Tom Bunny

StumbleUpon Traffic is Down – Did They Impose Traffic Ceilings?

Tom Bunny — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:25:23 +0000

I used to get a lot of traffic from StumbleUpon (15-30K a day) until something happened on Jul 14th 2010. All this random traffic went down and became a completely straight line with ~1600 visitors/day. It’s just so not like StumbleUpon! How can this absolutely varying traffic coming from SU become so fixed? Did they just impose some kind of traffic ceilings?

(click to enlarge)

Maybe it’s just a coincidence – but very unbelievable one, already lasting for 10 days.

When I tried contacting their support – I’ve learned that they use a random email generator to answer any question (which doesn’t involve reading my messages), however they never forget to tell me that I should “explore StumbleUpon Ads service”. Sounds like someone has a new business plan!

Have you experienced anything like that too?

StumbleUpon Uses Random Email Generator To Answer Any Question

Tom Bunny — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:44:50 +0000

I’ve just learned that StumbleUpon support team uses a very powerful email answering technology – it’s a random text generator. To look more human-like they even include your name in the text. Not only they can answer any question, but they do it very quickly (I believe this unique technology doesn’t involve reading your message). And what’s best about this original technology is that after sending 2 answers – the one who questioned just looses any will to ask anything more. It so cost effective when you think of it!

P.S.: I’ll write about the problem I’m having with StumbleUpon in the next post, and maybe even cite my conversation with SU support

Why Make Good Website Design?

Tom Bunny — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:51:33 +0000

I have seen lots of awfully looking websites, which have better content than some of my sites, but when I look at their PR – I’m always ahead.

The thing is, that people don’t like linking to a mess. Linking to a site with a messy design = making your own site less trusty.

Learn the basics of composition and then apply your knowledge to your sites – it must be the most underrated and overlooked SEO technique ever.

I Finally Validated Boredpanda.com

Tom Bunny — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:39:29 +0000

Woohoo! I finally got rid of ~100 html code errors and validated my main project – boredpanda.com.

Wait, what does validation mean?

Well, this means that a site is error free and built in accordance with Web standards. It also provides one of the most reliable guarantee that future Web platforms will handle it as designed.

You can check your site here: http://validator.w3.org/

Why you should validate? Read here.

P.S. some inner pages are not validated because of one of WP plugins.

Just Got my Free Chocolates from Chocri

Tom Bunny — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:05:38 +0000

As I’ve written before, a Germany based start-up asked me to test their project www.createmychocolate.com where people like you and me can create their very own chocolate designs. They gave me a special permission to access a soon to be released website and design 3 chocolates for free. I liked their offer, because they haven’t asked anything in exchange.

The funny thing was, that when I finished creating my chocolates and went to checkout to provide my shipping details the only country available was USA. I entered “outside US, Lithuania” and no problems – this morning I got the little package. Here it is:

To tell you the truth, I expected those chocolates to taste like crap (because I’ve googled and found one bad review), but on the contrary, the chocolates were incredible. You can read my review here.

Bloggers Don’t Pay for Chocolate

Tom Bunny — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:19:35 +0000

Few days ago I got a lovely letter from a German startup, which have been selling customized chocolate bars in Germany for over a year now and are launching www.createmychocolate.com for US market.

First, they asked me to test their website, and I was just fascinated by the simplicity of their idea – you can finally customize your very own chocolate. (Those who have seen 2010 Consumer Trend Report from TREND HUNTER know that customized stuff will be very trendy in 2010).

I didn’t promise them to write anything about their project, but they said, I can have 3 free chocolate bars. Well, finally some recognition I deserve :)

So..I made one full of nuts for myself, other with berries for my girlfriend(strawberries, cranberries, cherries) and the last one for my enemies (Jalopenos+Chives+CHili+Gummy Bears+ flower Mix).

Finally, when I was entering my shipping address and tried to select the country, I saw that only USA is available. As you probably already know, I live in Lithuania, so I hope this won’t stop them from shipping my chocolates! I want my chocolate so badly!!! Just kidding.

To sum up, I felt very good to be treated this way, + it’s a lesson for everyone, that good advertisement sometimes costs only 3 chocolates.