Polls and quizzes can be a great way to add interaction to your web site. A poll can help you gauge the tastes and trends of your visitors. A quiz can be a quick and effective way to share information. There are a few free, web-based services that will allow you to build small polls … Continue reading
Latest Entries
Finding Pictures Online
Normally, I focus on words but sometimes having the right picture really is worth 1000 words. When I need the right picture I often go online. For personal use, say for use in a party invitation, I will admit that I do not adhere to strict copyright law – but them I usually don’t have … Continue reading
Want to Make Money from your Web Site Links?
Many organizations are making money from their web sites through affiliate links. We’ve all seen it, often in the form of a link from a web site to a book listed through Amazon. Click on the link and you find yourself in line to purchase the book. (For an example, check out the Minnesota Rural … Continue reading
Email: Can’t Live with It, Can’t Live without It
Email Worm Spreading Fast was the headlines for the Minneapolis Star Tribune online yesterday. The latest email virus is out there – and I have been hit. Like the Sobig virus last summer, I have been targeted but not infected. So, what does this mean? Well, the good news is that I do not have … Continue reading
Buying Keyword Ads
search engine Google and you’ll see what I mean. Google sells ads on the right hand side of the page and above the “regular” search results; they are labeled as sponsorships or paid ads. These spaces aren’t always taken, but they are available to the highest bidder. Today we’re going to talk about how keyword … Continue reading
What’s this about a Google Dance?
Search engines use algorithms to rank web sites. Most take a look at certain aspects or parts of a page including the following: Number of times a keyword is used on a web page Location of keyword (used in title as opposed to in fourth paragraph) Number of visitors a web page regularly gets Number … Continue reading
Annual Computer Maintenance Checks
It’s that time of the year when we make resolutions and promise ourselves to take advantage of the clean slate of the New Year. I have a few computer-related items to add to your list. (Truthfully, most of these should be done much more often than annually – but there’s no time like today to … Continue reading
E-Bay for De-Gifting
Whether you’ve been celebrating Hanukah, finished celebrating the Winter Solstice, or are looking forward to Christmas or Kwanzaa, most of us are opening gifts at this time of year. Some gifts are perfect! Some don’t quite fit our style. Instead of trekking to the return counters, tracking down receipts, or re-gifting, consider selling your surplus … Continue reading
Minimizing Risk of Identity Theft
This statistic is dated (Dec 2000), but according to the Identity Theft Clearinghouse, the average time it took for someone to notice identity theft had occurred to them was 14 months. Here is a short list of things you can do to minimize your risks. Check your own credit rating once a year. You can … Continue reading
Froogle – a Great Shopping Tool
I have talked about this tool in the past – but the timing seems so good I had to mention it again. Froogle is a Google off-shoot. It indexes merchandise and will report back (in order of increasing price) merchandise that meets your keyword search. It looks like Google, it works like Google, and the … Continue reading
Byte of the Week 