newsletters: Simple cuts it.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 01:52:00 +0000

I recently made a very plain office newsletter and received feedback about it.

- Everything in plain white
- Color highlights for contrast are deep blue for the masthead at the top, and a rich pacific blue to outline highlights right below it.
- Text and photos in plain horizontal layout
- Sections separated by light gray dots
- Lots of white space
- Fonts used are plain arial, georgia and verdana

Everything else was black text on white space.

Interestingly, one of our readers emailed the next day. She thanked us for the very easy to read newsletter and said it was a very friendly way of communicating updates. (Thank you also for writing in.)

So yeah, we all agonize how a newsletter should look like. We experiment with all these designs and boxes and fillers, looking for that perfect combination of colors, fancy fonts, etc.

But really, it is the reader who will tell you what that perfect combi is, so listen/ intelligently guess what is easiest for them.

Sample screenshot:

Yes, the look really is just email with pictures.

I intentionally made the pic small, for privacy reasons.

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What to Eat for Holy Week - Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta and Kani Sandwich at Figaro

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:52:00 +0000

I'm not Catholic. Since most of you are, I'm just sharing this because I know you'll be looking for yummy food on no-meat Fridays. Visit Figaro for their yummy Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta or Kani Sandwich. You'll surely enjoy these filling meals. It may be no-meat but maybe you'll still sin because you'll surely find pleasure eating it.

I love sardines pasta. I cook it when I get the chance. Figaro's Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta though, is the way I envision how my sardines pasta should taste (which I never get quite right, btw.) The amount of olive oil is just right. The pasta is not dry or greasy. The spiciness from the Spanish sardines and the chili flakes is mild enough for everyone, I suppose. Plus the combi of the olives, parmesan and parsley are will leave your restless tastebuds satisfied. Ah yes, angel hair is the perfect pasta used for this little beauty. I always use spaghetti when I cook sardines pasta. The thickness of the noodle in my own version takes away some of the flavor.

Anyway, why tire yourself to cook pasta? You can just hop on over to Figaro to get a nicely cooked, warm and perfect sardines pasta, right.

The Kani Sandwich is okay. I love kani salads, so this sandwich is okay for me. I just wish the bread had a rougher texture (like wheat or rye) to balance out the softness of the crabstick and vegetables. That's just me though. It's overall yummy.

Prices are also reasonable - P180 for the pasta and P179 for the sammich. It's okay because it's a meal in itself and satisfying.

P.S. My officemate (also an avid pasta cook) and I ate at Figaro again last Wednesday. She tried out the Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta. The verdict from this pasta fan: Thumbs up. She wanted more.

Go on over to Figaro and try out these lite meals today!

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Magnolia Ice Cream Frozen Delights are Back! :-p

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 11:24:00 +0000

I have a gazillion memories about Magnolia Ice Cream and Magnolia Ice Cream Frozen Delights. My family loves to eat. Through time I get to associate food with happy memories, especially if this food was a basic commodity in my childhood.

So of course, when I saw that Magnolia Ice Cream was launching their frozen delights line, I felt a weird mixture of emotions, from "Squeeee!" "Yum." "Yay!"

And of course, when I tasted these, it was the closest one could get to a time machine ride. Same delicious taste I remember. I suddenly had vivid memories of my dad taking me to the Magnolia House buy ice cream cake and several boxes of frozen delights (It was always his contribution to cousins' birthday parties.). Or an earlier memory in my pre-school, when he'd take me to the Magnolia kiosk for an ice cream cone. I would grab his big burly hand with my sticky little one, and we would walk back to the car as I licked the strawberry cone.

Ah, memories. Freud would dedicate an entire section on ice cream for psychoanalysis if I was one of his subjects. lol.

So folks, check out these nostalgic but updatedly hip Magnolia Ice Cream Frozen Delights.

Pinipig Crunch: SRP : P13

I had to have the sweet corn pinipig crunch first. *Tears on first bite* lol.

Popsies: SRP: P10

No longer twins, but still yum as singles.

Fun Bar: SRP: P10

Turns your lips and tongue blue for extra goofing around. heehee.

Sweetie Bites: SRP: P11

A sweetie bite for a sweetie (hopefully that's you)

My pops woulda been delighted with the return of these frozen delights if he was still around. :-)

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iBlog 7 - thank you!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 15:37:00 +0000

I attended day 1 of iBlog7 and I am one happy blogger, indeed. Most speakers were (the only word is, really, just) awesome.

Like always, I so admire Carlo Ople's being ahead in his ideas AND his heart to share these new ideas. With just the first swing of ideas, my mouth fell open at this guy's net genius. And he generously shares. Like.

Howie (Severino) is Howie. He always delivers as expected.

The Arboleda couple is also a favorite. I admire their smartness as a couple, and also their generosity to share what they know.

And of course, super thank you to Janette Toral twice. First for making iBlog7 even better than last year's. Second for sharing her reality on the issue of the National Bloggers' Association. I am basically a commitment weasel, so I am decided to not be an official member of whatever it is. But her talk opened my eyes to my reality that I can still help out by encouraging people to have a critical mind and read the damn documents available before they rant or blindly sign up.

So yeah, I'm happy I attended the iBlog 7, and kudos to all organizers, speakers and attendees.

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GSM Flavors - Yummy, Affordable, Funtime with the Barkada

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:50:00 +0000

Been fortunate enough to attend the Ginebra San Miguel (GSM) Flavors iParty last March 25, 2011 at the Makati Grand Tower.

Yeah, I know my blog is more on net and marketing but I just had to include this flavored spirits drink here because 1) I liked their angling on the marketing and 2) I am an overt fan of r&r drinking. Everybody who knows me offline (and on) know that. It would be hypocritical of me to suppress my thoughts online on drinking.

The bloggers were having fun during the iParty and I decided to sample the mixed drinks. I liked Lychee Kiss, which had the GSM Flavours Lychee, strawberry syrup and lychee puree. Nyummers.

I've been to countless laid-back kwentuhans over alcohol at friends' homes in my teens and 20's. It all seems like a ridiculous, foolish phase to non-drinkers. But I did a lot of learning and bonding with people during those years, so all is not a waste. So yeah, I love that GSM is angling the drink as a reliable beverage during barkada tambays. At the suggested retail price of P60-something at stores, it's quite affordable for barkadas compared to the usual P80-100 bottle. Plus, the lychee or apple flavored spirits tastes nice, really. Right now, GSM Flavors can be bought at Pure Gold, Mini-stop, 7-11, Andoks and South Supermarket.

Anyway, for those who are interested to serve something interesting to your friends next time you hang out at home, below is GSM Flavors' recipe for the yummy Lychee Kiss I was telling you about:

Needless to say, I'm also contemplating on serving this for the next time my online friends hang out offline. Hello friends *wave*, see you soonest! Cheers!

Disclaimer: Like anything else you do in life, drink moderately. You don't want to be the drunk one doing the funny stuff while all your friends stay generally sober because they drank moderately. Your friends will definitely remember your weird antics for years to come, and they will still love you regardless, but still drink wisely.

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