I just launched a Phoenix, AZ web design company called Kayarc.  If you, or somebody you know, needs a web site built, a logo designed, an existing site optimized for search engines, etc etc then by all means please check out Kayarc.

And yes, I can design more visually pleasing layouts than the one here; this site is built from the ground up to be highly readable.

Get a logo design now from garysimon.net!

Now comes word that Network Solutions is resorting to scamming people. Site’s like Network Solutions have a tool on their page that allows people to look for available websites to register. Now whenever anybody uses this tool on their site, Network Solutions will do more than report back to you whether the site is available or not. If it’s available, Network Solutions will register the domain automatically. In other words, they will say “Hey, yeah it’s available, and the only way you’re going to get it is if you buy it from me.”

Stay away from Network Solutions. You do not want to have to pay $35 for what you can get for $8 or less from other sites that provide the exact same thing! Shame on you, Network Solutions. Shame on you…

Thanks goes to TechCrunch for the scoop

All of this is available from SEO experts at netconcepts.

But, as Mashable points out, it is really not possible for Google to track all of the paid linking deals that are going down. Unless paid linking is done through a program like Text Link Ads or some other obvious way it just is not possible for Google to find out. Either way, we’ve all been warned.

• Browsershots – Allows you to test your site on many different browsers and even allows you to add parameters such as Screen size, and Java and Flash capabilities.
• PSP Web Browser Simulator – Emulates the rendering of the PSP web browser
• Mobile Phone Emulator – How does your site look on a cellphone?
• Opera 4 Mini Article – Information for developing sites with this mobile browser in mind
• Wii Friendly discussion – Good development thread with discussion on making pages Wii friendly
• BrowsrCamp – Test your websites on MaxOSX browsers including Safari
• NetRenderer – Test your websites on Windows browsers if you’re a Mac guy
• Opera Browser – Obvious to some – lots of people use Opera so test your site using it
• AnyBrowser – Accessible design guide

Blogger Steven Johnson wrote a very interesting post on writing by numbers. He used Text Stats from Amazon to make interesting observations regarding sentence length. Once again the verdict is obvious: keep it short and simple. Interested in finding out what reading level you are writing at? Try out this Reading Level Calculator.

“How do you get people to read your blog? This guide will tell you how to gain readers, how, in effect, to be heard. It discusses how to approach blog content, design, launch, writing your blog, marketing and revisions.”

Read on for my dissection of this informative, albeit lengthy, article.

Several interesting points to consider in the beginning:

• “Creating a popular blog is, for better or worse, like being popular at a party.”
• “It is possible to launch a blog without a plan. But the probability of success is much lower.”
• “What you will notice is that, in all successful blogs, there’s something in it for the author.”
• “Don’t just pick something and say “I’m going to write about that.” Study yourself, and write about the things you’re already thinking about.”
• “…without some discipline, one day [of not posting] will slide into a week, one week will slide into two, and then you’ll have no readers because you aren’t writing anything.”
• “Design makes your content accessible, and that increases your readership.”
• Use a liquid layout (one that expands or shrinks with the browser window) if possible
• Ping blogging services like Technorati

According to the article there are several design aspects popular blogs have in common:

• Easy to read
• Load quickly
• Have a unique visual identity
• Have light (usually white) backgrounds
• Simple
• Use font sizes well
• Use color well

The article also lists speed as an important factor and warns against too much content on your homepage – especially images and doodads such as gadgets.

Once you’ve considered all of the above it’s time to generate an information flow:

• Compile RSS feeds from sites you already read (and be on the lookout for others) using an RSS aggregator.
• Use Yahoo! Groups or Google Groups for groups that interest you.

It is important that you don’t simply reword other content for many reasons. As pointed out in the article, “What you want to do now is to add value to the item you are writing about.” For example, this writeup of the original article is saving you the pain of reading through the lengthy article by providing quick access to the main points.

Concerning your writing style:

• “As time goes by, and as you consider more items, you will settle into your own style.”
• “…over time develop a critical stance with respect to the material you read, a frame of reference that assists you in understanding, putting into context, and assessing resources. This is a good thing, and you should watch for it as it develops in your writing. Don’t force it; just let it flow as you respond to individual items.”
• “Eventually, you should acquire something like the following habit: if it needs to be written, blog it.”

But even doing and considering what is described above won’t get you a single reader because none of it has much to do with people knowing you exist. How do you get the word out there?

• “If you have business cards, put your blog address on your card.”
• “If you send an email, make sure you have a proper signature that includes… your blog address.”
• Check out this excellent Best Blog Directory and RSS Submission Sites article
• When reading other blogs, leave comments that includes your blog address.
• “After having written a few posts, new bloggers should send an introductory email to those bloggers they perceive to be leaders in the field.”
• “Go to conferences.”

Some of the article’s final advice suggests to highlight certain content:

• From time to time you will produce something of extraordinary importance or value. When this happens (and only when this happens) make a special effort to ensure people are able to find it.
• Send an email to some prominent bloggers in your field advising that you have something of extra value. Keep the email short, offering a clickable link directly to the item and a short paragraph describing the content.

And one final note: “Listen to your readers. Respect your readers.” After all, your readers are what you blog for.

Full Article

“Active voice is best for most Web content, but using passive voice can let you front-load important keywords in headings, blurbs, and lead sentences. This enhances scannability and thus SEO effectiveness.”

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