Web 2.0 Defined

The term “Web 2.0” first defined by Tim O’Reilly in 2004.  Web 2.0 is a term describing the trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users. These concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies.

According to Tim O'Reilly:

“Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the Internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform.”

Basic Web 2.0 terms

Social media:   An umbrell ...

A Son's Note of Apology to His Mother After Feeling Guilty for Pinging his Twitter

Dear Mom. I have a dirty little secret. Sometimes, when I'm all alone and playing with my blog, I have the irresistible urge to Ping my Twitter.  It's so satisfying, I suspect it must be immoral.  I've tried to quit, but the urge is overpowering, especially when I experience the titillation of a really good Twitter Ping.

Oh, I know what you're thinking, Mom, but it's okay. If you'll allow me, I'll Ping your Twitter, too. I'm really good at it and I think you'll like the way it makes you feel as much as I do.

Don't worry, Mom. Pinging your Twitter is perfectly legal, even encouraged by some internet evangelist ...

Undertow:  Wading Through the competitive waters of Social Media Marketing

I had a great discussion with some colleagues on social networking.  The conversation centered around how the blogosphere and social networking sites are quickly changing the way Internet Marketing strategies.  They were quick to point out that a study from Forrester Research shows that, with a recession looming, the time is right to advertise on social sites.  The comparative cost is low, perhaps a ten-fold difference. 

But it begs the question:  Does pay-per-click and banner advertising really work on social networking sites?

Another colleague points o ...

Website Hits: They ain't all that and here's why.

I am often asked, even urged, to generate more traffic to my client's websites. So desperate are they that they are lured by unscrupulous companies who promise significant amounts of traffic--thousands, millions of visitors even. WOW! Consider the impact of that many visitors to your website. Surely it would translate into tons of business and vast fortunes, right?

Don't we wish it was that easy.

Let's take it from the perspective that generating that much traffic is even possible. Who knows. Maybe it is. Most web hosting solutions are set up to handle a reasonable amount of traffic, but not a million visits a day. Were that to happen, the web server would quickly become overloaded and shut down. Thus, you don't want that much traffic.

But the reality is, most small- and medium-sized businesses will never generate that much tra ...

The Key to Cracking the Keyword Research Nut

As a burgeoning SEO, I spend most of my spare time consuming mountains of information to learn as much as I can about my new craft. I realized very quickly that the key to becoming successful in this business is to stay on top of the latest trends and to learn from the best. That's why I've become a student of John Alexander and his SEO mastery workshops.

I recently read a great article from John that reveals some excellent tips on using Wordtracker to conduct your keyword research. I've put these tips to the test and liked them so much, I thought I'd pass them on in this blog. Enjoy!

15 Keyword Research Tips for Finding the Hottest Niche Phrases Quickly

Creating and Submitting a Google SiteMap

A colleague recently asked:  "What is the easiest way to create a sitemap for submission to Google?"  I don't know if it's the best or the easiest way to do it, but this is my procedure and it's worked quite well for many of my client's websites.

1. Build your sitemap here:  http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/
   • Input URL
   • Set change frequency

What is a Header (H) Tag?

Header tags, or H tags are a key element in search algorithms used by search engines.  I suppose their value lies in the fact that headers are important elements in scanning text, which is what most people do on a website.  Search engines understand that good headings will make a page easier to read; thus, giving the visitor a better viewing experience.

How H tags are used

Typically, you will see header tags used much like an outline: