Got twitter? Twitter is one of the hottest microblogging tools around. Not only am I enjoying it very much but I am making a lot of online business contacts and learning loads about Internet marketing.
As a result of it's popularity, a number of apps have sprung up around twitter.
Twitstat is an interesting one.
It offers real time analytics of what is going on around twitterville. It also offers you the option to search for how many times a name or term was twittered.
If you have not already joined the twitter community, I highly recommend it.
Follow me on twitter at twitter.com/MommyEBiz and add to the conversation.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Add Social Sites to GMail Signature
Finally, there is a way to conveniently add all of your contact information to your GMail e-mail signature.
Wisestamp offers an easy way to set up your socially savvy Gmail signature in a snap. It offers options for both a personal and business signature and automatically populates your Gmail e-mails.
According to the Wisestamp website, the free service also works for Yahoo and other web-based e-mail services.
E-mail signatures are an important part of the online marketing efforts of every savvy Internet business owner. Finally, there is an easy way to add this important marketing tool to the many other online-business-friendly features that Google's Gmail has to offer.
Wisestamp offers an easy way to set up your socially savvy Gmail signature in a snap. It offers options for both a personal and business signature and automatically populates your Gmail e-mails.
According to the Wisestamp website, the free service also works for Yahoo and other web-based e-mail services.
E-mail signatures are an important part of the online marketing efforts of every savvy Internet business owner. Finally, there is an easy way to add this important marketing tool to the many other online-business-friendly features that Google's Gmail has to offer.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Wrong AdSense Publisher Number on Blogger?
I discovered a serious problem with my Adsense Publisher number of my Adsense ads after I switched over to the new blogger blogging platform.
The worse thing I did not realize there was a problem for some time.
Here's what happened:
When you add the Adsense page element to your new blogger blog, at the bottom of the Add Gadget dialogue box, your adsense publisher number is listed at the bottom and it asks you if you want to change your publisher ID.
First, I was careless and did not immediately check that the AdSense Publisher number was right. I just assumed it was. Big mistake.
Once I realized the first mistake and not checking that the right AdSense Publisher number was being served up, I knew I had to change it.
I clicked on the "change publisher ID" option thinking that would easily fix the problem. It did not. Oh boy, time to google.
I did find several instances of this problem but no one quite seemed to have a difinitive answer that worked for everyone. Add to this the fact that Google Adsense support appears to be quite non-existent.
The best answer I found was to try to clear the cache. That did not work for me.
In desperation, I decided to just remove the whole Adsense gadget and try to start over.
That worked! I was so happy (after starting to really get mad).
So double check your Adsense Publisher codes on your new blogger blogs. If they do not match your code listed at the top right hand of your Adsense account, try closing all of your adsense gadgets on your blogger blog and then re-open them and see if that works. If it does not, log into your Adsense account and create a new ad. Copy and paste the html code for the new adsense unit and add a new "html/Javascript) gadget to your blog with the code in it.
Any other suggestions? Please leave comments.
The worse thing I did not realize there was a problem for some time.
Here's what happened:
When you add the Adsense page element to your new blogger blog, at the bottom of the Add Gadget dialogue box, your adsense publisher number is listed at the bottom and it asks you if you want to change your publisher ID.
First, I was careless and did not immediately check that the AdSense Publisher number was right. I just assumed it was. Big mistake.
Once I realized the first mistake and not checking that the right AdSense Publisher number was being served up, I knew I had to change it.
I clicked on the "change publisher ID" option thinking that would easily fix the problem. It did not. Oh boy, time to google.
I did find several instances of this problem but no one quite seemed to have a difinitive answer that worked for everyone. Add to this the fact that Google Adsense support appears to be quite non-existent.
The best answer I found was to try to clear the cache. That did not work for me.
In desperation, I decided to just remove the whole Adsense gadget and try to start over.
That worked! I was so happy (after starting to really get mad).
So double check your Adsense Publisher codes on your new blogger blogs. If they do not match your code listed at the top right hand of your Adsense account, try closing all of your adsense gadgets on your blogger blog and then re-open them and see if that works. If it does not, log into your Adsense account and create a new ad. Copy and paste the html code for the new adsense unit and add a new "html/Javascript) gadget to your blog with the code in it.
Any other suggestions? Please leave comments.
Blogger Import and Export
Questions: 1.Can you import another blog into blogger?
2.Can you export your blogger blog out of blogger?
I googled and looked far and wide to find an answer to these questions. It seems that until fairly recently, there was no way for a normal person (non-techie mom) to do these functions.
I also have Wordpress blogs and it is crazy easy to import and export over there.
I did find some explanations on how to accomplish the blogger import and export but the screen shots these guys were showing looked nothing like what I saw on my computer.
The problem? Your blog must be in Blogger Draft to get this function to work. Who knew?
Your new blogger Dashboard should give you the option of Blogger in Draft now. Check the box.
You should now see some funky grid pattern and the Blogger "B" is crooked so you know you are in Blogger Draft.
1.Go into Settings to export a blog onto your computer's hard drive. You will see options to export, import or delete your blog at the top of the page. Click export and follow the prompts.
2.Be sure to name it something relevant on your hard drive so open the file, name it and then save it. If you just save the file to your desktop, it will not have a unique name and if you save another, you will not be able to tell them apart.(these directions refer to Firefox but are likely similar for IE)
3.Create or open your new blogger blog that you would like to import into today.
4.Go the the Settings tab and click "Import"- Remember you must be signed in with Blogger Draft to see the Import, Export and Delete buttons at the top of the Settings page.
5. Click Import and then follow instructions similar to Export above. you will need to decide if you want all posts from the imported blog to be published automatically. If you do not, the posts will show up under the posting tab and you may choose to publish select posts only.
There you have it- importing and exporting blogger blogs!
2.Can you export your blogger blog out of blogger?
I googled and looked far and wide to find an answer to these questions. It seems that until fairly recently, there was no way for a normal person (non-techie mom) to do these functions.
I also have Wordpress blogs and it is crazy easy to import and export over there.
I did find some explanations on how to accomplish the blogger import and export but the screen shots these guys were showing looked nothing like what I saw on my computer.
The problem? Your blog must be in Blogger Draft to get this function to work. Who knew?
Your new blogger Dashboard should give you the option of Blogger in Draft now. Check the box.
You should now see some funky grid pattern and the Blogger "B" is crooked so you know you are in Blogger Draft.
1.Go into Settings to export a blog onto your computer's hard drive. You will see options to export, import or delete your blog at the top of the page. Click export and follow the prompts.
2.Be sure to name it something relevant on your hard drive so open the file, name it and then save it. If you just save the file to your desktop, it will not have a unique name and if you save another, you will not be able to tell them apart.(these directions refer to Firefox but are likely similar for IE)
3.Create or open your new blogger blog that you would like to import into today.
4.Go the the Settings tab and click "Import"- Remember you must be signed in with Blogger Draft to see the Import, Export and Delete buttons at the top of the Settings page.
5. Click Import and then follow instructions similar to Export above. you will need to decide if you want all posts from the imported blog to be published automatically. If you do not, the posts will show up under the posting tab and you may choose to publish select posts only.
There you have it- importing and exporting blogger blogs!
Make a Blogger 3-Column Template HTML
Buying three column blogger templates from random hackers seems very unreliable from the many blog comments have seen on the subject.
The 3 column blogger templates are often hosted for free and if the users go over their bandwidth, the blogger blog template just disappears! How frustrating and for me, a mom making a living online, just unacceptable.
Also, if you use a blogger 3 column template created by someone else, you will be completely unable to edit the fonts or colors in the new blogger layout tab. There are often other strange quirks with free blogger 3 column templates such as the lack of a footer and other elements.
I learned that is better to bite the bullet and mess around with your blogs HTML a little bit to create your own 3 column blogger template.
I have taken the best and most relevant parts of several sites' instructions on making a blogger blog 3 column template and put them together for myself because all of the instructions were just a little off or incomplete.
One tip that many sites do not mention is that it is much easier to make the changes to your blogger blog template if you start with the Minima template.
Also, do not forget to back up your current template. If you will be creating serial blogger blogs, you may want to try my little trick as I am showing you here on this blogger blog.
Never Have to Mess With the Blogger blog html again to make a new 3 column blogger template:
1. Create for yourself a blogger template blog.
2.Title it as you wish (something about a 3 column template may be best)
3.Choose any domain name
4.Go into the HTML tab to create the 3 column blogger blog template- try the tutorial here- it's a little messy but it works.
5.Save
6.Copy whole template (CTRL A to select then CTRL C)
7. Replace the template you want to change
9.Voila! You should now have your very own blogger 3 column template blog!
The 3 column blogger templates are often hosted for free and if the users go over their bandwidth, the blogger blog template just disappears! How frustrating and for me, a mom making a living online, just unacceptable.
Also, if you use a blogger 3 column template created by someone else, you will be completely unable to edit the fonts or colors in the new blogger layout tab. There are often other strange quirks with free blogger 3 column templates such as the lack of a footer and other elements.
I learned that is better to bite the bullet and mess around with your blogs HTML a little bit to create your own 3 column blogger template.
I have taken the best and most relevant parts of several sites' instructions on making a blogger blog 3 column template and put them together for myself because all of the instructions were just a little off or incomplete.
One tip that many sites do not mention is that it is much easier to make the changes to your blogger blog template if you start with the Minima template.
Also, do not forget to back up your current template. If you will be creating serial blogger blogs, you may want to try my little trick as I am showing you here on this blogger blog.
Never Have to Mess With the Blogger blog html again to make a new 3 column blogger template:
1. Create for yourself a blogger template blog.
2.Title it as you wish (something about a 3 column template may be best)
3.Choose any domain name
4.Go into the HTML tab to create the 3 column blogger blog template- try the tutorial here- it's a little messy but it works.
5.Save
6.Copy whole template (CTRL A to select then CTRL C)
7. Replace the template you want to change
9.Voila! You should now have your very own blogger 3 column template blog!
Research: The Foundation of Online Business
How do you know what online business to start? The key is to research well before you start. What are the main areas you should research?
- Yourself. Write down your skills and talents and your strengthts and weaknesses.
- Your market. It is usually best to target a market to which you belong or one of which you have intimate knowledge. This makes promoting your product or service among your existing networks very easy.
- Your product. You will need to consider the sources and costs of a product and the training and other resources you may need to offer a service.
- The trends. Is your potential product or service trending up or down? Is this a hot trend that is growing or one that is nearing it's apex?
In future posts on this topic, we will look at tools that you can use to complete your research in each of these areas so stay tuned.
Sign up for our RSS to stay up-to-date with future posts and do not forget to join me on twitter.com (mommyEBiz) for up to the minute links and useful info.
Choosing the Best Online Business
What is the best online business for you? Do not be fooled into thinking that there is any one online business that will work for everyone. There is not.
The online business best for you will be at the intersection of your:
INTEREST
APTITUDE
RESOURCES
MARKET
INTEREST- Your interest in the mission of your online business will keep you going through sleepless nights and java-filled days.
APTITUDE- As moms, we are busy, very busy. We will be most efficient with our time if we are operating in a realm in which we have some aptitude or can be quickly bought up to speed with the skills we will need.
RESOURCES-You will stress yourself unnecessarily by planning to start an online business for which you do not have the resources needed and do not have access to the resources. Be realistic, make starting an online business as easy as possible. You can explore new avenues later after you have achieved some success.
MARKET- Although online the whole world seems as if it can be your market, the most successful online business will be far more targeted. You will save time and energy by choosing a market consisting of groups to which you already belong and can easily learn to market to quickly.
Stay tuned for the next in our series on starting an online business.
I have made just about every mistake in the book and I hope to teach you how to avoid the most common online business no-no's.
The online business best for you will be at the intersection of your:
INTEREST
APTITUDE
RESOURCES
MARKET
INTEREST- Your interest in the mission of your online business will keep you going through sleepless nights and java-filled days.
APTITUDE- As moms, we are busy, very busy. We will be most efficient with our time if we are operating in a realm in which we have some aptitude or can be quickly bought up to speed with the skills we will need.
RESOURCES-You will stress yourself unnecessarily by planning to start an online business for which you do not have the resources needed and do not have access to the resources. Be realistic, make starting an online business as easy as possible. You can explore new avenues later after you have achieved some success.
MARKET- Although online the whole world seems as if it can be your market, the most successful online business will be far more targeted. You will save time and energy by choosing a market consisting of groups to which you already belong and can easily learn to market to quickly.
Stay tuned for the next in our series on starting an online business.
I have made just about every mistake in the book and I hope to teach you how to avoid the most common online business no-no's.
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