Posts Tagged ‘blog’

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 064 entitled WordPress SEO and SEF Tutorial results from the recent launch of the custom-cms-design.com website with an integrated WordPress blog. The SEO or search engine optimization goals for the new blog were met with some interesting WordPress plugins and a little creativity. SEF stands for Search Engine Friendly. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Overview of WordPress Blog for Custom CMS Design LLC
• Search Engine Optimization Goals for the WordPress Blog
• SEF or Search Engine Friendly File Names Tutorial
• Enhanced SEO with the All in One SEO Pack WordPress Plugin
• Social Bookmarks Plugin Solution for WordPress Blog Posts
• Quick Tip of the Day – WordPress Default Admin User Workaround

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – WordPress SEO and SEF Tutorial
0:09:47 Quick Tip of the Day – WordPress Default Admin User Workaround
0:11:13 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:11:43 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 064

Referenced Links
Custom CMS Design LLC blog post reference example
WordPress All in One SEO Pack Plugin features and download page
WordPress Sociable Bookmarks Plugin features and download page

Listeners may want to open the first link above to the blog post example as they follow along with this WordPress blog SEO and SEF tutorial. Examples of SEO discussed include search engine friendly or SEF blog post file names, features from the All in One SEO Pack plugin, and adding social bookmarks in the post footer.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 061 entitled Blog and CMS Website Strategy offers advice for creating new pages in a content management system or cms web design, and then announcing the content on your blog. The result is enhanced seo, or search engine optimization, because each new page added to your main site provides two pieces of new content for search engines. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Advantages of an Integrated Custom Blog in a CMS Web Design
• Disadvantage of Relying on Your Blog Only for Adding Content
• Search Engine Optimization in a Phrase: Add Original Quality Content Often
• Case Studies of Custom CMS Web Design Clients with Integrated Blogs
• Two for One Strategy When Writing Lengthy Blog Posts
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Using Twitter to Promote Your Site and Blog

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:37 Main Topic – Blog and CMS Website Strategy
0:06:34 Quick Tip of the Day – Using Twitter to Promote Your Site and Blog
0:07:45 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:08:15 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 061

Referenced links
Get web design advice on Twitter by following me at @JimDegerstrom

Twitter? Yes, I mentioned Twitter. For those listeners unfamiliar with the social network on Twitter, it is more than “What are you doing now…”. Personally, I follow other web design professionals from around the world to stay up to date on trends in our industry. For your small business, Twitter provides an easy to use method of promoting your brand, also. Listen to today’s tip of the day to learn more.

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Show Notes
This podcast episode 035 entitled DIY Desktop Blog and Ping provides listeners with an exciting zero cost method to announce new blog posts with a desktop blog and ping software application. This allows bloggers to directly ping blog tracking services instantly without needing a middleman. Here is the outline for today’s program:

• Basics of Blog and Ping Blog Post Promotional Services
• Research of Blog and Ping Online Service Trends
• Overview of PDF Tutorial Download for DIY Blog and Ping
• Review of Free Software for a DIY Desktop Blog and Ping Application
• PDF Tutorial Review and Step by Step Blog and Ping Service Setup
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Creating Categories using Labels in Blogger

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – DIY Desktop Blog and Ping
0:22:53 Tip of the Day – Creating Categories using Labels in Blogger
0:25:10 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:25:40 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 035

Referenced links:
DIY Blog and Ping PDF Tutorial to view online or download now
Wayne Horkan’s weblog: eclectic with FAQs and blog/ping software download

The free do-it-yourself desktop blog and ping pdf tutorial is 35 pages fully illustrated and includes a custom list of 8 top blog tracking services, plus the default list of 72. Listeners may want to download the 35 page pdf before launching this podcast episode, and then listen to the audio while viewing just the illustrations as I take you step by step through the process of easily creating a free desktop blog and ping application.

Kudos and a big thanks to Wayne Horkan of Sun Microsystems for his custom “free as in free beer” blog and ping software application that he released on 22 April 2008.

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Show Notes
This podcast episode 030 entitled Small Business Blogging Tips provides updated advice for small business bloggers. Here is the outline for today’s program:

• Review of Blogs in Small Business Web Design
• Life Cycle of Majority of Blogs
• Blog Post Quality versus Quantity
• Mistakes Observed from Existing Clients
• Easy Solutions to Keep Writing Blog Posts
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Writers Block and Your Blog

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Small Business Blogging Tips
0:10:59 Tip of the Day – Writers Block and Your Blog
0:12:10 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:40 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 030

Referenced links:
Blog Writing Tips article for small business websites

This episode includes additional tips for small business owners who find it difficult to maintain their blog. By adding quality original content often to any web design, blogs provide an easy method to enhance site performance with more search traffic and potential business.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 022 entitled Blog Format Case Study Review compares using Blogger and WordPress for creating a small business integrated blog. In a test case study of WordPress as an alternate to Blogger, I chose a personal site to update before adding WP as an option for custom blog design. Here’s the outline for this podcast show:

• Review of Blogger and WordPress Blog Format
• Blog Design and Valid Code per W3C
• Case Study and Test Blog in WordPress
• Plug-in for WordPress Automatic Version Upgrade
• Review of Free Plain Text WP Blog Theme
• Website Quick Tip of the Day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Blog Format Case Study Review
0:09:34 Tip of the Day – Installing WordPress on GoDaddy Hosting
0:11:13 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:11:43 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 022

Referenced links:
Test blog in WordPress format on my personal genealogy site
Free Plain Text Theme download from PlainTxt.org
WordPress Version Automated Upgrade Plug-in from Techie-Buzz.com

The referenced links in today’s podcast provide two interesting options for people considering a WordPress blog for their small business website. The free plain text theme is highly functional with an uncluttered approach to blog post presentation. The automated upgrade plug-in provides an easy way to update your WordPress blog to the latest revision without having technical expertise.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 017 entitled Blog Social Bookmarks Tutorial presents advice for adding social bookmarks to your Blogger small business blog or podcast. The graphics and links to online social bookmarking services are easily added to your blog template, and the downloads include a written tutorial, copy and paste code, plus all of the graphics as displayed below posts on this podcast. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Introduction to Blog and Podcast Social Bookmarks
• Comparison of Hosting on Blogger or Your Website
• Tutorial for New Blogger Hosted on Blogger
• Tutorial for New Blogger Hosted on Your Domain
• Social Bookmark Tutorial Downloads with Free Graphics
• Website Quick Tip of the Day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Blog Social Bookmarks Tutorial
0:10:03 Tip of the Day – BlogFlux Directory and Ping Services
0:11:27 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:11:57 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 017

Referenced links:
Hosted on Blogger tutorial download link for New Blogger social bookmarks (Zip folder – 12Kb)
Hosted on your domain tutorial download link for New Blogger social bookmarks (Zip folder – 12Kb)
BlogFlux blog directory website including free ping services for members

Today’s show provides links to download complete instructions for step by step template revision of your blog or podcast to add social bookmarks. Two versions of the tutorial are presented depending on your hosting. Blogger hosted blogs are modified in “Layout” while “Template” is used if hosting on your domain, so choose the download appropriate for your blog or podcast.

Note: You do not have to register or reveal your email address to download these free resources. Each zip folder contains 12 social bookmark graphics and 1 plain text file with how-to text and sample html code.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 011 entitled Lesson on Blog Tags and Labels was selected as a result of an inquiry from one of my small business clients. Learn the value of using tags and labels effectively to maximize the seo and promotional value of your blog to visitors and search engines. Here’s the outline for this podcast show:

• Poor tags or labels and search engine optimization
• Comparing small business blog tags and labels
• More about effective blog tags for drawing traffic
• Organizing blog labels that assist your readers
• Summary of advice for blog tags and labels
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Lesson on Blog Tags and Labels
0:09:30 Tip of the Day – Comparison of Pinging Services
0:11:40 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:10 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 011

Referenced links:
Technorati provides an authority source for tracking blogs
List of blog and podcast ping services from a recent post on my blog

Small business websites with integrated blogs have an advantage over their competition. Consider the fact that 70% of solo small business owners do not have a website, and only 5% with sites have a blog. By applying the principles of proper blog tags and labels in your posts, you can enhance the potential for online success.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 009 entitled Tracking Website Statistics presents advice for adding statistic tracking to your small business website. Knowing where visitors came from, which pages they visited, and how long they stayed may help owners plan changes to update their website. Stats from search engines and search phrases used to find you are an added benefit, and may help your search engine optimization efforts, too. Here’s the outline for this podcast episode:

• Overview of tracking website statistics
• Free tracking service from StatCounter
• How to register and install tracking code
• Daily review of your website statistics
• Adjusting website content based on tracking data
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Tracking Website Statistics
0:13:50 Tip of the Day – Advice Comparing Hits and Page Views
0:15:47 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:16:17 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 009

Referenced links:
Website statistic tracking service from StatCounter.com
Download this PDF tutorial and visual illustrated guide to StatCounter (zip: 665kb)

The detailed PDF report takes you step by step on setting up and installing code on your website to begin tracking statistics about your small business website visitors. If you have any questions about setting up or using free stat tracking services from StatCounter, feel free to contact me.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 008 entitled Add an Integrated Website Blog presents the advantages of adding an integrated blog to your small business website. The aging period required for new sites to get attention from the major search engines may be shortened if you have a blog.

Listen to learn about case studies of new small business website blog integration, and the positive results others have experienced from this advice. The blog of a recent custom small business website launch that I designed made Google page one in 1 week. Here’s the outline for this podcast episode:

• Website blogs and the value of fresh content
• Case studies of clients who followed my advice
• Why I recommend an integrated website blog
• Why small business blogs help conquer the competition
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Add an Integrated Website Blog
0:11:16 Tip of the Day – Broadcast Resource to Promote Your Blog
0:12:24 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:54 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 008

Referenced links:
A fun search engine optimization article entitled “Google Crawlers and Stray Cats”
Blog your way to fresh content free SEO PDF report about blogging
Blog promotion broadcast service at www.Pingoat.com for one-click promotion

Starting a blog should not be taken lightly. As presented in today’s program, the owners of 75% of all new blogs quickly abandon their project within 90 days. This podcast episode explains the benefits of keeping up a blog, and includes some incredible search engine traffic results that should not be missed.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 003 entitled Analyzing Competitor Websites teaches small business website owners how to compare the design of their website to top competitors. Whether your site is established or you are just starting out, knowing the search engine optimization techniques of your direct competition is worthwhile. Here’s today’s outline:

• Key factors for top search engine results
  1. Keywords in the Page Title
  2. The META Description
  3. Keywords in the H Tags
  4. Keywords in Text Links
  5. High Quality, Original Content
  6. The Size of Your Website
  7. The Age of Your WWW Domain
• Making a list of your search keywords and key phrases
• Doing a search in Google and Yahoo
• Details for analyzing competitor websites
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Analyzing Competitor Websites
0:11:58 Tip of the Day – Revealing the #1 Website SEO Factor
0:13:40 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:14:12 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 003

Referenced links:
Google search
Yahoo search

This strategy goes beyond search engine optimization. If one of your goals is top listings in search results, there’s no better way to discover what works than to search for key phrases and then analyze each site design of the top listings. Do not copy content or code verbatim from any website. You may face the risk of legal action, so learn from others but be very careful to keep your design completely original.