Website Design Blog of Alfred Fox
I wanted to take a moment and review a new website that has HUGE potential. Listomi.com. Listomi is a start-up that has taken user generated content to a new level. The ambitious title: "Cataloging the Universe", is exactly what this website is about. Think of a Wikipedia for lists. Lists of EVERYTHING!
It's amazing how beneficial this website has and will become. I didn't realize how valuable having a central repository for lists of everything could be. There are very few websites who are ambitious enough to take on such a task. Out of the very few that have tried none are growing as rapidly as Listomi.
- Currently Listomi offers the following features:
- Free accounts to anyone who wishes to contribute
- Create an infinite amount of lists
- Modify existing lists that you've created
- Stats for each list on Listomi (Records, Views, Creator, etc)
- Browse by list or categories
- Search all lists and categories
- "Share this list with a friend" feature
- Bookmark and Share popular lists via Digg, Technorati, del.icio.us, and others
- Contact any creator of a list for questions or revisions simply
- Much more
The Listomi developers are always adding new features and respond to any inquiries very quickly. If you have questions or suggestions or would simply like to extend your appreciation for this new services feel free to drop them a line and let them know.
I encourage everyone to sign up and participate as this is a great service that needs everyone's help to grow. It's a great idea that's worthy of the little bit of time it takes to contribute.
Here's some screenshots of Listomi's sleek Web 2.0 interface.
The Estetica Graphic Design and Web Design Forum which opened at the start of 2008 is offering Graphic Design and Web Design blogs to add their live RSS feeds to the Graphic Design Blog section. This means when you post on your blog it automatically posts it as a forum post with a link back to your blog meaning if the post is interesting enough, traffic will be driven towards your blog.
To add your Feed, sign up at the forum and use the contact form to tell the admin team why you feel your blog would be of interest to the readers. This is a great way to boost readers on your blog and also be part of a growing Graphic Design & Web Design Community.
As well as the forum the team have also launched a Social Bookmarking and Voting system for Designers using Pligg called Graphic Design Links.
This also has the ability to add your RSS feeds from your blog to automatically add your blog post link to the sections for people to comment and vote on and is also a free link back to your blog. To add your feed here contact the forum admin as above.
** If you have not read Part I of this story, please do so, It'll make much more sense.
On 9/20/2007 I posted about an experiment I'd been conducting to boost my search engine ranking for the key words I was aiming for. Freelance Website Design and Website Design... At the time of this post, I am currently #4 on Google for 'Freelance Website Design' and #36 on Google for 'Website Design'. A very unexpected bi product of my experiment was an increase in page rank. This may not be completely unexpected, but I was more than surprised. While I was receiving commendation from Google, others were being punished for things that didn't seem to be in violation ofGoogle's Policies.
Even Higher Ranking, and What? A Boost in PR?
I am now a PR4. My website, as it is now, is approximately 6 months old (I've had other things up here, but only for private use in the past). Here is an update as to what I've been up to in the last two months. Once again, if you have not yet read Part I of this, it probably won't make much sense. So for the last two months I've done nothing. I've not had any time to even read blogs let alone post comments in them. I've been inundated with work and life. Also, as before, I've taken a strict, noSEO policy to my ranking approaches. Surprisingly, despite two months of inactivity, my PR has jumped 3 points and I've acquired an even higher position for my sought after key phrase 'Website Design'.
What Was Expected
Ever since the beginning of this I've been wondering whether this would be effective or not for several reasons. The main being that many blogs seem to have no-follow on their comment links / names, and also the fact that people may simply delete my comment regardless of how absolutely not spam it is simply because I use a key word instead of my actual name. So far, here are the results...
Definitely Not Comment Spamming!
Being that my rank is still climbing and holding steady as well as the fact that I've gained more PR, I would have to think that blog owners realize how benign people using keywords for names really is. No matter what you think or how you look at it, a spam post is a spam post. No ifs ands or buts. However, simply using a keyword in your name instead of your actual name does not constitute a spam post, as your post is still just as valuable as the person ahead or behind you. Besides,spammers are the cancer of the Internet, and are very easily spotted. Oh hey guys, you want to buy some Cialis ? Viagra perhaps? Seriously, any one who thinks swapping out your name for a keyword on a comment we were already going to leave is the same as spam needs to recheck their spam folders and seriously rethink which is actually harmful and a pain in the arse.
No-Follow, Google, and Wordpress
I've not looked into how many of the blogs I've left comments in are in fact no-follow, nor do I really care. My guess is, with these numbers, that most blogs are either not no-follow, or that Google has been pulling a leg or two with what they've stated regarding No-Follow links. My guess, however, is the first. My guess is most people do not care whether their links are no follow or not. Mine aren't as I do not have a problem with people leaving an insightful comment, and getting a free link back out of the deal. I'm simply thrilled that people stop by and read what I've written.
Conclusion
There are still many ways to increase ranking, do SEO, and boost your traffic without spending money. The Blogosphere is a great community that provides numerous opportunities to meet others, share ideas, learn, and now increase your traffic, yes, even without Blog Rush. I for one am happy to be apart of it, regardless of how small my role actually is.
As always, thanks for reading. I've been on hiatus lately due to work and such, but I'm going to try to step it up. (For my small handful of subscribers :) )
I usually don't do this, but in my un-thwarted conquest for "blogdom" without Wordpress, I've lost the ability to do trackbacks. I was never big on them anyway, but I came across some great advice today I wanted to share. This is not my own advice, but the advice of Seth Godin
Here are principles I think you can't avoid:
1. Fire the committee. No great website in history has been conceived of by more than three people. Not one. This is a dealbreaker.
2. Change the interaction. What makes great websites great is that they are simultaneously effortless and new at the same time. That means that the site teaches you a new thing or new interaction or new connection, but you know how to use it right away. (Hey, if doing this were easy, everyone would do it.)
3. Less. Fewer words, fewer pages, less fine print.
4. What works, works. Theory is irrelevant.
5. Patience. Some sites test great and work great from the start. (Great if you can find one). Others need people to use them and adjust to them. At some point, your gut tells you to launch. Then stick with it, despite the critics, as you gain traction.
6. Measure. If you’re not improving, if the yield is negative... kill it.
7. Insight is good, clever is bad. Many websites say, “look at me.” Your goal ought to be to say, "here’s what you were looking for."
8. If you hire a professional: hire a great one. The best one. Let her do her job. 10 mediocre website consultants working in perfect harmony can’t do the work of one rock star.
9. One voice, one vision.
10. Don’t settle.
I agree with every aspect of his post and especially like the first and last points. The first "Fire the committee" Is a necessity. It is a travesty to work with 5 strong minded individuals who all have their own agenda for one website. Keep the numbers small and the success will be great.
The last "Don't settle". I think this speaks for itself. It is your website, it should be everything you want it to be! No exceptions.
Great Post Seth!
Visit Seth's Website. It's great, I go there often.
I've recently had the privilege to work with an organization which I think will make a huge impact on many young adults. I love the work that I do and I really enjoy the different websites I get to work with. But once in a while something comes a long that is more than just business. A website which serves a higher purpose than simply making money and generating more business.
MyTinCup.com is a website with a very altruistic mission :
...During my work with students, I have found the single most important concern of the students I work with is their student loan debt and their survival once repayment begins.
This website was developed in response to the question, "how can I help?"
The ultimate goal of the Tin Cup Student Loan Relief Fund is to become a non-profit organization helping thousands of students and graduates to help repay student loans...
Many people who go to College are left with a huge amount of debt. This can cut into a students ability to save for retirement or even save period. There are countless articles to be read as well as personal experiences shedding light on this growing problem. I was really excited when this project came to me and was happy to help.
First of all, I'm not a very big fan of money. It has the power to turn people into horrible individuals and it causes problems and strain on almost everyone. It's a shame, but the way our societies are geared... he with the most money often fairs best. I've always sympathized with people trying to work out college expenses because it is becoming increasingly difficult to acquire a job / career that pays enough and is fulfilling enough without some degree of extra schooling / higher education. This presents large problems for anyone who can't afford it or those who go into debt trying to afford it.
If you are a College Graduate or Student, please sign up. This is a free service which allows those with debt acquired from college expenses to create a Profile, Blog, About Me page, and more. Everyone receives a free donation page which automatically hooks up to your Paypal account so anyone stopping by can donate. It's a great service that I think many can benefit from.
MyTinCup.com - Student Loan Relief Fund
If you would like to help spread the word feel free to send this link to people you know can use it or click HERE to DIGG this article. You can also use the button below to bookmark it via your favorite social bookmarking sites.
If you have any questions or ideas please leave a comment or visit the website.
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