Thursday 17 November 2011

10 Ways to Own Page One of the Google Search Results

With the rise of mobile search and social media, local Web-presence optimization is becoming paramount to small businesses. Local businesses need to understand how Google can drive awareness and traffic to their locations, and they need to recognize the critical role that search-engine results play in their competition against their peers.
Consumers are more likely to click on search engine results that appear on the first page, according to research. When consumers hear of a local business that is not well known, it's only natural that they conduct some research before making a purchase. Thus, "owning" the first page of the search engine results page (SERP) is an important part of Web-presence optimization for any local business.
You can optimize your Web presence to own page one of the Google SERPs in a variety of ways. Use a "build and buy" strategy that begins with paid advertising, and claim and create sites and social profiles that are active, optimized for search, and linked to one another.
Here are 10 effective ways your business can own the first page of search results.
1. Search Engine Advertising 
 
Google search ads can appear at the very top of the SERPs, creating instant visibility for your brand, regardless of what results appear on the rest of the page. That's why it's important to bid on your business name. For any business keyword, search engine advertising is the quickest and most cost-effective way to secure top billing on a SERP when consumers search for your type of business or your business name online.

2. Website
A business website is important for ranking well on search engines, especially if your domain contains your exact business name. By creating a search-optimized site with a front page that strategically lists your business name, address, phone number, and other important details, you can help your site rank well for searches that use your business name.

3. Optimized Website Pages
Create keyword-optimized pages throughout your website (e.g., the About, Products, Contacts, and Press Releases pages) to increase the chances of getting your business website ranked for your business name and getting individual pages of your site to rank high on SERPs.
Typically, up to four additional pages can rank on SERPs before Google displays a "Show more results from [website URL]" link.

4. Blog
Search engines love relevant, fresh, dynamic, and regularly published content about your business, industry, and community. Blogging is one of the most effective ways to dominate the first page of SERPs. In addition, social "likes" and "shares" are becoming important signals to search engines. People tend to share timely, informative, or entertaining content from blogs, rather than static pages from websites, so you can create search-friendly links and social authority via your blog.
You can create and host a blog in several ways. For example, you can integrate your blog with your business website, or create a blog on a different Web address and cross-link the blog with your website. The latter will enable your blog—with its unique Web address—to rank on its own. Moreover, your blog will be deemed a unique site, which means multiple pages from your blog could rank individually on SERPs for your business name.

5. Google Place Page
Claiming your Google Place page is an absolute must for any local business. You can optimize your Place page for search around your business name and business keywords, and your listing can also appear in Google Maps and at the top of the SERPs.

6. Google Profiles
The launch of Google+, Google's social network, along with its recent decision to open up the network to businesses, too, bodes well for those seeking attention from search engines.
Those profiles can rank high on SERPs for your business name; of course, you should include business-name keywords in your Google Profiles or Google+ About pages.

7. Online Directories and Listings
List your business on digital directories and listing sites, such as Citysearch. Think of such sites as the "Yellow Pages" of the Web. By making sure that all of your listings are accurate and the information on all the sites is identical down to the details, you can help search engines such as Google pull your listings data higher in search.

8. Social Profiles
Claiming, optimizing, and using social profiles are important ways to own more real estate on page one of SERPs. The four most popular social networks used for ad campaigns are Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Company profiles on those social sites will often rank high for your business name, especially if you optimize your profiles to include your official business name in the content.

9. Review Sites
Listing your business on local review sites, such as Yelp, is another way you can own more territory in search. Customers may already be leaving reviews about your business online, so it's important to claim your business profiles on review sites to monitor and manage your online reputation.

10. Syndicated Press Releases
Creating search-optimized press releases when major news occurs and syndicating them via a wire service can spread news about your business and help you own more SERP territory. Major news sites can pick up your press releases off the wire and run them, word-for-word, on their sites—which would pack a lot of authority with search engines.
To add more authority to your overall Web presence, optimize your press-release content just as you would a website page, and include links to your business website, pertinent blog posts, and social profiles.
* * *
Local businesses today have more options than ever for optimizing search engine rankings and owning page one of SERPs. Begin by thinking strategically about what would make the most sense for your business based on your available resources and what would be most relevant to your target customers. 

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Facebook hit with unsolicited porn, violent videos


REUTERS - Facebook Inc said on Tuesday that it is investigating a rash of unsolicited graphic images that hit some users' accounts this week.
The images, Internet links and videos depicting pornography and violence have hit some people's Facebook newsfeeds in recent days.


"We experienced a coordinated spam attack that exploited a browservulnerability," Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes said in a statement emailed to Reuters. "Our efforts have drastically limited the damage caused by this attack, and we are now in the process of investigating to identify those responsible."
Facebook does not know yet who was behind the attack and a motive was not clear, Noyes added during an interview with Reuters.
Facebook users were tricked into pasting and executing "malicious" javascript in their browser URL bar, which led to them unknowingly sharing the content, Noyes explained.
Facebook engineers have been working to reduce this browser vulnerability, he added.
Facebook and other "Web 2.0" sites are easy targets for such attacks because they pull in a lot of content from outside sources, according to Paul Ferguson, senior threat researcher at Trend Micro Inc.
"It seems every other day there is some new Facebook 'threat,' but this is just the new reality of Web 2.0 and social networking," Ferguson said. "It is 'low-hanging fruit' for criminals."

Saturday 12 November 2011

Anti-Facebook Social Network “Unthink” Launches To Public



Scrappy outsider startup Unthink.com, which bills itself as the “anti-Facebook,” is opening up its doors today, allowing in its first round of beta testers. The Tampa-based company with $2.5 million in funding fromDouglasBay Capital sees itself as a more open, more honest form of social networking – one where its users are the owners of their data, and not the product being sold to advertisers.
Unthink is the kind of startup that could only come from outside of traditional tech hotspots like Silicon Valley or New York, as there’s a certain level of audacity, and perhaps even ignorance, that you need in order to think you have a shot at displacing social networking giant Facebook and all of its 800 million users.
And taking down Facebook is the core of Unthink’s marketing campaign. In fact, the majority of Unthink’s message is about what it is not: it’s not another social network, it’s a social revolution. Unthinkers are not users, they’re owners. Unthink is not in control, you are. And so on. It even has its own manifestodeeds and covenants.


“If we want to be free, we have to control our own communications…we have to claim that power,” CEO Natasha Dedis shouted with vitriol to the crowd at September’s Tampa Bay Barcamp (the un-conference), before delving into all the ways that Facebook does its users wrong.
She explained that the idea for Unthink came to her when her son wanted to sign up for Facebook and she read the terms of service. They were not something she wanted to agree to because they could change at any time. But for her son, that decision was met with a lot of anxiety. “He was really stressed about it, like he didn’t have a choice – he had to be on Facebook.” It was either be on Facebook, or be a pariah in school, she said. Whichever decision Dedis made, she felt like she was being bad mother.
On Facebook, your personal data, your posts, your likes – in short, all your social networking activity – is used to provide advertisers with a way to directly target precise demographics. Some may call it genius, but for others like Dedis, it feels exploitive.
“The number one thing that had to be ‘un-thought’ about social media, is who does it belong to? We need to own everything that we put on our page. We can be as private or as public as we want, as long as it’s our choice,” she said.
On Unthink, user data isn’t sold to brands. Instead, users choose a brand to sponsor their page, by way of an ad dubbed “iEndorse.” The idea is that a user will select a brand they feel some affinity with, and will then become an advocate for that brand. Users who don’t want to select a brand have the option to pay for the service instead ($2/year).



Brands also have a different way to communicate with fans than they do on Facebook, where messages are spliced into a users’ News Feed. On Unthink, there’s a separate section on users’ profile pages just for communicating with businesses. Users decide what companies they want to communicate with, what type of messages they want to receive and how often they want to receive them. Then, when they choose to interact with a brand, they’re rewarded for their engagement with points that can be used towards discounts and offers from the brand in question.
Upon signing up for Unthink, as I did today, you’re offered an app that will export your photos and videos from Facebook. You’re also asked to fill out the standard social networking questions (name, date of birth, gender, etc.) and are then directed to your own personal profile page.

These pages are split into sections, each with a dedicated purpose and easy-to-customize privacy controls. The top section, “iUnthink” is your public microblog, the middle, your social section, the third, your lifestyle section for connecting with brands (this part will launch in a few weeks), and the bottom, your professional section for connecting with business colleagues.
Oh, that’s right. Did I forget to mention?
Despite its anti-Facebook manifesto, Unthink actually wants to displace Twitter, Groupon and LinkedIn, too. If anything, however, it’s Diaspora done right. Hey, if you’re going to appeal to the “I don’t want corporate control of my data!” crowd, you may as well go all in.
Will Unthink take down Facebook? Not likely. But it’s fascinating to watch someone try on this scale.
Unthink is launching into a limited beta today. If you know someone who’s in, they can send you an invite. TechCrunch readers can email techcrunch@unthink.com to get to the head of the list.




Locked Out Of Facebook? Your Friends Will Soon Be Able To Help You Get Back In


Facebook says it will soon allow you to get help from your friends when you get locked out of your Facebook account. According to a post on Facebook’s official Security page, you’ll be able to designate three to five friends as “Trusted Friends” who will be sent special codes in the event that you’re locked out of your Facebook account and unable to access your email.
It will also be introducing something called “App Passwords” to bring increased security to Facebook-enabled applications.
Typically, when you can’t remember your Facebook password, you can have a password reset sent to you via email. Sometimes, such as when you’ve had your Facebook account hacked, your email has also been compromised. In other cases, people who signed up with Facebook so long ago may no longer have access to the email account (or accounts) Facebook has on file.
With the new “Trusted Friends” setting, getting back into your locked account can now be facilitated by your friends instead.


Says Facebook:
Similar to other features that help you prove your identity through your friends, you can now select three to five trusted friends who can help you if you ever have issues accessing your account.  It’s sort of similar to giving a house key to your friends when you go on vacation–pick the friends you most trust in case you need their help.
If you forgot your password and need to login but can’t access your email account, you can rely on your friends to help you get back in.  We will send codes to the friends you have selected and they can pass along that information to you.


Facebook is also introducing another security feature in the next few weeks called App Passwords. This will allow you to set application-specific passwords that will allow you to login to third-party applications with a unique code. From the description, it sounds like these will be one-time passwords that you will use just the first time you authorize an application using your Facebook credentials.
Although it’s nice to see Facebook focused on security efforts, this particular development is probably not going to be much of a hit with mainstream users. Even Facebook itself can’t seem to describe the feature all that clearly:
There are tons of applications you can use by logging in with your Facebook credentials.  However, in some cases, you may want to have a unique password for that application. This is especially helpful if you have opted into Login Approvals, for which security codes don’t always work when using third-party applications.
We are testing a feature that allows you to use app passwords for logging into third-party applications. Simply go to your Account Settings, then the Security tab, and finally to the App Passwords section.  You can generate a password that you won’t need to remember, just enter it along with your email when logging into an application.
Facebook makes this announcement all the more confusing by posting a screenshot with the word “Apple” to describe the “app” in question. That makes it sound like Facebook is talking about device-specific passwords, which is not actually the case.
It’s a one-time password for a given app, and that app may run on an Apple device, but it won’t work for all the Facebook-enabled apps on the same device.



Team Of Mind Riders Technology



Friday 11 November 2011

How to Use this Keylogger to hack Facebook Password?

First make sure you have ‘Microsoft’s .net Framework‘ installed on your PC, if you dont have please download and install it. (The victim need not have .net framework.) Follow the Steps below:



Step 1: Download ‘Emissary Keylogger‘ Software and extract the files to desktop. If your Antivirus deletes the file, then please turnoff your Antivirus or uninstall it and try downloading again.
Step 2: Run ‘Emissary.exe’ file and enter your gmail account details,  so that the password and other info of your victim can be mailed to you. If you are afraid of entering your gmail details, then do create one temporary fake account and enter those details.

Step 3: After you enter your ‘Gmail account’ details Click on ‘Test’ to test the connection to your Gmail account.  In the Server name Field you can change the name if you want. enter any Time Interval in the interval field. This timer controls the time interval between two keylogs emails. You can also show fake error message to your Victim when he clicks your server.exe file. to do so enter the error title and description in the ‘Fake error message’ field.


Step4: Now after filling the required fields, Click ‘Build’ button. This will create another file called server.exe in the same directory.

Step5: Now send this server.exe file to victim and make him install it on his computer. You can use Binder or Crypter to bind this server.exe file with say any .mp3 file so that whenever victim runs mp3 file, server is automatically installed on his computer without his knowledge. also read: How to change ICON of .exe file?



* ] Now because this is a free keylogger, you can’t send server.exe file via email. Almost all email domains have security policy which does not allow sending .exe files. So to do this you need to compress the file with WinRar or upload it to Free File Storage Domains, like Mediafire, rapidshare, filethief etc.
Step6: Once the victim runs your sent keylogger file on his computer, it searches for all the stored usernames and passwords and it will send you email containing all keylogs and screenshots regularly after the specified ‘Time interval’.



Top 10 mistakes of Internet business

It is a known fact that there are many people who already succeed in the Internet business arena. Before venturing into the field, try to consider the pros and cons of this business. Here are the top 10 mistakes of Internet business, always be mindful of these pitfalls.


  1. Many people think that Internet business is easy. Well that is definitely wrong. You need to work hard and devote time to it if you want to succeed.
  2. It is wrong to think that Internet business is risk free fraud because many modus operandi can ruin your business overnight.
  3. People think that selling in the web is easy but that is definitely a wrong impression. You have to exert effort on ad campaigns and SEO to build traffic towards your website.
  4. Having flashy website with lots of flash animations is a no-no. These websites will be bulky and very hard to load into a web browser.
  5. There are online store owners who still put ads from other online stores. This act will only confuse visitors.
  6. Many websites are hard to navigate. Visitors do not have any clue where to go.
  7. A picture of the product you’re selling is not enough. You also need to add concise information about the product in the brochure pages.
  8. Contact information about the online store can be difficult to find, you still have dig deep into the website.
  9. Many online companies exaggerate on product specs. Some customers will take the bite at first but eventually the company will lose customers because of this practice.
  10. There are online companies that offer overnight shipping but will not be able to make it. This will again discourage customers to go back.
So these are the top 10 mistakes of Internet business. Make sure not to commit these mistakes and check these 7 ages of a business for your way to your success.Last but not least have a look over the building blocks Of online business so that you can have better

32 Ways to Use Facebook for Business


Facebook’s not just for keeping tabs on friends and filling out quizzes — it can also be used as a highly effective business tool. It’s great for marketing your products, landing gigs and connecting with your customers.
Here are 32 ways to use Facebook in your business.


    Manage Your Profile
  1. Fill out your profile completely to earn trust.
  2. Establish a business account if you don’t already have one.
  3. Stay out of trouble by reading the Facebook rules regarding business accounts.
  4. Install appropriate applications to integrate feeds from your blog and other social media accounts into your Facebook profile. (Although you should be careful before integrating your Twitter feed into your Faceboook profile, as a stream of tweets can seem overwhelming to your contacts.)
  5. Keep any personal parts of your profile private through Settings.
  6. Create friends lists such as “Work,” “Family” and “Limited Profile” for finer-grained control over your profile privacy.
  7. Post a professional or business casual photos of yourself to reinforce your brand.
  8. Limit business contacts’ access to personal photos.
  9. Post your newsletter subscription information and archives somewhere in your profile.
  10. Connect and share with others
  11. Obtain a Facebook vanity URL so that people can find you easily.
  12. Add your Facebok URL to your email signature and any marketing collateral (business cards, etc.) so prospects can learn more about you.
  13. Post business updates on your wall. Focus on business activities, such as “Working with ABC Company on web site redesign.”
  14. Share useful articles and links to presentation and valuable resources that interest customers and prospects on your wall, to establish credibility.
  15. Combine Facebook with other social media tools like Twitter. For example, when someone asks question on Twitter, you can respond in detail in a blog post and link to it from Facebook.
  16. Before traveling, check contacts locations so you can meet with those in the city where you’re heading.
  17. Research prospects before meeting or contacting them.
  18. Upload your contacts from your email client to find more connections.
  19. Use Find Friends for suggestions of other people you may know to expand your network even further.
  20. Look for mutual contacts on your contacts’ friends lists.
  21. Find experts in your field and invite them as a guest blogger on your blog or speaker at your event.
  22. Market your products by posting discounts and package deals.
  23. Share survey or research data to gain credibility.
  24. Use Facebook Connect to add social networking features to your web site.
  25. Suggest Friends to clients and colleagues — by helping them, you establish trust.
  26. Buy Facebook ads to target your exact audience.
  27. Read up on Facebook Beacon to see if it might be useful for you.
  28. Use Network, Group and Fan Pages
  29. Start a group or fan page for product, brand or business. Unless you or your business is already a household name, a group is usually the better choice.
  30. Add basic information to the group or fan page such as links to company site, newsletter subscription information and newsletter archives.
  31. Post upcoming events including webinars, conferences and other programs where you or someone from your company will be present.
  32. Update your group or fan page on a regular basis with helpful information and answers to questions.
  33. Join network, industry and alumni groups related to your business.
  34. Use search to find groups and fan pages related to your business by industry, location and career.

Top 10 Business Web Site Mistakes

Today it takes more than just having a Web site to make the Internet work for your company. Sites are highly competitive, and proper site design has become an area of concern to businesses that want to use the Internet to the fullest. Below are 10 common Web site errors that occur. 




  1. Inappropriate domain name: Pick a domain name that is memorable and relates to your business. Since people are likely to forget very long names, shorter domain names are typically better, but not always. For example, a name like Peter.com can be too vague and says nothing about the content of the Web site.
  2. Poor design and functionality: Why have a Web site with content if no one can access it? Good design is largely based on consistency. Menus should appear in the same place on every page, links should all be the same color/typeface, and a logo of some sort should be clearly visible at all times.
  3. Too complicated or too slow: Although flash animation may look amazing, it may be too complex for casual Internet users. Though aesthetics certainly matter, it must be in balance with functionality and ease of use for the typical user. Also, a more complex design takes longer to load on many computers.
  4. Stagnant site: Not only is content time-sensitive, so is format and design. There will always be new tools available to make Web sites better looking and better performing. It is not cost-effective to create a Web site and let it sit. Update content regularly and take advantage of (appropriate) new technologies to make the site look better.
  5. Broken links and 404 error messages: Make sure every link on your site works. You'll lose users quickly if they see a "404 file not found" error message or find broken or incorrectly labeled links. If you have a large site, consider adding a form so users can submit a broken link, which lets users know you are on top of any problems they discover.
  6. No contact info: Users need to be able to contact you with questions, complaints, and suggestions. A Contact Us page, like an Internet business card, should be available from any part of your site. Also, be sure to actually answer these messages either personally or through an auto-reply.
  7. Ignoring statistics: Detailed reports of visitor traffic are available for your Web site. This service may be offered by your hosting provider or obtained through a third party. By monitoring your statistics (such as visitors-turned-customers, users on broadband, etc.) you can tailor your marketing and design toward those who visit most or find weak spots based on who you are not attracting.
  8. Free or cheap hosting: As attractive as some of these services are, realize that the reliability of your business depends on the reliability of your hosting. A good host service should have minimal downtime, offer services such as shopping cart systems, and have good customer support. Be sure to read reviews and apply for free trials (if possible) before you commit to anything.
  9. Avoiding spiders: Spiders are what search engines use to find your page. You want to make sure your pages are designed so that you show up high on search engine rankings. This process is called search engine optimization. There are, however, ethics and strategies to SEO. Some practices (such as hidden text, redirects, etc.) will result in you being banned from search engines.
  10. Not hiring a professional: Search engine optimization is complex. To move up in the listings on Google and other search engines, you may want to hire a professional, especially if your business relies heavily on generating business from the Web.

Top 10 mistakes of Google

Google is one of the biggest companies in the Internet today. It has been popular because of its search engine. Despite its size and popularity the company also has its own list of mistakes. Here are the top 10 mistakes of Google.




  1. Gmail is recently experiencing outage and account inaccessibility. Is happens from time to time and Google has not yet addressed it until now. This will definitely tarnish the image of Google.You may check about the latest problem of gmail hereStan Schroeder of Mashable published an article stating “gmail down panic mode on”.
  2. Google Maps is another brilliant concept but it can also help terrorists with bad intentions do their strategic planning.May be you should know that “Terrorist Use of Google Earth Raises Security Fears” and “Google Maps aids terrorists”.Every technology have its own flaws but it can also be recovered.Their are so many severe questions on national securities.For example latest mumbai bomb blast terrorist “Kasab” is in arthur road jail sowill google remove arthur road from its map?
  3. The Chrome is yet another web browser. Who needs another one? Google already partnered with Mozilla for the Firefox so there’s no point in adding another web browser.John Brandon says that “Is Chrome the first epic fail at Google?”You should also read the chrome fail discussion on the reddit.More over this is the comment from a user in a Google groups
    I just updated Google Chrome to the latest version, RC 1 i.e. non-
    beta. And now my Gtalk within Orkut states that it doesn’t work with
    this browser. Come on, both are Google products… They should work
    better together, not fail on such an epic scale.
    Update: Google is continuously working on project “chrome” and come up with some new features. I wish to remove this point after extensions updates in the  Chrome final release. (on beta and developer versions it have extensions features and we also developed Google ChromeExtensions for Gtalk , checking IP and Speed Test )
  4. Google Finance is so US centered, you cannot find good information about other countries. There are competitions that are far better like Yahoo Finance.Felix Salmon questioned “Is Google Too Big To Fail?”.According to a blogpost “Minor disadvantages of Google Finance are that it doesn’t show all the popular ratios that Yahoo does, such as the PEG. For foreign stocks, it shows profit margin and operating margin information, but not the P/E or P/S
  5. Google Checkout is yet another mistake from Google. It is half-baked and it is so limited. Why should people use this when you have Paypal which offers more options.You check some advantages and disadvantages ofGoogle Checkout vs Paypal.
  6. Picasa is a good photo manager but Picasa Web album is definitely a bad idea. The user interface is confusing.I personally like to spend $25 on Flickr Pro rather than using Picasa.
  7. Google Web Accelerator is another bad product from Google. It has many privacy issues. It also causes problems with some websites not loading properly.37signals reports in fact that the Google Web Accelerator “Google is essentially clicking every link on the page — including links like “delete this” or “cancel that.” And to make matters worse, Google ignores the Javascript confirmations“.Moreover checkout some “Hard facts about Google’s Web Accelerator”.
  8. Google Video is also a bad idea. It did not feature popular TV shows. And it is so slow.Have a look on Why Google Video Will Fail and
  9. Google Desktop is posing security threats among users. The software pulls personal data from your PC.
  10. There are too many instant messaging software out there. Google Talk is too late.More over foxnews recently discloses that ‘ViddyHo’ Virus Spreads Through Google Chat”.In case you have the time ,look over the some interesting facts about Google Talk.

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Why you need a website.....?


Does My Business Need a Website?
With the economy at crisis levels, a natural inclination is to tighten belts and avoid extra expenditures. But as markets shrink, it's even more important for your company or organization to attract new business and retain current clients.
So what's the most cost-effective method of promotion? A Web site.

Q: WHY A WEBSITE?
A: First of all, the public now expects businesses and organizations to have a Web site -- one that can, at the very least, supply basic information and a means of getting in contact. A Web site has become nearly as essential as a telephone or fax machine or printed brochure.
But apart from fulfilling the public's expectations, a Web site will also help your business increase profits. Increasingly, people search the Web rather than the Yellow Pages when looking for a service or product. Yes, even in Israel.
If they don't find your business represented, they will find your competitor 's.


Q: WHAT CAN A WEBSITE DO FOR ME?
A: A few examples of immediate, practical benefits:
Expand the effect of a print ad. Addition of a Web site address to an ad, even a very small one, means that anyone intrigued by the ad can immediately access much greater amounts of information about your company. The effect is heightened when you add suitable photos to your site.
Save time. Much company time and effort is often wasted by repeatedly providing the same information either by phone or in person. Have a section on your site that provides answers to frequently asked questions.
Make it easier for potential customers to find you. Include a detailed road map on your site, and make things even easier for customers by indicating parking lots and bus stops.

Q: WILL A WEBSITE MAKE MY BUSINESS IMMEDIATELY MORE SUCCESSFUL?
A: Does a phone, or fax machine or brochure? All are tools for communication and promotion, but need to be used effectively. On the other hand, neglecting to have one of these tools can put your company at a serious disadvantage. No company operates without a phone. A Web site -- and the services it can provide -- is equally essential for a 21st century business.
To get some indication of how immediate your need for a site is, check out the Web presence of your competitors. None of them have Web sites yet? Lucky you -- you've not only got some breathing space, you also have a good shot at being the first to attract new markets. Your competitors already have Web sites? Get to work -- fast.

Q: GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW A WEBSITE WILL HELP MY SPECIFIC BUSINESS?:
A: The possibilities are limited only by imagination and budget, but following are some benefits that can be provided by even the simplest, most basic "brochure" site:
Restaurant:
People choose restaurants not only for their food, but also for their ambiance and convenience.
Show attractive photos of the interior, and sample entrees on a beautifully set table.
Have you had good reviews? Reprint them on your site.
Show your menu.
Advertise special offerings and services such as business lunches, catering, etc.
Post testimonials from satisfied patrons.
Include a printable map, which shows the location of parking and bus stops.
Professional services (attorney, doctor, dentist):
For these services, which can't use conventional advertising methods, a Web site is especially valuable. Here is an accepted way of showcasing your areas of specialization. Do you have publications? Cite them. Awards? Display them. Articles or case studies that demonstrate your credentials? Place them online.
Design services (architect, interior designer, home renovator, illustrator, etc.):
Here a picture isn't worth a thousand words. It's worth a million. Before & after pictures can tell your story -- without the costs of 4-color printing, plus distribution.
Realty services:
Here, too, pictures are a great tool. Show off properties with lots of full-color, large-format photos. Sites are easily kept current with new information and properties.
Retail store:
Even if you're not yet ready for the expense of full-blown e-commerce, a site can effectively promote your business. A user-friendly online brochure is easily done -- and saves thousands in printing and mailing costs.
You can publicize sales and special offers.
Looking for employees? Post the positions and let prospects contact you by e-mail.
Post a printable map showing your location.
Customer service is faster and friendlier when customers can contact you immediately, 24 hours a day, by e-mail -- rather than have to wait on the phone, listening to Muzak, and getting more impatient by the second.
Writers:
Post clips with copyright information, and refer editors to this page in your queries.
Promote published books.
Sell your books from your site via an affiliate link to an online seller such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble. You'll earn up to 15% in referral fees, apart from royalties.
Non-profit organizations:
It's important to establish credibility -- especially when you're engaged in fundraising. Document your organization's progress, achievements, contributions. Once your site is launched and properly registered with search engines you may be found by sectors of the public that you'd never have been able to otherwise identify and reach.

Q: WILL I BE ABLE TO AFFORD A WEBSITE?
A: Prices vary widely, depending on the specifics of each individual site. But when considering the benefits that even the simplest Web site can provide, the question to ask is less "Can I afford to have a Web site?" than "Can I afford not to have one?"

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Google Maps to charge for usage

Users of Google Map links for their websites will be charged for heavy usage of the service, it has been revealed.


From 1 January 2012, Google will charge for the Google Maps API service when more than the limit of 25,000 map "hits" are made in a day.
Websites, especially travel firms, use Google Maps to link customers to a view of the destinations they inquire about.
Google is rumoured to be charging $4 per 1,000 views in excess of the limit.
Google maintains the high limit of 25,000 free hits before charging "will only affect 0.35% of users".
'Secure future'
Google said it was aware that developers needed time to evaluate their usage, determine if they were affected and then take action as appropriate.
"We understand that the introduction of these limits may be concerning," said Thor Mitchell, product manager of the Maps API at Google.
"However, with the continued growth in adoption of the Maps API, we need to secure its long-term future by ensuring that even when used by the highest-volume for-profit sites, the service remains viable. "