Google Likes Pages to Load Quickly!

by robert

Test how fast your pages load.

Use this free test. Page load time can actually impact your Google Quality Score.

Faster is always better.

The most common cause of slow page loading times is bloated graphics. Make sure your graphics serve a purpose for being included in the first place. Then make sure any graphic you do include has been optimized to be as small as possible – in byte size. Use JPEG, PNG, and GIF as appropriate to reduce the file size of all graphic elements.

The page analyzer below will measure load times and provide feedback on how you can reduce the load time of your web and blog pages. Websites that include calls to databases (WordPress) and sites that include PHP programs and run Javascript can have added overhead as a result. Graphic elements are a big thing to check, but not the only thing. Run the analyzer and see where you can make improvements.

Finally, the speed of your hosting service can also have a huge impact. You might be able to get by with shared hosting if you take the time to make sure your pages are “lean and mean”. Slow pages will not please the “Google gods”.

Web Page Analyzer – Free web page analysis tool calculates page size, composition, and download time. Gives speed recommendations based on best practices for usability, HCI, and website optimization.

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Social Media – Hindrance or a Help?

by robert

I confess. I used to read in bed, and occasionally watch TV there as well; but I read an interesting health related report, and have since removed both from the bedroom. And as the report claimed, I honestly sleep much better without the clutter and the dstraction.

And clutter is exactly what Social Media can become if you let it overwhelm you. Be selective in who you follow, and just as important – who you let follow you. It’s amazing how just a little discrimination in how you use Social Media can cut down the noise (just another form of clutter – right?).

My mailbox has been overrun in the last few days with people hawking someone’s latest get rich quick scheme using Social Media. “Make tons of money with Twitter” – “Facebook your way to Fame and Fortune”  – you know the drill.

I do think Social Media should have a place in your marketing plan, but it’s only one of the possible roads to success. I believe your marketing plan should have balance – Social Media is one of your tools, nothing more.

Let me know your take on this. Is Social Media a help, or just a hindrance and distraction to your marketing efforts?

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Essential WordPress Plugins

Here’s a list and brief synopsis of the essential WordPress plugins that every WordPress blogger should definitely consider. WordPress 2.9.2 allows you to easily find, then download and install these plugin automatically. These essential WordPress plugins are made available through the Open Source software community and thankfully cost nothing to use. How to get these [...]

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Professional Header Templates Increase Traffic

XHeader Pro Creates Great Looking Headers As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a good first impression, and when it comes to your blog or website this might mean the difference between success and failure. Now you can create a good first impression, and dramatically improve the look of your site [...]

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Thesis 1.7 Released for WordPress

Thesis, a great WordPress Theme, and one we use on all of our WordPress blog sites has just gotten even better. Thesis, from Chris Pearson of DIY Themes, has been dramatically improved in both speed and function. Here’s a partial list of some of the new features and benefits of Thesis 1.7: Improved SEO (search [...]

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WordPress 2.9.2 has been released

Time marches on and so does the gang at Automatic. Matt Mullenweg and the rest of the team have released a new version of WordPress. Simply log into your dashboard and choose the automatic update option. You have to love WordPress, more power and more elegance in its design with each iteration. I love the [...]

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Affiliate Marketing – Can You Make Any Money?

Can you make money in affiliate marketing? The short answer is yes you can. Is it easy?  – decidedly not. We just posted an article addressing the pitfalls of Affiliate Marketing on SBOguide.com. If you are considering throwing your proverbial hat in the ring and giving affiliate marketing a go, I think you’ll find the [...]

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Survive These Tough Times By Embracing Internet Techology

It has always been important for small business owner’s to manage their budgets, but the current economics situation is beginning to take its toll on the bottom line of even the heartiest of businesses.

So what’s a small business owner to do?

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Will The Real Gurus Please Stand Up

Now don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against affiliate marketing, it provides a legitimate income for lots of small business owners; its the “churn” that bothers me. Certainly there are good products and methodologies that could help us grow our businesses; that’s the maddening part. The problem is that it’s very difficult to separate the real products and services that might help us from the hype that will only waste our time and money. Discovering which guru really has the goods is the challenge.

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How To Add YouTube Video To Your Blog

Interested in learning an easy way to add videos from YouTube to your blog? Follow along and I’ll make the process as painless as possible. Let’s insert a video of Leona Lewis, the winner of the British version of American Idol – the X Factor, singing “Over The Rainbow”. A song, by the way, that [...]

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