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Top 5 Sub-$300 Laptops Compared

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

Whether you’re looking for a child’s laptop, or just want a cheap piece of hardware to play with, the sub-$300 laptop category has a lot to offer. With a field full of open source plaforms and rugged designs, you’re sure to find something you’ll like. Here we’ll take a look at 5 of the best.

  1. Classmate PC: Intel’s Classmate PC is an education-centric subnotebook designed for children in the developing world. Although it doesn’t have the cute factor that the OLPC XO has, it seems to be more sturdy. This machine is designed to be used on the move, as it comes fully equipped with a handle and leather case for transporting from school to home. Some of the drawbacks include limited hard-drive space of 2GB, and a low screen resolution that’s to be expected with laptops of this size. It’s reported that the hardware can run on either Windows or Linux, and storage is handled by flash memory, making this a very flexible machine.
  2. OLPC XO: The OLPC is the flagship of subnotebooks, with a glowing review from David Pogue and just about everyone else. People, especially children, seem to just love this little laptop, not just because of its low price, but for its innovation. Designed for children in poor countries, the OLPC is an efficient, stripped-down version of the laptops most people use, with a Linux operating system, no CD/DVD drive, hard drive, or bloatware, and interesting power methods. Perhaps the most appealing part of this machine is its look, with shiny green and white plastic and toylike antennas. Plus, the screen boasts one of the brightest and clearest resolutions, and is easy to view even in the sunlight. However, it is not without its problems, primarily its slow processing, and an unclear battery capacity. This laptop is best reserved for the children it was designed for, or those who want to tinker around with an innovative machine.
  3. Elonex ONE: Soon, the subnotebook industry will have a new kid in town, called the Elonex One. The $195 device will be unveiled at The Education Show in Birmingham. It’s aimed at consumers, but they’ll donate a machine to an underprivileged child for each 100 that are sold. The One’s main appeal is price, but that’s not all it has to offer. Its battery life clocks in at 3 hours, and it has a flash-based hard drive. Like its competitors, it has a rugged case to facilitate mobile use. The hardware runs Linux, a choice made both for financial and political reasons. The One is not much to look at, with retro-IBM stylings, but current buzz suggests that it will be one to watch.
  4. Zonbu: Zonbu presents a low-cost Windows alternative, with a custom operating system that offers built-in programs like Open Office and the Banshee music player. It’s definitely a lot larger than its competitors, coming in with a 15.4 inch widescreen, 60GB hard drive, and a CD-RW/DVD drive. It offers quiet operation, an easy wireless connection, and pretty flawless operation right out of the box. One drawback of the Zonbu is that you have to buy a monthly plan, or buy the device for much more than $279. However, this notebook offers a very positive user experience overall, and ongoing support that makes it easier to use than any of its competitors.
  5. Asus Eee PC 2G Surf: The Asus Eee PC 2G Surf is the little sister of the Asus Eee PC with a price to match, coming in just under $300. It offers ease of use in a tiny package. It’s just a bit larger than a DVD case, so it’s easy to take out just about anywhere. Just like its brethren, this notebook is durable, although perhaps not as rugged as the OLPC or Classmate. Some reviewers found the device to be a but sluggish, most likely due to its lowered caching ability. This notebook is seemingly designed with road warriors in mind, offering a microphone, speakers, and pre-installed Skype software. You can even upgrade to get a webcam. Battery life is not as impressive as others, clocking in at about 2 hours. One major drawback is that this fairly limited device has a soldered-on back, so upgrading would be difficult. It is, however, visually appealing with a variety of pastel colors. Overall, it’s a neat little device, but you’d probably do better going with the larger 4G or 8G version.

In the sub-$300 category, you’ll definitely get what you pay for, but that’s not to say that it won’t be enough. Armed with efficiency, open source software, and durable design, these devices have a lot to offer. Children, road warriors, and curious gadget freaks would love any one of these laptops.

Build Your Own Computer: 100 Tools, Tips, and Resources

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008

These days, it’s easier than ever to build your computer. There are so many places to buy and comparison shop for individual computer parts that you almost have to try not to get a good deal on a homebuilt PC. Even better, there are a number of resources out there that offer step by step instructions, buying guides, and support, so you’ve got help every step of the way, even if you’re a beginner. We’ve compiled 100 of these resources, as well as some of the things you’ll need to get the job done. Tools & Components These tools aren’t online resources. Rather, they’re the essential bits and pieces you’ll need both in your computer and the tools to put it all together.

  1. PC Case: This is the piece of hardware that everything will live in.
  2. Phillips head screwdriver: Most PCs use a Phillips head screwdriver.
  3. Hard drive: This one’s essential, as just about everything in your computer will live in the hard drive.
  4. Screw extractor: If you drop a screw into your PC’s body, this tool will make it easy to get it out.
  5. CD-ROM drive: You’ll almost certainly want a CD drive, even if it’s just for installing new software.
  6. Cable ties: Tidy up your cables with these ties to help increase airflow.
  7. Keyboard: You can’t get by without attaching this input device.
  8. Mouse: Another important input device, the mouse is just as essential as the keyboard, unless you want to learn a lot of keyboard shortcuts.
  9. Monitor: Although media PCs may not need it, most PCs can’t get by without a window into the way it’s working.
  10. Flashlight: Get a good look at what you’re working on by using a flashlight.
  11. Lint-free cloth: Get rid of accumulated dust with a lint-free cloth.
  12. Processor: A processor will interpret instructions in your computer.
  13. Processor cooling fan: Keep the processor cool and efficient with a built-in fan.
  14. Tweezers: These are helpful for picking up and installing various bits and pieces. Needlenose pliers will work as well.
  15. Motherboard: The motherboard provides the connections other components will need to work together.
  16. Motherboard spacers: Although spacers generally come with the motherboard, you may need to buy some to space your motherboard off of your mounting plate.
  17. Memory: Without memory, your computer would only be able to perform a fixed operation and immediately output the result, like a calculator. With memory, your PC becomes a multifunctional device like the computers you’re likely used to.
  18. Floppy disk drive: If you want to be able to use floppies, don’t forget this drive.
  19. Power supply: Without juice, your computer won’t run.
  20. Video card: A video card will generate an output image on your display. This is especially important for gaming computers.
  21. Drive cables: Although they may be included with components, be sure you have the cables you need to hook everything up.
  22. LAN card: This card can be used to connect computers together and form a network. Your motherboard may already have a LAN port, so check before you buy this.
  23. Screws: PC cases generally provide all of the screws you need, but just in case, make sure you’re covered.
  24. Sound card: The sound card translates digital signals into analog audio. This is essential if you want to play games or run multimedia applications.
  25. Spare parts container: Store small parts while you’re working to keep everything handy and safe. This can be anything from an old coffee can to something you pick up at the hardware store.
  26. Anti-static wrist band: Computer components are sensitive to static electricity. Make sure you’re wearing an anti-static wrist band to protect them.
  27. Grounding strap: Just like an anti-static wrist band, a grounding strap with help mitigate static electricity.
  28. System disk: This disk should have all of your system and setup files on it.
  29. Device drivers: Although they usually come with hardware, you’ll need to ensure that you’ve got all of the right device drivers to do the job.
  30. Operating system: This software will manage your computer and give you a way to interact with it.
  31. Fdisk and Format: These utilities configure PC hard drives for use. You’ll also learn about hard drive partitioning and formatting from this resource.

Buying Guides Get help finding the best parts for the best price with these guides.

  1. How to Choose a Good CPU For Your Computer: Read this article to get the lowdown on picking up a processor.
  2. A Guide to Choosing Computer Motherboards: Check out this guide for valuable information on choosing this all-important component.
  3. 3 Cheap Gaming Computers That You Can Build: This article lists the components for three different gaming computer rigs.
  4. Budget PC Guide: Check out the parts of a budget PC here.
  5. Choosing a Motherboard, PC Case and PSU: This guide offers reputable brands and advice on buying these three important components.
  6. 5 Essential Things to Know About Buying a Computer Power Supply: Read this article before you buy a power supply device for your computer.
  7. A Guide to Buying Computer Monitors for Displaying Graphics: Learn about monitors from CRT to LCD and the factors to consider when choosing one.
  8. Some Information on Choosing a Good CD, DVD, or Hard Drive: If you’re building your computer from scratch, you’re probably going to buy one or all of these components. Find the right hardware for your needs using this guide.
  9. A Guide to Choosing the Best Desktop Computer System: Buy parts that meet your needs by using this guide.
  10. Selecting and Buying a Good Sound Card for Audio Output: Learn the ins and outs that come with buying a sound card here.
  11. A Guide to Buying a Computer Video Card for Displaying Graphics: Find the right video card for your PC using this guide.
  12. Looking For a Computer Part? An Online Store May Have a Good Deal: This article recommends good PC shopping sites and provides advice for making the shopping experience a little easier.
  13. Learn How to Choose Computer Parts That Suit Your Needs: Get the ultimate in customization using this guide.
  14. My Cheap Computer Tool Kits Suggestions: Read about one computer builder’s must-have tools.

Guides Learn how to build your PC through these tutorials that range from all-inclusive guides to specific task instructions.

  1. Anti-Static: Learn how static works against your PC components and what you can do about it.
  2. CPU Cooling: Read this resource to learn why CPUs get hot and what you can do about it.
  3. PC Building Precautions: Read this guide to stay safe and avoid damage when building your PC.
  4. Build Your Own Computer: PC Mechanic offers this 23-step tutorial that takes you from materials to tidying up.
  5. IDE Configuration: Use this resource to set up multiple IDE hard drives and CD/DVD drives in your PC.
  6. Installing an Operating System: Get installation guides for a number of operating systems here.
  7. Courseware: Build Your Own PC: Watch PC Mechanic’s tutorial in video action.
  8. Build a Hackintosh Mac for Under $800: Check out Lifehacker’s tutorial for building a Mac from scratch.
  9. The Basics of Personal Computer Hardware: Learn about hardware essentials in this article.
  10. Installing a CPU Onto Your Computer’s Motherboard: Find out about the details behind installing a CPU.
  11. Building a Low Cost PC: This article offers a 6-part tutorial for building a highly customized PC on the cheap.
  12. Build Your Own G4: Learn how to build an Apple G4 with this tutorial.
  13. Installing a Motherboard is Easy: This guide breaks motherboard installation down into four easy steps.
  14. How to Format a Hard Drive: Once you’ve got your components in, format your hard drive to get started.
  15. My Super PC: Learn how to build an affordable, quality computer with this guide.
  16. Building the $200 OSx86 Mac: Get your hands on a super cheap Mac using this tutorial.
  17. How to Install a Power Supply for Your Computer: Get the juice to your PC using this installation guide.
  18. How to Install a Primary Hard Drive: Install a hard drive with this four-step guide.
  19. Install RAM Memory in Your PC: Find out how to install this component and give your PC some speed.
  20. How to Open a Computer Case: Follow this guide to learn how to open a case properly.
  21. Build Your Own PC: This tutorial takes you through many steps of building your own computer from purchasing components to installing the OS and drivers.
  22. Hard Drive, Floppy & CD Drive Install: Read this guide to learn how to install a hard, floppy, or CD drive.
  23. Install PCI Cards on Your Desktop Computer: Get the details and troubleshooting information on this easy install.
  24. Learn to Build a Computer: This ten step tutorial takes you through everything you’ll need to build a computer.
  25. Installing a Dual Boot Operating System: Learn how to put both Red Hat Linux 9 and Windows XP on your computer with this tutorial.
  26. Learn What Lies Inside a Computer: This article details the many parts of a computer.
  27. Top 5 Tips for Disassembling a Computer: If you’re scrapping an old PC for parts, be sure to check out this guide.
  28. Learn How to Install a Motherboard: This article details the installation of a motherboard.

Media Center and Gaming Resources If you’re going to build your own PC, why not take it a step further and build a media or gaming machine while you’re at it? These guides and resources will help you get the job done.

  1. Free TiVo: Build a Better DVR out of an Old PC: Check out this tutorial to learn how to build a DVR on your computer.
  2. The $500 Gaming Rig: Read this guide to learn how to build a cheap gaming computer that works great.
  3. How to Build a Gaming PC for Just $1,000: Build a gaming PC on the cheap using this guide.
  4. How To Build the Ultimate Windows Media Center on a Budget: This tutorial lays out the details of building a Windows Media Center of your own.
  5. Build Your Own Vista Gaming PC for Under $1,000: Get the details and price list for building a Vista gaming PC here.
  6. The Linux HTPC How-to-Basic and Advanced Media Center Build Tips: Check out this how-to to find out how to build a media center on Linux.
  7. Build Your Own Budget Gaming PC: Computer Shopper details the components, installation, and upgrades that go along with building a gaming PC on a budget.
  8. Build It: A Homemade Media Center PC: PC Magazine offers a guide for creating a homebrewed media center.
  9. How to Build Your Own Media Center PC with Gaming Capability: Terri Stratton discusses building a media center PC with gaming capabilities with a small business system builder.
  10. Introduction to Building Custom Gaming Computers: Get introduced to the world of custom gaming computers and learn about their advantages.
  11. MythTV: MythTV offers all-in-one software to get TV on your computer.
  12. Custom Gaming Computers: Why Build Your Own?: Find out about the perks that come with building a gaming computer on your own.
  13. FreeCodecs.com: Load your PC up with all of the essential audio and video codecs with FreeCodecs.
  14. Building a Cheap Gaming Computer: Tips to Save Money: Build your computer on a tight budget with these tips.

Support You’re not alone in your homebrewed PC adventure. Get tips, support, and more from these communities and services.

  1. PC Mechanic Forums: These forums have advice and support for building your own PC as well as general computer questions.
  2. Hardware Zone: Check out Hardware Zone’s Hardware Clinic for help with technical issues.
  3. Taming The Beast Hardware Training: This training section has a plethora of information about specific pieces of PC hardware as well as troubleshooting.
  4. Hardware Central: Hardware Central’s forums offer peer support on everything from motherboards to overclocking.
  5. Glossary: If you’re confused about PC building terms, check out this growing glossary for some insight.
  6. CyberTechHelp: Get free help and support from this online community.
  7. Build Your Own PC Forums: Find hardware discussions and help on these forums.
  8. My Super PC Forums: Get help from first boot problems to assembly on these forums.
  9. PC Troubleshooting Plus: This resource has loads of troubleshooting help for homebuilt PCs.
  10. 10 Tips for Maintaining Your PC: Follow these tips to protect your hard work and investment on an ongoing basis.
  11. HardwareCentral Forums: These forums offer support and discussion of the technology behind home PC building.
  12. alt.comp.hardware: This discussion forum on Google Groups offers lots of hardware help.
  13. alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt: Homebuilt PC users can share information and help each other using this group.

The Top 80 Charities for Open Source and Open Access Advocates

Monday, December 31st, 2007

The open source revolution calls for a free, unregulated Internet that allows the public free access to design, develop and share software programs and information. These 80 charities and nonprofit organizations foster the open source spirit through education programs, fundraising practices and promotional techniques in order to transform the Internet into a more democratic entity.

Most Popular

These organizations are some of the most popular open source nonprofits on the Web.

  1. Wikipedia: Most non-techies don’t realize it, but Wikipedia is actually an open source charity. Based on a system of free information sharing, anyone can edit posts, submit images and create articles.
  2. SourceForge.net: Users of SourceForge.net are encouraged to “create, participate [and] evaluate.” Ongoing projects are categorized by clustering, desktop, financial, games networking, security, and more.
  3. Open Source Initiative: This nonprofit organization was “formed to educate about and advocate for the benefits of open source and to build bridges among different constituencies in the open-source community.” Use their website to learn more about open source, make a donation or get involved with different projects.
  4. Open Source with Christopher Lydon : Readers and members of this popular web community help produce a daily radio show about everything from world politics to literature to entertainment.
  5. The Open Group: This “vendor-neutral and technology-neutral consortium” aims to connect global enterprises through the free, uninterrupted flow of shared information.
  6. Calgary Open Source Group: This online social network also supports open source software technology, spreading the word about its unique culture.
  7. The Utah Open Source Collective: The Utah Open Source Collective is a nonprofit organization that relies on volunteers to maintain an organization that works towards improving technology, sharing information and spreading the word about open source.
  8. .netTiers: Download free code generation templates from this open source organization.
  9. Software in the Public Interest: SPI promotes open source by helping organizations develop open hardware and software for their businesses.
  10. The Apache Software Foundation: Apache users can find support for software programs and projects at The Apache Software Foundation, an online “community of developers and users.”
  11. XFree86 Project: Volunteers involved in the XFree86 Project produce the XFree86, which is widely used “freely redistributable open source implementation of the X Window System.”
  12. OpenSourceCommunity.org: This community strives to “make the world a “little” better place.” Become a member (don’t worry, it’s free!) and find yourself part of an online networking system which focuses on information sharing and technology.

Education Programs

The more we educate children about technology and the Internet, the more computer proficient individuals continue to revolutionize open source software and communities. These education programs are devoted to broadening the world’s understanding of how computers and the Internet impact society.

  1. Internet Society: The Internet Society sponsors all kinds of workshops and training programs to help communities, including those in underprivileged nations, better utilize the Internet.
  2. CyberSmart!: CyberSmart! provides free curriculum to teachers in grades K-8 to help their students learn “to use the Internet safely, responsibly and effectively.”
  3. The Internet and Your Child: This program helps parents teach Internet safety to their children.
  4. Apple Learning Interchange: This social network connects teachers who want to discover new methods and tools for educating their students on computer technology.
  5. West Virginia Tools for Schools Elementary: This successful program brings computers and the Internet into the classrooms of West Virginia.
  6. Education Program for Gifted Youth: Stanford University’s EPGY invites gifted students from around the world to participate in an “individualized educational experience” that offers courses in subjects like computer science.
  7. Help the Afghan Children: This nonprofit organization sponsors a computer education program to help Afghans catch up with the “global information technology revolution” and contribute to the computer industry.
  8. One Laptop Per Child: This admirable organization lists as its mission to “provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves.”
  9. ERIC: ERIC, or the Education Resources Information Center, is a government-sponsored online library full of educational resources for teachers. Lesson plans and ideas for computer exercises are also available.
  10. Education World Technology Integration: This website provides teachers with all kinds of computer resources for implementing technology in the classroom, including the Internet, typing, and more.
  11. Steve Wozniak’s Los Gatos School District Adoption: Macintosh founder Steve Wozniak has donated technology equipment to California’s Los Gatos School District to help introduce children to the world of computers.

Design and Development Groups

Below you will find nonprofit organizations dedicated to the improvement of open source standards and software development.

  1. Open Source Web Design: This nonprofit allows visitors to download free web design templates. Search by designer or keyword to find new favorites.
  2. GNU: The GNU Operating system is a Unix-based os that features free software. Users have the freedom to run the program study, learn how the program works, redistribute copies and discover new ways to improve the program.
  3. Open Source Applications Foundation: The OSAF works with the Chandler Project to design open source software for small group collaboration. Applications include a Desktop application, a server and the Chandler Hub Sharing Service, which provides PIM services online for free.
  4. Open Source Geospatial Foundation: This foundation helps support Web-based community projects like the development of its own open source geospatial software. Designers and developers are encouraged to share plans and ideas for the benefit of the foundation and their own projects.
  5. XMPP Standards Foundation: Instant messaging is another part of the Internet that open source advocates try to protect against privatization and corporate exploitation. The XMPP Standards Foundation works to “define open protocols” for instant messaging programs and encourages free information sharing between designers, developers and programmers.
  6. The Free BSD Foundation: The Unix-based BSD operating system relies on this foundation to fund its research and developments so that the public may continue to use its services.
  7. TuxPhone: The TuxPhone project aims to create a totally open source cell phone in order to create new applications for phones.
  8. Blender: This “free open source 3D content creation suite” recently produced the world’s first open source movie, Elephant Dreams.
  9. openEHR: The openEHR Foundation promotes “future-proof and flexible EHR specifications” for the health care industry.

Lobbying Charities

These charities are proactive about sharing news and information about open source with the government and the public.

  1. The Free Software Foundation: The FSF “is dedicated to promoting computer users’ rights to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs.” Get involved with current campaigns like Defective By Design, which plans to eliminate DRM, or the appeal to various governments to utilize OpenDocument.
  2. Oasis: The Oasis organization is a nonprofit group that aims to improve the development and use of open source technologies around the world. Visit their website to find out how you can participate, or to gain additional information about the various Oasis committees, including ones which tackle issues in security, law and government or computing management.
  3. Creative Commons: This nonprofit combines the idealistic views of pure information sharing with secure but privatized creative data. Creative Commons uses “private rights to create public goods” by allowing designers, developers and artists to license their work while making it accessible to the public.
  4. Electronic Frontier Foundation: The EFF is a nonprofit organization that actively defends the public’s “digital rights” like free speech and privacy.
  5. Hawaii Open Source Education Foundation: HOSEF “promotes and sustains” open source ideas and software through volunteer programs, advocacy, and recycling.
  6. International Free and Open Source Software Foundation: The iFOSSF lobbies for open source software in order to improve the economic and social standards of disadvantaged communities by encouraging and supporting the growth of new businesses.
  7. XorgFoundation: This “scientific charity” provides “worldwide stewardship of the X Window System technology and standards.” Anyone can become a member to support their cause.
  8. The Mifos Initiative: This open source software company pledges its support of the world’s poorest communities by improving the “microfinance industry’s information management challenge.” The Mifos project aims to make this information technology more accessible to microfinance companies so that they can help the poor more effectively.
  9. World Wide Web Consortium: This organization is dedicated to “leading the Web to its full potential” by developing open source tools, software and communities. According to The Open Source Community, the W3C supports over 350 member organizations around the world.

Communities

These online communities connect open source advocates from all over the world.

  1. MIT Open Source Research Community: Free/open source enthusiasts share research, network and contribute papers and abstracts on this MIT-sponsored site.
  2. The Linux Foundation: The Linux foundation was created to protect and promote the open source concepts and developments of Linux. As a nonprofit organization, The Linux Foundation also provides legal services, standardizes Linux software and provides “a neutral forum for collaboration and promotion.”
  3. Xiph.org: This nonprofit promotes an unprivatized Internet by “supporting and developing” open software and other tools that the public can access freely. visit their website to find out how you can donate to the cause or participate in new projects.
  4. Eclipse: This program fosters “an open source community whose “projects are focused on building an open development platform” that supports tools for developing software. In addition to its online forum, Eclipse also sponsors various summits and DemoCamps each year.
  5. Sakai: This Web-based community promotes a “collaboration and learning environment” where users may research, edit, consult and teach issues and documents related to technology.
  6. Java-Source.net: Java-Source.net is home to a rich community of programmers and developers who constantly work towards promoting and improving open source technologies. Use the website to check out ongoing projects or to suggest one of your own.
  7. Open Web Application Security Project: The OWASP is a “worldwide free and open community focused on improving the security of application software.” Anyone can make suggestions, submit theories and utilize the organization’s resources free of charge.

Miscellaneous Nonprofits

Check this list for open source and open access nonprofits.

  1. The Open Source Education Foundation: Children are also encouraged to become proponents of open source technology. This group has been approved by the IRS to educate students in grades K-12 about open source.
  2. Free and Open Source Software Foundation of Pakistan: This group is becoming so popular that it is temporarily unable to maintain its own website. To help them get back on their feet, FOSSFP requests that “the international community” continues to support its hosting system, as well as free and open source software technologies.
  3. Open Bioinformatics Foundation: The OBF provides free administrative support and open source programming services to the bioinformatics community, which uses computer technology to help solve biological problems.
  4. OpenLDAP Foundation: This foundation is a nonprofit organization that receives and manages donations made to benefit the OpenLDAP Project, which develops open source software and Web hosting services.
  5. The Foundation of P2P Alternatives: This foundation studies “the impact of Peer to Peer technology and thought on society.” By studying open source networks and communities, the P2P Foundation explores the culture and social progressions of these innovative communities.
  6. Free Beer: This popular organization doesn’t pass out frothy pints via your computer screen, but it doesn’t provide free recipe and branding elements which anyone can use or alter.
  7. Nonprofit Open Source Initiative: This successful organization pledges “to facilitate and encourage the use of open source software in the nonprofit sector, and to bring nonprofits and open source developers and projects together.”

Free Open Source Software

These groups provide open source software and tools to the public free of charge.

  1. civiCRM: Comprehensive CRM packages are often too expensive for small businesses. civiCRM hosts several programs including contact databases, online event registration forms and online fundraising management tools that nonprofit and advocacy groups can download for free.
  2. The Mambo Foundation: Mambo provides free CRM downloads to the public on its website. The Mambo Foundation protects the developments of the Mambo company and its online community of supporters, designers and programmers.
  3. The Mozilla Foundation: The Mozilla Foundation protects open source software like Firefox so that its accessibility to the public is never compromised.
  4. TrueCrypt: TrueCrypt provides “free open source disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP/200 and Linux.”
  5. Participatory Culture Foundation: The Internet isn’t the only form of media that is subject to privatization and censorship: TV can also be threatened. The PCF is the organization that develops Miro, a “free open-source desktop video application that is designed to make mass media more open and accessible for everyone.”
  6. Plone Foundation: Plone is a completely free open source content management service that is available to the public on the Web. The Plone Foundation supports Plone to ensure that it can and will always remain a public service.
  7. Firebird: Firebird software is a relational database that is free to download from the organization’s website. Users are encouraged to modify the software to create their own versions which should also be shared with the online community.
  8. OpenGL: Accessing free online games and virtual reality technologies is possible because of the OpenGL organization, which claims to be “the industry standard for high performance graphics.”
  9. Kuali Foundation: This nonprofit helps colleges, schools, businesses and other organizations maximize their open source networks and software programs.
  10. The RadioActive Foundation: The RadioActive Foundation works to fund and promote the open source software developed under the RFID project, which plans to revolutionize the Internet by creating a new “reference group of applications” for the public.
  11. Python Software Foundation: The goal of the PSF is to “promote, protect, and advance the Python programming language, and to support and facilitate the growth of the international community of Python programmers.” Users, developers and donors can all connect at their website.
  12. XOOPS: The XOOPS organization is “powered by you.” Support the design program by participating in the forums, making a donation or just spreading the word.
  13. Tax Code Software Foundation: Also known as “the Linux of tax software,” Tax Code Software aids U.S. taxpayers in their regular tax organization and preparation.
  14. OpenCyc: OpenCyc “is the open source version of the Cyc technology, the world’s largest and most complete general knowledge base and commonsense reasoning engine.” Download software or participate in ongoing discussions on their website to support open source technologies.
  15. Open Channel Foundation: Academic communities use Open Channel publishing software to publicize and organize research and teaching documents.
  16. Dojo: The Dojo Toolkit is an open source software program that is supported by the Dojo Foundation. By encouraging the program’s adoption, discouraging political contention, encouraging the collaboration and integration with other projects, and remaining a transparent, free access system, the foundation manages to continue providing services to the public.

Social and Political Groups

These social and political groups are also supporters of a free and open Internet.

  1. Ron Paul: 2008 presidential candidate Ron Paul strongly believes in the concept of a free Internet, saying, “we should never interfere with the Internet.”
  2. Barack Obama: 2008 Democratic candidate Barack Obama is another supporter of net neutrality and a free, unregulated Internet.
  3. eLGG: This open source social networking platform fosters a community of designers, programmers, donors and fundraisers who advocate open source technologies.
  4. Technology and Social Action Wiki: This wiki creates awareness about how technology impacts social action projects. Social activists can collaborate using this online portal to discuss fundraising issues and more.
  5. Really Simple Social Action: Link up with other social activists with this open source community.
  6. Politics 2.0: This concept is based on the idea “that social networking and e-participation technologies will revolutionize our ability to follow, support, and influence political campaigns.”
  7. Open Source Politics: This article discusses the effects of open source tactics on British government.
  8. Open Source Politics Taps Facebook for Myanmar Protests: Learn how political activists are instantly mobilized with the help of open source technologies.
  9. Open Source Political Manifesto: In an online experiment, Halfbakery challenges users to create political manifestos based on open source concepts. Readers will continue to vote on their favorite manifestos, creating a “public forum for non-mainstream political ideas.”

The Web Worker’s Stress Busting Toolbox: 50 Tips to Improve Your Life

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

Many Web employees work from the comfort of their own home and don’t even have to get out of their comfy PJs to go to work if they don’t feel like it. But that doesn’t mean working on the Web isn’t stressful from time to time. Online projects pile up and deadlines loom just like they do for those working in an office. They’ve also got the added stress of sometimes unreliable Web hosting and no IT department to fix a troublesome PC. So how can you beat the stress of day-to-day Web work? The following are 50 ways you can become happier and healthier by reducing the stress in your life.

  1. Get organized. Nothing will stress you out faster than having to sort through mounds of paperwork or hundreds of emails to find important documents and files. The few hours you spend getting things in order will protect you from those gray hairs when you can’t find key information.
  2. Respect your internal rhythms. Everyone has high and low productivity points of the day. If you force yourself to work through your worst parts of the day you may become frustrated when you’re not moving as fast as you’d like to be. Try to save your hardest and most demanding work for your highest productivity points of the day so you can breeze through it.
  3. Don’t worry about the what-ifs. Like anything in life, with work there are tons of things that can go wrong at any point. You’ll only make yourself crazy imagining all the possible outcomes. Simply do your best, and deal with the eventualities when they arrive.
  4. Invest in your health. A half hour of exercise a day may not seem like much, but it could be enough to prevent you from having some serious health problems. Not only that, but exercise is also a great stress reliever. So when you’re feeling bogged down, take a trip to the gym and work out that stress.
  5. Take breaks. It may seem counterintuitive, but taking regular breaks can actually help you get more work done. By giving your mind, body and eyes a rest from sitting at the computer you’ll be refreshed and ready to come back when you return and can look at things with fresh eyes.
  6. Eat right. The only saying is true, we really are what we eat. Cramming frozen pizza and chips into your mouth might be the quickest way to accomplish eating a meal, but you’ll get much more out of eating a balanced diet and have more energy and focus to concentrate on what you’ve got to get done. Try out whole grains, blueberries and even chocolate for some great stress busting.
  7. Rest your eyes.Staring at a computer screen all day can take quite a toll on your eyes day after day. Make sure to give your eyes a break every now and again so they won’t get as stressed out as the rest of you.
  8. Schedule your time. Keep your stress in check by planning out your day in advance. Schedule time for projects, breaks, household chores and anything else that might come up throughout the day so that you’ll never have to wonder what you need to tend to next.
  9. Minimize interruptions. Constantly being interrupted by a ringing phone or IMs can destroy your concentration not to mention ride your last nerve making the stress of your impending deadline even worse. Turn off your instant messenger and unplug your phone for a few hours a day so you can get some real work done.
  10. Stay positive. With so much to do it can be hard to maintain a positive outlook on getting everything done. Do you best to keep your chin up and a smile on your face. Even in your worst moments, take a break to find something funny or give yourself a treat so you won’t be tempted to wallow.
  11. Simplify. Often there are things we feel like we must get done that in reality aren’t that important. Evaluate your tasks and see if there aren’t a few less important ones that you can eliminate from your task list.
  12. Take time to disconnect. The Internet can be a tempting and demanding mistress. Make sure you’re not letting it rule your life, even if it is your job. Don’t spend your break time on the Internet or too much of your off-time.
  13. Make lists. Don’t let important tasks slip your mind. Create small lists of different types of tasks that you need to get done or jot ideas down as you think of them so you won’t forget about them later. Try an online list maker like Ta-Da List.
  14. Stop and think. Sometimes work, whether it’s online or in an office, can be so overwhelming that we forget to stop and think and even take a breath. Take a step back from your work to reevaluate what’s really important and whether or not it’s worth being so stressed over.
  15. Say no. While it can be difficult to turn down great projects or fun side work, there comes a time when you really just have to say no to maintain your sanity. If you’ve already got too much on your plate, don’t try to take on anything more, even if others try to guilt you into it.
  16. Take it one step at a time. When you look at the amount of work that you have to do it can seem to be incredibly overwhelming. Breaking it up into smaller chunks and taking it one part at a time can help it seem like less of an obstacle and more like something that you can actually do.
  17. Delegate. For some Web workers, delegating isn’t really an option. But if you do have others you’re working with, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you really need it. You can also ask family and friends to help pick up the slack around the house as well, until you get through your next big project.
  18. Renegotiate. If you find yourself feeling stressed out more often than not then perhaps it’s time to renegotiate your priorities. Owning your own Internet based business or working for one can be time consuming, but make sure that that is how your time is best being spent.
  19. Spend time with family and pets. One easy way to reduce stress is to spend some time with the people and animals that matter most to you. Watch a movie with a friend, take a walk with your dog, or just spend some time with a loved one. A little time connecting goes a long way in reducing stress, and will get your butt off of the Internet.
  20. Reward yourself. If you’ve just completed a project ahead of schedule or gotten some great feedback from clients make sure to reward yourself. After all, all that hard work shouldn’t be for nothing and if nothing else taking a little break for some ice cream or to play a new video game will help you to relax.
  21. Incorporate home tasks. Managing to take care of both work and home tasks can be difficult when they are one in the same. Work often takes over and household chores can pile up, surrounding you with clutter which can be visually distracting and stressful. Make sure to leave yourself a few minutes each day to work in some of these tasks so that they don’t get out of hand and you get a chance to do something other than sit in your desk chair.
  22. Limit work hours. When you work at home, work hours tend to blend into personal time as there is no definitive transition between the two. Reduce your on the job stress by making setting hours when you’ll be at work and when you won’t. Even if you have to work overtime to finish a project, make sure you’re keeping a balance otherwise you’ll be headed for a burnout.
  23. Make your personal life a priority. While things like grabbing a drink with your friends or seeing a movie may not seem like big priorities when you have work that needs to get done, in reality you should try to put just as much value on your personal life as you do work. After all, if you have no personal life, what is all that work good for?
  24. Define your daily tasks. One way to overcome the stress of having too much to do is by creating a list of three or four things that you must get done every day. By only putting a few things on your list and clearly defining that these must get done, you’ll have a better chance of checking them off of your list and maybe even have time to get to something you hadn’t planned on.
  25. Do the hard work first. Everyone knows what it’s like to have that one totally unpleasant task hanging over your head. It can even cause you to extend other projects just to avoid facing it. If you just get it out of the way you’ll eliminate the stress of worrying about it altogether and feel better for the rest of the day.
  26. Slow down. It might seem to make sense to speed up to get more work done, but the faster you go the more likely you are to make errors which will cost you more time in the long run. So, take your time, slow down, and make sure you get it right the first time around. You’ll save yourself loads of stress later on.
  27. Be firm. Remember that your time is just as important as anyone else’s, and that when you say no, it means no. Set firm limits on your time and how much you’re willing to take on so you won’t get overworked in the first place .
  28. Block out your time. One method of time management is to schedule blocks of time for each kind of task every day. You will then know that part of your day is dedicated to working on certain parts of projects, part for management and so on.
  29. Brainstorm. Often, stress can be a result of a creative blockage. It’s hard to move forward on designing a webpage when you haven’t got the foggiest idea of where to begin. Luckily there are loads of resources on the internet that can help you to work on brainstorming and drawing all those great ideas out of hiding.
  30. Take care of email. Email can be a great friend but it can also very quickly turn into a monster if you let it get out of control. Set aside some time each day to tend to responding and filing your email so that it never gets a chance to overwhelm you. If you need a free program to manage your email try out Thunderbird.
  31. Review what you’ve done. Feel like you aren’t accomplishing a thing? Take a look back at all the things you’ve gotten done each day. It will help you put everything in perspective and see that you are actually making progress, however slowly it may be.
  32. Streamline. There are many tasks that we do every day that take much longer than they should. Take a look at what you’re doing and see if you can’t automate or pare down the steps it takes to get something done. A few minutes each day may not seem like much, but over the course of the week they add up.
  33. Create clear agendas. One of the biggest wasters of time is phone calls and meetings that are entered into without a clear agenda at the outset. Make sure you know what you want to accomplish when you enter into either of these so that you won’t be stuck rolling your eyes as things spiral out of control.
  34. Decide what’s important. So you’ve got a million things to get done today, how do you know where to start? You can begin by prioritizing your tasks. Focus on those things that are the most important and give yourself some slack on the others.
  35. Be flexible. Not everything has to be done the way you first planned it and sometimes a little compromise is completely acceptable if it makes your life considerably easier.
  36. Learn to focus. It’s easy to become distracted when you work at home or on the Internet, both are full of things that are likely a lot more fun that what you’re supposed to be working on. Figure out what it takes to get you focused, whether it’s listening to music, shutting the door to your office or unplugging your computer from the Internet and work on making it happen on a daily basis. You might find out you can get a lot more done in a lot less time than you thought.
  37. Keep communications succinct. Unless you have a reason to have a lengthy phone or email conversation, try to limit the length of your conversations. It isn’t meant to be rude, just to save you time which you could be used to get more pressing things done.
  38. Have clear boundaries. Whether it’s clients or family, some people just don’t respect boundaries and will bother you regardless of what you’re doing. Eliminate the stress of constantly having to multitask or switch between modes by setting clear boundaries of when you’re available for personal and business matters and sticking to them.
  39. Ask yourself why. If you find yourself with far too much on your plate, take a step back and ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing. If you can’t answer or don’t really have a good reason, perhaps it isn’t as important as you at first thought.
  40. Create a routine. Routines aren’t just for cubicle jockeys, they can work well for those working on the Web as well. Try to stick to times when you get up and start working and when you will stop each day. This will help you figure out how much work you need to get done in a given day and space out big projects, making them considerably less stressful in the long run.
  41. Get some sleep. Not sleeping might allow you more time to work on projects, but you won’t be at your best. A few nights without adequate sleep can start to add up and really take a toll on your health. You’ll be better able to cope with your workload, clients, and everyone else when you’re not cranky from lack of sleep.
  42. Personalize your workspace. Make your workspace a much more cheerful place to be in with a little personalization. Hang up a photo of your beloved pet, get a plant, or paper it in photos of your favorite celebrities; whatever makes you feel most at home and happy.
  43. Create a not to do list. While to-do lists are important, it can be equally important to create a not to do list. It can include such distractions as updating your Netflix queue or doing the laundry, whatever you want to prevent yourself from doing or that could help you procrastinate and increase your stress. Best of all, you won’t even have to check anything off because you won’t be doing it.
  44. Get outside. Taking a break to get outside can be just the boost you need to help reduce your stress levels. Sunlight can help raise levels of vitamin D which in turn boost levels of the mood enhancing serotonin
  45. Put it in perspective. Chances are pretty good that it won’t be the end of the world if you don’t get everything done you had set to get done in a day. Remember this the next time you feel too stressed by what you’ve got going on.
  46. Take it out. Everyone gets stressed, the key is to find a healthy way to release that stress, and preferably away from the Internet. Take a kickboxing class, take a shower, do a bit of painting, or whatever helps you calm down after a stressful day.
  47. Find humor. Even the worst and most disparaging situations have a lighter side. When you reach your wit’s end try stepping back and having a laugh at it all. Chances are, it isn’t nearly as bad as you thought.
  48. Be realistic. There are some things that just don’t need to be done perfectly and some that just aren’t going to get done no matter how much sleep you lose. Be realistic in your expectations of yourself and you’ll find it much easier to relax.
  49. Stop procrastinating. It’s easier said than done, but procrastination is one of the biggest creators of stress. With so much fun stuff on the Internet it’s incredibly tempting to surf the Web instead of sticking to your work schedule. If you can’t do it on your own, try using a program like MeeTimer to curb your surfing urges and force yourself to get to work.
  50. Don’t put up with things that don’t work right. Whether it’s an alarm clock, a blog host, or an email system, don’t put up with systems and objects that don’t work right. These add to stress and slow you down.

Top 20 Hilarious and Creative Internet Scams

Tuesday, December 11th, 2007

If you’ve had an e-mail account for more than a couple of years, or even just a couple of months, you’ve probably received an e-mail hoax promising you the opportunity to make millions working from home, asking you to donate money to a fraudulent fund, or just passing along a fascinating (but false) story to elicit a widespread response from the public. While many, truly damaging scams are designed to covertly steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from innocent people, this list is mostly comprised of those hoaxes that are just downright ridiculous.

  1. Lonelygirl15: One of the most popular Internet hoaxes in recent years, the lonelygirl15 teenager named Bree turned out to be nothing more than an actress named Jessica Rose. The YouTube sensation assuredly broke many lonely hearts who thought they shared a special connection with the web cam princess, the show is still going strong with an average of 70 million viewers, all of whom (hopefully) now know that lonelygirl15 isn’t real.
  2. Disney Hoax: Could you imagine receiving a real live e-mail from Walt Disney, Jr. himself? Well, we couldn’t either, but enough people did to make this Disney hoax a real problem. The fraudluent e-mail claims to work with Bill Gates and Microsoft to try out a new e-mail tracing program. The e-mail asks people to forward the e-mail to as many people as possible, and “if it reaches 13,000 people, 1,300 of the people on the list will receive $5,000, and the rest will receive a free trip for two to Disney World for one week during the summer of 1999 at our expense.” We wish.
  3. Show Your Bum Joke: According to Hoax-Slayer.com, this hoax “warns that a man supposedly conducting a survey may come to your door and ask to see your bum.” While this hoax is more of a spoof of a hoax, we just had to include it on our list.
  4. Internet Wedding Scam: Irish and Scottish folk singer Marc Gunn posts on his website a warning for other musicians about the Internet Wedding scam. A person claiming to be a soon-to-be married man named Pitt Andre wanted to book Gunn’s band at their wedding. Agreeing to pay the 50% deposit upfront, the scammer instead sent a check for nearly double the amount, and then asked for a refund making up the difference. A couple of days later, the man e-mailed Gunn to tell him the wedding was off, and that he wanted all of the money back. According to Gunn, the first check “seemed to have cleared” after three days, and his group sent back the $2500. Of course, the original check inevitably bounced, leaving Gunn and his group “miserable…and $2500 poorer.”
  5. Citibank Scam: This scam is pretty tricky. Online banking sites often promise tight security settings and password-protected account access, but even top companies aren’t immune to Internet scams. In 2003, the Citibank website was under siege from a scam artist that designed a pop-up, which “appears to be a Citibank page” and “comes up and asks you to verify your information,” which then “goes to a server in Russia that has nothing to do with Citibank.”
  6. Nikki Leotardo: When the immensely popular HBO series The Sopranos planned its final episode during the summer of 2007, there was much speculation as to how America’s favorite mobsters would end their run on television. After the finale, viewers were left hanging, scratching their heads over what could have happened during the blackout from several suspicious characters looming over the Sopranos’ family dinner. A rumor started circulating on the Internet that the man standing at the counter was Nikki Leotardo, Phil’s nephew who had been on the show before and who could have been out to kill Tony. As it turns out, the whole thing was just a joke, and Sopranos fans are still left in the dark about how the show really ended.
  7. Killer Bananas: In 2000, an Internet hoax about imported bananas containting flesh eating bacteria that “spread faster than the flu,” according to Kathy Means, vice-president of the Produce Marketing Association. Despite efforts to squash the rumor, people panicked, inciting investigative stories in the LA Times and from the Knight Ridder news service.
  8. Neiman Marcus Cookie Hoax: Would you pay $250 for a cookie recipe? What if it came from Neiman Marcus? We hope that you answered no to both of those questions, but one woman claims to have been tricked into paying the absurd amount and then seeks revenge by sending the recipe out in an e-mail blast. As it turns out, Neiman Marcus never put its cookie recipe up for sale and now publishes the recipe on its website, free of charge of course.
  9. Money-at-Home.com: How great would it be to manage your own company from home by turning your computer “into a money-making machine?” Unfortunately, the scammers are the only ones making money with this system. An e-mail invites people to send them money so that they can receive “instructions on where to go and what to download and install on your computer” so that you can run the business and start making lots of money. Even if the instructions actually come, you also have to give the scammers access to your PayPal account, where they can control your online funds.
  10. Deodorant Causes Breast Cancer: Several years ago, a popular e-mail chain circulated the Internet claiming that antiperspirants caused breast cancer. Thankfully, experts debunked the ugly rumor, and women felt comfortable enough to continue using their deodorant.
  11. Don’t Pump Gas on May 15: In May of 2007, an e-mail hoax pleaded with American drivers, “Don’t pump gas on May 15!” The hope was that large oil companies would suffer great financial losses if millions of people refused to fuel up on one single day. An article on CNN reveals that “the chain e-mail urging the gas boycott has been around for several years, surfacing most years in the springtime” and that “many of the numbers in the e-mail are either misleading or flat out wrong.”
  12. Bill Gates Hoax: Poor Bill Gates has found himself involved in another e-mail scam, this time with AOL. As with the Disney hoax, people are rewarded for passing along the chain e-mail in $5.00, $3.00, and $1.00 increments. No Disney vacation included in this one, though.
  13. ATM Security Hoax: Who needs 911 when you’ve got your trusty PIN number? This scam reports that if you need to call the police at an ATM machine, you can subtlely make the call by typing in your PIN number backwards. The website Hoax-Slayer.com reports that the scam “stated that this method of calling the police is very seldom used because people don’t know it exists,” and assures customers that “the machine will still give you the monies you requested,” despite having typed in your code backwards. Um, we don’t think so.
  14. KFC Hoax: Despite what this Internet hoax wants you to believe, the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise does not genetically engineer chicken-related organisms to maximize the amount of meat collected from each creature. This disgusting scam attempt to explain why Kentucky Fried Chicken is now referred to as just KFC, “because they can not use the word chicken anymore. Why? KFC does not use real chickens.”
  15. Internet Auctions: Internet auctioning is a legal business, but it can also be a breeding ground for clever scams and identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission cautions people against phishing e-mails which attempt to steal important passwords and banking information.
  16. The Helius Project: This popular scam is still believed by many people to be concrete evidence that intelligent aliens do exist. The Helius Project pretends to originate from “an alien species” trying to reach out to humans via the Internet. Where are Mulder and Scully when you need them to debunk your online alien rumors?
  17. “Send An Email Ad to 10,000 Opt-in Subscribers”: Number 7 on the “Top 10 Internet Marketing Scams” list from the Real Estate Marketing Tools blog involves a scam that tries to convince innocent people to engage in illegal marketing tactics by sending advertisements to allegedly opt-in e-mail clients. Instead of falling for one of these scams, the author advises readers to start an e-mail campaign themselves, because “that way, you will know for sure that they are opt-in, and you will be able to manage the results.”
  18. 419 Scam: This infamous network of scams is also known as the Nigerian Scam because of its West African origins. About.com reports that “in every variation” of the hoaxes, “the scammer is promising obscenely large payments for small unskilled tasks,” like paying legal and transfer fees out of your own pocket.
  19. Snowball the Monster Cat: You wouldn’t believe a photo of an oversized cat if it was published on the front cover of National Enquirer, would you? If that’s the case, we’re wondering why so many people believed the picture of an 87-pound monster cat that surfaced on the Internet. Unbelievably, the photo was even talked about on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Good Morning America. Supposedly, the cat’s mother was rescued after being found “abandoned near a Canadian nuclear lab” in Canada; however, the cat’s owner admitted to doctoring the photo and starting the hoax.
  20. Dead Fairy Hoax: “If you believe in fairies, then clap your hands!” As with Tinker Bell, clapping your hands won’t bring these little garden fairies back to life, probably because they never existed. An Englishman created and photographed small models of dead and mummified fairies to trick people into believing that fairies once existed. After e-mailing the pictures to friends as an April Fools’ joke, fairy lovers all over the world continue to believe that the photos are real, “even though [the] creator has long since admitted to the hoax,” according to Snopes.com.

If you suspect an e-mail of trying to solicit money or personal information from you, delete it immediately or report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is a federal organization comprised of a joint partnership with the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. While some of these hoaxes seem altogether ridiculous, Internet scamming is no joke.

100+ Places to Post and Share Your Photos Online

Thursday, December 6th, 2007

Personalizing your own Web space to show the world snapshots of your lifestyle has become ever more popular thanks to digital cameras and the increasing number of social networking sites, online photo albums and blogs. Stuffing a dusty photo album with the pictures from your last vacation or family blowout will no longer do. Your adventures deserve a broader audience than the lucky few who drop by your house, and the Internet is the perfect place to showcase your life. Read below for our list of over 100 places to post and share your photos online. Most Popular The following sites feature some of the most sought after photo sharing programs online.

  1. MyPhotoAlbum.com: This website offers users features that will help you create "online photo albums as unique as you are." Once you’ve uploaded your photos, turn them into cards, e-mails invitations and more.
  2. Snapfish: Store and share your photos online for free when you use Snapfish, a company that also lets you create novelty items like mugs and other gifts.
  3. Kodak Gallery: Invite friends and family to browse through your uploaded photos on this site, leaving comments and listening to an audio slideshow as they click through your albums.
  4. Picasa: Google sponsors this Web-based photo album program, which allows users to post and share their own photos as well as "view and save…friends’ photos."
  5. Photobucket: This popular site features free photo and video sharing and image hosting.
  6. Shutterfly: This free online photo sharing system lets you, as well as friends and family, order prints and create calendars from the photos you upload.
  7. AlbumPost: The motto for this purist site is "No ads. Just your pictures." Sign up for a 10-day free trial.
  8. PhotoBox: Keep your albums private, or allow them to be seen by public viewers. PhotoBox also lets users create posters and calendars from their photos.
  9. PixyShare: Check out this basic online photo album to share pictures with family and friends.
  10. Fotopic: Receive your own Web address when you create a photo album with Fotopic.
  11. Album Town: Album Town features free online photo sharing and allows users to create an unlimited number of albums.
  12. PixMatrix: This "free photo album software "helps users design personalized photo albums to share and store digital images online."
  13. Hello: Say hello with a photograph. With this program, "you get to see your photographs together with your friends online" without having to bother with attachments or slow loading times.
  14. Webshots: This immensely popular site sponsors "photo sharing, free wallpaper and free screensavers." Sign up for free to start sharing your images with family and friends.

Networking Sites These sites feature add-ons and accessories for photo hosting sites like Facebook and support their own networking communities for photo lovers.

  1. Fotop: Create an online photo blog using the features provided by fotop. Members also connect with other photographers to form a "fast growing online photo sharing community."
  2. Photo Chart: Vote on other users’ photos and albums or create your own network to share images and connect with photographers around the world.
  3. BytePhoto: Become a member of the BytePhoto community to set up a free online photo album, submit images for regular contests and get feedback from other photographers about your work.
  4. Rock You: Rock You works in conjunction with popular networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to create custom designed photo slideshows of your uploaded digital images.
  5. Ovao: Join this network to post your photos and videos online for everyone to see.
  6. Amiglia: This family tree-plus-photo album site connects families through its networking and photo sharing capabilities.
  7. Mashable: Submit your photos to the social networking news site Mashable, and see if they end up in the top ranked, most viewed, or most discussed categories.
  8. Zooomr: Zooomr is "universally the best way to share, search, store, sort and sell your photos online." Members from all over connect to form an international photography community.
  9. ImageShack: Create an account with ImageShack to create an album or manage photos on Facebook.
  10. Tabblo: This community-based photo sharing and management site offers "rich content-creation tools for both online and print." Set up an online album, or design personalized products inspired by your favorite images.
  11. Twango: Twango is a "free and fun place to share your photos, videos and audio." Join the other members to discuss and rate submissions, leave comments and more.
  12. Photo.net: Photo.net is a website devoted to all things photography. Post your photos to find out what others think of your artistic style, or have fun rating other members’ images.

Privacy Features If you want top-notch security protection when you post your photos on the Web, try using one of these programs to keep your images private.

  1. SmugMug: Post your photos onto this site, and you’ll be looking at your life in a whole new light. High quality images and a promise for "safe and secure" membership make SmugMug a top site.
  2. RitzPix: Only you get to decide which people can view the photos you upload on RitzPix.
  3. PhotoZig: PhotoZig allows you to easily access and control your digital images online with photo albums, slideshow software and other helpful tools.
  4. KoffeePhoto: Try out this free photo sharing program that comes with an ultra secure backup system to keep your pictures safe.
  5. Pickle: This fun site comes with strict privacy settings that let users control who they want to view their photos and videos.
  6. PixVillage: Known as "the Kazaa of photography," PixVillage is an online photo sharing system that provides secure privacy features to its members.
  7. PhotoApe: Sign up with PhotoApe to receive your own URL and start sharing photos with family and friends via a secure login system.
  8. Thumbnail Cafe: Thumbnail Cafe offers "a smarter way to organize and share your photos." Start a free trial subscription to try out the excellent security features.
  9. KeepandShare: This Web-based file sharing community also supports private photo sharing capabilities within private group websites.
  10. Photagious: This inexpensive photo sharing software program has a backup system, member privacy features and beautiful Flash slideshows.
  11. EnjoyMyMedia: This system is a "safe, simple" option for the "free sharing of personal media," including photos.
  12. Crypto Heaven: Crypto Heaven supports secure e-mail, chat services, online storage and file sharing systems for your most private documents and photos.

Community and Forums Meet up with other members to discuss photography and your favorite images on the forums and message boards on these websites.

  1. Picturetrail: Picturetrail is "photo sharing made easy." Design a flipbook to share with friends and the online Picturetrail community.
  2. Magix Online Album: This interactive online photo album offers "high quality Flash designs, breathtaking transitions, mixed albums, [an] audio player with an equalizer and other great features."
  3. Pixagogo: Share your photos by directly linking to individual images, posting your album’s URL, displaying a slideshow or creating and sending e-cards.
  4. AJAX ASP Photo Gallery: This system "is a powerful, easy to install and customize ASP/ASP.NET based photo album software, created for those people who want to have their pictures up and running in 5 minutes, without databases or configuration hassles."
  5. MSN Spaces: Join the Windows community by registering on MSN Spaces. Create your own photo album to share pictures with your new friends.
  6. Phanfare: Upload and manage videos and photo slideshows that you can share with friends and family. Phanfare’s forum connects members for program updates and general photo discussion groups.
  7. ParentShack: This network of family websites and photo albums lets proud parents share journals, images and announcements with relatives and friends.
  8. CrewPixM: Ever want to know what it would be like to work on a movie set? Visit this site to view photos posted from crew members on commercials, music videos and movies.
  9. The Knot: This popular wedding planning community features an online photo sharing option for newlyweds. The wedding party can work with any photographer they choose to set up and organize online albums.
  10. Flickr: Make new friends by making connections through Flickr’s community-based photo sharing website. Users can also organize their various albums, make cards and other items and browse other members’ images.

Travel Adventure junkies will love the photo sharing culture of the following websites, where members upload images and swap stories about all things travel.

  1. Ball of Dirt: This network of travel blogs and online photo albums "lets anyone share their travel photos, stories and experiences on the web for free."
  2. Travel Photo Sharing: This online photo sharing gallery caters to the world traveler. Browse albums from Russia, Taiwan, or Brazil, or create one of your own.
  3. Worldisround: Worldisround is a "global community for sharing photos and exploring the world." Currently boasting more than 650,000 images from around the world, this site also features travel-related articles.
  4. Your Shot Photo Sharing: The "Your Shot" feature on the Travel Channel’s website allows everyday travelers to send in their favorite images from adventures around the world.
  5. Cruise Reviews Photo Sharing: The popular Cruise Reviews website also hosts travel photo albums for travelers to upload their digital images from cruise vacations.
  6. PhotoTraces: Experienced travel photographers can write articles for the blogs on PhotoTraces.com, "an effective promotional tool for photographers publishing articles" and who wish to gain more exposure.
  7. FotoTrekn: FotoTrekn is "where great photo treks begin." Upload your travel pictures, browse public and members only galleries, meet up with other travelers on the forums, or start blogging about your trip on this terrific site.
  8. TravelBlog: TravelBlog members send in photos from their trips all over the globe. Check out the featured photos, which change every 30 minutes, or set up your own album through your travel journal.
  9. Travelpod: Travelpod is another online travelogue that lets travelers post blog entries and share photos with family, friends, and other adventurers.
  10. BootsnAll: This international travelers’ community hosts forums that frequently advertise photography contests, discussions and image sharing.
  11. TravBuddy: This social community made up of enthusiastic travelers lets users share photos, reviews, experiences, blog entries and more.

Members Only Sign up with these photo sharing systems to enter an exclusive online community.

  1. Freewebs: Sign up with Freewebs to share pictures and videos online.
  2. My Photo Tube: Try out this bright, easy-to-use photo sharing site to browse others’ photo albums or create one of your own.
  3. Web-a-photo: Web-a-photo is an easy, free service that helps you view "your photos online." Post pictures from your digital camera or cell phone, view images on your TiVo, or design, print and order personalized gifts.
  4. e-Memories: Share your favorite memories online by creating an online photo album with this easy-to-use system.
  5. Winkflast: This Web-based digital photo center organizes your photos so that you can enjoy "free sharing" and "unlimited storage." Check out their site to order your favorite prints and cards.
  6. myimagebox: This simplistic yet attractive photo sharing system "provides you with all the tools you’ll need to get your photos online today, and create your own online photo album." Myimagebox also comes with a 14-day free trial.
  7. MyOtherDrive.com: MyOtherDrive.com boasts free video, image and file sharing and features a backup disaster recovery system so that you won’t lose your favorite albums.
  8. Sharpcast: The Sharpcast photo sharing system is "pure magic." Edit, upload, view and chat about your photos from any online connection, and the automatic backup system makes sure your images are always safe.
  9. Photovations: Photovations is a free online image hosting system that supports your images for projects like "auctions, bulletin boards, blogs, online stores, personal websites, safe image storage or for any other photo hosting need you might have."

Social Media Sites Facebook, MySpace and other social media sites support photo sharing to connect members.

  1. Facebook: Anyone with an e-mail address can become a member of Facebook, a social networking community that lets users create profiles and upload photos.
  2. MySpace: One of the original social media communities, MySpace is another site where members can personalize their pages with their own images.
  3. Friendster: Post your photos on Friendster, and see if they end up in the Featured Photos or Most Discussed categories.
  4. LiveJournal: According to the website, "you can use LiveJournal in many different ways: as a private journal, a blog, a discussion forum, a social network, and more." Members often post photos to share with friends or create profiles.
  5. Xanga: Members post photos, weblogs, videos and more to connect with friends and make new contacts on Xanga.
  6. Reunion: Searching for friends and family members on Reunion is the ultimate way to get back in touch. Upload photos or look through the galleries already on Reunion to find people from your past.
  7. imeem: This social media site "is an online community where millions of fans and artists discover new music, videos, and photos, and share their tastes with friends."

Software and Downloads Check out these software programs and special downloads to access superior photo management and photo sharing tools.

  1. Magic Gallery: This software program "includes tools to resize photos and create online web albums." Learn how to touch up images, create an album and publish photos online.
  2. Extreme Thumbnail Generator: Download this professional photo gallery for office appropriate images and slideshows.
  3. Web Album Maker: The Web Album Maker "is a web photo album generator that creates online photo slideshow from your digital photos using unique and highly professional Flash or HTML theme templates." Download a free trial or buy the software package by visiting the site.
  4. inAlbum 3.0: Use inAlbum to "help you turn your digital photos and videos into stunning photo albums." Choose from more then 100 templates, features and videos to customize your album.
  5. Web Gallery Wizard: Web Gallery Wizard claims to be the "world’s best online photo album software."
  6. PhotoOnWeb: The PhotoOnWeb software helps users design custom photo albums in which to showcase their digital images online.
  7. EZ Thumbnail Builder: The EZ Thumbnail Builder "supports 20+ popular image formats," making it a popular, effective tool for creating online photo albums.
  8. Concentric: Concentric account holders obtain free domain names for online photo sharing.
  9. Diino: Diino’s Internet desktop comes with a more-than-capable online photo sharing system that can be accessed from any computer via a Diino account.
  10. Shaw Photo Share 2.0: If you use Shaw’s e-mail services, you can create a your own online photo album supported by the same system.
  11. Online Photo Filer: This software program "gives you an online photo album site for sharing photos, as well as easy-to-use editing tools to make sure your photos look their very best." Once you’ve set up the account, visitors to your photo site can click through the galleries without having to log in or sign up.

Miscellaneous From pets to parties, these sites keep photo sharing fun.

  1. Angelfire: Sign up for free to learn how to set up your own Angelfire photo albums that allow you to share and store thousands of images.
  2. Shokase: This Windows-compatible online photo album is just a download away!
  3. Tamron photo sharing: Tamron USA encourages photographers to post and share their favorite pictures taken with Tamron lenses.
  4. Bravenet: Bravenet’s free web tools and web hosting site also sponsors free photo albums, where users can "store view and share" digital photos.
  5. Web Album Generator: Check out this free online photo album generator from ornj.net to create your own unique photo sharing space.
  6. ImageStation: This popular site is closing soon, so if you’re already a member, download, transfer or order images from this Sony-sponsored site.
  7. Tripod: Tripod Tutorials teaches visitors how to make their own Tripod-sponsored online photo album using just a few easy tricks.
  8. Photocast: This brilliant photo hosting and sharing site provides editing and management tools for photographers who want to easily and effectively make the most of their digital images.
  9. BubbleShare: BubbleShare awards its users with unlimited storage space. Play around with the clipart and audio and video captions to jazz up your images.
  10. Dogphoria: Tagged as "the world’s cutest social network," Dogphoria posts adorable and hilarious photos of dogs daily.
  11. PartyPop: Consider enlisting the services of PartyPop to showcase your wedding, anniversary or party photos online.
  12. PBase: PBase Magazine also has an online site for photographers to upload and share pictures from all over the world.
  13. 23: This attractive site lets users easily upload an unlimited number of photos and then e-mail them out to friends and family, who can view your images without having to sign up for their own account.
  14. Slide: Create slideshows and decorate your digital images with clipart, YouTube clips and various skins to share your photos with friends in a clever new way.
  15. ZingFu: Online photo sharing gets a new twist with the zany features on this site. Upload your images, and then tack on funny (or creepy) backgrounds to give pictures a little more edge.
  16. Fotki: Fotki provides free, unlimited photo hosting for blogs, regular photo contests and online photo galleries and albums.

Domainer Required Reading: 100 Great Blog Posts

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. The Advantage Of Owning Generic Domains: Learn how investing in generic domain names can help you to bring in more revenue than before.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Valuing Domain Names: This in-depth series of executive MBA program articles from Domaining.org.uk tells you everything you need to know about valuing domain names.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Domainer’s Cheat Sheet: This checklist from The Conceptualist can help even experienced buyers out there to make better informed domain name purchases.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Becoming a Real Domain Business: Give this article a read if you’re ready to make the leap from domain dabbler to domain professional.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. Top Ten Domain Name Tools for Beginners: Those just starting out will appreciate this list of domaining tools from Amateur Domainer.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.

  1. Who Is Monitoring Your Domain Searches?: Is someone watching every domain you search for and reverse engineering online your tactics? It’s entirely possible that they are and are taking your ideas. Learn all about this practice in this article from Daily Domainer.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Domainers are not Cybersquatters: Domainers often unfairly get lumped in with more unsavory online profiteers and this posting takes issue with it.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Hunting for Typosquatters: Learn how businesses and domainers are searching for typosquatters using CitizenHawk.
  9. Domain Tasting is a Despicable Practice: Rick Schwartz really dislikes domain tasting and you’ll understand why after reading this blog posting.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Millionaire Domainers: Need a little inspiration? This blog posting lists all the known domainers who have made it big.
  6. Domain Turf Protection: Learn how to protect your domain investments in this helpful article from Domain Name News.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Preparing Yourself For a Domain Transfer: Getting ready to make a switch? Read this posting first to see how you can prepare yourself.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. What’s the Difference Between a Domain Name Transfer and a Push?: Learn the difference in terminology with this posting from Domainer Pro.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Disposable Traffic and The Power of You: Learn about the power of developing your domains in this posting from Frank Schilling.
  4. 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.
  5. What is Traffic?: Get the basics on site traffic from this posting at Whizzbangs.
  6. 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.
  7. The Importance of Domain Names for SEO: Learn how domain names can affect your search engine visibility in this posting from DotSauce.
  8. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. A Wiki For Every Domain Name: See how integrating your domains with wikis can help bring in load of visitors.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. The Line in the Sand: Rick Schwartz lays out his opinions on domaining in this blog posting.
  9. A Content Site for Every Domain Name Powered By Yahoo!: Explore the future of parked and advertising domains in this blog posting.
  10. Truth to Power: Need some motivation to get in gear? Then read this blog from Rick Schwartz.
  11. The 4 Types of Domainers: Which type of domainer are you? Find out in this posting from Domainer’s Gazette.
  12. 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.
  13. Who Should Own a Domain Name?: This posting from The Hot Iron discusses the sensitive issue of who domain names should rightfully belong to.
  14. 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.
  15. Expired But Not Gone: Learn all about the process of domain registration and expiration in this post from Daily Domainer.
  16. The House Always Wins: Domainer and blogger Drank Schilling explains how domain names can affect PPC arbitrage.
  17. 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.

The Twitter Toolset: 50+ Guides, Hacks, and Scripts

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. TwitterBox: Fans of Second Life will love this plugin which allows users to receive updates and messages from Twitter while in Second Life.
  5. TikiTwit: Designed for Mac users, this plugin will allow you to automatically sync up your Twitter status with your iChat status.
  6. Twessenger: Bring your Windows Messenger and Twitter together with this plugin. Your Messenger status will update whenever you change your Twitter status.
  7. 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.
  8. Twit-Twoo: This simple plugin allows you to update your Twitter status right from your blog.
  9. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. What’s Up?: This gadget allows you to see the latest updates to your friend’s twitters right on your desktop.
  3. 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.
  4. Twitteriffic: This tiny client for Mac users makes it possbile to easily publish and read tweets as well as view profiles and timelines.
  5. Tweeter: This Java-based Twitter client has a fully customizable user interface to make your experience as personalized as possible.
  6. Twinja: This desktop client for PC and Macs allows users to easily send messages, timelines, updates and even follow your favorite users.
  7. TwitterPost: TwitterPost is a simple client that allows Twitter users to post new updates, integrate their iTunes into their Twitter and much more.
  8. Twitterlicious: Take all the work out of updating Twitter with Twitterlicious. Change your status and easily send and receive messages with this Windows client.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Twit!: Windows Mobile users can spruce up their cells with this simple app, designed to help you avoid racking up those expensive SMS charges.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. iTweet: Take your Twittering to your iPhone with this slick mobile app designed to work on Safari, offering features designed especially for mobile browsing.
  7. 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.
  8. TreoTwit: This program is designed to make using Twitter easy from your Treo.
  9. 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.

  1. Newbie’s Guide to Twitter: Get in the know about Twitter with this extensive guide for newbies from WebWare.
  2. Twitter Guide: This multi-part series will take you through everything you need to know about how and why to use Twitter.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. Twitter Vision: This web app shows a real-time visual display of the Twitter stream as users from all over the world create updates.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. TwitterFeed: Feed your blog directly into your Twitter account with this simple web-based tool.
  7. 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.
  8. TwitterSearch: This tool allows you to search through all Twitter users and postings to find the information or person you’re looking for.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. TwitterNotes: This helpful tool lets you share public or private notes via Twitter.

The eCommerce Customer Service Checklist: 50 Things Every Business Should Be Doing

Monday, November 26th, 2007

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.

The Del.icio.us Toolbox: 50+ Del.icio.us-related Scripts, Tools, and Tutorials

Monday, November 5th, 2007

Del.icio.us users are clued in to one of the Web’s simplest social media secrets. As a no-frills information sharing community of news junkies, techie geeks, science enthusiasts, and lifestyle and culture trendsetters, del.icio.us offers its members a place to share and discuss the articles that are documenting the world’s most current and pressing stories. Though the site operates on a relatively simple bookmarking system, there are lots of new tools and apps that can enhance your already del.icio.us experience. Official Tools These items were created by the del.icio.us team. Learn how to use and adapt the official tools, buttons, and applications for maximum fun and convenience.

  1. Del.icio.us Buttons: This page explains how to use the "post to del.icio.us" and "my del.icio.us" buttons.
  2. Firefox Plugin: Install the Firefox plugin to set up a del.icio.us search box within your Firefox toolbar.
  3. Del.icio.us URL Search: Discover a story’s del.icio.us history by entering its URL in the search box.
  4. Linkrolls: Want to let all your friends know what you’ve been reading on del.icio.us? Set up linkrolls on your Web site or blog so that visitors can click on your bookmarks.
  5. Firefox Extension: Add a "my del.icio.us" button or a "tag this" button to your Firefox toolbar for quick bookmarking.
  6. Internet Explorer Active Channel: If you’re not a Firefox user, use the Active Channel to "keep your bookmarks in sync with Internet Explorer" for easy access to your del.icio.us favorites.
  7. Play Tagger (for mp3s): Use the Play Tagger to listen to mp3s directly from your del.icio.us account. You can also integrate the music files onto your Web site through your bookmarks.
  8. JSON Feeds: This JavaScript tool allows users to custom organize and display all their del.icio.us data, from bookmarks to apps.

Scripts The following codes will allow you to create your own tools and custom design your del.icio.us account.

  1. Apple Scripts: jChris, author of the blog Daytime Running Lights, provides a script for posting stories directly to del.icio.us from NetNewsWire.
  2. Bookmark This: This clever timesaver posts a "bookmark this" link next to the Comments box on each post.
  3. ar.icio.us: Organize your del.icio.us RSS feeds with the help of ar.icio.us, a handy tool that "uses a cache directory to store your bookmarks."
  4. introsp.icio.us: Software engineer Jonathan Aquino whipped up this script to help your del.icio.us account retrieve stories that you’re interested in. How does it work? Del.icio.us "lists the tags that are most frequently used in your links."
  5. Greasemonkey Del.icio.us Director: This script is a more user-friendly version of the original del.icio.us direc.tor, a tool which effectively manages accounts with extra-large amounts of data.
  6. dashLicious: This widget lets you post to your del.icio.us account directly from your browser or NetNewsWire, with optimum privacy options and new shortcuts.
  7. Familiar Taste: Another Greasemonkey script, Familiar Taste works with your Firefox browser to let you know whether or not Web pages have already been bookmarked.
  8. Auto-Complete: This application allows users the option of auto completing their posts, by retrieving common tags and data from their past del.icio.us posts.
  9. Link Checker: This perl script checks links to make sure they’re still operable, even if they’ve been sitting in the del.icio.us archives for a long time.
  10. Del.icio.us.ness: Create a new skin for your del.icio.us pages with this fun script.
  11. Del.icio.us + Gmail: Connect your del.icio.us and Gmail accounts with this script in order to save a copy of all your bookmarked pages, and then search through them quickly and easily.
  12. Del.icio.us Publishing Assistant: Jeffrey Veen’s guide instructs readers on the "easiest way to publish del.icio.us links on your site" by using JavaScript.
  13. Del.icio.us backup: The del.icio.us backup is a ruby script that generates backup copies of your bookmarks in a sqlite database.

Add-ons and Plugins Check out these clever tools that will help you manage your del.icio.us account in ways you never thought possible.

  1. Mischievous: This tool lets del.icio.us users "drag and drop" interesting links into a separate, saved list so that you can go back and read them whenever you find the time.
  2. Del.icio.us Complete: This add-on opens up a new sidebar when you run Firefox and manages a post dialog box.
  3. Randomizer Button: If you’re not sure what you feel like reading, click the Randomizer button, which will bring up new stories in random categories.
  4. Lazy Sheep: Lazy Sheep is a bookmarklet that’s perfect for del.icio.us addicts. Learn how to turn on the auto-tag and auto-describe settings so that "tagging a page" becomes a "one-click operation."
  5. Hunt and Gather: This in-the-works del.icio.us accessory finds and opens tabs of stories that contain the user’s favorite tags.
  6. Foxylicious: This Firefox add-on makes room for del.icio.us bookmarks on the Internet browser.
  7. Save This Page: Post this button on your blog or Web site, so that readers can conveniently submit your story to del.icio.us.
  8. delic 123: This add-on awards your regular Firefox toolbar mega search capabilities, when used with del.icio.us. Search for tags, stories, and links on a global or personal scale. Also works with Flock and Iceweasel.
  9. One-Click Delete: If you’d like to speed up the deletion process on your del.icio.us posts, install this extension, which only requires one click to erase the entire passage.
  10. Safarilicious: If you’re new to del.icio.us but already have a list of bookmarked favorites on Safari, use this tool to export your favorites to your del.icio.us account.

Visualizations If you’re more interested in searching for and viewing stories, tags, and other del.icio.us data as graphs or images, use these tools to alter your settings.

  1. Surf: Browse del.icio.us tags and stories with the Surf tool, which "lets you ‘channelsurf’" through the Web.
  2. LiveMarks: LiveMarks is a real time listing of new del.icio.us submissions. Click on a title you find interesting as it rains down the page.
  3. Hub Log: This visualization tool displays del.icio.us tags in a mind mapping-style graph.
  4. Most Popular Treemap: This treemap reveals del.icio.us’ most popular stories in an easy-to-follow style.
  5. Del.icio.us Mind: This mindmapping program displays tags and organizes your other del.icio.us data into a comprehensive graph.
  6. SlashLinks: Mirror the links and posts on the del.icio.us Web site onto your own blog so that your site doesn’t slow down or even crash. Check out the link for more information on custom designing the design and layout and setting up archives.
  7. Delicious Soup: Delicious Soup is "a tool that "reveals your del.icio.us activities" to friends and visitors of your profile and Web site.
  8. Revealicious: Manage your account more easily by setting up Revealicious, a tool that displays all your data in a graphing system.
  9. Cloudalicious: View your del.icio.us tags as they float around the screen as cloud images.
  10. Delancey: Delancey organizes and manages users’ bookmarks "by keeping track of which ones are used most frequently," and differentiating frequented sites from the not-so-popular ones.
  11. Del.icio.us Presentation Center: Want a new way to display your recent bookmarks? Create a slideshow of the last twenty articles you saved using this stylish tool.

Unofficial Extras These entertaining tools and apps were designed to make your del.icio.us experience even better.

  1. Wordpress Plugins: These Wordpress extras help implement del.icio.us onto your blog.
  2. Fresh Del.icio.us: Download Fresh Del.icio.us to keep track of dead or moved links.
  3. Del.icio.us Java API: This tool is perfect for Web developers, who want to hack into del.icio.us with Java.
  4. Deliwin: Windows-users will love Deliwin, a tool that effectively stores, files and manages all your del.icio.us bookmarks.
  5. Taga.licio.us: Organize your del.icio.us tags with this application, which creates pages of favorite links on your Wordpress blog.
  6. Sid.vicio.us: Got writer’s block? Use this tool to help you generate new tags for your articles.
  7. Oishii!: Find out what other users have just bookmarked by checking Oishii, a site that "polls the del.icio.us front page every 5 minutes, and returns all sites bookmarked by at least 30 people."
  8. Excel Backup: Backup your bookmarks and other data with Excel by following this simple how-to.
  9. FeedFlare: Find out how well your material fares on del.icio.us with the help of FeedFlare, a tool that "will reflect the number of saves and the top three tags for each item in your post."
  10. Thumblicious: This tool displays popular web pages on the screen as thumbnails. Browse titles by category, and then click on the images to read the full article.