Archive for October, 2007

Ok, we call them gadgets, widgets, or plug ins. The point is they add interactivity to your site, compelling your visitors to hang around. I’ve used many on my various sites. So let’s talk about a few of the Google Gadgets For Your Website.

You go to Google, choose a gadget and customize it. Google will generate the code you need to place your gadget in your post or on your sidebar. Just play around with them. Give your visitors a reason to stick around….

Crystal Ball
Ask your question and tap the ball to reveal the answer to your question.

Sudoko Puzzles
Test your skills.

Coloring Page of the Day

Jigsaw Puzzle of the Day

Leadership Quote of the Day

Skype Me!

Google Talk

These are only a few gadgets. Go to Google’s Gadget page and check out a few for your website or blog. Keeping our visitors engaged is how we develop relationships with them. Try one or two gadgets today!

Let me know what gadgets you like, leave a comment below!

Show Notes

An introduction to RSS and it’s ability to syndicate your content.

Here are 10 reasons you should consider using RSS on your blog,or website!

1. It’s easy and fast!
   Not to mention Free! You can use a free service like Feedburner and publish your Blog and RSS feed within minutes. You can even place or publish your Blog/RSS Feed on your own site without knowing ‘html’ or ‘xml’. It’s all done for you!
2. Syndicate Your Content.
   RSS stands for ‘really simple syndication’ (or, Read Some Stories) and it’s just another way of passing along your information. With the popularity of ‘MyYahoo’ and the ‘Firefox’ browser (which has a built-in RSS feed reader) increasing – syndicating your content has gotten even simpler.

   The next version of Windows is reportly scheduled to have an RSS feature. If this happens – RSS will explode.

3. Get Your Content Indexed.
   Using blogs to publish your content is an excellent way of side stepping the regular indexing procedure. Your content is indexed very quickly in most of the search engines.

   Search Engines are constantly looking for ‘fresh content’ – these ‘link rich’ blogs are a good source of this content. Because blogs are on specific topics – they have a concentrated source of good quality information!

4. Instant Contact.
   Blogs give you instant contact with your readers or viewers. We live in an ‘instant’ society – we want everything five minutes ago. Blogs provide this instant gratification. Readers or viewers using MyYahoo have an instant link to your information or postings.

   RSS Feeds will instantly spread your information to allinterested parties – bringing in targeted traffic.

5. Building Your List.
   People who pick up your RSS feed or add you to their MyYahoo site – become your subscribers. You are really building your contact list. Have a popular blog or RSS Feed and you can build a large targeted contact list very quickly.

   Might not replace your old opt-in email list – but it can be a lucrative addition to it! Take advantage of all those targeted contacts.

6. Link Building.
   Blogs are link heavens! Build your links thru blogs. All these links will boost your link popularity and increase your search engine rankings.

   Plus, by giving viewers/readers a way of adding your RSS Feed creates targeted links to your site. This reason alone is why your site should have RSS!

7. Viewer/Subscriber Feedback.
   Instant feedback from your subscribers or viewers is easy with blogs. Creating trust and credibility is so much easier when there is immediate communication between the two parties.
8. Keyword Content Building.
   Blogs are especially good for building ‘keyword targeted content’ for your site. All these links will boost your keyword rankings in the searchengines. Google places a high value on ‘anchor text’ and blogs are a good place to put all those links.

   You can also start different blogs targeted at specific related keywords covering the major topics of your site. Again, search engines love related keyword linking so you can boost your site’s rankings by using blogs.

9. Monetize Your Content.
   Blogs are an excellent way of monetizing your content. Blog sites like Eblogger (owned by Google) even encourages you to use the ‘adsense code’ in your blogs. If you have a popular blog – this may bring in extra income.

   Plus, publishing your ezine or newsletter in a blog can bring in revenue for months if not years to come. All those affiliate links and product promotions get indexed by the search engines and become accessible to a wider audience, i.e. market.

10. Because Everyone Else is Doing It!
    Might sound a bit ‘Jonesish’ but you do have to keep up with what other web sites are doing. To remain competitive – you must put RSS on your site.

    Sites without the ‘AddtoMyYahoo’ link or the ‘xml’ button will be the exception rather than the rule in just a few years – if not months. It’s simply another way of getting your information ‘out there’. It’s an opportunity and advantage that you cannot afford to miss.