Make Your Own Favicon

What’s a favicon? It’s that weenie little graphic you usually see in the address bar or on the tab of your browser that is like a baby visual brand for the website.

Most temploates come with their own favicon so you don’t have to worry. But, if you don’t have a favicon, or you want to change the one you have, then sites like http://iconfu.com/ exist to make it easy. With these guys you create it then choose the file extension and it’s downlaoded to your computer. All you need to do then is upload it to the right spot on your site (either the root directory or the template file- depending on where the template calls it from). And you’re done.

Tip – delete your cache before reloading your website to test it’s there! If not, your browser will just pull up the one it saved to the temp file.

Extra tip – if using WorkPress, grab the Super Simple Favicon plugin – it helps.

WordPress + Akismet + Server

One of those frustrating issues that crop up when you are on a server behind a firewall is the inability to configure Akismet in WordPress.

Instructions are simple and involve editing the akismet.php file.

Here’s how to do this properly:

You may need to modify the wp-config.php file – check with your webhost.

Irrespective of the server your host is running, you will need to edit the akismet.php file as follows:

1. find the following line (around line 117)

2. highlight all of the information between

“// Returns array with headers in $response[0] and body in $response[1]“

and

“// filter handler used to return a spam result to pre_comment_approved function akismet_result_spam( $approved ) {”

Be very careful in selecting the code – it’s easy to get that wrong! Here’s an image of the section of the akismet.php file to replace -

3. replace that section with this…

function akismet_http_post($request, $host, $path, $port = 80, $ip=null){ global $wp_version; $akismet_version = constant(‘AKISMET_VERSION’); $args = array( ‘method’=>’POST’, ‘user-agent’=>”User-Agent: WordPress/$wp_version | Akismet/$akismet_version”, ‘body’=>$request ); $url = “http://”.$host.$path;
if( !class_exists( ‘WP_Http’ ) ) include_once( ABSPATH . WPINC. ‘/class-http.php’ ); $http_request = new WP_Http; $http_response = $http_request->request($url,$args); if( is_wp_error( $http_response ) ) return; $response[0] = $http_response['headers']; $response[1] = $http_response['body']; return $response; }

This info is detailed at http://tall-paul.co.uk/wp-akismet-plugin-behind-proxy/.

However, the bit missing is how much of the function http code is to be relaced. If you’re a php coder that might be fine but for those of us who can follow instructions without knowing code, we need more specific detail.

For those people, I hope this fuller insruction will assist.

Blogging’s 11 Big Payoffs

In last week’s article I discussed what a blog actually is and its relationship to both your business and to your regular Web site if you have one.

The purpose of blogging in general, is usually to establish and/or support an existing brand with an understanding of how that brand generates revenue.

This week, as promised, I’m getting into the real payoffs. Why does it make sense to spend hours of time each month, writing content, then giving it away for free and if that’s not enough, even more hours marketing that free content to make sure people will know it’s there? Continue reading →

Publishing on Kindle – Graphics

If you’re into Kindle publishing in any way, you’ll need to get a handle on having a decent Kindle book cover. Here are a few tips about what you can do.

make a flat 2D graphical cover, not a fancy 3D like an eBook cover would be
best if the Kindle Cover Page looks appealing – professional, nice and clean
use relative font sizes it’s all about composition, visual clarity and eye appeal
have a series title on the Kindle Cover so you can link books, and people can find related material that’s yours

Use Photoshop to Create a Kindle Book Cover

create a basic kindle template that you can use over and over
canvas size 938 wide x1250 high pixels - transparent layer
for every element, create a layer – that makes it easier to edit and adjust elements if they are in individual layers
acquire a royalty-free image – avoid copyright issues (you’ll need to be able to prove you have the rights to use the image)
make sure the image relates to the topic of your Kindle Book
ensure the image is at least as wide as 938 pixels. If the image is too small it won’t scale well – you want a clean, clear image
keep the font style simple, legible and use only one or two types of font

How to Create a Kindle Cover Page in Photoshop

copy the image into your Kindle Book Cover template
highlight, image, fill, colour of choice – use a colour from the image
select a band full width for title to go and choose colour eg white
select layer, click to change opacity
add text box for title in large font
add text box for author in medium font
add text box for series title in smaller font

Once you’re done with your graphic, save it both as a psd for future editing, and as a jpg for loading to Kindle.

Of course, you could always outsource it!

Easy Tip on How To Be More Productive

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.

The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks,

and then starting on the first one.”

Mark Twain, American Writer

Gee, we seem to try and complicate everything for ourselves, don’t we? We have thousandsof planning tools, software, to-do-lists, project tracking methods and so it goes.

When it all comes down to it, it really is this simple.

Discipline yourself.

Internet Explorer’s Market Share Slips: The Beginning of the End?

Microsoft may be being all cocky about video codecs in Internet Explorer 9, but the reality is that the browser’s share of the market is on the slide. Slowly, since it’s just fallen below 60%, but it’s still downwards.

Net Applications, author of the study that reveals this news, says that it’s the first time IE has fallen below 60% (since reasonable measures of market share began). The big MS browser’s loss is someone else’s gain though–and in this case it’s the shiny speediness that is Google Chrome, and the slick UI of Apple’s Safari that benefit the most. In fact, now that IE occupies “just” 59.95% of the market in April, Chrome has soared to 6.73% and Safari has risen to 4.72% (a browser record high.) Firefox is the only big-hitting rival to IE, though, and it too has scored a win with 24.59% market share.

Does the average end user care about this one jot? Most probably not. This inertia is the reason IE has kept its market dominance so long. Technically speaking it’s not the most advanced browser, and in terms of a user experience, it’s very far from being perfect. But it’s on so many Windows machines, and so many people have used it as their only portal to the Net for so long that it becomes habitual. It’s likely that the legally enforced browser ballot (to combat MS’s monopoly) in Europe is contributing to the stats ever so slightly…though this does presuppose that a user faced with this potentially baffling choice doesn’t just jab at the icon for a familiar program they know and have oft-used.

The stats are more possibly interesting as a litmus test for the PC industry as a whole, and they gently hint at some market changes that are seeing more Apple laptops and desktops going through electronics store cash desks, and the slight loosening of the grip of MS on the portable industry as a whole (with netbooks sliding into the coveted spot, noting that not all of these run Windows.) With the tablet industry just taking off, and Apple’s Mobile Safari set to dominate the browsing experience of many millions of computer users this year, it’s likely that IE’s dominance will continue to slip. Which may be a great thing for the web.

To keep up with this news follow me, Kit Eaton, on Twitter. That QR code on the left will even take your smartphone to my Twitter feed. And if you really liked this story, you can re-Tweet too.

Google Makes First Direct Investment in Utility-Scale Clean Energy

wind farm

Google is no stranger to renewable energy. The search giant has previously invested in enhanced geothermal technology, smart grid ventures, electric cars, and wind power startups. But those investments all came from Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the company. Now, for the first time, Google Inc. has invested in renewable power as a way to “accelerate the deployment of the latest clean energy technology while
providing attractive returns to Google and more capital for developers
to build additional projects,” according to the Official Google Blog.

The lucky recipient of Google’s $38.8 million investment is NextEra Energy Resources’ wind energy project in the North Dakota plains–two wind farms that generate 169.5 megawatts of energy, or enough to power more than 55,000 homes. So why this project over all the other renewable energy projects out there? Google reasons that the project uses the latest wind turbine technology to provide ultra-low cost energy to the grid.

No word on what other utility-scale projects Google is considering, but Rick Needham, Google’s Green Business Operations Manager, writes that “We look forward to finding more opportunities to invest in renewable
energy projects that use the latest technologies to push the envelope
for delivering low cost clean energy. We’ll let you know what we find.” We’re guessing that NextEra Energy Resources won’t be the last renewable energy investment for Google Inc. by a long shot.

Get More Local Business Customers Through Marketing â€“ Here’s How

Business marketing is a science and has a method. If you can figure out this method , your success will bepredictable and measurable . Now, what are those steps? you need to get your potential clients interested in you ; this is where the science comes in. When not presented with anything new or interesting , people are literally in a trance like state . Next, you have to promise to help them . The third step is all about making a low risk value exchange. Last,nurture the relationship with your prospect and help them through buying .

When thinking about the first step, it’s very easy to comprehend . A person is not going to notice your service, let alone use your service if you don’t give them a reason to . Speaking scientifically, there are two ways a person’s brain behaves:

When things seem normal and safe, we go through the day not paying much attention to anything because there is no reason to.
When something new and different happens, we are going to try and figure out what happened.

This should be the focus of your marketing – figuring out how to draw your most qualified prospects in . Make them pursue you , not the other way around. The best way to go about this is to make your target prospect’s “pain points” the focus of your marketing. For example; let’s say that you provide an appliance repair service. One of your target prospect’s pain points is never knowing if and when a repair person is going to show up and thereby wasting your prospect’s entire day . It will be easy to draw those guys in if you say something like this : “Tired of Repair Services Who Keep You Waiting Around All Day” because that headline speaks directly to their pain. Make Sense?

However, once you have their attention it is very important to keep them interested . If they see your catchy ad but then lose interest, you’ve gotten nothing done, have you?

So how do you sustain your prospects’ attention? Promise to help with any issues they may have . Appeal to your customer; “does this make you mad? Well I can help.” Say things that will make them want to call you. Once they realize that you are the go to guy, they will want to do business with you.

Now you’veattracted your customer, sustained their interest and promised that you can help . It’s time for the third step of the process – create a low-risk value exchange. Give this person some information that labels you as the expert on the topic. Free reports, podcasts and industry specific calculators all work well. In exchange you get their contact information and permission to educate (and sell!) them. This is the first step of actually doing business because when someone exchanges something of value with you they become a customer.

At this point you are the guy the customer is going to pick . And this is exactly what you want. Start building your relationship, let them get to know you, like you and trust you. Teach them all about you; make them feel like they know you.

Once they trust you, this customer will always look to you for help and when they are ready to make a purchase they are more than likely to make that purchase from YOU, their trusted advisor .

And if you do a good job for them the first time, they will even recommend you to their friends . At this point you are going to be the name at the top of everybody’s mind and well on your way to becoming that big business you dreamed of becoming.

If this sounds aggravating, time consuming, and difficult , relax! There are Chicago online advertising consultants who can develop complete, automated systems that do the whole process for you! This allows you to focus on what you do best while the online consultants do the work for you in a turn key fashion. One consulting firm headquartered outside of Chicago and with coverage across North America has experience with both Fortune 1000 and local businesses as well and can cost effectively position your business for growth.

Did Amazon’s Social Networking Injection Just Kill the Kindle’s Killer Feature?

So Amazon revealed the details of its Kindle firmware update for May–a doozy if you’re into reading e-books and social networking simultaneously. But with the Kindle’s main charm being its status as a single purpose device, did Amazon just screw the pooch?

The Kindle firmware 2.5 has two new bigger-size fonts and better font “sharpness” which is a boost to its readability and accessibility, but the big take-away is the social networking hooks dotted throughout the code. This means you can easily share your highlighted passages or quotes with your digitally connected friends (though only up to 140 characters on the Twitter feed, folks. Keep ‘em pithy!). It’s far more than a tweak to the device, and it’ll transform the platform into much less of a lonely user experience.

The Kindle’s (2 or DX) main strengths are the e-ink display, the battery life, the Amazon ecosystem, and the massive simplicity of the single purpose device. Over time, most of these pluses have been seriously eroded. There’s debate about the benefits of e-ink screens, and it’s largely a matter of personal taste–the irritating slow wipe/refresh effect is annoying to some, and it precludes any serious attempts at having dynamic imagery (for smart textbook uses, for example). Apple’s ecosystem for the iPad is almost as strong as Amazon’s is, in e-books, has even forced Amazon to rethink its business model, and offers a huge array of extras. Even Barnes and Noble’s Nook ecosystem is impressive. The battery life of the iPad roars in at around 10 hours, and that’s if you’re using Wi-Fi a lot, running video, and surfing the Web, all of which you can’t do on the Kindle.

In fact, possibly the most saleable quality of the Kindle (and its horde of cheaper, and some may say better, cloned single-purpose e-readers) is its simplicity. If you’re seriously into books, and like tech, this is the device for you. You don’t want the expense and sophistication of the iPad, with its distracting social networking powers and alluring games–you just want a reliable, one-task machine. Forget all these social hooks, and the potential future horrors of push email over Whispernet.

And yet Amazon, in a desperate bid to keep up with the glamorous temptations of the tablet PC, has just sunk this one big advantage of its e-reader. Sure, you’ll be able to turn these extras off…but Amazon will be bolting more facilities into the Kindle as time goes by, and they haven’t even optimized the core tech of the thing yet. This is the lesson Amazon should be learning from Apple, with its initially pure-purpose iPods, and its slowness in adding in video to the iPhone: Get the killer core features first, and then add in the fancy stuff.

To keep up with this news follow me, Kit Eaton, on Twitter. That QR code on the left will even take your smartphone to my Twitter feed. And if you really liked this story, you can re-Tweet too.

PLR: Find Hidden Affiliate Links in a Word Document

When you pick up PLR packages at all, the wisdom is to use them straight away as is to prevent them being lost in the plethora of unfnished projects on your desk and then collecting digital dust on your hard drive.

Here’s my advice: DO NOT use them straight away as is.

For one thing, it’s better to make slight changes to the titles, images and content to avoid the ‘me too’ copycat syndrome and hope to rank better because you are not directly competing with everyone else who bought/was given the same PLR.

Perhaps a more important thing is to check to see if there are any hidden affiliate links that the author loaded in.

Assuming you have full rights to change author and content, then you can update those affiliate links to your own or delete them.

I just picked up a package and admired the writer. Not only did she have obvious affiliate links (which show as hyper-link blue) but by hovering over a couple of words I noticed she had ‘hidden’ some affiliate hyper-links. Now how effective these would be I don’t know - it depends on whether someone clicks on those words by chance But I figured if they did I’d rather that they then followed my link rather than someone else’s!

So, next time you pick up someone’s PLR, do a quick check. Here’s how:

Place your cursor at the start of the document
In word there is a FIND and REPLACE utility (in 2007 it’s far right on the Home tab)
Click on Find
Then click More to expand the options
Select Format at the bottom
Select Style
Scroll through the list until you see Hyperlink towards the end of the list – choose this and click OK
Clear the Find What box at the top so it’s empty
Click Find Next and inspect to see where they are and decide what you want to do – edit or delete

Of course, when you buy my own PLR in future, I’d be happy for you to bypass this process and blindly use the PLR as is! :)

Red Hot Internet Marketing

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