Monday, March 31, 2008
Browser Popularity Stats Change and Update
Since my January 2008 post of statistics comparing the percentage of users by browser, Internet Explorer IE7 and Safari have made significant gains. Based on visitors to this website, IE7 has surpassed IE6 and FireFox, and the number of Safari browser users went from 1.7% to nearly 8% of my site traffic.
You may view the Cross Browser Website Testing post to view stats from January, or read the Safari Browser Review here.
While my preference is still FireFox because of the FireFox web developer add-on extensions that suit my work in custom web design, IE7 or Safari are excellent choices for everyday users. Otherwise, IE7 seems to overload and slow down my system performance, and Safari has superior rendering but not much third party support for extensions.
The excitement building over the launch of Internet Explorer IE8 bears watching. Microsoft has softened their stance on browser backward compatibility with the aim of the new IE8 to more closely meet W3C worldwide code standards. For web developers, the Internet Explorer IE8 launch later this year is highly anticipated.
TAGS: advice browsers IE7 IE8 Safari browser
You may view the Cross Browser Website Testing post to view stats from January, or read the Safari Browser Review here.
While my preference is still FireFox because of the FireFox web developer add-on extensions that suit my work in custom web design, IE7 or Safari are excellent choices for everyday users. Otherwise, IE7 seems to overload and slow down my system performance, and Safari has superior rendering but not much third party support for extensions.
The excitement building over the launch of Internet Explorer IE8 bears watching. Microsoft has softened their stance on browser backward compatibility with the aim of the new IE8 to more closely meet W3C worldwide code standards. For web developers, the Internet Explorer IE8 launch later this year is highly anticipated.
TAGS: advice browsers IE7 IE8 Safari browser
Labels: advice, general, reviews
Saturday, March 29, 2008
New Podcast Episode on Market Branding
The latest podcast episode of the Small Business Website Mailbag was released eariler with advice for small business websites and market branding. Here's an excerpt from the actual audio show:
Whether you name it market branding, corporate image, or corporate identity, a consistent look that will stand the test of time may depend on your logo which is the foundation of your small business image. A memorable and lasting positive first impression should be your priority.
TAGS: advice corporate image news podcast market branding small business advice
The word consistent is one to remember. If your promotional materials begin with a business card, other print material with a similar logo and varied color scheme, and then a website that's still more varied, you lose the value of a consistent corporate image. Market branding will be more effective if you have a consistent image wherever your company name or logo is encountered by customers or prospects.
My advice is always develop your logo first, and then maintain the same look and color scheme on your website and printed materials.
Whether you name it market branding, corporate image, or corporate identity, a consistent look that will stand the test of time may depend on your logo which is the foundation of your small business image. A memorable and lasting positive first impression should be your priority.
TAGS: advice corporate image news podcast market branding small business advice
Labels: advice, audio, podcast, websites
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Blocked Email and Spam Blacklist Horrors
Spam blacklists, also called blocklists, are actually a network of spam tracking sites that create databases of known spammers. These services list IP addresses and IP ranges known to send unsolicited bulk email, or UBE. One problem of blacklists is the potential for cutting off legitimate users, especially in the case of people who fall into a range of blocked IP addresses shared with a real spammer.
Visit this authority site to test for a blocked IP at mail-abuse.com. Having an IP listed in a database may not mean your email will always be blocked, yet if your outgoing service gets a complaint, it could cause short-term or extended grief. Here's why.
Being in one of the spam databases is a red flag and the decision to block a particular email is not normally made by the outgoing email server, but by the recipient's incoming email service provider. The majority of them filter incoming email for spam. Most internet service providers subscribe to these databases to instantly check email senders to help protect their users and reputation.
The database is only one factor in identifying spam. Normally incoming filtering systems would screen the IP by accessing blacklist databases, and then scanning the content within the message body to determine if it should be allowed, marked suspect, or blocked. As stated earlier, if your IP is within a numerical range of IP addresses assigned to your ISP, you could get caught up and added to a blacklist if a real spammer is within that range.
Once you encounter bounced email coming back from known contacts with any negative reference to spam or blacklists, take action. Don't wait. My advice for correcting the situation is to begin by contacting your ISP, Internet Service Provider, give them the details, and let the experts resolve the issues.
TAGS: small business advice spam blacklists
Visit this authority site to test for a blocked IP at mail-abuse.com. Having an IP listed in a database may not mean your email will always be blocked, yet if your outgoing service gets a complaint, it could cause short-term or extended grief. Here's why.
Being in one of the spam databases is a red flag and the decision to block a particular email is not normally made by the outgoing email server, but by the recipient's incoming email service provider. The majority of them filter incoming email for spam. Most internet service providers subscribe to these databases to instantly check email senders to help protect their users and reputation.
The database is only one factor in identifying spam. Normally incoming filtering systems would screen the IP by accessing blacklist databases, and then scanning the content within the message body to determine if it should be allowed, marked suspect, or blocked. As stated earlier, if your IP is within a numerical range of IP addresses assigned to your ISP, you could get caught up and added to a blacklist if a real spammer is within that range.
Once you encounter bounced email coming back from known contacts with any negative reference to spam or blacklists, take action. Don't wait. My advice for correcting the situation is to begin by contacting your ISP, Internet Service Provider, give them the details, and let the experts resolve the issues.
TAGS: small business advice spam blacklists
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Keyword Advice for SEO in Web Design
The latest podcast episode of the Small Business Website Mailbag features free resources for keyword advice for seo in web design. Tools for small business owners linked in the podcast include the websites of Key Word Discovery and DupeFree Pro.
Listen to Optimize Your Website Keywords here to learn about free methods for search engine optimization of key words and phrases on your small business website, and then consider this software review of DupeFree Pro.
The features in this quick review of DupeFree Pro software were not covered in the podcast episode. Besides the value of being able to easily calculate keyword density, DupeFree Pro may be used to test for duplicate content, also. Imagine doing copy and paste to insert content from your website, and then quickly finding out if any other site owner is using your content without permission.
Perhaps you write advice articles published online, and just want to check if others are giving proper credit when they choose to republish your articles. Maybe you have several articles on one topic and want to check the percentage of duplicate content between two versions. DupeFree Pro allows you to do this easily, also.
Duplicate content is a major problem trying to achieve positive seo results, so you may want to test for duplicate content within your site, also.
TAGS: advice keywords podcast review search engine optimization small business advice web design
Listen to Optimize Your Website Keywords here to learn about free methods for search engine optimization of key words and phrases on your small business website, and then consider this software review of DupeFree Pro.
The features in this quick review of DupeFree Pro software were not covered in the podcast episode. Besides the value of being able to easily calculate keyword density, DupeFree Pro may be used to test for duplicate content, also. Imagine doing copy and paste to insert content from your website, and then quickly finding out if any other site owner is using your content without permission.
Perhaps you write advice articles published online, and just want to check if others are giving proper credit when they choose to republish your articles. Maybe you have several articles on one topic and want to check the percentage of duplicate content between two versions. DupeFree Pro allows you to do this easily, also.
Duplicate content is a major problem trying to achieve positive seo results, so you may want to test for duplicate content within your site, also.
TAGS: advice keywords podcast review search engine optimization small business advice web design
Labels: advice, audio, podcast, reviews, seo, software, websites
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Forums and Search Engine Optimization
For small business owners, free methods of web promotion are the ideal way to promote their business. Here are more ideas on search engine optimization, and how joining forums can add backlinks to your site.
Backlinks are links to your website that the major search engines find. Each is like a vote and the more votes may increase the ranking and importance of your site. Avoid link farms or schemes. Those will backfire, yet joining a forum and adding value to the internet is a safe method of becoming known.
Search for online forums for your business niche, and then join to add comments or expert advice to the community. You may want to brainstorm and consider what topics interest your customers, and join a forum that would interest them, and then offer expert advice. Most forums require a certain number of posts to qualify for additional privileges, because some one shot visitors are just spamming to get another link to their site.
In most cases after 5 posts or replies to topics in the forum you are allowed to add a signature block to your posts including 1-3 links to your website, blog, or podcast. My advice is use a text hyperlink about what you do and not your company name. For my business, a link with "web design" as the displayed text adds more value than just your name.
Finally, it's important to understand that your forum signature block links provide the potential for attracting visitors based on the value of your advice. It is NOT the place to solicit business, so keep in mind you are there to help, and by helping you may enhance your reputation as an expert. My advice is joining several forums and contribute freely to the benefit of others, and gain backlinks as you remain an active member.
TAGS: advice small business advice search engine optimization forum
Backlinks are links to your website that the major search engines find. Each is like a vote and the more votes may increase the ranking and importance of your site. Avoid link farms or schemes. Those will backfire, yet joining a forum and adding value to the internet is a safe method of becoming known.
Search for online forums for your business niche, and then join to add comments or expert advice to the community. You may want to brainstorm and consider what topics interest your customers, and join a forum that would interest them, and then offer expert advice. Most forums require a certain number of posts to qualify for additional privileges, because some one shot visitors are just spamming to get another link to their site.
In most cases after 5 posts or replies to topics in the forum you are allowed to add a signature block to your posts including 1-3 links to your website, blog, or podcast. My advice is use a text hyperlink about what you do and not your company name. For my business, a link with "web design" as the displayed text adds more value than just your name.
Finally, it's important to understand that your forum signature block links provide the potential for attracting visitors based on the value of your advice. It is NOT the place to solicit business, so keep in mind you are there to help, and by helping you may enhance your reputation as an expert. My advice is joining several forums and contribute freely to the benefit of others, and gain backlinks as you remain an active member.
TAGS: advice small business advice search engine optimization forum
Monday, March 10, 2008
SEO Consultant or DIY Website Promotion
Search engine optimization of your small business website does not have to be mysterious. Learn the basics and surprisingly most SEO strategies can be successful using free promotional resources. Your only investment is time.
Consider the 80/20 rule when it comes to SEO consultants. They're all expensive, yet only 20% truly understand proven long term methods for optimizing for search engines. Some of those 80% use deceitful methods to boost site ranking that fail long term because they get caught and punished by Google.
Others charge recurring annual fees to optimize your site, and some owners pay thousands per year while left scratching their head because of poor performance. You may want to consider do-it-yourself DIY website promotion.
If you can't make time to climb the learning curve for search engine optimization of your small business website, then hiring a service may be the answer. Beware of the razzle dazzle consultants who mystify seo. They should be willing to detail what they will do for their fee, how it is done, a time estimate, and the target results.
TAGS: advice small business advice website promotion seo search engine optimization
Consider the 80/20 rule when it comes to SEO consultants. They're all expensive, yet only 20% truly understand proven long term methods for optimizing for search engines. Some of those 80% use deceitful methods to boost site ranking that fail long term because they get caught and punished by Google.
Others charge recurring annual fees to optimize your site, and some owners pay thousands per year while left scratching their head because of poor performance. You may want to consider do-it-yourself DIY website promotion.
If you can't make time to climb the learning curve for search engine optimization of your small business website, then hiring a service may be the answer. Beware of the razzle dazzle consultants who mystify seo. They should be willing to detail what they will do for their fee, how it is done, a time estimate, and the target results.
TAGS: advice small business advice website promotion seo search engine optimization
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Article Review of IE8 Internet Explorer 8
The latest website advice article for small business owners was published earlier today, and you may read the full review Internet Explorer IE8 Doom or Joy for details.
Last year Microsoft announced an updated browser scheduled for release by the summer of 2008 with Internet Explorer 8, IE8, and the news was met by most web developers with apprehension. After following the news releases from Microsoft and an announcement earlier this week on March 3rd, it was time for an article and preliminary review of IE8.
Backward compatibility and cross browser compatibility are important to site designers and owners. One of the resources mentioned in the review and article is a website for testing page display in current and older browsers from BrowserShots.org. Visit their site to see what your website looks like in more than 50 browsers including Mac and older revisions of major and lesser known brands.
To the joy of web developers worldwide, Microsoft reversed a previous decision from December 2007 and announced that IE8 will incorporate the most standards compliant interoperability possible. This should be good news for small business website owners, as well.
TAGS: advice article browsers IE8 review small business advice website design
Last year Microsoft announced an updated browser scheduled for release by the summer of 2008 with Internet Explorer 8, IE8, and the news was met by most web developers with apprehension. After following the news releases from Microsoft and an announcement earlier this week on March 3rd, it was time for an article and preliminary review of IE8.
Backward compatibility and cross browser compatibility are important to site designers and owners. One of the resources mentioned in the review and article is a website for testing page display in current and older browsers from BrowserShots.org. Visit their site to see what your website looks like in more than 50 browsers including Mac and older revisions of major and lesser known brands.
To the joy of web developers worldwide, Microsoft reversed a previous decision from December 2007 and announced that IE8 will incorporate the most standards compliant interoperability possible. This should be good news for small business website owners, as well.
TAGS: advice article browsers IE8 review small business advice website design
Labels: advice, articles, reviews, software, websites
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Small Business Blog Promotion Advice
The advantages of a small business custom integrated blog have been covered many times on this blog. Previous topics covered advice about the benefits of blogging, my services for integrated small business blogs, blog writing tips, and blog promotion.
From reviewing a wide variety of blogs, one common error for many small business blog owners is still apparent. The purpose, function, and format of blog tags and labels is not completely understood, so the search engine optimization value of many blogs may suffer.
To further assist my small business clients enhance their blogs, I just released a new podcast episode with details and a lesson on blog tags and blog labels. I strongly encourage bloggers to visit the podcast and listen to this advice to help overcome any confusion comparing and using tags and labels.
Based on what you learn, it's okay to do edits on blog posts and republish each one.
TAGS: advice blog tags blog labels podcast search engine optimization small business advice
From reviewing a wide variety of blogs, one common error for many small business blog owners is still apparent. The purpose, function, and format of blog tags and labels is not completely understood, so the search engine optimization value of many blogs may suffer.
To further assist my small business clients enhance their blogs, I just released a new podcast episode with details and a lesson on blog tags and blog labels. I strongly encourage bloggers to visit the podcast and listen to this advice to help overcome any confusion comparing and using tags and labels.
Based on what you learn, it's okay to do edits on blog posts and republish each one.
TAGS: advice blog tags blog labels podcast search engine optimization small business advice
Labels: advice, blogger, podcast, seo
Jim Degerstrom
