By Christina Laun

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a master of your domains, you can benefit from the advice of other domainers. Or, you can just see what others are up to. We’ve compiled a list of 100 of the best blog posts on the subject of domaining to help educate, inform, and maybe even entertain you.

Parking

Domains used for parking can be a good way to generate a little extra revenue or to direct visitors to your more profitable domain names. Either way, these blog posts can help you make the most of domain parking.

1. The Death of Domain Parking and the Birth of a New Vertical Web 2.0 Empire: This article from Daily Domainer discusses how domain parking may be a thing of the past and what’s coming next for domainers.
2. Registrars Parking Your Sub-Domain for You: Is your registrar taking advantage of your subdomain names to place ads? Read this article from Domain Editorial on the practice.
3. Domain Parking Shortcomings: Content: This posting from DomainNameNews talks about how many sites are not looking at the potential for revenue in fully developed sites and are instead taking a short term look at domaining.
4. Why Isn’t There a Parking Market Leader?: Domain parking is a fairly unique business but despite this there doesn’t seem to be any single company that stands out in the crowd. Find out why this is in this posting from Whizzbang.
5. Avoiding Domain Parking Accidents: Laugh at the mistakes of others in this article from DotSauce all about poorly parked domains and learn how to avoid making the same mistakes yourself.
6. Is Domain Parking Worthwhile?: While it likely won’t be your main source of income as a domainer, domain parking can bring in some steady revenue. But is all the trouble worth it? Douglas Karr explains his experiences in this blog.
7. Domain Parking: Standards Please, Sir: Getting the same information from parking companies can be an almost impossible task. This blog on Whizzbang discusses the needs for standards for web parking companies.
8. Google Domain Parking: Search or Content: Unsure how your Google domain parking is functioning? Read this short blog post from Andrew Johnson about how Google AdWords are syndicated through parked domains.
9. Domain Parking 101: Don’t know a thing about domain parking but tired of letting your unused domains sit around and do nothing? Check out this guide from NetBusinessBlog to learn all about domain parking and companies you can use to get started.

Buying and Selling

Buying and selling domains is what being a domainer is all about. Use some of the advice in these blog posts to maximize your profits and make better investments.

10. Only 30% Of Top Domains Sold In 2006 Actually In Use: This posting from DailyDomainer discusses the reasons behind the lack of use of domain names that were bought or sold last year.
11. Domain Investing: What You Can Learn From the Stock Market: Investing in domain names is not much different than investing in anything else, so learn what you can apply from other types of investing to domaining in this post from DomainNameNews.
12. Selling Domain Names is Back- The Future of Domaining Meets the Past: Should you sell your domain names instead of developing them? This article from Frank Schilling discusses how domaining is becoming a seller’s market.
13. Why Are Domains Hard to Sell?: Can’t seem to unload a few of your most desirable domain names? Find out why they might be a hard sell in this article from Whizzbangs.
14. The Advantage Of Owning Generic Domains: Learn how investing in generic domain names can help you to bring in more revenue than before.
15. 10 Tips for Investing in Domain Names: Get some basic advice on how you should go about investing in domain names in this posting from DotSauce.
16. To Succeed, Stick to Your System and Eliminate Emotion: Want to become a domaining legend? Then take some advice from DomainPro on how to stand out in a competitive market.
17. DomainsBot, How to Find Great Available Domain Names: Finding great domain names doesn’t have to be a painful or particularly time consuming project. This posting from DotSauce explains how you can use DomainsBot to speed the process along.
18. Domain Name Sales Databases: If you’re putting some of your domains up on the auction block, it can be helpful to know how much similar sites have sold for. This posting from DomainRookie discusses two sites that give you sales records.
19. Eleven Steps to Buying a Domain Name that Doesn’t Suck: Don’t get stuck with a bunch of duddy domain names. Use these tips from CNet to help you make a smart purchase.

Value and Appraisal

It can be hard to determine just how much a domain name is actually worth, and depending on who you ask, the results can vary quite a bit. These blog posts can help you figure out just how much you stand to make from selling a domain name.

21. Domain Appraisals Make No Sense: Confused by the results you’re given by domain appraisals? Find out why they might be off-the-mark and what you should really take into account when estimating domain values in this posting from The Conceptualist.
22. How Much is a Three Letter Domain Name Worth?: Three letters aren’t much, but these simple domain names can actually stand to make you something. Learn what to look for in this article from Domain Name Wire.
23. What’s a Domain Worth?: This posting from Whizzbang discusses the success of the domaining industry and what factors go into determining whether a domain will be cheap or expensive.
24. Where is the Value of a Domain Going?: Michael Gilmour from Whizzbang discusses where he thinks the value of domains and the industry at large is headed and gives some advice for investors.
25. Top 10 Reasons People Overprice Domains: Oftentimes, domain names head off to auction priced at well over what they’re really worth. Find out why this happens in this article by Tyler Cruz.
26. Best Approach for Appraising Domain Names: Appraising domain names can be tricky, as values often depend heavily on individual circumstances. This posting from Domain Pulse can give you some helpful advice on where to start when appraising your portfolio.
27. Valuing Domain Names: This in-depth series of articles from Domaining.org.uk tells you everything you need to know about valuing domain names.
28. How to Negotiate Domain Name Prices: Don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on getting the names you want? Get some bargaining tips in this article from DomainerPro.
29. Domain Name Appraisal Scam: Just like the real world, the Internet is full of people who will try to take advantage of you if you’re not careful. Read this article by Jowe Clark to learn how to avoid one particular domain name scam.
30. What Is My Domain Name Worth?: This blog post from Patrick Burt is for the ultimate newbie to domain appraisal. You’ll find links to several major sites that can help you value your holdings.

For Beginners

Even the best domainers had to start out somewhere. These blog posts can help you get started on the right track and learn a little bit about the industry.

31. One Internet, Many Languages: An Introduction To Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs): Thinking of going global? First read this informative guide on how other alphabets are integrated into domain names.
32. Linkology: How to Link Out: Good links can make a big difference in the success of any site, so learn the basics with this posting from Names@Work.
33. Web Tools 2.0: If you’re just starting out then this posting can help you get started using the best Web 2.0 tools for pretty much anything.
34. Internet Marketing Glossary: Sometimes even seasoned professionals get lost in the sea of marketing jargon out there. Use this handy reference guide to translate any terms you might not know.
35. 10 US Laws Every Domainer Needs to Know: Make sure you’re domaining legally and find out what your legal right are as a domainer in this great article.
36. Tips for Domain Landing Pages: Landing pages can often make or break a website, so get some tips from Domain Name Wire on how to make yours more profitable.
37. 6 Things You (Really) Should Know About Domain Names: Don’t stay in the dark about major domaining issues, check out this posting from dnvw on the facts, realities and future of domaining.
38. Domainer’s Cheat Sheet: This checklist from The Conceptualist can help even experienced buyers out there to make better informed domain name purchases.
39. Making It In The Domain Industry -2007 Edition: Going from nothing to being successful in the domaining business is possible. Just check out this posting to see for yourself and get a little inspiration.
40. How to Start in the Domain Business Without Funding?: Not everyone is lucky enough to have a substantial chunk of start-up cash lying around. Get some ideas on how to make it without this kind of funding in this blog posting.
41. Becoming a Real Domain Business: Give this article a read if you’re ready to make the leap from domain dabbler to domain professional.
42. Reference Guide For New or Experienced Domainers and SEOmainers:This reference guide from Domainer’s Gazette gives links to just about everything from domain auction houses to domain tracking tools.
43. Top 5 Resources Domain Owners Shouldn’t Live Without: Learn the basic tools you’ll need if you want to start domaining as a business or hobby in this article from DotSauce.
44. Top Ten Domain Name Tools for Beginners: Those just starting out will appreciate this list of domaining tools from Amateur Domainer.
45. How to Become a Successful Domain Investor Today: Think it can’t be done? Read this article to get yourself on the right track to investing in domains.
46. Getting Started Domaining: Here you’ll find a helpful post for those who are just starting out, with links to domaining blogs, tips on finding domains to buy, and a list of a few sites that sell domains.

Questionable Practices

While most people run respectable domaining businesses, there will always be some people trying to make a quick buck by engaging in morally questionable practices. Learn how to deal with and protect yourself from these types of domainers.

47. Who Is Monitoring Your Domain Searches?: Is someone watching every domain you search for? It’s entirely possible that they are and are taking your ideas. Learn all about this practice in this article from Daily Domainer.
48. Typosquatting: What’s the Worst That Can Happen?: Think owning the typo domains to popular sites is entirely safe? This article from Domain Name Wire might make you think about being a little more careful with these kinds of investments.
49. Stealing Domain Name Research: Let’s face it, people are lazy, and some of those lazy people might even be stealing your hard work. This article from Domain Tools discusses how some people resort to morally questionable actions to get ahead.
50. Taking issue with Domain Tasting: While it might help to turn a substantial profit, domain tasting is pest to most people in the domaining business. Learn why in this posting from Domain Tools.
51. Domainers are not Cybersquatters: Domainers often unfairly get lumped in with more unsavory online profiteers and this posting takes issue with it.
52. Domain Name Registrants Shine the Light on Cyberbullies: Read firsthand about the battle between those who see all domainers as cybersquatters and those fighting to maintain the good name of domainers.
53. The “C” Word Exposed: Cyberbully vs. Cybersquatter: This blog from Rick Schwartz discusses the different attitudes towards land developers and web developers that’s giving domainers a bad name.
54. Hunting for Typosquatters: Learn how businesses and domainers are searching for typosquatters using CitizenHawk.
55. Domain Tasting is a Despicable Practice: Rick Schwartz really dislikes domain tasting and you’ll understand why after reading this blog posting.
56. Is Spyware Stealing Your Domain Names?: After reading this article you’ll want to double check your computer to make sure you don’t have any spyware infections that could be siphoning your business.
57. Domain Name Front Running: This article discusses advisories from the ICANN on the practice known as front running, where domain name search queries are stolen and purchased out from under the originally interested parties.

Making Money

Domaining is an investment, and one that can pay off substantially with the right domain purchases. These blog posts will help you to learn how to make the most from selling and developing your domain names.

57. Registering Valuable Domains for Resale Profits: Everyone wants to make a profit at the domaining game, so use these tips from the Daily Domainer to increase your success at buying and selling domains.
58. Domain Ads: Twice the Conversion Rate of Search Ads (Case Study): Studies suggest that domaining even with parked content might bring in more buyers, ecommerce or otherwise, than other forms of web entrepreneurship like search ads. Check out this case study to see the results.
59. Why Advertiser ROI Matters More Than CTR: Don’t let the numbers confuse you when it comes to advertising. This short posting tells you what really matters.
60. What’s Language Worth?: Ever curious what some of the most valuable words on the Internet are? Find out with this article from Names@Work.
61. Millionaire Domainers: Need a little inspiration? This blog posting lists all the known domainers who have made it big.
62. Domain Turf Protection: Learn how to protect your domain investments in this helpful article from Domain Name News.
63. Monetizing Domain Names of Former Websites Can Be a Challenge: Buying a previously developed domain name with the purpose of using it for yourself can be a bit of an uphill battle, as this blog from Domainer Pro discusses.
64. Expired Domains, Someone Registered Them for a Reason: If a domain was truly worthless it’s unlikely anyone would have bothered registering it in the first place, so newly expired domains can be a great place to look to make a profit, as this article discusses.
65. 7 Ways to Become a Domain Mogul and Turn a Profit: Beginners to the domaining game will benefit from checking out these tips on different ways to make money buying, selling and developing domain names.
66. How to Make Big Money Investing in Domain Names: This video posted on PodTech will give you some sound advice from the CEO of Moniker on how to make the big bucks with domain names.
67. Hit the Jackpot! How to Find Money Making Domains: Quit searching aimlessly for domain names that can bring in some profits and use these tips from Sitepoint to find domain names that will bring in more than a random choice would.

Management

Staying organized and managing your existing domains is just as important as buying new ones. Take a look at these articles for some helpful advice.

68. When Does Your Domain Name Expire?: Your domain name’s expiration date is no laughing matter. This posting from Domainer’s Gazette can serve as a helpful reminder of the importance of reregistering.
69. How To Transfer a Domain Name : Changing registrars can be a pain, but this article can help you learn the basics for transferring between these two big names.
70. Preparing Yourself For a Domain Transfer: Getting ready to make a switch? Read this posting first to see how you can prepare yourself.
71. Domain Names and Tax Accounting: Even domains aren’t safe from the tax man, so learn what you’ll be responsible for paying on your domain holdings.
72. Best Practices for Corporate Domain Name Management: Managing a business domain account? Learn the ropes of search engine marketing for business-based accounts in this posting from SearchEngineLand.
73. What’s the Difference Between a Domain Name Transfer and a Push?: Learn the difference in terminology with this posting from Domainer Pro.
74. Know Who Manages Your Domain Name: Don’t let your registrar just be a nameless entity. This article discusses the importance of keeping in touch with those managing your domain names.
75. Preventing Domain Expiration: Open source users out there will find this article particularly useful. Rick Moen has written a simple script to keep your domains from ever expiring, saving the more forgetful among us time and a lot of headaches.

Search Engines and Traffic

It’s hard to make money off of a domain you’ve developed if you can’t get anyone to visit. Check out these blog posts for information in increasing your traffic and search engine presence.

76. The Secret Opportunity of Targeted Domain Traffic: The Cold War Against Direct Navigation: Check out this posting from Domain Editorial to learn how you can start using targeted domain traffic to bring more visitors to your site.
77. TRAFFIC: Beyond Pay-Per-Click: Everyone wants to make more money and in this posting you’ll get advice from representatives of several domain companies on how to do just that.
78. Disposable Traffic and The Power of You: Learn about the power of developing your domains in this posting from Frank Schilling.
79. Domain Type Ins Represent More Eyeballs Than American Idol: American Idol is one of the most watched television shows in the US but even more people are trolling around on the Internet on a daily basis. Learn how to take advantage of those potential viewers in this posting.
80. What is Traffic?: Get the basics on site traffic from this posting at Whizzbangs.
81. How To Estimate Universal Search Volume *Without* Using Yahoo or Wordtracker: Simplify your numbers by using this posting to get stats on your domains without using any fancy tools.
82. The Importance of Domain Names for SEO: Learn how domain names can affect your search engine visibility in this posting from DotSauce.
83. Yahoo, Google and My Underlying Philosophy: Frank Schilling shares his philosophy on the big names in search engines and how they affect the business of domaining.

Miscellaneous

Need some general information on domaining? Look no further than these great blog posts on a wide variety of topics.

84. Why Does GoDaddy Kill the Competition?: Ever wonder why GoDaddy has become the go-to for domain buying? Find out in this article from Names@Work.
85. Is Your Domain Portfolio Ordinary?: Having a boring portfolio can happen to anyone. Check out this posting from dnvw to see if there are some improvements you can make.
86. Domain Insurance by Name Intelligence: Insurance on domain names may sound like a joke, but it’s a real product. Find out the details from Domain Name News.
87. Through Thick and Thin: ICANN RFP for Registrar Data Escrow Services: Will you be protected if your registrar goes out of business? Read about new laws that can save your investments if your registrar goes under.
88. A Wiki For Every Domain Name: See how integrating your domains with wikis can help bring in load of visitors.
89. For email, Everyone Needs A Domain, But What If No One Needs email?: Is email the product of a bygone digital era? This posting from the Conceptualist shows how it might be on the way out.
90. Short and Long Term View on Domains: Get the long and short of domains in this guest blog on the Conceptualist and learn where the domaining industry is headed.
91. The Line in the Sand: Rick Schwartz lays out his opinions on domaining in this blog posting.
92. A Content Site for Every Domain Name Powered By Yahoo!: Explore the future of parked and advertising domains in this blog posting.
93. Truth to Power: Need some motivation to get in gear? Then read this blog from Rick Schwartz.
94. The 4 Types of Domainers: Which type of domainer are you? Find out in this posting from Domainer’s Gazette.
95. 25 Must Read Blogs for Domainers: Put these blogs on your daily to-read list or add them to your RSS feed to keep up with the latest news and views on domaining.
96. Who Should Own a Domain Name?: This posting from The Hot Iron discusses the sensitive issue of who domain names should rightfully belong to.
97. Is It Really ALL In The Name?: David Carter thinks so, and you can learn why names are so important to domaining in this post.
98. Expired But Not Gone: Learn all about the process of domain registration and expiration in this post from Daily Domainer.
99. The House Always Wins: Domainer and blogger Drank Schilling explains how domain names can affect PPC arbitrage.
100. Why Warren Buffet Recommends You Invest In Domain Names (and How to Apply His Investment Style to Domaining): Warren Buffet didn’t exactly suggest that you invest in domain names, but take a look at this post from Tropical SEO to see just why you should.

By Christina Laun

Branded by many as the next killer app, Twitter’s popularity has soared within the social networking and blogging communities, even attracting high profile users like presidential candidates and journalists. Twitter lets users create profiles so that friends, family, fans or loyal readers have the ability to see updates on what they’re up to via the web, email, or even their mobile phones. Twitter’s mobility and easy-to-use interface are great features, but there are ways that users can make Twitter an even more useful and interactive tool. Here are more than 50 plug-ins, add-ons and other tools that can help you improve your Twitter experience.

Browser Add-Ons

Make integrating Twitter with your browser simple and easy with these fun browser add-ons for Firefox.

1. TwitBin: This Firefox extension allows you to send and receive messages via Twitter straight from your browser sidebar.
2. TwittyTunes: Users of FoxyTunes will find this to be a cool Firefox extension. It allows you to post your current playlists of music, videos or websites on Twitter with the click of a button, so you can easily share your selections with friends.
3. Shareaholic: Spread around the Internet gems you find using Shareaholic. It allows users to share links and webpages through Twitter using Firefox.
4. Twitter Search Plugin: Expand the functionality of your Firefox search box by adding Twitter. You’ll be able to create tweets just by typing where you’d normally put your search query.
5. Tweetbar: Add Twitter to your Firefox sidebar with this easy-to-use and feature-filled plugin. Just type your tweet into the address bar and post away!
6. TwitterFox: Keep up on your friends’ status with this Firefox extension. It will add a tiny icon that will notify you whenever someone on your friends list adds new content.
7. Lud.icro.us: Ludicrous is another great tool for posting updates to your Twitter directly from your search bar. Just don’t forget to change it back when you want to search.
8. Power Twitter: This addon lives up to its name. It allows you to embed Flickr and YouTube on your Twitter page, see full addresses for tinyurls, and much more.
9. Twippera: Don’t have Firefox? Try using this add-on that allows you to send and receive tweets through Opera.

Plug-Ins and Scripts

Whether you want to send twitter updates from your instant messenger, or integrate your music, these tools can do it all.

10. Twitter Tools: This plugin for WordPress will allow you to fully integrate your blog and your Twitter account. You’ll get archiving, posting and display tools to make Twitter an integral part of your blogging experience.
11. Twitter Badge: Let your blog readers in on your Twitter status with this WordPress badge plugin. Users will be able to see what you’re posting to your Twitter account right from your blog sidebars.
12. TwitThis: TwitThis makes it easy for readers to spread the word about your blog. Simply attach the button to your posts or website and users can click on it to send the URL to their friends.
13. TwitterBox: Fans of Second Life will love this plugin which allows users to receive updates and messages from Twitter while in Second Life.
14. TikiTwit: Designed for Mac users, this plugin will allow you to automatically sync up your Twitter status with your iChat status.
15. Twessenger: Bring your Windows Messenger and Twitter together with this plugin. Your Messenger status will update whenever you change your Twitter status.
16. Twitter Updater: This plugin will automatically send a status update to your Twitter account anytime you make a change or add new posts to your WordPress blog.
17. Twit-Twoo: This simple plugin allows you to update your Twitter status right from your blog.
18. TwitterYM: This plugin integrates your Twitter and Yahoo Instant Messenger accounts, updating your status based on your latest Twitter.

Desktop Apps

Add these applications to help you get the most out of your Twitter experience.

19. Twadget: Keep your Twitters close at hand with this widget for Windows Vista which hangs out in the sidebar so you can send and receive tweets.
20. What’s Up?: This gadget allows you to see the latest updates to your friend’s twitters right on your desktop.
21. Twitteroo: Send out tweets straight from your PC with Twitteroo. You’ll also be able to send out shortened URLs, message other users, browse the Twitter homepage, and much more.
22. Twitteriffic: This tiny client for Mac users makes it possbile to easily publish and read tweets as well as view profiles and timelines.
23. Tweeter: This Java-based Twitter client has a fully customizable user interface to make your experience as personalized as possible.
24. Twinja: This desktop client for PC and Macs allows users to easily send messages, timelines, updates and even follow your favorite users.
25. TwitterPost: TwitterPost is a simple client that allows Twitter users to post new updates, integrate their iTunes into their Twitter and much more.
26. Twitterlicious: Take all the work out of updating Twitter with Twitterlicious. Change your status and easily send and receive messages with this Windows client.
27. TwitBox: This Twitter client for Windows is fully featured. View and submit tweets, see replies and direct messages, delete your own tweets, and manage multiple accounts from one easy window.
28. Triqqr: This slick tool for Windows allows you to publish and read tweets as well as check out other users profiles.

Mobile

Don’t miss out on your Twitter just because you’re out of the house. Use these mobile programs to take it on the road.

29. Jargong: Jargong is more than just a mobile Twitter client, though it’s great for publishing and reading tweets. You can also use it to browse and post on Flickr and user a number of social networking sites.
30. Twapper: Twapper is a mobile Twitter device that allows users to do just about anything Twitter-related on the go. It has special features for users that are 30 Boxes members, too.
31. Twit!: Windows Mobile users can spruce up their cells with this simple app, designed to help you avoid racking up those expensive SMS charges.
32. TinyTwitter: Bring your Twitter with you using this mobile program. Designed to work with any Java supported device, including BlackBerries, it allows you stay connected without being bothered every time a friend’s update comes through.
33. Tweeter: This program goes by the same name as another, but is designed especially to work on cell phones and help you avoid text messages charges when Twittering away from home.
34. iTweet: Take your Twittering to your iPhone with this slick mobile app designed to work on Safari, offering features designed especially for mobile browsing.
35. WildSets: WildSets is a fully functional Twitter client with one important enhancement: it’s made just for your phone, making it easy for you to take your Twitter addiction with you anywhere.
36. TreoTwit: This program is designed to make using Twitter easy from your Treo.
37. TwitterBerry: BlackBerries aren’t just for work, you can also use TwitterBerry to keep your friends up to date with Twitter updates and messages as well.

Guides and How-To’s

Heard a lot about Twitter but not sure how to get started using it? Check out these guides to learn the basics.

38. Newbie’s Guide to Twitter: Get in the know about Twitter with this extensive guide for newbies from WebWare.
39. Twitter Guide: This multi-part series will take you through everything you need to know about how and why to use Twitter.
40. Your Guide to Microblogging: Learn to embrace the trend of microblogging by using your Twitter account. Get all the details in this blog from PBS.
41. Twitteroid’s Guide to Mastering Twitter: Don’t just use Twitter, learn to master it. Find all the information you’ll need in this guide from Twitteroid.
42. The 12-Minute Definitive Guide to Twitter: Even if you don’t have a lot of time to spare, you can learn all about Twitter with this short and straight to the point guide to learning everything you ever wanted to know about the program.
43. Hacking Twitter for Fun and Profit: If you’re not sure just what Twitter is useful for, then check out this article from Daily Wireless. It gives suggestions ranging from running a presidential campaign to keeping up with group projects.

Extras

These are some additional tools to further fuel your Twitter addiction.

44. Twitter Weather: Find out what to wear in the morning or if you should bring your umbrella to work directly from your Twitter with this useful bot.
45. Twitter Vision: This web app shows a real-time visual display of the Twitter stream as users from all over the world create updates.
46. AutoTwit: If you know you’re going to be away and won’t be able to update your status, set up automatic updates through the AutoTwit program.
47. Friend or Follower: See who is your Twitter friend and who is just really interested in what you’re doing with this easy-to-use Web application.
48. GeoTwitter: This simple web app uses Google Maps and information from Twitter to show where in the world the last posts on Twitter have been coming from.
49. TwitterFeed: Feed your blog directly into your Twitter account with this simple web-based tool.
50. TwitterBuzz: Twitter Buzz compiles a list of all the sites people are linking to on Twitter so you can keep on top of the biggest stories or coolest websites easily.
51. TwitterSearch: This tool allows you to search through all Twitter users and postings to find the information or person you’re looking for.
52. TwitterMap: TwitterMap will show you what updates are being posted from a specific geographic area. Just enter your information and find out how many people are Twittering in your neighborhood.
53. Twitterverse: Keep up with everything that’s being posted on Twitter with this site. Simply click on a keyword to view all posts that contain that word.
54. TwitterNotes: This helpful tool lets you share public or private notes via Twitter.

By Christina Laun

Building a successful business, online or off, takes some elbow grease. You can, however, get a leg up on the competition by emphasizing one area of your business above all others: customer service. Make your customers happy and they’ll be loyal visitors to your site. Here are 50 things you can do to help make sure your customers have the best ecommerce experience possible.

1. Make communication easy. Don’t make your customers work to figure out how to contact you if they have a problem or concern, it will make them think you don’t care about what they have to say. List your email, fax, and phone numbers in places where shoppers will be sure to see them, or you can even dedicate a whole page to contact information.
2. Create a rating system. One thing many online businesses forget about is getting follow-up from customers. If your budget allows, give customers a way to rate their purchases and write reviews for other potential customers. Hearing that other customers liked a product is often enough assurance for an undecided buyer to add the item to their shopping cart. Remember, even negative feedback can help you if you use it to improve your products.
3. Create clear policies. You can avoid future headaches by clearly stating your company’s policies on purchases, returns, privacy and anything else that might concern your customers. This way, if there is a problem later, there won’t be any question about what the rules are. This protects both you and your customers.
4. Maintain a professional but caring attitude. You want to be professional when dealing with your customers, but not so much that you seem detached. Make sure your customers feel like you genuinely care about their problems and concerns.
5. Always send confirmation emails. When a customer places an order with you, always let them know that you’ve received their order and that you’re processing it. Once you’re ready to ship it, send them an email to give them a heads up, so that they know the status of their purchase at all times. That way, there will be no surprises and customers will feel confident in purchasing from you.
6. Set up a live chat. One way to provide easily accessible customer service is by setting up a live chat program on your site. This way, customers can ask questions and find out about their purchases without having to take the time to call or write.
7. Track orders carefully. Before you launch your ecommerce site, make sure you have a reliable way of tracking your orders from your storeroom to your customers’ doors. If your products are good, customers will be eagerly awaiting their arrival, and will want a way to find out when they’ll arrive, so be you’re able to pass on tracking info.
8. Know your products inside and out. If you’re selling something, make sure you know as much as you can about it, or know how to direct customers to someone who does. That way, when customers call, you’ll be able to answer questions quickly and easily.
9. Always provide what you promise. If you promise customers something, whether it’s a fast delivery, or a replacement item, make sure you stick to your commitment. Nothing says poor customer service like backing out on promises, so don’t make promises you aren’t sure you can keep.
10. Make it easy to buy. One reason people shop on the Internet is because it’s easier and simpler than driving to a regular store and waiting in line. So, if you want to keep customers shopping on your site, you need to make it as easy as possible. Keep shopping down to as few clicks as possible and don’t force customers to fill out endless forms just to order. Less time spent checking out means less time for customers to change their minds.
11. Keep customers in the loop. A big part of creating customer confidence is always letting customers know what’s happening, even if there is going to be a delay. Customers should never have to wonder about the status of their order, so send them emails, give them a call, and provide easy options if there is ever something out of ordinary happening with their order.
12. Trust your customers. While there are some people who will use any opportunity to milk everything they can from a company, most people are reluctant to complain. So trust your customers when they say they have a problem. Most of the time they will be telling the truth and you’ll make a loyal shopper out of them by helping to solve their problem.
13. Provide as much information as possible. Let your customers make educated purchases by providing as much information on what you’re selling as possible. Include size, colors, weight and any features the item comes with to allow customers to know exactly what they’re getting when they buy something from your site.
14. Have an FAQ section. Chances are good that there will be some common questions that your customers will need help with. Rather than waste time replying to these kinds of questions individually, create a special page for FAQs so your customers can find easy answers right away.
15. Analyze your usability. Before you ever launch your ecommerce site, make sure that you’ve set it up to be as easy to use as possible. Ask the least computer savvy person you know to try out the site and see where you can improve–you might save yourself some lost sales later on.
16. Ensure security of personal information. One of the fears many people have when ordering online is that their personal information won’t be secure when they place an order. Calm their fears by ensuring that your site is secure and let customers know what you’ve done to protect their private information.
17. Add a few incentives. One way to bring in more customers is to create incentive programs. This can be anything from offering free shipping on certain items to giving discounts for referrals. Anything that can set you apart from your competitors will be to your advantage.
18. Follow up with customers. Don’t just let a customer fall by the wayside once an order is complete. Follow up with customers to see how they felt about their experience and make sure that problems have been resolved satisfactorily.
19. Develop email templates. This doesn’t mean that your emails shouldn’t be personalized, but templates can help you to make sure that all your customers are getting essential information and the same level of service. Create basic templates that will allow you to add in individual responses to each customer as you need to.
20. Create a system to respond to emails. Unless you have a part of your business dedicated solely to customer service, you’re going to have to figure out how to handle the emails that you get so your customers can get timely responses to their questions and orders. Create set times to check your email, and answer easier questions first rather than those that might require you to do some research, so that no one is ever left waiting too long for a response.
21. Make sure employees are well-trained. If you have a customer service support staff, make sure they are thoroughly trained and knowledgeable about your business and what you’re selling. Remember that these people might be the only direct interaction customers have with your company, so make sure it’s a positive experience for everyone involved. The more they know, the more helpful they can be for customers.
22. Go the extra mile. Make your business stand apart by being willing to go farther to make a customer happy. It may cost you up front, but it can pay off in the long run with repeat business and evangelical customers.
23. End on a high note. When a customer calls you with a problem or concern, make sure the call doesn’t end on a negative tone. Instead of ending your call or email with an apology, try putting a positive spin on things by telling the customer what you’re doing right now to solve their problem and that they can look forward to a happy resolution.
24. Write emails carefully. Emails make it very difficult to feel the tone and meaning behind even the simplest of statements, which can be very tricky when trying to diffuse a situation with a customer. When writing emails, it’s best to stick with a polite tone so that there is little room for misinterpretation of what you mean to say.
25. Give customers a choice of solutions. Sometimes what you think the customer wants as a resolution to a problem isn’t what they had in mind at all. Give customers options when it comes to making them happy so that they feel like you really care about serving their needs and resolving the issue. When in doubt, just ask–it’s the easiest way to find out what the best solution would be.
26. Respond to emails and calls as quickly as possible. Don’t leave customers hanging. Answer inquiries as fast as time permits. Who knows, if you’re especially speedy, you may impress customers enough to bring them back.
27. Know how to apologize. Sometimes the best remedy to a problem is the simplest one. Apologize to customers for any errors on the part of your company. It’s a simple thing to do and customers will appreciate it.
28. Learn how to listen well. If you really want to find out what will make your customers happy, then sometimes you just need to be quiet and really listen to what they’re telling you. Pay attention to tone of voice, word choice and most importantly, how they feel about their experience.
29. Don’t overcompensate. While it’s fine to give unhappy customers a little something extra to make sure they go away satisfied, don’t overdo it. While you may have the best intentions, you’ll end up looking unprofessional.
30. Remember small touches. It’s the small things that customers will remember when buying from you, and that will set you apart from the sea of other online retailers. Offer free gift wrap or send out handwritten thank yous to those who make large purchases.
31. Take responsibility. Everyone goofs sometimes, so take responsibility for any errors made by your company, even if they weren’t directly your fault. Passing blame off on someone else won’t solve the customer’s problem, so take charge yourself and make things right.
32. Use names. With so much automated business done on the net these days, customers can end up feeling like little more than a number and a dollar sign to businesses. Make their experiences more personalized by referring to each customer by his or her name. Customers will feel more appreciated and you’ll get to know who you’re selling to a little better.
33. Don’t pitch to unhappy customers. Some business guides will tell you that you should use every opportunity to upsell customers, but try putting yourself in your customers’ shoes. If you had a negative experience with a purchase, wouldn’t you be a little irritated if the same company tried to sell you something else while fixing your problem? Save the sales pitch and concentrate on keeping your customers happy, not on making a few extra bucks.
34. Make customers feel important. If you want to keep customers coming back, make sure they feel like they really matter to you and that their orders, no matter how small, are important. Listen to what they have to say and be sincere in your appreciation of their business.
35. Remember the importance of saying yes. You don’t have to green light every request your customers make of you, but so long as it’s within reason, saying yes to customer requests can make a big difference in how they see you and your business.
36. Be honest. Never try to lie to your customers, even if you feel like you’re protecting your reputation. Honestly really is the best policy, so if you’ve made a mistake, be honest. Customers will appreciate the gesture and might even feel that you’re a more trustworthy business because of it.
37. Find the right people. Some people just love helping out others and excel at customer service work. Make sure you’re hiring employees that will enjoy working with your customers and making their experience as good as possible.
38. Know your customers. It’s hard to provide good customer service if you don’t know who you’re dealing with. Learn who you’re selling your products to, both on a general and specific level. The better you know your customers, the better you’ll be at meeting their needs.
39. Try to exceed expectations. Keep your customers pleasantly surprised by exceeding their expectations when it comes to customer service. Sometimes it can be as simple as making sure packages arrive early or going out of your way to get a special order, but customers will remember and come back for more if you offer great service.
40. Have a “help” link prominently displayed. Don’t make customers hunt around if they need assistance. That’s the quickest way to send them to a competitor’s site that’s easier to navigate. Make sure you always have a help button that customers can click on and get help with any step of their ordering process.
41. Know when a customer needs to be given to the competition. As hard as it might be to come to terms with, there are times when your business simply isn’t the best solution for a customer. While sending them away might cost you a sale, it also saves you from having a dissatisfied customer.
42. Use a good hosting service. How does your web host influence customer service? By keeping your site reliable and fast loading, that’s how. You can’t make sales if your site won’t load, so make sure that you go with a host that can handle the traffic coming to your site.
43. Provide multiple payment options. Just because a payment method is more convenient for you doesn’t mean the same will be true for potential customers. Don’t lose sales because you only provide customers with one way to pay.
44. Don’t forget the images. Make sure your customers know what it is they are buying. Put images on your site of your products from every angle in every color so customers won’t be surprised when their purchase arrives.
45. Use top of the line shopping cart software. Your shopping cart feature is the bread and butter of your ecommerce site, so don’t get some middle of the road product. Purchase a solution that will be easy and reliable for customers to use, and that has a great support team for you.
46. Establish credibility. It’s hard for many people, especially those still getting used to buying things online, to trust a solely online business. So do everything you can to let customers know all about your business. Provide addresses, photos, and even customer testimonials to help build the trust of your customer base.
47. Treat problems as opportunities. You can help yourself provide better customer service by simply changing your attitude. Don’t view customer complaints as negatives, view them as a chance to prove to your customers what a great business you’re running.
48. Don’t script your phone calls. If you’re going to offer phone support, don’t make it a scripted affair. It annoys customers and makes them feel like they aren’t getting answers for their specific problem. Have some standard operating procedures on hand for common problems, but don’t script out entire conversations.
49. Never argue with customers. Customers may not always be right, but as far as your business is concerned, they are. Don’t waste time and energy arguing with customers, just concentrate on trying to fix whatever it is they’re dissatisfied about.
50. Focus on making customers, not sales. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers game, especially if you’re just starting out, but the long term strategy for your business should be more about building customer relationships than making individual sales. Remember, it takes a lot more time and energy to attract new customers than it does to keep existing ones. Happy customers will be your best source of business.

Providing great customer service should be an essential part of your business, not just an added benefit. Many ecommerce sites still haven’t learned this lesson, so you’ll be ahead of the game if you start using these tips to provide your customers with the best experience possible.

By Laura Milligan

Social media and social networking sites aren’t just about making new friends. These concepts have introduced a whole new way of communicating and managing information with the help of Web-based communities, software and tools to build business contacts, and design marketing and branding strategies. These tools help users to share information in innovative and creative ways. This list of the top 100 social media and social networking blogs (in no particular order) are full of tips, news, and analyses about today’s social media outlets.

Most Popular: Social Media

These sought-after sites discuss all aspects of social media, including networking, reference sites, and news.

1. Social Media: Blogger JD Lasica is a leading expert on social media. Read analyses of new blogs and sites, and discover what’s new in the social media industry.
2. SMogger Social Media Blog: SMogger addresses the “ethical use of social media for business and regular folks.” Postergirl blogs about everything from collaborative tools and software to social networking to spam to You Tube. Be sure to check out this comprehensive blog.
3. Leverage Social Media: Social media consultant Rod Amis discusses teen social networking, social media news and trends, and much more.
4. AIM Social Media Blog: Find out about the latest updates and news coming from the AIM world, as well as articles that analyze AIM’s presence in the social media industry.
5. The Social Media Marketing Blog: Discover the innovative ways marketing gurus are using social media networks to their advantage.
6. Social Media Club: Social Media Club is the go-to blog for anyone interested in developing or learning about social media standards, trends, and communities.
7. Social Media Release: Social Media Release is a smaller, more specialized blog affiliated with Social Media Club. Read about hRelease and other practices and applications.
8. Viper Chill: This popular blog explores different business, website, and search engine optimization tricks achieved by using social media practices.
9. Groundswell: This blog follows the progress, release, and themes of Groundswell, a book about the “spontaneous movement of people connecting, using online tools, taking charge of their own experience, and getting what they need- information, support, ideas, products, and bargaining power- from each other.”
10. Social Media Buzz: Catch up on social media news and updates at Social Media Buzz.

Most Popular: Social Networking

Learn about the newest communities and applications from these blogs that deal specifically with social networking.

11. Mashable: Mashable is THE resource for social networking news and connections. Browse member profiles check out popular YouTube videos, connect with other social networking sites through The Grid.
12. The Social Networking Weblog: Get tips and tools for polishing up your blog or podcast, check out other networking blogs in the site’s vault, or enter the kids and teens section for security information, blogging trends, and more.
13. Venture Blog: Read about general social networking news and trends, including blogging and Internet media, at the Venture Blog.
14. Blogster.com: Join the Blogster networking community to set up your own blog, read other bloggers’ daily posts, and catch up on social networking news, trends, and analyses.
15. SociableBlog.com: This blog covers everything you need to know about social networking including connecting to Facebook, MySpace, You Tube, and other reader-powered communities.
16. Social Networking: This site features a “meta-search database about social networks.” Browse articles to learn how to set up your own accounts at popular sites like Facebook and FriendFinder, or check out the latest news among various networking communities.
17. Social Networking: MediaBlends.net: Discuss the benefits of online communities and collaboration at Social Networking.
18. Network Weaving: This blog includes posts about “the creation of robust & vibrant economic and community networks.” Consistent, frequent articles make it a daily must-read.
19. Alianzo Social Networking Blog: The Alianzo Networks company sponsors this blog, which covers all aspects of the social networking industry. Read about news, upcoming conferences, and online collaboration tools and applications here.
20. Rotorblog.com: Recent articles include “Finally, a True Digg Killer?” and “Keep a Diary of Your Digital Life.” Fun how-to guides and newsworthy items are posted everyday.

Web 2.0

The newest trends in social media and Web-based communities are often categorized as belonging to the Web 2.0 generation. Check out these blogs for Web 2.0-specific issues and ideas.

21. Dion Hinchcliffe’s Web 2.0 Blog: This Weblog from Social Computing Magazine covers all the Web 2.0 basics.
22. The Web 2.0 Weblog: Topics include periodic featured blogs from Weblogs, Inc. and plenty of news and views from the online networking industry.
23. Read/Write Web: Bloggers analyze all the issues coming from the Web 2.0 world. Don’t miss the weekly wrapup to catch up on the most important posts each week.
24. TechCrunch: Online users post and edit on the forum at TechCrunch, “a weblog dedicated to obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies.”
25. The Next Net: The Next Net addresses all kinds of technology and Internet issues, including Web 2.0 and online collaboration.
26. Texas Startup Blog: Blogger Alexander Muse posts articles about social media and Web 2.0 from an entrepreneur’s point of view.
27. Profy: Internet and Web 2.0 enthusiasts edit the articles on Profy, where Web 2.0 is considered their “vision of the perfect Web.”
28. twopointouch: Journalist Ian Delaney’s blog reports on social networks, Web 2.0 collaboration issues, online marketing strategies, and more.
29. Web 2.0 Weblog: Read analytical posts about Web 2.0 development in Europe, China, and the U.S.
30. The Enterprise Web 2.0 Blog: Web 2.0 software pros author this blog, which tackles topics like Ajax, Enterprise 2.0, and Web services.
31. Sr-ultimate.com: Learn how to sign up for and implement Web 2.0 communities and software apps with the help of this blog. Readers will also find helpful information for making the most of Google apps, Ajax resources, and Wordpress.
32. Enterprise Web 2.0: This blog discusses how social media and the second-generation Web community can benefit the competitiveness of the business world.
33. Original Signal Web 2.0 Frontpage: This resource finds the best Web 2.0-related articles on the Internet and organizes them for readers on this site.
34. Everything 2.0: Everything 2.0 researches social media and Web 2.0 trends and posts helpful reviews of the latest products and downloads.
35. Web 2.0 Workgroup: Web 2.0 Workgroup is an excellent resource for Web 2.0 fanatics. Link up with other sites and blogs for different views on Web 2.0 news and information.

Investor Analysis

The following blogs will help you find information and analyses about investor interest in social networking sites.

36. Social Media/Social Networking: Blogger Lisa Whelan explores the power of investments through sites like Facebook, Google, and others.
37. Qumana Investor Blog: This investor blog discusses how social media, Internet marketing, and online collaboration can equal big profits in the business world.
38. Blog Herald: This
    popular bloggers’ resource often covers social media and networking issues
    in articles like “What is the Return on Your Investment in Social Media?”
39. NevilleHobson.com: This blog is “the place at the intersection of business, communication and technology.” Watch out for frequent posts about social media, Internet networking, and Web 2.0.
40. Collective Intellect: The Collective Intellect blog provides news and advice for doing business through New Media, sponsorship of discussion and message boards, blogging, and other social media practices.
41. The WebMarketCentral Blog: Author Tom Pick explains the benefits of investing in social networking communities, whether you’re connecting with an established site or launching your own.
42. NetSquared: NetSquared is devoted to “remixing the Web for social change.” Read up on business deals, investor relations, and other need-to-know industry issues.
43. B.L. Ochman’s Weblog: This blog covers social media trends, marketing strategies, and various investor news and analysis. Popular posts include “What Could Your Company Do With a Blog?” and “Jupiter Media’s Blogs Get Publicity in Investor’s Business Daily.”
44. Leveraging Ideas: This blog concentrates on social media and company start up campaigns, at times touching on investor interests and venture capital.
45. Beth’s Blog: This blog focuses on how nonprofit organizations can take advantage of social media tools and principles to maximize and manage donor contacts, investment plans, and more.

Developer Blogs

For direct information and how-to guides offering up advice on social media tools and software applications, turn to the professionals. These developer blogs are written by the industry pros themselves.

46. The Social Software Weblog: Download the newest social media tools and applications at The Social Software Weblog.
47. Forty: Forty’s company website also posts articles that offer up great tips for designing and organizing websites, blogs, and message boards.
48. Econ SM Conference: As the official blog and site for the Econ SM Conference, this site is full of inside information about developing and implementing the newest social media technologies.
49. talking web X.0: This Internet blog is a must-read for social media developers. Articles review and cover the latest tools, software, and networking communities on the Web.
50. Dexterity Media Blog: Social media insiders discuss the future of online collaboration software, networking communities, and more.
51. Scobleizer: Blogger and former Microsoft “technical evangelist” Robert Scoble dissects social media concepts for the average reader.
52. A Social Interaction Design Blog: Social interaction designer and consultant Adrian Chan shares his expertise with readers to inform them of important communication issues and social media trends.
53. Many-to-Many: Many-to-Many is a “group weblog on social software” that addresses new social media and networking communities, tools, and resources. Recent posts include “The internet’s output is data, but its product is freedom” and “History of social network sites (a work-in-progress).”
54. Web Strategy by Jeremiah: Catch up on the most effective social media software at Web strategist Jeremiah Owyang’s informative blog.
55. Paul Gillin’s Blog: Media consultant Paul Gillin explores in his blog “how social media and open computing are changing the business world.” Readers gain access to analytical posts about social media developments and software updates regularly.

Industry News

These news blogs deliver all the Internet and social media-related headlines that will keep you in the know.

56. SMEDIA: Get all the news, views, and information about social media from this website that critiques the latest headlines.
57. Pluck: The social media company Pluck regularly posts news-worthy articles about social media trends, software developments, and popular online communities.
58. ipressroom: ipressroom’s Internet PR News Blog hosts “discussions on media, marketing and public relations.” Read posts and interviews with media experts, or follow the reference articles for more in-depth coverage of industry news.
59. The Buzz Bin: Communications junkies will love this blog for its news posts about social media and everything else buzz-worthy.
60. PR Blogger: Learn about social media developments as they relate to the public relations industry, including press release info., YouTube news and more.
61. New Persuasion: The New Persuasion blog reports on all kinds of communications and media news. Popular items include “The Ten PR Commandments” and “Viral Web Marketing Tips.”
62. Trafcom News: This blog divulges “what’s new in print, new media and face-to-face communications,” including social media and social networking. Readers can also get great tips on podcasting, blogging, and using technology.
63. ComTech News: ComTech News is designed to help readers access and understand the latest news in communications and technology. Find posts about Web 2.0, social networking, and online advertising.
64. Digital Media Wire: The team at Digital Media Wire is devoted to “connecting people and knowledge.” Read news coming from the Internet, video, mobile, and marketing worlds.
65. Social Networking News: Visit this site frequently to discover the newest online communities and tools.

Social Media and Marketing

Social media is an increasingly effective and popular marketing strategies among large and small businesses. These blogs provide tips for developing your own marketing plans.

66. Pronet Advertising: Neil Patel’s blog boasts informative, fun-to-read posts about about the various marketing strategies that can be implemented through social media, blogging, and search engine optimization.
67. Personal Branding Blog: Discover the ways in which social media can give your company’s PR and marketing strategies a real boost.
68. PR Squared: Learn how to write a press release for social media outlets and design PR pitches for media beyond print, radio and TV.
69. Todd And Marketing: Browse categories like design, blogging, marketing, and social marketing to develop an all-inclusive marketing strategy based on the principles of social media.
70. Techipedia: This blog is run by Tamar Weinberg, an SEO and social media marketing expert. It covers “social media, internet marketing, and personal/biz development from a tech geek at heart”.
71. Britopian: Find articles about online marketing, search engine optimization, blogging, community management, and software on this easy-to-read social media blog.
72. Social Marketing Journal: The Social Marketing Journal sponsors discussions about social marketing and social networking, through outlets like Facebook, Flickr, or LinkedIn. This site is also a good resource for companies learning how to manage their message boards and social software.
73. The Social Media Experience: This colorful site addresses news and trends in the social media world, especially as they relate to marketing and the business world. Recent posts include “Context Marketing: What is Contextual Feed Reader Optimization?” and “Craigslist Affiliate Marketing: Get Creative with Squidoo.”
74. Social Media Marketing 2.0: This blog is the perfect educational tool for those wanting to learn how to “incorporate new media into [their] marketing and advertising campaigns.”
75. Social Marketing: Read articles explaining the benefits of using YouTube and other socially-driven sites as a part of your company’s marketing plan.
76. Influential Marketing Blog: This blog walks readers through clever ways to maximize social media practices in order to achieve higher profits and more effective product branding methods.

Social Media and Google

Internet powerhouse Google has lots of social media tools and programs. This list will direct you to blogs that concentrate on Google’s role in the newest social media explosion.

77. Data Mining: Read about the different apps that Google sponsors in conjunction with social media and social networking concepts.
78. Search Engine Land: This blog explores Google’s strong presence in the social media and networking industry, including marketing, YouTube, and of course, search engines.
79. Searchviews: This blog contains articles on a wide variety of social media and search marketing topics, including an entire section reserved for Google-related issues.
80. Official Google Blog: For up-to-the-minute updates directly from the source, check out the official Google blog to find out their next move.
81. iMedia Connection: Visit this site to discover why Google has remained the number one search engine on the Web.

Miscellaneous

82. Ross Mayfield’s Weblog: Socialtext CEO Ross Mayfield addresses industry issues like ethics, mergers, and new communities.
83. International Conference on Weblogs and Media: The official site for this popular conference offers information about this year’s speakers, committees, sponsors, and more.
84. Bruce Clay: Consultant Bruce Clay is the author of this blog, which covers all aspects of social media and search engine optimization. Get information about the industry’s choice tools and software, ethics guidelines, and SEO analyses.
85. Broadstuff: Broadstuff takes a look at everything from Web 2.0 to software to Facebook to mobile media consultancy.
86. Prospero Social Media Blog: Social media professionals take a look at the issues related to online communities, social networking, Web 2.0, blogs, and message boards.
87. Social Media Optimization: Discover exactly why social media is becoming more and more necessary for successful social and professional organizations.
88. Blogs and Social Media Forum 2: This online community is full of articles, videos, and other resources about the social media industry.
89. Chris Pirillo: Discover the many facets of social media: social networking, social computing, and others.
90. Hyku: Social media consultant Josh Hallett responds to the emerging questions and issues surrounding the social media explosion.
91. The Jeff Pulver Blog: Read Jeff Pulver’s “notes, comments, and observations” about the changing landscape of business, media and social communications.
92. Center for Social Media: This blog, from the School of Communications at American University, publishes articles about new media, social media, and the future of communication as it relates to technology.
93. Resonance Partnership Blog: Marketing and branding consultant Marianne Richmond explores the ins and outs of social media and “word of mouth marketing” in her well-organized blog.
94. The Network Garden: Mark Sigal explains the concepts and tools behind social media. Recent titles include “On Intellectual Honesty…” and “vSocial Launches Twiddeo (Twitter + Video).”
95. Buzz Networker: Buzz Networker is designed to teach readers “how to use social networking to create brand recognition for your business, your product, or yourself.” Popular categories include reviews, podcasts, Spanish language sites, and networking tools.
96. eLearning Technology: This blog teaches readers how to use the newest technology tools, including bookmarking, social networking software, and wikis.
97. Internet Time Blog: This blogger addresses everything from knowledge management to social psychology to design principles, and other topics related to social network analysis.
98. Support Blogging!: Read about new ways to make the most of your blog through beefing up your list of social contacts and friends.
99. I Hate Livejournal: Read about this blogger’s aversion to the popular social networking site LiveJournal.
100. Social Networking Portal: This site is great for catching up on industry news, trends, tools, and applications.

By Laura Milligan

If you’re a blogger, then you’re probably all too familiar with spammers trying to use your website as free advertising for their own sites or services. Stop comment spam once and for all with the help of these free tools and resources.

Tools for Wordpress Blogs

Below is a list of tools and plugins that will help prevent spam from overwhelming your Wordpress blog.

1. Spam Karma 2.3: Spam Karma 2 works on Wordpress blogs and is designed to block spammers from corrupting your site without hindering your loyal readers’ ability to comment.
2. Math Comment Protection: This Wordpress plugin asks readers to solve a simple math problem before commenting. Why does this work? Only humans can answer these problems — spam robots cannot.
3. Wordpress Referrer Bouncer: This plugin works on Wordpress-sponsored blogs. The tool works by “bounc[ing] back referrer spam attempts” so that they never reach you.
4. Simple Trackback Validation plugin: Especially designed for Wordpress blogs, this spam solution tests incoming trackbacks to make sure the website is coming from a valid source.
5. Rice University Trackback Plugin: This plugin, designed by Rice University students, is the original trackback validator that the above listing is based on.
6. Enhanced Wordpress Contact Form Plugin: This plugin adds a referring page on your website, information for the original referrer, spam protection and more.
7. Protect Web Form: Design your own Captcha form for readers to decipher before they comment.
8. Challenge: Download and custom design Challenge to suit your website. Your readers are “thrown” a challenge before they are allowed to comment.
9. Referrer Karma: This valuable tool “prevents malicious bots from accessing your pages, flooding your logs and possibly draining your server�s bandwidth.”
10. Worst Offenders: Use Worst Offenders to supplement spam identification tools, making “the process of spotting false positives far easier.”
11. Spam Force Field: Dougal Campbell’s anti-spam tool denies all pineappleproxy requests, as well as any recognized malicious key words or addresses.
12. Comment Timeout: After a post has appeared on your site for a certain amount of time, this tool times out the comment box. Users will be notified before the discussions are closed, and long-term, ongoing discussions remain open so that your readers aren’t dissuaded from participating.

Free Software

Download these software programs for free protection against spam.

13. Akismet: Akismet is a “collaborative effort to make comment and trackback spam a non-issue and restore innocence to blogging.” One of the leading anti-spam programs on the Internet, Akismet is free for personal use.
14. Bad Behavior: Bad Behavior is a comprehensive software program that analyzes spammers’ “actual HTTP requests and comparing them to profiles from known spambots.” While it is technically free, donations are appreciated.
15. PHPrbl: This free download gets rid of referrer spam, which can take over your website at frightening speeds.
16. Pivot-Blacklist: If you use the Web hosting service Pivot to support your blog, check out Pivot-Blacklist, “the one and only anti-spam solution for Pivot.”
17. Spammer Tar Pit: Eliminate spam with the Spammer Tar Pit. Visitors whose IP addresses match the spam words in your Comment Moderation setting will be denied access.
18. Spam Lookup: If you maintain a Movable Type blog, use SpamLookup to eliminate spam from your site.
19. Apache: This guide explains how to install and use Apache to fight blog spam.
20. Comment Spam Quick Fix: If you use a Movable Type blog, try this straightforward spam fighter that will protect your blog from spam bots.

More Resources

21. Prevent Spam the Google Way: Google has come up with a system that punishes spammers who post their sites on blogs in an effort “to raise their own websites’ search engine rankings.” Google now recognizes the rel=”nofollow” attribute as uniquely spam-related, and those sites don’t receive credit when Google ranks sites.
22. Bye Bye Referrer Spammers: Check out this guide to ridding your blog of annoying referrer spammers.
23. Techniques for Stopping Blog Spam: This list offers a lot of great advice for stopping spam such as downloading software solutions or installing a Captcha.
24. Edit/Delete Comment Notification: Another Movable Type spam solution, this tool allows bloggers to edit and delete offensive comments more easily.
25. Fighting Spam with CSS: Follow this guide to setting up a spam-proof form on your website.
26. Comment Queue Script/MT Hack: Never let another spam message appear on your MT blog again. This tool allows bloggers to preview blogs before they’re posted.
27. The Solution to Blog Spamming: Threadwatch.org considers the pros and cons of popular anti-spam techniques used by bloggers, like Blacklists, Captchas and pre-moderation.
28. Spam Unit: Add this blog to your favorites to read reviews of anti-spam tools, catch up on the latest anti-spam laws and news and to discover the top ten spammers that pose a threat to the Web world.
29. Tips and Help for Regular Users: This list organizes spam fighting techniques for Windows, Mac, and Linux users. Readers will also find helpful information for downloading anti-spam tools and software.
30. Terry Zink’s Anti-Spam Blog: Microsoft program manager Terry Zink discusses spam products, news, and economics in his informative posts.
31. Ryan Pitylak Anti-Spam Activist: This blog teaches readers how to combat spam. Written from a spammer’s point of view, visitors get an inside look at how spammers think.
32. MSExchange: This site is full of resources for learning about anti-spam techniques and software, blogging and more.

Articles

Check out these articles for more tips and ideas for blocking comment spam.

33. How to Stop Blog Spammers: Moxie Drive Expressions provides a brief overview of why bloggers should continue to welcome feedback and how they can stop spammers from corrupting comment boxes.
34. 5 Quick and Easy Ways to Stop Blog Spam Before It Hits Your Blog: This uber-popular article gives bloggers detailed directions for blocking comment spam before it overwhelms your site.
35. Trackback Spam Eliminated: This article from the blog The Net is Dead explains how to eliminate trackback spam once and for all.
36. The Spam Diaries: Approaches to Fighting Blog Spam: This article proposes different ideas for beating comment spam.
37. What Will Stop Comment Spam?: This informative article considers the effects of popular tools and resources bloggers and Web hosters turn to in order to stop blog spam.
38. Comments on Comment Spam: Lorelle on Wordpress considers comment spam “the single most despicable and destructive force on the Internet today.”
39. Comment Spam: The website Six Apart offers lots of tips and ideas for fighting comment spammers, including asking readers to register before they comment and checking all comments before posting them on your site.
40. The Blog Tool That Has Saved Me Months of Work: This review of the anti-spam tool Akismet, which caught 2 million spam messages on the author’s blog in just 18 months.
41. Blog Comment Spam on the Rise: Blogger Jeremy Zawodny agonizes over different anti-spam techniques. Join the discussion and share tips with other readers.
42. Tempted by Blogs, Spam Becomes “Splog”: This article discusses the outbreak of splogs.
43. How to Stop Comment Spam on Your Blog: The Blog Coach shares secrets for keeping pesky comment spam at bay.
44. How To: Stop Blog Spam Forever: Check out these tips from the TechnoBeta Blog, and you can learn how to combat comment spam, contact form spam and trackback spam.
45. Stopping Blog Spam: Blogger Jim Boykin shares tips for stopping blog spammers, from the “industrial turn and burn” offenders to those annoying backlinkers.
46. Tips to Stop Blog Comment Spam on Wordpress Blogs: Learn how to update your Comment Moderation and Blacklist folders, discover new anti-spamming tools, and read about general anti-spamming techniques in this helpful post.

By Jessica Hupp

Everyone loves to blog: CEOs, Web geeks, fashionistas, and even gardening grandmas. Blogging provides an outlet for those wanting to promote their businesses, publicize their political, social, or professional analyses, or to just meet other people like themsleves who share similar interests and lifestyles. But what good is your blog if no one wants to read it? To help attract more readers to your blog, we’ve generated a list of 36 tips and resources for you to implement in order to ensure maximum usability. If your blog is easy and fun to visit, you’ll notice more readers flocking to your site.

Links and Web Addresses

Make sure your links are easy to follow adn always connect visitors with the appropriate pages.

1. Navigation Bar: Both new and old visitors to your blog are looking for a quick way to search your site, whether they want to get a feel for what you’re all about or they’re looking for a particular post to share with friends. Create a simple, easy-to-find navigation bar in an obvious location (across the top is usually the best) that links to your author page, contact information, archives, and other pages.
2. Organize archives: Performancing.com considers offering a proper site search and archive section one of the most important ways to make your blog reader-friendly. Group old posts into categories like “most read” or “most commented on” instead of by date. Most readers won’t automatically want to check out your “August 2005″ posts, but they will be more likely to respond to a section called “most popular.”
3. Link your logo to your homepage: Community Spark’s number one tip for blog usability is to “ensure your logo links to your homepage.” If you don’t include a “Home” button in your navigation bar, link your blog’s logo or title to your homepage. This simple trick will let readers start over if they get too embedded in your archives.
4. Set up your own domain name: Blog guru Jakob Nielsen encourages bloggers to set up their own domain name rather than keeping a .blogspot or typepad.com address. Instead of being subjected to unwanted software changes or pricing increases, go independent. Check out these top 10 providers for Web hosting, all priced at $7.95 and under. If you’re a real independent and use a Linux OS, try out these Linux Virtual Web hosting providers.
5. Allow visitors to search your site: Instead of making your visitors click through endless archives and categories lists to find what they’re looking for, set up a Google Custom Search Engine to provide a straightforward search.
6. Link to your blogroll: Readers want to see a well-organized homepage, and cluttering up your site with unnecessary lists and information is frustrating. Try not to boast your online popularity by featuring your entire blogroll in the sidetabs on your homepage. Instead, provide a link from your homepage to a separate blogroll page, where your long list won’t get in the way of your posts.
7. Related posts: At the end of each post, include links to related articles that your readers might be interested in. This clever little trick will increase the amount of time readers spend on your blog while making it easier for them to explore your site.
8. Let readers decide how to open links.: Performancing.com urges bloggers to use “links in posts” as much as possible. In order to keep your readers happy, let them decide whether or not they want to open the links in a new tab or window. This article on Problogger.net discusses the reasons why this option is best.
9. Test your links before publishing a post: Before publishing your new posts, always test your links to make sure you entered them correctly. You may have left out a letter or symbol during your copy/paste method or remembered a Web address incorrectly. Spare your readers the irritation of trying to connect to a page that won’t open.
10. Match your blog’s title to the Web address: Being consistent with your blog title is in your best interest as well as that of your readers. If your Web address is different from your blog’s actual title, readers might be confused as to what your site should be called. Searching for your blog via Google will also be problematic if your site is commonly referred to and searched for by two different names.
11. Clearly describe where each link directs readers: Skelliewag strongly encourages bloggers to recognize that “It�s important that the text leading up to the link explains where the �click here� will lead,” whether you use images or anchor text as the link.
12. Make it easy for readers to digg you: Sites like Digg, del.icio.us and StumbleUpon let readers rank their favorite blogs and articles. Make it easy for them to rank you by including links to these sites at the end of each post.

Author Information

Show your readers that you’re involved with your blog beyond your regular posts. Encourage them to contact you through e-mail or comments, and don’t be shy about providing an author biography to give yourself and your opinions a little more legitimacy.

13. Create an “About” page: Creating an “About” page will direct readers to your contact information, biography, credentials, and overall theme for your blog. Organizing this information on a single page will keep you accountable to your readers and allow your other pages to focus on your actual posts.
14. Provide contact information: Many bloggers are shy about revealing their contact information to anyone who stumbles across their site. Not providing a means of contact, though, translates to readers as being unfriendly and detached. If you’re worried about stalkers flooding your inbox with hate mail, create a separate account just for your blog. That way, you can keep your personal account private.
15. Respond to comments: Encourage readers to comment on your articles by providing a comment box at the end of each post. Respond to their comments through email or in your own comment box to further the discussion and show visitors that you value their opinions and support.
16. Develop a short autobiography: Jakob Nielsen, as well as many other bloggers and readers, rant about authors who don’t provide adequate biographies. Let your readers know what you’re interested in, what educational background you have, and what professional industry you’re a part of. You don’t have to get too specific if you’re afraid of revealing your company name or alma mater, but shedding a little light on your specialties or credentials will make your readers more apt to follow your advice and respect your opinions.

Design and Content

You don’t have to hire a Web developer to implement these basic design and content principles. The following tips and tricks will keep your blog looking polished and professional, even if you did it all yourself.

17. Pick a design theme: Pick a theme for your blog’s design, and be consistent. Every page should follow the same color scheme, layout, and image theme. Being too adventurous with your designs will only confuse and distract your readers.
18. Choose an editorial theme and stick to it: Just as you need to remain consistent with your design theme, you also need to choose an editorial theme that you plan to stick to. Jakob Nielsen advises that “If you publish on many different topics, you’re less likely to attract a loyal audience of high-value users. Busy people might visit a blog to read an entry about a topic that interests them. They’re unlikely to return, however, if their target topic appears only sporadically among a massive range of postings on other topics.” If you’re desperate to write on unrelated topics, consider starting a second blog.
19. Replace text with images: If you feel that your blog is getting too wordy, add images and photos to break up the page. The best general rule for adding images is to use them alongside the title or subtitles. Include a photo or picture of something that directly relates to the post. Go to FreeStockImages.net to browse legitimate photos on your site for free.
20. Limit the number of animated images you use: A major pet peeve of Web developers is clients who insist on using too many animated images. These images tend to distract and annoy your readers, so if you want them to keep coming back, don’t bother with animation.
21. Don’t let advertisements dominate your blog: SiteProNews warns bloggers against “excessive advertising,” which can be “intrusive to users and overshadow useful content.” Limit the number of revenue-boosting ads you put on each page, and keep them far enough away from posts and comments so that readers aren’t too distracted.
22. Organize and resize photo images: Posting large photos all over your homepage will slow down your blog each time it loads. Instead of including every photograph next to the original post, tease your readers with one picture, and then provide a link to another page th