The Elusive Practice of Search Engine Optimization

Autor: eyecaredr
The process of search engine optimization is plagued with unscrupulous scammers, spammers and deceptive practitioners. This is referred to as Black-Hat Search Engine Optimization, and it hurts the search engines as well as the users who query them. Black-Hat techniques employ techniques that trick the search engines with thousands of meaningless articles loaded with keywords carefully chosen to draw traffic, and generate quick revenue. In addition to link farms that artificially inflate the importance of an otherwise irrelevant web site. Some black-hat hackers attempt to negatively influence competitor's rankings by exploiting various search engine vulnerabilities. All these practices dilute the true value of legitimate web sites, and realize only short term gains. Gradually search engines started recognizing these techniques, and have taken proactive approaches. Algorithms have been developed to uncover and ban sites that employ those practices. Search Engine Optimization is a long term goal that requires astute and careful planning. White-Hat optimization is the ethical means to this end.

"Give the public what the public wants", this is the mantra of any successful search engine. If a user places a query, and receives very relevant data, the user will most likely return for future inquiries. The objective of white-hat optimization is to provide the user with a content relevant search result. White-hat search engine optimization is the practice of improving the design and content of websites to draw more search engine traffic in an ethical manner. Content is king, it is important to have content that's relevant to your visitor's expectations, otherwise they will just hit their back button. It is important that your pages are well structured, using descriptive page titles and other page text. Further, keyword rich inbound links must be built, and submitting original articles will accomplish this goal.. Providing fresh new content will assure repeat visits with the opportunity to expose more products to your users. White hat SEO techniques can take some time to implement however their results tend to last for a long time.

As the web continues on its exponential growth path, the need for better search engines becomes more vital. These are the challenges that face the search engines, as well as the experts that contribute to their success. Search engine optimization is an art that requires skill, and creativity, a synergy of original content, efficient marketing, and site analysis. These are the foundations for a successful search engine optimization campaign.

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A Review of The World is Flat from an IT Perspective

Autor: tmcco4316

Not long after "The World is Flat, A brief History of the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas L. Friedman came out, I read the book. I found the theme of the book to be an excellent theme for a web site, especially in internet marketing. My web site specializes in self-publishing, marketing, research and freelance writing, and uses Friedman's comments to emphasize ways to market and reach customers.

I started to see other reviews of the book The World is Flat from a variety of sources. One of those sources was Processor Magazine. This book review was done by Dean Takahashi, July 1, 2005.

Processor Magazine is described on their web site as follows: "Processor is a leading trade publication that provides products, news, and information key data center employees can trust. Processor's format provides a comprehensive display of corporate equipment and services, including storage, communications, and servers. You'll also find product announcements, marketplace information, and other articles designed to keep data center and IT employees up-to-date with the latest news that matters most.

Published weekly, Processor is distributed to data center managers and other computer buying decision makers throughout North America."

I find the review in Processor to be unique in the sense that this is a trade publication specifically for IT employees. It is some of these employees that are being "out-sourced" from American companies to those overseas. How can they feel about the premise made by Friedman that: "the flattening of the globe, where U.S. professionals will compete against educated rivals in other countries who are willing to work for much smaller salaries."

The review by Processor Magazine notes: "For many IT managers, Friedman's explanations of technologies may come off as pedestrian. But he delivers his argument with immediacy and a breadth that can only come from someone who has traveled the globe and met with government leaders and captains of business."

After reading the book and reading this and other reviews, I fully agree with the article when it notes: "Until you see what Friedman has witnessed, it's hard to adsorb just how fast globalization is transforming the rest of the world and why 3 billion people across the globe are now ready to compete for your job."

Still Friedman notes that in reacting to this "flattening", "Don't build walls." His solutions for small, medium and large companies are more progressive.

Small companies need to act large. They need to "tap the tools that can make them global, such as using UPS not only to ship computers but to repair them as well."

He states that "Every company needs to collaborate." Further he states about outsourcing: "If you outsource, do it to innovate and grow faster, not just to save money and fire more people."

About individuals, he says: "The flat world will create more jobs for everyone. But knowledge workers have to strive upward, if your job as an illustrator is threatened; provide higher-level service as an illustration consultant."

However, as the Processor review notes: "Friedman warns there is a quiet crisis in the United States, driven by the decline of its science, engineering, and manufacturing competitiveness."

Further the Processor review states; "Friedman describes his meetings, whether he's sitting across the table from India's top outsourcing executive or dining with a venture capitalist in Palo Alto. He plays golf in downtown Bangalore, India, when his partner tells him to aim his ball at IBM or Microsoft. That's an apt metaphor for what enterprising young Indians are doing to American industry."

In reading both the book and the Processor review, I agree that Friedman has a unique perspective. The Processor review notes: "He [Friedman] shows familiar technical issues from a global perspective that weave in social, political, and cultural analysis.
Friedman has looked at these forces closely and can dissect them from multiple points of view. U.S. IT professionals may see offshore-crazy executives as Benedict Arnolds, but if they could see what Friedman has seen in his global travels, they might understand what to do in response to globalization. Better to manage it then to stand in its way."

One statement that is both haunting and ominous, as noted by the Processor review; "Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates tells Friedman that today he would rather be born a genius in China than an average guy in Poughkeepsie."

The Processor review notes the following Key Concepts in Friedman's book:

The barriers to entry are leveling across the globe. Globalization's pace is accelerating and threatens to overtake anyone not ready for it.

It isn't always clear who is exploiting whom. It some aspects, both parties benefit. Knowledge workers must move up the value chain.

The flat world will bring bigger markets than everyone can exploit.

I would recommend this book to any IT or technical professional that is concerned about job security, future job prospects or where the corporate world is headed. Often, outsourcing and job loss due to global competition tends to make us feel like victims. Friedman's book The World is Flat portrays this new globalization or flattening as a new force to be reckoned with and to be managed. However, as Friedman portrays it, we are not victims, but we do need to be smarter in the ways we approach the new global markets and look at our society, culture and business.

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Find a Fish Tank Screen Saver Today

Autor: infoserv

Does your computer need to be spruced up a little bit? When your screen saver comes on, are you greeted by a plain black screen or the windows icon that came with your computer? Doesn't this get to be boring? Wouldn't you like to add a little life to your screen saver?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then it is time for you to change your screen saver. One of the most popular screen savers available is the fish tank screen saver. The fish tank screen saver is downloaded a thousand times a day. People are looking for a way to spruce up their day. And if you are a fish lover, what better way to do that than by bringing your aquarium to your computer screen. Fish are so enjoyable to watch. By having a fish tank screen saver, you will brighten up your day.

There are a couple of places that you can find a fish tank screen saver. First off, do not overlook the obvious. A lot of computers nowadays come with tons of screen saver options. Your computer may already have a fish tank screen saver available. If this is the case, all you need to do is go in and change your settings. This process takes all of about 20 seconds and is not hard to do at all.

If your computer does not come equipped with a fish tank screen saver, you should be able to find one available for download. Go to your favorite search engine (mine is google) and type in "fish tank screen saver." This will bring hundreds of fish tank screen savers to your computer. All you need to do then is find the one you like best and download it. Most downloads are free, but sometimes you may be charged. Most of the sites that charge for downloads offer the best in screen savers. If you are looking for the top of the line fish tank screen saver, you may want to look into purchasing one. Take your time to decide because many of the free ones are also very good.

A fish tank screen saver is a great way to spruce up your computer. Get yours today, and bring your aquarium to your computer and bring your computer to life! Especially if you use your computer to work, a little fun mixed in never hurt anyone.

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Asset Management For Web Developers

Autor: hunter

When building large scale database driven web applications which require the development effort of numerous individuals and interoperating teams as well as networked access to a central repository of assets in the form of PHP code, HTML documents, images, source code, media files, and documentation it can help to organize the workflow by keeping track of data and intellectual property assets using specially designed asset management software applications that allow for a meta searchable database of digital media and a check in/check out system to allow multiple designers to work together without doubling up on the same task.

Asset management software isn't just for enterprise class development anymore. SOHO users will find software such as Canto Cumulus asset management software to be scalable to even the needs of a small design house with only 3-4 developers.

No matter what kind of web development you are doing, proper asset management is key to an organized workflow, especially on projects that depend on numerous individuals and teams and requires the document to "change hands" and allow for the scrutiny of the entire team during every phase of design and development.

Asset management solutions allow for a more disciplined approach to portfolio cataloguing and media library organization, which can help developers contemplate their creative palette and visual media assets more thoroughly and completely when selecting templates and production from the company's supply of IP.

If you find that your design team is having trouble maintaining a manually organized library of content and intellectual property and you want to have a library witch allows for rich meta tagging and highly organized searching and browsing, you should research investing the time and effort into setting up an asset management solution for your company today! The time and effort you put into an asset management system today pays off ten fold through more efficient workflow and library management.

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Burning DVD's: The Storage Revolution Is Here

Autor: ajames

Entertainment is a prime source of our relaxation. By this, I mean television and film. If you're one of the three people who refuse to indulge in cinema, then you're missing out. The technology we have today is ideal for any movie spectators. As we all know, VHS is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Just like with cassette tapes, the compact disks are taking over. DVDs are becoming more prominent everywhere we go. It's even possible to rent them online and never have to leave your home. How convenient is that? No more rewinding, no more filthy VCR heads to clean; it's a dream come true. With the madness of DVDs these days, more and more people are taking advantage of their home computers. The digital versatile discs can be downloaded to our laptops with the push of a button. We can actually create DVDs of our own.

My brother has the most extensive collection of DVDs of anyone I know. I believe he has close to a thousand at this point. He's always emailing me his latest list of titles in alphabetical order. I can barely even sort through them all. That's a lot of choices. He typically wants to know if I crave any new flicks. Since he already has the DVDs, he can easily download them to his laptop, and then create DVDs to pass on to me. This is a pretty choice way to get entertainment if you ask me. Free is always good. I currently have about 30 different titles that he's made for me. So much for paying 15 bucks a pop. This seems to be a common trend these days. Many people will buy and share. Whether they create DVDs or CDs, they save money when they trade around. You can pick and choose your music these days by song. You don't want the CD? No problem, you can buy individual songs online for typically about a dollar a piece, and then create your own CDs.

If you're not up to snuff with the whole Internet process, it's time to hop online. Many of the computers we purchase today have the ability to burn DVDs and CDs. You should definitely take advantage of this feature. This is a wonderful way to create the mixed CDs of your choice. If your buddy has a cool new DVD that you've been wanting to check out, have them burn a copy for you. In order to create DVDs, you simply need some blank disks, which run rather cheap. Burn whatever video or music you please. This is only a sample of the innovations yet to come.

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