Why Every WordPress Site Should Have Zemanta

March 22nd, 2011 Leave a Comment

Zemanta LogoTaking the time to write a good blog article is crucial. You must have your facts in line, your thoughts in order, and you must provide links back to referenced content.

Linking is something that is often overlooked often to the detriment of the author. I’ve read many articles referring to an obscure software package or website only to be annoyed when the author didn’t bother linking back to it. Maybe they were short of time, maybe they were just lazy. I don’t know, but it doesn’t raise my confidence in their content.

So how can a time-pressed blogger link back to referenced content easily and quickly? With the use of Zemanta. [Continue Reading...]

10 Things I Hate About Google

March 21st, 2011 Leave a Comment

10 Things I Hate About GoogleBefore I get too far into this let me set the record straight. I am a Google user. I use it for a LOT of stuff. It isn’t perfect however and here are 10 things Google does (or doesn’t do) that drives me nuts:

[Continue Reading...]

Why Your Small Site Needs Caching

March 18th, 2011 Leave a Comment

Website PerformanceAs anyone who runs a large website or blog with a Content Management System (CMS) will tell you caching is important. What is also true however is that even a small site can benefit from caching in a number of ways.

Caching, for those who are new to the concept, is essentially taking the html output of your CMS, saving it, and serving that saved output to users instead of regenerating it with every hit. Doing so can decrease load times for the viewer as well as system requirements by the site itself.

[Continue Reading...]

Don’t Lose Your Focus

March 17th, 2011 Leave a Comment

Don't Lose Your FocusProviding regular content on your site isn’t easy. It’s even more difficult when you write targeting a specific audience such as web folks or higher ed folks. Just because it isn’t easy to come up with new content however doesn’t mean you should let your focus wonder.

If there is one thing I’ve learned over the last 3 years of this blog it’s that people read it for a reason. They’re looking for something specific and if they like it they will look for related content. As such have too many posts that stray from your main theme, no matter how much fun they seemed like at the time, will turn people away no matter how well they’re written. Readers of a tech don’t care what you had for dinner last night or about your latest holiday photos. They care about your tech writings.

If you want to blog on more than one topic don’t be afraid to start a second blog. WordPress.com and other sites can be a great resource for allowing you to express yourself without turning off your readers.

QR Codes Aren’t Just Your URL

March 6th, 2011 Leave a Comment

QR Code For Bit51.comMany marketers are using QR codes lately. Unfortunately of those same marketers aren’t getting the most out of those same QR codes.

QR codes should be more than a rehash of your website. This is especially true if your site isn’t even optimized for mobile viewing. If I’m walking by your billboard and catch the QR code I want to see something that catches my eye and makes me stop walking for a second. Taking me to your same standard website may make me stop walking, but only long enough to close my browser and put my phone away.

Think of it this way. You’re using QR codes in the first place to get folks who are engaged in another activity, in the case of a billboard walking to their destination, to explore your brand further.

Even in the best of situations scanning your code isn’t the primary focus of the user at that moment. Reward them for doing so. A mobile site dedicated to the add they’re looking at or a YouTube video following up is a great way to do so. For example, if you’re a college trying to sell the great job placement your ad offers link to a video of alumni doing that job and talking about their experiences at your school. Just don’t take them to the same content they can get on their computer!