The theme for today comes direct from the universe of my email inbox and the Creative Community at Cre8asiteforums. I figured that since so many SEO/M, blog and web design big shots are attending or speaking at the Boston PubCon, the least I could do is entertain those of us at home w.o.r.k.i.n.g.
Written and compiled by Ammon Johns, it ran into some trouble with our server move (wreaked havoc on some URLS). All but possibly one has been repaired. No matter. This document is an incredible resource for anyone who dreams of getting rich with Google. Or if not, hoping to be included in the search engine. It's the essential "What you always wanted to know about Google and SEO but were too intimidated by experts to ask" kind of resource. Ammon tells all.
An incredible example of one forums member helping another is clearly seen in the thread called Need SEO Help. "Billie" has an ecommerce web site that is causing concern. "A.N.Onym" comes to the rescue in a series of lengthy tutorial type posts that another member referred to as "mind blowing". It's the perfect thread for anyone with a new ecommerce web site and learning SEO/M. See also Who's Behind The One-Way Mirror?
A new tool is making its debut. It's called Who Linked. Free, easy as heck to install, and so new you can be the first to try it before everybody else does. The idea is to display a mini-showcase of the sites that link to you. If some of those sites are popular, it makes for an instant "credibility factor" impression for site visitors.
The idea for this came from Aaron Wall of SEOBook.com, when he asked for a review of one of his sites. I started to turn him away since it was a blog and I hadn't been testing blogs. Fortunately, one of my louder Guardian Angels hit me really hard on the head and convinced me to use Aaron's site as a proof of concept test case. So I did. And now I do. Offer blog usability reviews that is.
Put That Thing Away
I live with a man who always has something electronic in his hands. He can't live without his handheld devices, computers and video games. He's part of the growing trend of mobile device users who uses them for browsing the web. According to Mobile Browsing Seen Changing Face Of The Web, we may not be debating 800 vs 1024, fixed or fluid anymore.
"People are turning to mobile phones for Internet use more quickly than they are adopting laptops for the same purpose in many parts of the world, according to a recent study of Internet trends."
What's a Forum Worth These Days?
There's so many of them. Would you buy one? What are they worth? Somebody actually asked what Cre8asiteforums is Worth(Sorry! Member only area.) and, well, the Creative Community has had much to say about this. Truthfully, I often wonder about selling it and escaping to some isolated island somewhere. But I know I'd get lonely and want to start a thread on how to peel pineapples...
Web Design New and Still Here Bothering Us
We can't get rid of frames. Framed website is a good thread that goes past the pros and cons and looks at the usability (or lack of) and how Google Sitemaps may or may not be helpful with indexing.
The graphic artist moderator, "Black Phoenix", at Cre8asiteforums has this awesome site for kids (and parents) and anyone who is a kid at heart. It's called Free Coloring Pages. Go play with the bunny now.
Announcements on Announcements
For a limited time, we're taking free announcements at Cre8asiteforums in the Events page that pertain to jobs help wanted/seeking and events such as conferences, seminars, etc. They must be associated with web design, SEO/M, usability, or software development. Preference is given to members of the Community since they are the ones who have most wanted such a addition to the forums. Someday we may charge a small fee but for now...I'm easy.
Walking For Miles, Barefoot, Uphill and Backwards, for Good 'Ole SEO
Mike Grehan, ever the world-wide-traveler with skills in humor, fine dining and rabble rousing the entire search engine marketing industry with mere words (and a blog that blows up in Firefox), has charged up SEO-land again (well, those not boozing it up at Pubcon right now) with another article. It's being discussed in Is Textbook SEO dead?, Mike Grehan Article. My favorite comment:
"Google has the ability to measure how people engage with your pages. They need to have their heads examined if they are not using that information."
And, In the "Nobody Cares Kim" Department
My daughter has signed both she and I up for this 3 month diet and exercise challenge thing sponsored by Self magazine. We both eat like health-nuts anyway (whole foods, nuts, berries, tree bark), but exercise is the kicker. She likes to run. I don't. We're supposed to keep a food and workout diary online. She's doing this, I swear, because I screamed the last time we went out for one of her auto driving lessons.
Son's baseball team is undefeated. Life is good.
:: posted by Kim Krause Berg on 4/20/2006 06:41:00 PM
Kim is a Member of the Usability Professionals
Association
About Kim's Web Site Usability Reviews
"This report exceeded my expectations. After reading it a
few times, I went through and highlighted those parts of your actionable
advice that I want to implement right away... I ended up highlighting
most of the report. Stellar job. I won't hesitate to recommend you
to one of my own clients." -- Andy
Hagans of AndyHagans.com
"I have implemented the most obvious changes and I suppose the fact that we've seen an immediate increase
in sales/conversions is no coincidence. I'd highly recommend your service to anyone running a serious web based business."
-- Steve Clay, Plumeriabay.com
"As soon as we get our hands on one of her usability
studies, my clients and I have a better understanding of what needs
to be done with their sites to make them the best they can be from their
site visitors' perspective."
-- Jill Whalen,
HighRankings.com
::
Cre8pc on Web Site Usability and Holistic SEO :: 
