Posts filed under 'Internet and Technology'
March 2nd, 2007
Anyone who has been running their own site/blog for a while can appreciate which statistics actually matter and the different types of visitor you get. It’s one thing to have excellent content that the search engines love but it’s crucial to ensure your visitors are reading more than the page they land on.
1 page per visit = bad
That’s the philosophy you need to adopt because someone who visits your site and doesn’t view any other pages could mean one of several things. Either your navigation is rubbish, the content is rubbish or the visitor didn’t find what he/she was looking for (and didn’t see anything else on that page offering any site-wide value).
1 page per visitor is bad because it doesn’t help you grow. True your traffic stats look fine but is your site suffering?
Multiple pages per visitor = good
Multiple pages per visit either means the visitors are enjoying your content, it’s relevant to what they were looking for or your site invites people to click around. This is good because it means more impressions and a higher chance of contribution. If people enjoy your content, they’ll return.
How do I improve my page views?
This was something I wanted to focus on when I redesigned the site. Previously I was averaging around 1.2 page views per visitor (probably less) because there was no clear link between articles. Because the site was fairly new I was unable to cross-refer between content and it was largely a one hit affair. You find the page through search engines, read it and leave it - whether it was relevant or not the behaviour is the same.
Related Material
This is a great way of cross-linking between articles - introduce a “Related articles” area that matches similar content by tag/title/topic because the chances are that if your visitor was reeled in on this topic then similar posts hold the most chance of securing them as a multi-page visitor. Multiple pages of good content can easily secure you a regular visitor.
Offer non-relevant links
I’ve found that showing the most recently commented articles is a great way of bringing old content back from the dead. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s not useful and if sufficient search engine traffic is sent through it then one visitor is likely to comment on the submission. If someone commented on it then it means it has use and is therefore brought into view (on non-article pages like the homepage, for space reasons).
Navigation/archives
This is something I should focus on more because if you view all the articles in the Linux category, you’re presented with an ever-increasingly long list of submissions. This isn’t pretty and I doubt it’s useful but I’m unsure of how best to group them.
Having “Top Posts” is a good idea
This is something I realised while reading JohnChow.com - that having a “Top Posts” is a great way of presenting a blogging portfolio of sorts. First time visitors who are unsure of your quality can look here to see the best you have to offer. Therefore your most successful articles (or those of which you are most proud) should be placed here for all to see. Basically you’re saying “the content is interesting, here, look”.
Careful selection of your best material is key because there will be users on the brink of conversion who need that extra hint of excellence to subscribe to your RSS feed.
Collected from net for reference.
February 14th, 2007
We always hear that Google has a sophisticated system to detect the invalid clicks, and result in termination of the cheaters’ account. But, how can Google do that? In this post, I summarize those ways that Google depends on to detect whether the clicks on your site are invalid or not. Google will not first ban your account immediately. Rather, they will first flag your account and Google will keep a closer eye to your account. In some occasion, they may send you a warning letter to notify your situation; but sometimes not.
1. IP Address
It is the easist and must be recognized by everyone. If those clicks on your ads are originated from the same IP Address as the one used for accessing your AdSense account, your account is flagged.
2. Click Through Rate (CTR)
Normally, Click thru Rate should not excees 10%. Otherwise, Google will flag your account. For your information, normal CTR should ranges from 0.5% - 10%.
3. Physical Location
Google has good tracing software and technology.They can trace traffics origin down to the small town. So, using different computers with different IP address does not secure anything. So, don’t try to click your ads in various internet cafes. That will kill you.
4. Cookies
Most home users do not use static IP Address for Internet connection. In most cases just disconnect and reconnect will give you a new IP Address. But don’t forget, Google has set cookies on your computer. They can trace these cookies and see whether they originate from the same computer.
5. Click Pattern
- It is also suspicious when people click on their clicks and then run away immediately (hit-and-run). But normally, people will surf for a while inside your pages and then click on the ads they want.
- Why this computer / IP address / person is so trigger-click-happy on this particular website but never click on the ads on other sites?
- And why is it that people accessing these sites direct (type-in URL or from bookmark) tend to be very active ad-clickers compared with those referred from search engine or other sites?
6.Other Google Services
Apart from Google Adsense, Google also provide a series of services to us. Don’t just think that it is safe if you do not log in your adsense account and click on your ads. What other Google services do they provide to us? Here are some: Gmail (most poeple are using it), Google Earth, Google Calendar, Google Search, Google Toolbar, Google Talk, Google Sitemap, Google Desktop, Blogger, or even Youtube (coz Google has just recently acquired it).
7.Hardware address
Don’t you know that your modem,LAN card and routers has a serial number which act like a fingerprint? These can be used as tracing evidence by Google. Google is very smart!
8. Search Engine Ranking
Your website is not indexed on any search engine, not linked by any prominent website, but get consistently high traffic? How come people can access your website and click your ads? That will make Google to smell a rat.
9. Webpage design
How about the “Please click a link below” or “donate us by clicking the ads”? These kinds of encouragement is not in line with Google’s TOS. Google can use their winning search engine, or even human eyes to check your sites from time to time.
10. Advertisers conversion rate
Ad click is one thing. But does it bring value to the advertisers? If none of the clicks on your site translate to conversion to the advertiser, you are in trouble. First the Smart-Pricing hits, then your AdSense account disabled
Collected from the internet.
November 25th, 2006
Are you looking for an MP3 player but am not sure which type and model to buy? There is a wide variety of MP3 players out there, from flash memory based players to hard drive based players. Choosing a good player from the market is no easy task. What features should you look for? What are the key considerations? This article aims to answer those questions and more. Now, let’s see how we can pick the perfect MP3 player.
Types of MP3 player
There are essentially four types of MP3 players in the market today. These include flash-based players, hard-drive based players and MP3 CD players. Let’s look at them in turn.
Flash-based MP3 players
Flash-based MP3 players have a flash memory chip built-in. They tend to be very tiny, ultra-portable and have no moving parts. As a user, you can do all your sports activities without worrying about your music skipping a beat. The downside to flash players is their high cost per megabyte. These players range from 32MB to 2GB, and the most popular models tend to be those from the Creative Muvo line, the iRiver iFP series and more recently, the Apple iPod Shuffle.
Hard-drive based MP3 players
Hard-drive based MP3 players use a 1.8-inch hard disk drive to store your music. The hard disk can hold large amounts of music – we’re talking about 10GB and above. If you have a large music library and want to store tons of music, a hard-drive based MP3 player is the way to go. The cost per megabyte is very low. The downside? Well, due to the hard disk drive, which has moving parts, these players are not suited for rough physical activity or extreme sports. One of the most popular MP3 players in this category is the Apple iPod, which is selling like hot cakes out there.
Micro hard-drive based MP3 players
More recently, manufacturers have come up with micro hard-drive based MP3 players like the Apple iPod Mini, Creative Zen Micro and Rio Carbon. Featuring a smaller hard drive (which still gives ample storage space of about 4 to 5 GB), they have a much more compact design compared to full fledged hard disk players. The few models mentioned above are selling like crazy too.
MP3 CD players
MP3 CD players are another type of MP3 player. These units look and feel like regular CD players. You can burn up to 150 MP3 songs to fill one CD-R disc, then play it on the unit. The disadvantage of such players is their large size and their tendency to skip if jostled.
Key Features of MP3 Players
Having looked at the different types of MP3 players, let’s look at the key features of an MP3 player.
Size and weight: If you’re looking to bring your MP3 player on trips or on sporting activities, a small compact design is very important. In such cases, you should go for a small flash based player or one of the micro hard drive players.
Storage capacity: This is an important factor too. If you need to store your whole music library into the MP3 player, then you probably need a hard drive based player with 10GB of storage or above. If you only want a few select songs to listen to on the subway, then a flash based player would suffice. Do take note that some players offer expansion slots in the form of CompactFlash or SD cards.
Battery Life: This is often overlooked. Battery life is a very important consideration, especially if you’re out with your player and have no way to recharge. Hard disk players tend to have lithium-ion rechargeable batteries while some flash players offer AAA battery support. I personally own a Creative MuVo Micro N200 which uses AAA batteries. This is great for me because once it runs out, I can just pop in a new one – no hassles about finding some electrical socket to recharge.
Connectivity Options: The way the MP3 player connects to your computer is also an important factor. The latest models tend to support high-speed USB 2.0 transfers. The better ones like the Apple iPod also give Firewire support.
File Format Support: You will most likely be wanting to play MP3 songs on your player. However, if you want to listen to a wider variety of music files, like WMA or OGG Vorbis, then make sure you see it in the player specs.
Other Considerations
Many of the latest players also include features I’ve not covered in the above. For example, some players come with a built-in FM tuner, which is very useful if you get tired of your MP3 music. Other have a built-in voice recorder which allows you to record audio as WAV files.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many considerations to think about when purchasing an MP3 player. To get the most suitable player, you want to think about how you will use the player. Usage should drive your purchase decision. The other thing to take note of is to shop around, both online and offline – compare prices before shelling out the cash. Good luck hunting for that MP3 player!
July 26th, 2006
If you have selected a suitable affiliate program to join, and you are keen to start earning some affiliate commissions, you will need to know about the key factors to help you succeed.So, what do you need to succeed with your internet marketing affiliate program?
• Dedication. The first thing you will need to succeed with your internet marketing affiliate program is commitment to work hard until you get the profits you want. For you to earn some commission, you will need to invest money, time and effort into the business.
• Patience. This is the hardest trait to have, yet it is the most important. You can not earn commissions overnight with your affiliate program, and you must be patient enough to keep on working consistently, even if you are not making any sales.
• Get your own website and domain name. Having your own website creates the perception that you are serious about your internet marketing affiliate program business, and you have long term commitment to it. A professional website and own domain name appear professional, and you will find it easy to make sales.
• Products, services or business opportunities that are of high quality and reputation. This is very important if you want to make some sales and earn some commission. Make sure that you choose an affiliate program that has products with high demand and easy to sell.
• A website that is well presented and will prompt any visitor to take action and buy! This is an obvious one, yet is sometimes neglected. For you to be successful with your internet marketing affiliate program, your website must clearly present what you are selling. You must make the presentation of your website such that you promote many sales, for example by placing complementary products close together. Use all the techniques you can think of to make help you make as many sales as possible.
• A ‘useful’ website that makes visitors want to visit again. Although the main goal of your site is to make sales; you will also want your site to offer a few other things that will make visitors stay longer and come back again. You could offer some free tips and ideas relating to the products you are selling. The idea is to make any visitor want to ‘bookmark’ your site. Or if they make a purchase the first time they visit; if they found some free helpful hints on your website, they will come back again for another purchase, creating good repeat business for you.
• Have a committed strategy for driving traffic to your web site. It is a very simple fact that more visitors to your site means more sales, which means more checks for you. Have a monthly budget or plan for driving traffic to your site, work on that consistently.
• Customer care and personal testimonials can significantly help you succeed with your internet marketing affiliate program. Have an email system that you check regularly to answer any questions from your potential customers. Instead of just placing your affiliate links, try to have some testimonials that highlight the benefits of the product, service or business opportunity. This will help you make more sales, thus increasing your checks.
• Offer a free e-zine or short course on your website. Some visitors to your website do not make a purchase the first time they visit your site. By offering a free e-zine for your visitors to subscribe to, you are able to keep in constant contact with your potential customers, and over time, they will become your committed clients. Internet marketing affiliate programs need a large customer base to succeed, so you need to capture every potential client.
By following the guideline presented above, you will succeed with your internet marketing affiliate program. You will need to use these strategies so that you increase your sales and earn more sales. Building a huge down-line is important in internet marketing, and having more visitors and more sales or sub-affiliates is important for your business.
Succeeding with your internet marketing affiliate program is easy if you follow the key recommendations that can guarantee your success, and avoid the common mistakes which affiliates make.
Collected from the internet.
July 26th, 2006
The ones who have been there and done it have quite some useful tips to help those who would want to venture into this field. Some of these tips have boosted quite a lot of earnings in the past and is continuously doing so.
Here are some 5 proven ways on how best to improve your Adsense earnings.
1. Concentrating on one format of Adsense ad. The one format that worked well for the majority is the Large Rectangle (336X280). This same format have the tendency to result in higher CTR, or the click-through rates. Why choose this format out of the many you can use? Basically because the ads will look like normal web links, and people, being used to clicking on them, click these types of links. They may or may not know they are clicking on your Adsense but as long as there are clicks, then it will all be for your advantage.
2. Create a custom palette for your ads. Choose a color that will go well with the background of your site. If your site has a white background, try to use white as the color of your ad border and background. The idea to patterning the colors is to make the Adsense look like it is part of the web pages. Again, This will result to more clicks from people visiting your site.
3. Remove the Adsense from the bottom pages of your site and put them at the top. Do not try to hide your Adsense. Put them in the place where people can see them quickly. You will be amazed how the difference between Adsense locations can make when you see your earnings.
4. Maintain links to relevant websites. If you think some sites are better off than the others, put your ads there and try to maintaining and managing them. If there is already lots of Adsense put into that certain site, put yours on top of all of them. That way visitor will see your ads first upon browsing into that site.
5. Try to automate the insertion of your Adsense code into the webpages using SSI (or server side included). Ask your web administrator if your server supports SSI or not. How do you do it? Just save your Adsense code in a text file, save it as “adsense text”, and upload it to the root directory of the web server. Then using SSI, call the code on other pages. This tip is a time saver especially for those who are using automatic page generators to generate pages on their website.
These are some of the tips that have worked well for some who want to generate hundreds and even thousands on their websites. It is important to know though that ads are displayed because it fits the interest of the people viewing them. So focusing on a specific topic should be your primary purpose because the displays will be especially targeted on a topic that persons will be viewing already.
Note also that there are many other Adsense sharing the same topic as you. It is best to think of making a good ad that will be somewhat different and unique than the ones already done. Every clickthrough that visitors make is a point for you so make every click count by making your Adsense something that people will definitely click on.
Tips given by those who have boosted their earnings are just guidelines they want to share with others. If they have somehow worked wonders to some, maybe it can work wonders for you too. Try them out into your ads and see the result it will bring. If others have done it, there is nothing wrong trying it out for yourself.
Collected from the internet.
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