ABC’s of Web 2.0

April 29th, 2009 by Shirley Grant No comments »

Article Written By Sharon Housley

Web 2.0 is a perceived transition of the Web to web-based applications. Web 2.0 is the next generation of technology solutions where interactive content is the norm.

There is no agreement on exactly what Web 2.0 means. Depending on who you are speaking with, you may receive different explanations. At it’s heart, Web 2.0 is about the maturity of the Web. While many refer to Web 2.0 as companies that employ powerful web technologies, the key components of Web 2.0 are said to include: the Web as a platform, collaboration, and syndication.

Here are the “ABC’s” of Web 2.0…

A – Ajax

Ajax is an abbreviation for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, and is a web development technique for creative interactive web applications. Many Web 2.0 websites use Ajax to interact with website visitors.

B – Blog

Blogs are web logs that are updated regularly, usually on a daily basis. They contain information related to a specific topic. In many cases, blogs are used simply as daily diaries about people’s personal lives, political views, or even as social commentaries. The truth of the matter is that blogs can be shaped into whatever you, the author, want them to be.

C – Collaboration

Collaboration is a hallmark of Web 2.0. Building communities and developing content from multiple contributors is part of what is unique about these second-generation websites.

D – Dynamic

Content Dynamic content refers to content which is obtained from another source, and which is automatically updated whenever the source content changes.

E – ECommerce

Ecommerce comes from the phrase “Electronic Commerce”, which basically means selling things over the Internet. Many websites now conduct financial transactions over the Internet. Ecommerce is simply a vehicle for collecting payments online.

F – Folksonomy

Folksonomy is a means of classifying and categorizing data on the web through collaborative efforts from the online community. While not strictly synonymous to the term, this is more commonly known as “tagging”, where keywords are associated with items or links. The keywords are used to classify the items.

G – Global Navigation

Global navigation refers to a somewhat standardized navigational menu structure that encompasses all the main pages on the website. Regardless of the particular web page you are on, you can navigate to any other part of the website using the global navigation system.

H – Hosted Application

Hosted applications are typically interactive programs that reside on the Internet, and are designed to run on the Internet rather than being downloaded and installed on the user’s computer.

I – Information Architecture

Information architecture describes the structure and methodology by which information (such as website content) is organized.

J – JavaScript

JavaScript is a cross-platform, object-based scripting language developed by Netscape for client and server applications. It is commonly used in web pages to add interactivity and to dynamically update content.

K - Knowledgebase

A knowledgebase is a collection of facts, rules, and procedures that are organized into a searchable format. In Web 2.0, website knowledgebases are usually interactive.

L – Long Tail

The phrase “long tail” pertains to search engine results. The “long tail” of search follows the thinking that the combined total results of multiple less-popular terms will exceed the results of a single more-popular term. Many webmasters have given up their hope of ranking well for the extremely popular terms, and instead are focused on ranking well for the less-popular but more abundant terms or phrases.

M – Mashups

Mashups are the result of merging content from a variety of different sources, and thus creating new content based on the merging and filtering of the resulting content.

N – Newsreader

A newsreader is a software tool or web application that is used to read and manage RSS feeds.

O – OPML

OPML stands for Outline Processor Markup Language, and is a standard for people wishing to import or export their RSS feed subscriptions.

P – Podcasting

Podcasting is online audio content that is delivered via an RSS feed. Many people equate podcasting to “radio on demand”. However, in reality, podcasting offers far more options in terms of content and programming than radio does. In addition, podcast listeners can determine the time and the place of their listening, meaning that they decide what programming they want to receive and when they want to listen to it. Listeners can retain audio archives to listen to at their leisure. While blogs have turned many bloggers into journalists, podcasting has the potential to turn podcasters into radio personalities.

Q – Query

A query is a phrase or a group of words, possibly combined with other syntax, used to pass instructions to a search engine or a directory in order to locate web pages.

R – RSS

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, and is a standard for syndicating content online. RSS feeds are used to provide real-time information to interested parties.

S – Social Bookmarking

Social bookmarking and social networks are collaborative efforts that use democracy and voting to influence the importance of items that are bookmarked.

T - Tags

Tags are descriptive keywords that are used to classify and categorize items or URLs on social networks.

U – User-Generated

Content User-generated content refers to website content that is created by the users themselves. It can be in the form of message posts on discussion groups, blogs, comments on blog postings, wiki entries, etc.

V – Vlog

Vlog comes from the phrase “video blog”. This is a blog that mainly publishes video content rather than audio content. Video podcasting is sometimes called vodcasting.

W – Wiki

Wikis are a collaborative environment that is built around input from community users.

X – XML

XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. XML is often used to update dynamic web content.

Y – YouTube

YouTube is a highly popular Web 2.0 video hosting website that allows users to submit, view, and rate videos.

Z – ZeeEnd

About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com audio recording and editing software.

Popularity: 56% [?]

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Posted in Web 2.0

Twitter Debate

April 7th, 2009 by Shirley Grant 1 comment »

If you have been online for more than a couple of days, you will have heard about Twitter.

Twitter is a simple “micro blogging” system where you can add 140 character snippets of what you are doing online.

You have probably also heard of the Autofollow/Auto DM systems that are around that allow you to automatically follow people who are following you and send them a Direct Message to welcome them.

There has been a debate going about this service.  Some people think that this is a bad idea for various reasons and others like to use it.

Michel Fortin made a post on his Blog Titled  “Twitter Populated By Drones And Fakes?” all about the subject.

Although I am sure there were other people who disagreed with Mr. Fortins opinions, here is a Blog post Titled “I Have to Disagree with Michel Fortin” that puts the other side of the debate.

Recently, Mr Fortin has made another post on the subject here. Following Up On The Auto-Follow Fiasco

I don’t know about you, but I find this all a bit confusing.

Where do you stand on the “Auto-Follow Fiasco”?

Post a comment and let me know. :)

Popularity: 100% [?]

1 comment »

Posted in Web 2.0

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Members area – Should it stay or should it go?

April 1st, 2009 by Shirley Grant 3 comments »

A number of members of the MMEzine members area have expressed a concern that they are unable to login, or if they do manage to login, they are logged out and have to login again.

I have looked into this problem and have asked the creators of the script that I am using how to solve the problem and it seems that it is unknown why this keeps happening to some members and not to others.  Therefore there is no cure!

I would like to ask current members of the MMEzine to cast a vote in the poll below and let me know if you think the members area should stay or go.

Should the MMEzine members area stay

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

I will look at the responses and make a decision based upon them.

Popularity: 75% [?]

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Posted in Ezine Updates, Featured

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Don’t Try To Rank For Everything You Write!

March 30th, 2009 by Shirley Grant No comments »

This is a great article that could save you a lot of time and hearache with your blogging.

Read it and take notes!

Article By Jack Humphrey

One of the biggest reasons people tend to think blogging is more work than it actually is, is because they think you have to “knock it out of the park” with every post.

That puts a lot of pressure on you to do all sorts of things with each post which are unnecessary and definitely makes for less regular posting after awhile.

For example: I am writing this post to you, my reader.  I am writing it to tip you off on an important idea that will help you.  I don’t need to rank for some specific keyword on this post.  The purpose is to provide something of value for the readers I already have.  And, for new readers who find this post because they came here from another post I did put some SEO into to get them here.

Regular readers get a bit of help and new readers see how I take care of my regular readers and bookmark me for later (hopefully).

The key is to chill out about blogging in general.  Most of the time you just need to write.  Damn the search engines and all that SEO!  You are only ever going to rank high for a small percentage of your post and pages even if you DO work your butt off on each and every one to hit the right keywords and get links.

So take care of your readers.  Do not let a great idea for a post go to waste simply because you think it’s going to take you all day to get the thing perfect for the engines.  Write it.  If it starts to rank on page 3 or 4 in Google, come back and re-optimize it to get it to the top 10.

Posts You Want To Spend More Time On

Linkbait: research, super quality writing and layout of the post

Affiliate: When you review a product and want to rank right up with or above the product owner for keywords.  I always try to land a top 10 position with “ review” when I want to get a ton of traffic from people looking for product reviews of certain internet marketing products.

Posts You Need to Just Write and Get Done!

This should be the majority of your posting.  Make a good title.  Throw a keyword in the first paragraph.  But WRITE!

Utility Posts: Also known as Speedlinking.  Where you link to a bunch of other bloggers or resources to get posting done for the day and let your peers do the hard work that day.  While you look like a hero for pointing out good stuff to your readers.

Notes to your readers: Like this one.  Although it’s turned into a longer post, you can just use your blog like Twitter and post very short, helpful ideas, links, videos, or other snippets.  Just make your readers aware that you care.  New people who discover your blog from the posts you DO rank in the engines for will see that you are attentive and not always trying to just get more readers without caring about supporting your regular readers.

You’re Going to Love Blogging More…

…if you chill out about trying to rank for everything you write!

—About Jack Humphrey—

Jack Humphrey is the editor of the Friday Traffic Report.  He teaches blog marketing, social marketing, and link building strategies.  Stop by and subscribe to his blog at http://www.jackhumphrey.com.

Popularity: 67% [?]

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Posted in Blogging, Traffic Generation

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Web Traffic Secrets – 4 Top Traffic Boosting Techniques You Can Use Right Now!

March 24th, 2009 by Shirley Grant No comments »

By Fabain Tan

There are literally hundreds of ways in which you can drive traffic to your website online. That said, you need to only focus on a few key traffic-generating techniques if you want to succeed online. In this article, I have listed the 4 top traffic-boosting techniques that you can start putting to use immediately:

1. Create a content rich blog and drive traffic to it using a variety of means like tag and ping, search engine optimization, RSS feeds, social bookmarking etc. Here is a tip: use Wordpress to create your blogs. It is a very powerful tool and it creates search engine friendly blogs that you can start with right away!

2. Exchange links or banner ads with other websites in your target market. Send them an email outlining your invitation. Most will take you up on your offer. In this way, you are leveraging on the traffic they are getting by directing it to your site.

3. Create a presence at video sites like YouTube. The number of searches on these sites are at an all-time high, even surpassing the number of searches done on Yahoo! Submit content-packed videos and then lead prospects to your newsletter sign-up page or main site.

4. Build an opt-in list that acts like a traffic recycler for you. Basically, once you have built your list, you can send emails to your subscribers forever or until they unsubscribe. This increases your value per visitor to your website as you expose them more times to your offer and expose them to different offers. Building a list is one of the most profitable things you will do for your business!

Fabian Tan is a well-known Internet Marketing expert and the author of the popular 59-page Report:

“Murder Your Job: How To Build Cash Sucking Autopilot Businesses In 30 Days Or Less!”

Head over to http://www.MurderYourJob.com to get your FREE copy now!

Also, quickly download his FREE “Explosive Traffic System” report that shows you how to generate 10,000+ unique visitors per month at no cost! => http://www.ExplosiveTrafficSystem.com

Popularity: 72% [?]

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MMEzine is online.

February 24th, 2009 by Shirley Grant No comments »

This is just a quick note to let you know that this weeks
issue of the MMEzine is online.
http://mmezine.com/archives/issue327.html

In This Weeks Issue

Top Sponsor Ad:  Post Your Ads Every Day Fr-ee
Editor’s Blurb:  I have been very busy lately
Fre*e Resources:  Fre*e resources
Article:  Article Distribution vs. Guest Blogging
Featured:  $7 products
Subscriber’s Fre*e Ads: Promote Your Opportunity Here + Ad Code
Membership Site Up:  What’s happening in the Members area
Ezine Ad Swaps:  Some Great Ezines To Read

http://mmezine.com/archives/issue327.html

Popularity: 61% [?]

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Posted in Ezine Updates

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Ezine Classified Ads: Copywriting Guide for Newbies

February 20th, 2009 by Shirley Grant 3 comments »

by Adrian Jock, 2009
=====================================

Many newbies can be heard saying, “I don’t need to write
my own ezine ads. My guru provided in the members area
all the ads I need.”

If you don’t want to remain a newbie for the rest of your
life, then stop being a copycat. Improve your own skills
and don’t be afraid of failures.

Yes, FAILURES.

The path from newbie to expert always includes one
or more failures. But if you keep going, you’ll soon
see the SUNLIGHT at the end of the tunnel.

Sure, there is an alternative: remain a copycat. But
at the end of your tunnel you will always see …
just another tunnel.

You don’t like this perspective, do you?

Do yourself a service: stop right now being a copycat.
Here is your copywriting guide for ezine classified ads …

Ezine classified ads are short ezine ads. That’s why it’s
easier to write such ads and you will spend less money
on advertising.

When you’re at the beginning of your learning curve
you have to start small … Let’s start …

Rule #1. Forget the pronoun “I” and learn to use “you”
and “your”.

Reason: The readers are neither interested in your person,
your life, your achievements or your failures, nor in
your friends and their success.

Rule # 2. Tell the readers how THEIR lives can
be improved by using the product or service you
promote.

Reason: It’s obvious!

Rule # 3. Don’t waste the advertising space by
saying unimportant things like:

- starting & ending wordings typical for
letters or solo ads (Dear Friend, To Your Success)

- your name

Reason: The advertising space for such ads is very
limited. The more unimportant things you say, the
less space you have for important things.

Rule # 4. Emphasize the most important words
from your ezine ad by writing them using only capital
letters.

Reason: Writing in capital letters grabs the reader’s
attention.

Warning: Don’t write using ONLY capital letters.
When you try to emphasize everything, you won’t
emphasize anything.

Rule # 5. Avoid the hype and grammatical errors.

Reason: Both of them affect your credibility.

Rule # 6. Don’t mislead the readers.

Reason: It’s immoral. In addition, in most countries
it’s illegal to mislead the consumers.

Rule # 7. Forget about simple and common calls to action
like “Click here” or “Check this out”.

Reason: Such simple calls to action only waste the
space. They are a NO-NO in copywriting. When you
will be more experienced don’t forget to approach better
this aspect. It’s an important one and you need to
learn how to write a good call to action.

Rule # 8. Use at maximum the advertising space you buy.
For example, if you buy a 7-line ad space, then write a
7-line ezine ad, not a 6-line ad.

Reason: You need to grab the reader’s attention
and you can do it only by revealing as many benefits
as you can. If your ad tells almost nothing, you will get
the same in exchange: almost nothing!

Rule # 9. Use a service that shortens the link to your
website and works like an ad tracker at the same time.

Reason: You save advertising space by using
shorter links and you also track the results of your
advertising campaign. By analysing the results, you
will be able to improve your future actions.

Rule # 10. Write more versions for your ezine ad and ask
your relatives, colleagues or friends which one grabs
their attention and makes them click on your link.

Reason: No one is able to write the best ad on the
spot. Even the best copywriters write more ads
and test them to see which one is better.

Forget about excuses like “I don’t know how” and
“I don’t have time”. Start RIGHT NOW to write
your own ezine classified ads and you won’t regret it!

To Your Success!
Adrian Jock

========================================
Adrian publishes Ezine Advertising Info Newsletter,
an ezine dedicated to help ezine advertisers succeed.
To read recent issues or subscribe free to his ezine,
visit his blog: http://www.ezineads.info

If you want to use a professional service for placing
your ezine classified ads, Adrian recommends you
ADS HOME Ezine Classified Ad Co-op:
http://sgrant8905.hmmceo.hop.clickbank.net
========================================

Popularity: 60% [?]

3 comments »

Posted in Advertising, Copy Writing, Internet Marketing

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