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Tim Priebe - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Tim is the owner of T and S Web Design and author of Webifiable. He loves working with small and medium sized businesses and organizations. Tim's passion is helping everyone market themselves online, from people who know almost nothing about the web to people who have a pretty good knowledge. Tim would love to help you and your business succeed online!
Tim is a published author, a lucky husband and a proud father.
[View Tim Priebe's Extended Author Bio]
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- If You Don't Understand, at Least Believe
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Social-Networking] Two days ago I taught a brief workshop on social networking to a group of professionals. I was explaining briefly how one particular network worked, how to make contacts in your target market, etc. Once I was done, I asked everyone if that made sense.
- Deciding What Type of Illustrations to Use on Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Every website needs illustrations. It's a long-known fact that they break up long sections of text and help make them more interesting. So how do you determine what to use to illustrate your site?
- Get Others to Promote Your Site for You
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Link-Popularity] One of the most frequent questions I see about sites is how to effectively promote them. With so many websites and blogs out there, how can you get people to follow a link to yours?
- Congratulations, it's a... Website?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] As my wife and I prepare for the birth of our second child, my one-track mind has wandered to the similarities and differences between a child and a website. That may seem a little out there, but bear with me as we take a look.
- Don't Let Bad Placeholders Slip Through The Cracks
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] We've all done it before. We don't quite have that picture or text ready to go. So we put something up to hold it's place until the real text or image is ready to go. But what happens when we forget to change it before it goes live?
- Common Goals Every Website Should Have
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] The goal of websites is varied. Hopefully you have some sort of mission statement for your website, whether it's public or not. But there are five main goals that every website should have in common.
- Designing Your Website Header Like the Pros
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Many sites have some sort of banner on the top of their site. This is a part of the page header, and can include the name of the site, and possibly even the navigation for the site. But how do you create a banner that looks professional?
- Easily Improve Your Blog Posts
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] By the time you finish reading this, you will have a sure-fire way to improve your blog posts, all because you learned one very important secret. When I first started blogging, I wrote about different topics that were of interest to me. Over time I discovered something interesting.
- What Everyone Should Know About Starting An Online Business
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] So you've decided to take the plunge into e-commerce. If you don't already have a business, you may not be sure what kind of business to start. So how do you decide what to sell online?
- The Quick Guide to Transferring Domain Names
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Domain-Names] If you ever get a new webmaster or switch web hosting companies, you might also transfer control of your domain name (that's just the www.whatever.com) to someone else. This process varies from simple to extremely difficult, depending largely on the companies you're dealing with. Since I have done this several times with various clients, I thought I would provide some insight.
- The Secret to Surviving After Your Webmaster Disappears
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] So your webmaster has disappeared, taking all the information on updating your website with them. What can you do to get your site updated now?
- 4 Quick Tips for Coming up with Blogging Topics
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Do you blog on a regular or somewhat regular basis, but sometimes have trouble coming up with topics for your blog? Here's a few helpful hints to get you going when writer's block strikes.
- Cleaning Up The Hacker's Mess
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Security] Unfortunately, all too many times site owners do not prepare for their site to be hacked. If you're using an open source CMS, your site will probably end up being hacked at some point, regardless of how many preventative measures you take. Here are a few tips on what to do to prepare for that eventuality, and what to do when it happens.
- 5 Tips for Securing Your Open Source CMS
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Security] Recently, one of my clients that uses an open source content management system (CMS) was hacked several times. I've talked about CMS's in the past. But I've not really talked about the fact that open source CMS's are prone to hacking by hackers.
- How Do I Get My Site Listed On Google and Other Search Engines?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Just yesterday, a potential client asked me in our first meeting about getting listed on search engines. To someone who doesn't build websites often, or is just starting, it's not always obvious how to get listed on the search engines.
- Banner Ads For The Uninitiated
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] If you're going to advertise your website on other people's websites, at some point you are going to have to design a banner ad of some sort. Whatever the size and shape, there are some standard issues with every banner ad.
- Web 2.0 For The Uninitiated
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] If you read anything on web design and website maintenance, you've likely heard the term Web 2.0 thrown around. Is the world wide web getting an upgrade? What does your site need to become "Web 2.0"?
- 10 Quick Website Maintance Tips
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Ten quick, easy to follow tips on website maintenance. Find out some things you could be doing better that could also make website maintenance easier.
- The Resolution of the Web
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] If you know much about your computer, you're familiar with your desktop's resolution. Whether it's still set at 800x600 or set at 1280x1024, like mine is, it affects how websites look on your computer.
- Getting Other Sites to Link to Yours
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Site-Promotion] One of the big factors in search engine ranking is how many sites link to your website. Each link counts as a vote for your website, pushing it up in the search engines' listings. Not only that, but every link gives others that much more of a chance to visit your website. So how do you get other sites to link to yours?
- Have Others Review Your Web Site
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] In the past, I've found that looking at a site for long periods of time during development caused me to overlook simple errors and other items that could be improved. Having a third party review your site prior to publishing or updating can help out greatly.
- Why Website Polls May Be Useless
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] I recently had a client ask me about the benefit of polls on a website. Many news sites have polls on their site, and one of the sites I maintain is included in those sites. But what benefit, if any, do they provide? And could your site use them?
- When Online Videos Attack
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Video-Streaming] With recent services like YouTube and Google Videos, having videos on your website is all the rage. But the power to easily put such videos of your site does not mean it's always appropriate to do so.
- Converting to Mac - A Brave New World
[Computers-and-Technology] When a Windows computer dies, is it time to switch to Mac? My story, along with what was keeping me from making the switch.
- Searching Your Own Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] I'm sure you've often seen a search function on websites. The function to search your own website, that is. When is such a search function necessary, and how do you add it to your site?
- General eCommerce Issues
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] Having recently worked on several eCommerce websites in a row, I wanted to mention a few issues that should be considered if you are planning to sell anything online. Although I have a current favorite eCommerce package, I've attempted to make these helpful hints independent of any particular software.
- Finding Advertisers For Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] In selling advertising on your site, there's two basic options. You can sign up with a program that gets the advertisers for you, or you can find them yourself.
- Competitions and Giveaways on Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Site-Promotion] One of the ways to promote your site and drive traffic to your site is to have competitions and giveaways. I've run tons of online contests. Do you want to get lots of extra traffic, and more participation in your site?
- Search Engines - Simple Tips For Showing Up
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Fortunately, not all of the methods for getting listed in search engines are overly complicated. Let's look at a few simple methods anyone can implement.
- Flashing Text, Music and Annoying Website Elements - The Carnies of the Web
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Often I see scrolling marquees on "professional" websites. This trend probably started sometime in the late 90's when little animated clip-art images on your website were all the rage. But are they really that useful?
- Writing Your Website Copy Well
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] This may seem like an obvious statement to some, but to others it isn't. Spelling correctly on your website is a must, as is punctuation and capitalization.
- Maintaining Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Contrary to what some believe, a web site should definitely not be set up and then forgotten. Over time, information about your company can and will change. If your website remains unchanged, the world will pass it by. A website is not a one-time investment, but something to be cultivated and maintained.
- Common Sections for Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] So you're ready to make a website. But what sections and pages should your website have? Here are 13 of the most common website sections.
- How To Copy a Website Without Ripping It Off
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] I admit it. I've "ripped off" websites. In fact, I specifically have a place on the website planning worksheet I use for clients to indicate what websites they want to steal from. And I'm here to tell you how to do it without getting caught.
- Should My Email Address Be Displayed On My Website?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Should you display your email address on your website where spammers can steal it? Or should you hide it, possibly frustrating clients and customers?
- Checking Your Website in Multiple Browsers
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Statistics gathered on various websites show that as many as 30% of the visitors to your site might not be using Internet Explorer. Are you making sure your website looks right for them?
- Are Stock Images Ever Useful?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] In general, I advise clients not to use stock images on their website when they can avoid it. But can they ever be useful?
- How Domain Names Work
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] I often have to explain to clients why, when they first get a domain name and website, it takes up to 48 hours for someone to be able to see their website. This can happen if they switch web servers, as well. The key to understanding this is understanding a little bit of how domain names work.
- Site Maps and Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Sometimes websites have so much information available that it becomes difficult for visitors to get to all the information. There are many tools available in such a situation, including a site map. Learn what a site map is and if your site needs one.
- Keeping Your Website Uncluttered
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Too many websites out there have extremely busy home pages. Once you get there, you're so overwhelmed with text and images that you have no idea what you want to do. Even mainstream news sites can fall into that trap. So what can you do to insure your website does not get that cluttered?
- How Perfect Should My Site Be Before Launching?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] I've dealt with several clients in the past who were almost as big perfectionists as I am. Me being that meticulous is bad enough, but once you combine it with a client who is as well, you can have a problem. When do you say enough is enough and put your site online?
- Coupons on Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Site-Promotion] In having a website, there are two aspects of marketing to consider. The first is driving potential customers and clients to your website. The second, assuming you have a physical location, is making sure that your website drives those same people to that actual location. Coupons on your website can help to accomplish both of those items.
- Value of a Blog
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Blogging seems to be all the rage now. Many of these are personal blogs, where people just give their opinions on various topics. Others, however, are business blogs. What's the advantage of a business blog?
- Surveying Clients About Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Most businesses could benefit from surveying clients, customers, and site visitors about their website. But what type of questions should you ask?
- Redesigning - How Often Is Too Often?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] You've all seen it on some websites. They completely overhaul the look of the website every other month. So how often is too often?
- Flash or No Flash - Is a Flash Website For Me?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] You've seen plenty of fancy all-Flash sites on the web. And there are plenty of great non-Flash sites as well. So how do you decide if a Flash website is right for you?
- Content Management Systems - Are They For You?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:CMS] There are plenty of options for content management systems. But how can you tell if your website even needs one?
- Banner Ads - Death and Resurrection
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] Since the dot-com bust, is banner advertising really worth it? To the careful marketer, it can be.
- Making Sure Search Engines Know Where You Are
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] There's never any way to completely guarantee a specific position in the search engines. So how do you make sure that people using search engines will know where you are?
- External Links On Your Website - Do or Don't?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Links to other websites on my own website are a bad idea, aren't they? Why would I want people to leave my site and visit another website?
- Determining the Purpose of Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] A website should never be created just to create a website. That will only waste time and money. It should some purpose, whether that purpose is just for fun or to make money. Establish that mission for your site and then work to fulfill it.
- The Danger of Multiple Websites
[Business:Marketing] Are you an affiliate with several companies marketing yourself online? Don't make a common mistake!
- Promoting Your Website Even More
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Site-Promotion] There are tons of ways to promote your website. Here are a few that are sometimes overlooked.
- Consistency Across Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] One of the mistakes I frequently see in "professional" websites is a lack of consistency across the entire website. This lack of consistency across the site shows a lack of professionalism. Even if all your other business material is extremely professional, a website with that problem can bring your whole business down.
- Virtual Tours and When They Can Help Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Would a virtual tour benefit your website and business? If so, what are your options?
- Home Page - Generating an Effective Front Page
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] The front page of your website should accomplish a couple of things. First, it needs to be able to quickly grab a visitor's interest. Second, it needs to be set up so that search engines can easily and properly index it.
- Links and Banner Ads on Your Site - What is Appropriate and Useful?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Site-Promotion] There are a lot of theories and myths going around about links on websites. When are they appropriate? Can link exchange programs actually help increase your ranking on search engines? And how do banners fit in there?
- Holiday Decorations On Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] You've probably seen it on sites like Google. They do something to tweak their site for Christmas and other holidays. The big question is, when is that type of thing appropriate for business sites, and to what extent?
- Picking Colors For Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Ready to build your website, but don't know how to pick your colors? Maybe you have one or two main colors picked out, but don't know how to apply them to a website. If that sounds like you, read on!
- From Brochures to Websites
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Are you wanting an nothing more than an online brochure for your website? That's okay, because there are still advantages to having a simple website over a printed brochure.
- Generating Timeless Content
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] How often do you come across a website, read the content, and immediately realize it hasn't been updated in months or years? Don't make the same mistake.
- My Domain Name Is Already Taken
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Domain-Names] So you already have a name for your company, but you can't find an exact match for your domain name. What do you do?
- Generating Fresh Content
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Will people keep coming back to look at your website again and again? With fresh quality content, it shouldn't be a problem.
- Are You Really Using Your Website?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] If your website is acting merely as an online brochure, you may not be using it to its full potential.
- How To Promote Your Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] If you promote your website properly as part of a marketing campaign, it can be of great help.
- What Makes A Web Designer A Professional?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] So your brother/sister/cousin/father-in-law is offering to design your website for free. Is he a professional? How can you tell?
- Who Is Involved In Getting A Site Online?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Everyone knows that someone has to design a website before it can go online. But who is involved in getting it from a CD to the internet?
- Why You Should Get Your Own Domain
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Domain-Names] There's no reason for your business not to have its own domain.
- Changing The Way You Advertise
[Business:Advertising] Are you using your website's advertising potential?
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