Daily Mouse Clicks

Google: Now you know!

2022-09-03T15:45:00.000-04:00

Google has released clear information on how to perform better in search engines. Provide useful, legitimate content! This update is called the "Helpful Content Update" and it is clear that original, informative information is king. A new sitewide ranking system is being added which awards people with good quality content.

Now, this isn't really new, but it clarifies that your ranking can be impacted and if you are a subject matter expert in your field or business, make it shine! Utilize your website as informational, not just a short brochure or a business card. Show your knowledge and experience and make it work for your organically.

Is Your Website Ready for the Search Engines?

2022-08-08T18:11:00.001-04:00

Photo by sarah b on Unsplash

Let's be clear. When it comes to search engines, keep in mind that SEO is an experiment, there are no rules. The algorithms changes regularly (estimated 400 times a year) and Google doesn’t share specifics on those changes except general guidelines on their site. That being said, there are some best practices to help improve the rank of the website. We can't cover all of them here, but there are some obvious ones.

This applies to the majority of search engines, so don't feel like you need to cater to each one individually.

Most of all, if this is greek to you, consider hiring someone to handle your SEO. Also, if they make promises of specific results, run far away. SEO is a slow, continuous process.

Make Your Content Clear

According to Google, they want to "see your page the same way the user does". That being said, when you see a search engine entry, you notice the title and a brief description. These are placed are placed in the "head" section of the HTML. The title can provide more information than just your business name. It can have a brief few words or a phrase such as "McAllister Park Design - Web Design and Hosting Services". Your description needs to be an accurate summary. Avoid default words like "Page 1" or Untitled".

Mobile Friendly

Your website needs to be mobile friendly. That means it is responsive and can resize to accommodate the various cell phone screens, tablets and laptop or desktop computer. You can check how mobile friendly your website is by visiting Google's mobile friendly test area.

Your website also needs to load FAST. How fast? Well, Google doesn't say, but most agree with less than 2 seconds. The reason? People leave the website if it doesn't load quickly. They might feel it isn't working or that they don't have time.

Maile Ohye, states in a Google Webmaster video, that “2 seconds is the threshold for e-commerce website acceptability. At Google, we aim for under a half-second.”

SSL Certificate

Your website must be secure, even if you aren't selling anything. Many hosting companies provide free certificates, so consider this when looking at hosting. I recommend WebHostPython for shared hosting and yes, this is an affiliate link. I have been with them for years and they provide great support and have dealt with various issues promptly and with grace, even when I messed up! They aren't my only hosting company as I have various options for my clients and their needs but for shared hosting, I recommend them.

Organize Your Website

Just like your cabinets, keeping things organized makes it easier to locate for you and anyone using your kitchen! This applies to your website as well. Keep topics together, Use headers appropriately with H1 at the top and reduce down with subtopics using H2 and below. This also benefits accessibility.

Google also recommends using breadcrumbs, a way of providing navigation in addition to the menu.

Most of all avoid complex web of navigation links as well as going overboard by "slicing and dicing your content" so it takes a large amount of clicks to get to the information.

Know What Your Readers Want

Provide fresh content with proper spelling and grammar, If you have difficulties with this, Grammarly is your friend. Make your content and writing user friendly to fit your visitor's needs. The days have passed for keyword stuffing or hiding text from users, making it only available to the search engine bots.

Cultivate Trust

Most of all, your site needs to be trustworthy.You are the expert and you provide quality in your product and/or service. Your pages need to reflect this good practice.

There are many other "Do's and Don'ts, but like Googles SEO Basics documentation is about 50 pages. I will most likely address more in the future.

And let me remind you...
SEO is an experiment, there are no rules...
just a good website that caters to its audience with quality content that loads quickly.

Typing Exercises

2022-07-10T17:34:00.002-04:00

You took typing but need to increase your typing speed? Job interview or just because? Typing has become critical in this computer based world, not only from the workplace but also resumes and communication now rely on the keyboard instead of pen and paper.

I took typing in high school before corrective ribbons were on the electronic typewriters. I was lucky to get to 15 WPM, and that was on a very good day. My typing teacher was awesome. It really wasn't her fault that I just was not that coordinated and often made mistakes reducing my numbers to single digits.

Fast forward to today, I teach Microsoft Office and often encourage my students to start or refresh their typing skills by increasing their speed. The website I use for "learning to type" is typingclub.com where you can easily learn the basics to more advanced techniques. Yes there are advertisements although you can pay for an ad-free premium. I don't benefit from this suggestion, but found the 684 lessons to be challenging even for a more advanced student.

There is a placement test for those that have a few skills, but don't take the placement test if you are hunting and pecking with your pointer finger. Take the time to learn how to really type correctly so you can build speed.

But what if you are already a decent typist and need to improve your speed? This one is cool. www.typelit.io allows you to practice your typing by retyping your favorite classic books! Sign in to track your progress and enjoy Ann of Green Gables, The Bible or The Origin of Species. Sixty-three options are currently available or bring your own book!

As you can see, I still have a bit of a problem with errors but I know I can correct them quickly with a computer keyboard. Poof! No correction ribbon necessary.

Till next time... Becky

2022 - Bringing back the Blog

2022-07-07T15:57:00.012-04:00

It is hard to imagine that so many years have past since I posted here, but much has happened in that time. I am always learning and some highlights include teaching the Microsoft Office Suite, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I also have been in school studying for my bachelors in Computer Science.

I also have been working on accessibility and some of the issues related to that which can make things difficult for a fairly large percentage of the population. More on that in the future!

So, the Daily Mouse Clicks might have a new name, but basically, more content, more ideas. Send me your suggestions and I will answer what I can and research the rest!

Coming Soon!
Becky

"Hello, This is Bridget (Or Rachel) from Card Holder Services"

2015-08-11T14:46:00.001-04:00

When it comes to running a business, the last thing you need is to be inundated with junk phone calls and the number one pest is "Card Holder Services". Matter of fact, the FTC considers "Bridget from Card Holder Services" to be Enemy #1.

Well, the FTC may not have solved this ongoing problem but I have found help from the customer reviews at Amazon.com. I searched online, then narrowed it down to a couple of options. I was very excited when I found the CPR Call Blocker capable of blocking 1200 (yes, 1200) numbers. Robocallers can change their number and I still can block them! I reduced the robocallers to my business line within a couple of days of adding this device. CPR Call Blocker V108 - 1200 Number Capacity - World #1 - Block Telemarketing Calls Now! (Amazon.com Affiliate Link but personal review without any payment. Just passing on a great tip!)

The setup took about 15 minutes for me (some said it only took a couple of minutes in the reviews). The instructions might vary based on your phone provider and it might work just a little different for you. For some, it won't ring at all, for others like myself, it rings once. At that I can cheer that I am successful again at winning the junk calls. The first time they call, press the button and it automatically disconnects and blocks that number from calling again. I also have it programmed on our other phones if you are away from the desk (#2 to block) and using one of the other phones.

I purchased this item based on the reviews and I couldn't be happier. It works and solves the problem. Not only did it put "Bridget" on hold but any other telemarketing that I didn't sign up for or request. It can also block international, private numbers and area codes. I have blocked that fax number that has auto redial! I can't wait until the election calls next year and the opportunity to reduce those calls as well. I don't need robocalls to make a decision on my choice of candidate. Ok, I might be easily amused but after years of SPAM calls, this solution makes me incredibly happy.

So take my advise, order this today. If you have Amazon Prime, it could be by your phone in a couple of days. Consider the amount of time and stress you get from running to get the phone only to hear that annoying robocall on the other end. Goodbye, Bridget and Rachel!☺

Is your website really working for you??

2015-06-22T14:33:00.000-04:00

Do you truly know the purpose of your website? Does it actually have value (sales, marketing, communication) or is it just a brochure with a low conversion rate (site visitors to paying customers)? Do people even know there is a website? Is it static or does it change, giving people a reason to return? Does it answer your customer's questions or do they have to contact you and wait for a response? So many questions, but only good reflection with make a beneficial website.

Reduce Your Email Workload with the "Three-Email Rule"

2015-05-21T21:42:00.001-04:00

Do you spend hours on your emails, trying to explain or make things clear? Consider this article to reduce confusion and misunderstandings.

Reduce Your Email Workload with the "Three-Email Rule"

☺

How Much Business Is Your Profanity Costing You? - Michael Hyatt

2015-04-03T13:05:00.001-04:00

How Much Business Is Your Profanity Costing You? - Michael Hyatt

Don't Get Fooled by Scam Pages

2015-04-02T15:39:00.000-04:00

I was watching a video on a page that was shared on Facebook and I must have clicked or scrolled over an advertisement on the side of this website... OOPS! This scam website popped up. Now I know that my machine is clean and I don't have any viruses. (Yes, I even double checked after this happened with my OWN software on my machine. ) Now what do you do? Is my system infected?

Most likely not but this has captured your browser. Matter of fact, it won't let you out of this page, you can't close your browser either so you need to know how to get out of it without clicking on something that might download something nasty. I'm not saying that this site will do that but I didn't click around to find out.

The best thing to do is not to click on anything on this page. Just hold down the CTL key, ALT key and DELETE keys all at the same time on your keyboard. This will allow you to access the task manager (below) of your computer. Find the name of your browser and right click on the name to "End Task" which will close down the browser. When you restart your browser it might ask if you want to restore the tabs or pages you had open which will take you back where you were with this scam page so I wouldn't do it. Just start fresh or use your history to open your other pages that need want to see and avoid the scam page.

Now that you are out of this, take the time to just make sure you didn't pick something up and run your antivirus or download something like Malwarebytes which does have a free edition and keep your system clean of any infections. ☺

Things you DON'T want on your website

2014-11-20T10:39:00.000-05:00

Now, this admission will reveal my age. I have been a part of designing websites through ~every single aspect~ shown on this infographic chart from Who Is Hosting This.

Click here to view the infographic. You may need to click
again on the image to make it large enough to read.

From gradients to web counters, I have done them all. Take my advice and do not ask me to add these things to your website unless you are wanting a "retro" look. Except maybe drop shadows, I like drop shadows. They may have their place depending on the design.☺

Digital Marketing for the Small Business

2014-11-18T12:16:00.000-05:00

OutMarket has put out in interesting white paper on "15 Ideas to Grow with Digital Marketing". Online marketing is not just for the big guys but is easily available for small businesses and you need to take advantage of that opportunity to level the playing field in your industry. The article provides some of the first steps in developing your online marketing plan and well worth reading.

Some small business owners want to save funds and do it themselves but you might want to consider hiring this out to an online marketing specialist so you can focus on YOUR business. Twitter, Facebook, Google Analytics and social media monitoring can monopolize your time, taking you away from running your business.

Shameless plug, McAllister Park Design can help you with your online marketing and increase your exposure online to potential clients. We will work with you as a consultant to help you develop a plan or as your regular marketing guru, your choice.

My Favorite Apps/Software

2014-11-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

Do you know the difference between an app and software? Well, if you try and look it up online, you will get a variety of answers. What we do know is that "app" is short for "application". Past that point, the line is pretty blurred as we often use the word "software" pretty extensively for any "application" that runs on a computer. But there is a definition.

An app is computer software that is designed to help the user perform various light weight
tasks on the computer (but more often referred to an application on a phone or tablet) while software is usually things like your operating system and system files on your computer. Does it matter? Probably not.

With that out of the way, I want to list a couple of my favorite apps. Hopefully, you will find them helpful in your business as well. The great part is that they are low cost and free since I tend to be frugal when it comes to business "apps". I also want the app to cross all my platforms for the most part (which includes Windows 8.1, Windows Phone and Kindle HD).

Evernote - How could you not function with this wonderful notebook style application. It allows me to keep notes, articles clipped from the internet, lists, ideas and journal. It helps you stay organized and helps you remember. This they do quite well. You can use the application for free or the premium version (with offline notes, more security and search capabilities) for $45 per year. What a bargain.

Toggl.com - I need to keep track of my time for various clients and different projects. What better way than Toggl which is available for Windows, iOS and Android (and will sync together as well). I have used this for the last year, replacing an older program (Time Is Money) I used to use before the world of the cloud applications. Now I can track not only my time on my computer but when I am in a meeting, a phone call or consulting with a client. I can report hours for each project or a detailed report for the last year. This is important to me business. Free with subscription upgrades for $5 per month.

Live.com Calendar - Honestly, I use the Google Calender for various Non-profit websites but I use the live.com calender on my phone and computers. It captures events off of Facebook, it is easy to add events and always with me. With connectivity through all my electronics, I no longer use my paper calendar. I also appreciate that it notifies me of upcoming events. It is a great babysitter for me as I don't keep track of dates quite as well as I used to when my memory was younger. I haven't used many of the other features such as Word, One Note and Excel but I am glad to have that option.

LastPass - I keep all my passwords safe and secure across my systems. Save yourself the hassle of remembering to write down your passwords, changing them regularly and "which password did I use?" nightmare. It allows you to save online form information as well saving you time and energy of typing your name and address over and over again.

So, these are a few of my favorite things... until next time! ☺

Why Should I Hire a Professional Web Designer?

2014-10-30T18:46:00.001-04:00

Well, to tell you the truth, there are many reasons to hire a professional but there are

Your nephew might know computer games
but that doesn't make him a web designer.

times that you can settle with a DIY website. But avoid your geeky nephew that can throw up that a bargain website. Unless he is a professional, that is one situation I suggest you avoid.

Companies need a web presence. They need to have their information available to their customers such as products, services, hours, contact information, ordering, menus, specials, and much more. With a simple site, this might be workable on your own. There is no doubt that software and websites with templates and stock images makes it much easier today than even just a few years ago. But if it is too much, call a professional. If you are looking at e-commerce, call a professional. If you want custom features, call a professional. Just my suggestion.

You might also consider just doing a consultation with a designer. They might be able to help you organize your site plan and make sure you are marketing yourself online appropriately. A few dollars spent up front could save you considerable headaches in the future.

As a small business owner, I know that spending time on building a website will take the owner away from other important aspects of their business. You might be surprised at the cost of a basic website even from a designer. Look at their work, ask their other customers and talk to them about your ideas. Their experience and expertise just might make the difference between success and frustration. :)

School's Out and DMC is Back!

2014-10-29T11:59:00.000-04:00

Good Morning, Daily Mouse Readers!

I am back and ready to go, sharing information for your business, your online presence, marketing, social media and using your computer productively and effectively for your business.

Building your business online is just as important as your personal presentation, sales pitch and branding. Do you have your information online to support your customers coming to your location? Do you provide them with your products, menus, specials, hours and directions? Do you want to encourage them to contact you or to look elsewhere? Let me give you an example.


I need my coffee in the morning!

I love coffee and my coffee maker died last week. I went looking for a new one that had the features I wanted. Yes, I am a little finicky about my coffee maker. I prefer a thermal pot so I don't burn the coffee. My experience is that coffee makes last longer if they don't have a burner running for hours daily, not to mention keeping the cost down for electricity. I wanted at least a 10 cup capacity (none of that individual cups or pods, please) and I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg. I saw that a big store (starts with a W) showed online that the model I was consider was in stock nearby. So, I went out of my way to find it. But they were wrong. Not only did they not have that brand, it wasn't even marked in that aisle that they ever had that brand in-store. The clerk, that wasn't from that department, said that they often didn't have what the inventory said online but I could order it. REALLY?? If they don't know their inventory, why would I trust them with an order? If I am going to order it, I can get it cheaper from Amazon and know that it will arrive promptly. Three other local stores were less than helpful finding the perfect coffee maker. Amazon got my order.

Melitta 46894A 10-Cup Thermal Programmable Coffeemaker

Building your presence online is more than just providing an online brochure. Be sure you provide the information your customer needs and wants. This may be their first impression of your company and your product or service. Is your website a reflection of how you want your company to be portrayed? Do you want to talk it over? Consultations are available (shameless plug!).

Taking a Hiatus

2014-05-30T21:47:00.000-04:00

Due to a heavy work project load, an internship and homework (I will be graduating in the fall), I am taking a hiatus from the DMC for the summer. I will still post links on occasion and write articles as I find time but it won't be daily until September. I promise to come back with new information, great tips and maybe even some audio and video blogging to mix things up a bit.

Blessings! <><
Becky

You can now ask Google to remove links about you - CNET

2014-05-30T14:23:00.001-04:00

You can now ask Google to remove links about you - CNET

Net Neutrality

2014-05-15T13:17:00.000-04:00

What is net neutrality?

Net neutrality is the concept that all Internet traffic should be treated equally.

I am an advocate for Net Neutrality where the startups, and the little guy has as much of a chance at success at the big guys such as Amazon, ESPN or Google The fact is that without that neutrality this tiny speck of a blog may never see the light of day. This is a big BIG issue and you need to be aware of the potential changes to the Internet that could be happening. Voice your opinion, let them know.

Please send your thoughts to openinternet@fcc.gov or post your comment on the form: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/display?z=p0e2m

More on the hearings can be found here: http://mashable.com/2014/05/15/fcc-net-neutrality-live/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

Getting a Higher Education at a Lower Cost

2014-05-14T14:09:00.002-04:00

This morning I was in "dialog" with a friend on Facebook about higher education. In Finland, people have universal "free" access to higher education* and also receive a monthly grant while attending school. So, now I will get on my soapbox.

Unless you are going for a doctor or lawyer, a liberal arts degree should be purchased within your financial means. And there are exceptions here with less expensive school, Peace Corps, military nursing loan repayment and medical loan forgiveness programs. If you can't afford to attend a high cost college, don't take out a loan! Find a way to get an education that fits your budget.

If you are low income, you have access to the PELL Grants. In Georgia (my state) there is the HOPE grant and HOPE scholarship. If you don't have money to pay for going away to school, do your first two years at a community college or technical college where your grant money will go much farther and pay for all those core classes at a much lower cost per credit.

You can also get credit for studying a subject on your own. CBE (Credit by Exam) is a great way to take classes, and the tests are less expensive than a class, you don't need an expensive book and you can work at your own pace (faster or slower). There are tons of free resources online for studying a wide range of subjects and many, MANY schools do accept the DSST and CLEP exams. There is also Mooc credit which is now becoming available through ACE (American Council on Education) and other ACE coursework.

And when you find you really can work better on your own you can even do the majority of the degree at a fraction of the cost at legitimate acredited colleges such as Thomas Edison State College and Excelsior College. Self motivation is an incredibly valuable skill to have in life. Distant learning saves considerable housing funds and allows students to actually save for their future home or family instead of spending or borrowing.

There are also work colleges that require academics and work. What a way to gain experience! Check out the Work College Consortium. Berea College, for example, doesn't charge for tuition, so the only expenses are living expenses if your teen wishes to go away to college. Even our local college, Berry College, has the the Gate of Opportunity Scholarship which allows lower income students to work, cover tuition and gain experience.

None of this is new information, but it does have a lot to do with our values as a society. We are so used to having what we want "right now" that we will borrow ourselves into a hole they can never climb out of in their lifetime (including bankruptcy). We need to think about higher education in a different, more affordable and realistic manner. Only then will higher education truly become valuable.

This just scratches the surface of the options for higher education, but it can be done. ☺

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Government paid education is not FREE! It is paid for by the citizens that pay taxes. In Finland, the tax rate is 49.2% on income over $87,222.

Typical Tuesday: Busy

2014-05-13T20:30:00.001-04:00

This has been an extremely busy day with clients, a real estate closing and more, so I am passing on a little bit of fun instead of some computer tip. Hey, we have to have fun sometimes! I was a courier for 10 years and this one just struck me as absolutely funny. Enjoy! ☺

Maintenance Monday: Keep it cool!

2014-05-12T18:31:00.000-04:00

Cooling is so important!

One of the biggest dangers to your computer is heat. Too much heat reduces the life of your computer. Today's tip is to keep your computer cool.

One of the biggest threats to keeping your desktop cool is dust. Because of the fans on your computer dust will collect in and around the vents and even on the inside if kept on the floor, near pets or in a room with the windows open or even just a warm environment. With a dry cloth, wipe down the vent panels of your computer. If you are in a very dusty location use a can of bottled air to blow out the dust on the inside of your system. If you aren't comfortable with doing this, contact a professional.

Make sure there is plenty of room around the computer! Airflow helps keep your system cool and if it is blocked, you are raising the temperature inside your computer and putting it at risk. If your computer desktop inside a desk slot, be sure to keep the door open while it is running.

Laptops are notorious for having overheating problems and it truly does reduce the life of your laptop. Never use your laptop where it doesn't get airflow to the bottom, such as "on your lap" or on the bed. Remember that they can still get hot on a desktop which is why I recommend investing in a laptop cooling fan. Many can be found for less than $10 online. Most laptop fans are powered by the USB on the laptop.

Keeping your computer cool will extend the life of your computer and less problems for you in the long run. ☺

Look Up and See

2014-05-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

This is why Daily Mouse Clicks is usually only four days a week. Enjoy the world, enjoy the day, spend real time with your family or make a new friend.

Microsoft had to patch Windows XP | ZDNet

2014-05-02T11:01:00.001-04:00

There are still people out there running XP even with the various suggestions to upgrade or change (see our previous article). If you are still running Windows XP, there actually is a new patch out there for your system.

Read More Here: Microsoft had to patch Windows XP

Cut the Cable Cord and Save!

2014-05-01T18:03:00.000-04:00

As I believe I have written about in the past, we no longer have satellite or cable television. We gave it up a number of years ago when we realized we were paying about $10 per show since we didn't watch that much TV. And the shows were were watching were shows such as Alton Brown's Good Eats, Mythbusters and the Andy Griffith Show! For a while my husband and son did watch Braves ball games but with their busy schedule, that fell by the wayside. We did consider downgrading our package but then we wouldn't have any of the channels we wanted to watch. Yes, I am aware that we could be considered boring old fogies.

So, I after a failed experiment with creating a media computer, I decided to purchase a Roku. There are many similar boxes out there, such as the Apple TV or Chromecast. I like our Roku boxes and with YouTube being added recently to our newer streaming box, it is an added bonus as there is a lot of material on YouTube to follow and enjoy. The cost of the box was a fraction of our yearly satellite bill which ran around $65 per month at the time.

Now, I pay for Netflix streaming which as some 9,381 movies and 4500 TV shows. Then there is my Amazon prime account which I keep for the shipping and have the added benefit of an additional 40,000 streaming movies and TV shows. My son pays for Hulu Plus, but my husband and I have plenty with the channels plus the new YouTube channel. For example, we just finished watching a Hasta Alaska where some young people are driving from Chile to Alaska in a VW bus. A little insane but hey, what a road trip!

So, with the streaming boxes paid in full and the streaming less than $20 per month, we have more than enough TV/movie entertainment. If we need a baseball fix, we head over to the Rome Braves Stadium and enjoy some sunshine, hot dogs and ice cream.

Don't have a streaming box? Well check out this article about a laptop and streaming from your computer. Poof! You have just saved a bundle! ☺

Washable Computer Keyboards

2014-04-30T18:30:00.000-04:00

There is almost always a cup of coffee on my desk. Yes, ALWAYS. But there is a risk. Once a keyboard is wet, it is a gonner.. toast, terminated.

When my daughter was much younger, in elementary school, she was home after school and wanted to help clean house so she took my proprietary keyboard from my Amstrad 8086 Dual Floppy computer (now a museum piece). and washed it. As in, put it in a sink of soapy dish water and washed it. It was very expensive to replace the micro-controller for that keyboard let me tell you!

Well, it isn't really new but there are some washable keyboards on the market now. Logitech has a the scrubbable, submersible, spill-proof, K310 Keyboard that has pretty good reviews. Kensington K64407US Pro also has a washable keyboard with anti-microbial protection for a little bit less money. There are also washable mice but those are usually covered in silicone which I personally would prefer to not hold onto throughout the day. I did find the Seal Shield Mouse that has rave reviews for wet environments and quite a bargain for under $30.

So, if you have kids, are a little bit sloppy or clumsy, this may be your best bet for the future of your computer peripherals. ☺

Write yourself in the future.

2014-04-29T18:51:00.000-04:00

Here is a cute freebie... OhLife will send you an email in the distant future. Might be a great opportunity for high school grads to send themselves a letter or new parents to their children. The possibilities are endless.

Just pop over to OhLife's website and add your email. They say they don't spam.

Oh and what else does OhLife have? They allow you to write yourself a private blog, probably more like a diary, just for you. Write the story of your life!☺