Gaia: The Momentum Group - Off Topic

Re: Getting yourself known (SEO Primer)

http://fredbliss.gaia.com — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:38:21 GMT

Hi Kathy,

Okay, this is a good start. You are doing great, by the way! Thank you for offering to refer people to me, that really means alot ;)

The short answer is to check out SEOBook, a site which specializes in this subject matter.

The long answer involves sort of a primer on SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which I have written about below. Hope this helps!

You are referring to "SEO" or "Search Engine Optimization". It is of course everyone's goal to get listed on the first page of Google for broad search terms. Doing that is a never-ending process, but there are tools that can help you link build to increase PageRank, Google's measure of the "importance" of your site, which is used to rank pages for search terms.

Years ago, it was fairly easy to gain headway with Google. The search algorithm was not complex, and it didn't ever change. However, with the introduction of "Black Hat" SEO techniques, Google has found out that to maintain credibility as a search engine, they have to be as impartial as possible and to rank pages judiciously. Hence, the new and improved (and ever-changing) google search algorithms.

I can't possibly attempt to turn this post into a crash-course on SEO, but what I can tell you is that the best and most cost effective thing you should do right now is to stick to basic good practices to get your site noticed. These "good practices" include (but aren't limited to)

On a limited scope:
   - Keywords and Descriptions
   - A correctly configured "robots.txt" file (written to encourage search engines to "crawl" or "spider" your site)

More important (because it's harder to manipulate):

- Good content
- Quality inbound links from other sites (larger PageRank sites linking to your site will have a big effect on your PageRank) Everyone is chasing PageRank, and if you can get to a PR of 7, you will start seeing some major improvements in traffic. It's not easy to do but with a solid plan and good content you will eventually get close or get to it.
- Keyword density (Google keyword density to learn more)

Critical Do's and Don'ts

Do:
- Make sure that you keep your site content fresh, meaning, update it regularly
- Pick a keyword (or maybe a couple) you want to target for a first-page result (any more is too much time & effort unless you have the manpower to do so)
- Look at what competitors are including in their web pages for content and how they write copy for the site. View the source code behind the web page, and examine their meta tags (up at the top of the code file, there are META tags in the HEAD area that contain (usually) Keywords and a Site Description)
- Ask questions of others who are SEO specialists. Think of this as free help which other companies pay up to or even more than $400/hour for
- Educate and keep learning techniques that are white-hat, legitimate approaches
- Set up and faithfully write in a weblog with an RSS Feed, and a RSS assisting tool (I recommend Feedburner, it's free!)
- Try to get listed in the DMOZ.org directory. It isn't as powerful as it used to be, but it's relatively easy to get listed, it's a human-built directory, and that gives you "street cred" with Google. It is not maintained as faithfully as it was in the past, when Google and other search engines relied on it, but it can't hurt. Just make sure you have a site that a human being would consider legitimate and not just a one-page placeholder. They will reject sites that are thin on content.

Don't:
- Allow someone to convince you to spend money letting them do this work for you, unless you have a clear marketing strategy and can develop a plan with them
- Get involved with "Black Hat" SEO tools
- Try to otherwise "game" Google by loading in hidden text full of keywords, hoping to get better coverage. This is now detectable by Google.
- Freely link to whomever offers you a link exchange. Be selective. 10,000 links are pretty useless if they drive traffic to your site that is not looking for what you have.

I've just barely, BARELY scratched the surface of this stuff. I'm not an expert, I'm giving you what I know from my past experience, but I haven't spent a lot of time on it lately. If you are looking for some help, my time is best spent getting you set up and running with a blog and RSS feed, as that will lead to quick traffic boosts and (was/is) a quicker way to build PageRank.

There are several free tools available to help you monitor your progress and to help you improve your rankings, too many to list here, but if you Google "SEO, Open Source, software" you should get some decent results.

In order to view PageRank, you need the Google Toolbar or something similar. I recommend getting it, but know that they are monitoring your activity on-line to a certain extent, for the purpose of helping them accurately index the Internet.

I know this was a lot to take in, but it should be a good primer.

Best,

Fred

Re: Getting yourself known

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 22:51:43 GMT

Thanks Fred...

I am trying so hard to pass my computer 101. Sometimes its hard to ask questions off of a concept that is hanging in my mind.

I think viral marketing or word of mouth. Or what crawlers are the ones that my friends on myspace use to get their music known.

Senior to that, what would be the best program for the Mac to get known at the top of the list at Google.

As soon as I can structure this I can refer people to use you Fred.

Thanks...I would rather have my buddies and friends use your services.
Kath

Re: Getting yourself known

http://fredbliss.gaia.com — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:47:22 GMT

Hi Kathy

I'm not entirely clear on your question, but are you wondering how to make it look, feel, and how to market it? That, of course, is a big question, and I can probably assist you, but if you can give me more specifics, that would be very helpful.

Best,

Fred

Re: Getting yourself known

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:34:09 GMT

Guys...what is the best web programming
to getting your sites known?

Thanks...
Kathy

Administrative Scale for getting goals and targets achieved...

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:32:41 GMT

Goals
A goal is a known objective toward which actions are directed with the purpose of achieving that end.

Purposes
A purpose is a lesser goal applying to specific activities or subjects. It often expresses future intentions.

Policy
Policy consists of the operational rules or guides for the organization which are not subject to change.

Plans
A plan is a short-range broad intention thought up for the handling of a broad area to remedy it or expand it, or to obstruct or impede an opposition to expansion.

Programs
A program is a series of steps in sequence to carry out a plan.

Projects
A project is a sequence of steps written to carry out one step of a program.

Orders
An order is a verbal or written direction to carry out a program step or apply general policy.

Ideal Scenes
An ideal scene expresses what a scene or area ought to be. If one has not envisioned an ideal scene with which to compare the existing scene, he will not be able to recognize departures from it.

Statistics
A statistic is a number or amount compared to an earlier number or amount of the same thing. Statistics refer to the quantity of work done or the value of it.

Valuable Final Products
A valuable final product is a product that can be exchanged for the services or goods of the society.

This scale is worked up and worked down UNTIL IT IS (EACH ITEM) IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THE REMAINING ITEMS.

In short, for success, all these items in the scale must agree with all other items in the scale on the same subject.

Let us take “golf balls” as a subject for the scale. Then all these scale items must be in agreement with one another on the subject of golf balls. It is an interesting exercise.

The scale also applies in a destructive subject. Like “cockroaches.”

When an item in the scale is not aligned with the other items, the project will be hindered, if not fail.

The skill with which all these items in any activity are aligned and gotten into action is called MANAGEMENT.

Group members only become upset when one or more of these points are not aligned to the rest and at least some group agreement.

Groups appear slow, inefficient, unhappy, inactive or quarrelsome only when these items are not aligned, made known and coordinated.

Any activity can be improved by debugging or aligning this scale in relation to the group activity.

As lack of agreement breeds lessened communication and lessened affinity, it follows that unreal items on the scale (not aligned) produce upsets and disaffection.

It then follows that when these scale items are well aligned with each other and the group, there will be high agreement, high communication and high affinity in the group.

Group mores aligned so and followed by the group gives one an ethical group and also establishes what will then be considered as harmful, contrasurvival acts in the group by group members.

This scale and its parts and ability to line them up are one of the most valuable tools of organization.

Work this scale on something small first like a dinner party...create an Ideal Scene and fill in the blanks on what valuable final product do you want to exchange with your guest(s)...then try it on for size on one of your work projects. Works like magic.
Kathy
e-mail me for the $5.00 book that goes along with this if you are interested.

Re: Getting yourself known

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:31:16 GMT

http://alternativefinancial.zaadz.com/

Our latest zaadzster that should be invited here.

http://alternativefinancial.zaadz.com/

I can't put her book down on finance. I got it off the pdf on her site
and she has the solutions for the artists on finance writing in
such a way that anyone can start finance and make it.

A must read!
Kath

Re: Getting yourself known

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Thu, 17 May 2007 07:10:10 GMT

Thank you Michael and Mermaid ~

Nothing is off track. If the entire Zaadz community could see this and apply the simple steps as well as both contributions they too would experience the magic of getting out of non existence. When in doubt COMMUNICATE. One tip on expansion is to still be with yourself comfortably. The considerations about not moving up or keep up held back are just that. Considerations.

Sometimes just eating the right nutrition and getting enough sleep, hygine time and friends gives way to the bravery of allowing yourself to move forward to new teams.

After our all getting ourselves known I am next going to show how to go through the fomula that goes with getting out of danger. When working with a team and bypassing others and just doing their job puts us at risk. Even at home, if it's someones duty to cook and clean for exchange - simply bypassing them and doing that will create animocity for doing someone elses job without agreement or making them feel guilty for not doing something in the first place if promised. This could go with any example in the workplace, so working through that type of danger will ensure a happy team with the ability to expand further.

Meantime, I love the new discoveries here.
Kathy

Re: Getting yourself known

http://Morgenlicht.gaia.com — Thu, 10 May 2007 14:51:01 GMT

great advice :)

Re: COMPUTER TALK: Ever wonder how big a mb is vs a kb, etc.

Thu, 10 May 2007 08:46:21 GMT

yes, i had seen that one before, here is another one about sizes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfs1t-2rrOM

;)

®

Re: Getting yourself known

Thu, 10 May 2007 08:38:30 GMT

i read in one (or two) of the books by Carlos Castaneda about Don Juan, that he teaches him:
When dealing with people, Always give them you complete attention, &
Never let the other know that You are in control.

:)

®

Re: COMPUTER TALK: Ever wonder how big a mb is vs a kb, etc.

http://Morgenlicht.gaia.com — Thu, 10 May 2007 08:27:26 GMT

Great posts!! I definitely have to use these in my next Info Tech talk at my company...I work with a lot of low tech people that have trouble relating to size.

Have you seen the Did You Know video on the web yet? Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHWTLA8WecI Some interesting numbers presented in this video.

Re: Getting yourself known

http://Morgenlicht.gaia.com — Thu, 10 May 2007 07:48:43 GMT

Great forumula! I am going to use your formula for some of my recent ideas and see how it works out.

I think I have always stumbled at the "Make yourself known" part. I am great at doing work and accomplishing tasks, but I never take the time to promote myself. Some people are even aware that I do a lot, but I don't think they are really aware of all that I do.

I also think if I can relate what I do to what they (the powers that be) think is needed or wanted that it will go much farther.

Your point on choosing who you want to work with is so important too! I have been slacking in this part of my life too. I think it is my falling into an introverted life sometimes that keeps me from moving ahead. I know some great people in my community and people I have worked with briefly in the past that our probably the "players" that I need to spend more time with, I just need to get off my a#% and get more involved with them.

Thanks for your post! You are creating momentum!

Re: Getting yourself known

http://Morgenlicht.gaia.com — Thu, 10 May 2007 07:38:08 GMT

to continue on your point mermaid - "to put oneself in the shoes of the other", lately I have been using a suggestion in a communication seminar that i attended where the speaker said that people need to use the "Platinum Rule" - "Treat others as they wish to be treated."

or i guess how i have been interpreting is what are that persons motivations and expectations. if i want to work with that person and have a good relationship i need to understand what they want and help them get there or basically i am not going to get their support on my goals.

i can kind of related it in a real world example in my current job. i have a co-worker that needs to feel that they have control of every situation. they don't particularly like to do all the leg work of a project and they don't necessarily even have to be considered the project manager, just that they have control of what is happening. in the past i have butted heads a little because i would just cruise along the project timeline and if they were not up to speed i might roll right on to the next task....and this would through them into a panic because they would feel left out.

now i do a lot of confirming with this person along the project timeline to make sure they always know where the process is and that they are "involved in decision making" even though they still may not make the final decision. this has made a tremendous difference for both of us...i am able to move along at the speed i am used to and they "feel" that they are controlling the pace.

i am not sure if i have gone off the path too much from the original topic, but i hope this helps.

Re: COMPUTER TALK: Ever wonder how big a mb is vs a kb, etc.

Wed, 09 May 2007 21:13:15 GMT

~KES said:

"... Whenever we discuss quantities of data, we tend to do it in the abstract ..."

You might enjoy this site, its more or less about the same thing, but in images:

<a href="http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php"> Running the Numbers. An American Self-Portrait </a>

:)
®

Re: Getting yourself known

Wed, 09 May 2007 20:55:37 GMT

hi ~KES, i'm in :)

maybe another good idea is to try to put oneself in the shoes of the other, so when you express yourself you'll do it in the "language" the other person understands.

I have discovered that each of us think differently (duh), but that includes that each person interprets everything, body signs, words, other signals, and even whole conversations in their own way (we not only think differently, but what we think about "what thinking is" is also always personal, and almost impossible to communicate. like some buddhist saying i think, is "like trying to scratch your right elbow with your right hand").

In an exchange of ideas about an important subject, unless the discussion is long and everything is checked and rechecked (although sometimes one knows when the other person gets your point excatly without trying to corroborate right there), the most common output is that each part's conclusion is very different from the other.

I think point 3 is most important to consider, most people usually only care about what they want and everything else just passes by.

®

Getting yourself known

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:13:35 GMT

If you are in non existence with someone and want to know them and work with them or develop a relationship for personal or business purposes here is the forumla: 1. Find a communication line 2. Make yourself known 3. Discover what is needed or wanted 4. Do, produce and/or present it. Do this with people you know first then others. The Discovery part requires listening and really duplicating so we can deliver on a professional level. Kathy To me it's like being on a gridiron and there are a lot of players in your field. Choose who you want to work with...take the time to make planning an actuality.

Helpful business seminars (for free!)

http://fredbliss.gaia.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:25:35 GMT

The NYC Small Business Resource center online contains a wealth of great information free for everyone to download and watch or listen to. What a great resource!

http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/smallbiz/video.html

Enjoy!

Fred

COMPUTER TALK: Ever wonder how big a mb is vs a kb, etc.

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:24:13 GMT

I am through Computer 101 and to get momentum going it's good to know the basic foundation: CHECK THIS OUT!! How Much Data Is That? Note: The information shown below uses measures only associated with data. For example, a kilo-anything is 1000 . . . except that when it is a kilobyte, it is 1024, an even power of two. more at: http://www.jamesshuggins.com/h/tek1/two_or_ten.htm Whenever we discuss quantities of data, we tend to do it in the abstract. We speak of a kilobyte, or a megabyte or a gigabyte without really knowing what it represents. The following table shows various quantities of bytes, in each power of ten. Usually, they are shown with multiples of 2 and 5 also. For example, 1 Kilobyte, 2 Kilobytes, 5 Kilobytes. All the examples are approximate and are rounded. For example, a computer card has 80 columns. If 50 columns contain data on a card, then two cards will be 100 bytes. Also, a 3-1/2 inch diskette can contain 1.4 Megabytes. Showing it as 1 Megabyte reflects both (a) the diskette not typically being filled and (b) rounding. Finally, a CD-ROM can hold more than 500 Megabytes. However, it is listed at that level as "typical" and as the closest match. Bytes (8 bits) 0.1 bytes: A single yes/no decision (actually 0.125 bytes, but I rounded) 1 byte: One character 2 bytes: 5 bytes 10 bytes: One word (a word of language, not a computer word) 20 bytes: 50 bytes: 100 bytes: Telegram; two punched computer (Hollerith) cards 200 bytes: 500 bytes: Kilobyte 1,024 bytes; 210; approx. 1,000 or 103 1 Kilobyte: Joke; (very) short story 2 Kilobytes: Typewritten page 10 Kilobytes: Page out of an encyclopedia 20 Kilobytes: 50 Kilobytes: Image of a document page, compressed 100 Kilobytes: Photograph, low-resolution 200 Kilobytes: Two boxes (4000) punched computer (Hollerith) cards 500 Kilobytes: Five boxes, one case (10,000 of punched computer (Hollerith) cards Megabyte 1,048,576 bytes; 220; approx 1,000,000 or 106 1 Megabyte: Small novel; 3-1/2 inch diskette 2 Megabytes: Photograph, high resolution 5 Megabytes: Complete works of Shakespeare; 30 seconds of broadcast-quality video 10 Megabytes: Minute of high-fidelity sound; digital chest X-ray; Box of 3-1/2 inch diskettes 20 Megabytes: Two boxes of 3-1/2 inch diskettes 50 Megabytes: Digital mammogram 100 Megabytes: Yard of books on a shelf; two encyclopedia volumes 200 Megabytes: Reel of 9-track tape; IBM 3480 cartridge tape 500 Megabytes: CD-ROM Gigabyte 1,073,741,824 bytes; 230; approx 1,000,000,000 or 109 1 Gigabyte: Paper in the bed of a pickup; symphony in high-fidelity sound; broadcast quality movie 2 Gigabytes: 20 yards of books on a shelf 5 Gigabytes: 8mm Exabyte tale 10 Gigabytes: 20 Gigabytes: Audio collection of the works of Beethoven; five Exabyte tapes; VHS tape used to store digital data 50 Gigabytes: Library floor of books on shelves 100 Gigabytes: Library floor of academic journals on shelves; large ID-1 digital tape 200 Gigabytes: 50 Exabyte tapes Terabyte 1,099,511,627,776 or 240; approx. 1,000,000,000,000 or 1012 1 Terabyte: Automated tape robot; all the X-ray films in a large technological hospital; 50,000 trees made into paper and printed; daily rate of EOS (Earth Orbiting System) data (1998) 2 Terabytes: Academic research ligrary 10 Terabytes: Printed collection of the U. S. Library of Congress 50 Terabytes: Contents of a large mass storage system Petabyte 1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes or 250 approx. 1,000,000,000,000,000 or 1015 1 Petabyte: 3 years of EOS data (2001) 2 Petabytes: All U. S. academic research libraries 20 Petabytes: 1995 production of hard-disk drives 200 Petabytes: All printed material; 1995 production of digital magnetic tape Exabyte 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 bytes or 260 approx. 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 1018 5 Exabytes: All words ever spoken by human beings. Zettabyte 1,180,591,620,717,411,303,424 bytes or 270 approx. 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 1021 Yottabyte 1,208,925,819,614,629,174,706,176 bytes or 280 approx. 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 1024 :-) Kathy

Death- the final frontier.

http://blueroadspirit.gaia.com — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:15:17 GMT

I just read Fred's email. Fred I'm sorry about your loss..
I did a lecture friday night, and we discussed this very subject...

The time for regret is not on the deathbed...Being a Medium, I cannot express the regret felt by those that have crossed or those left here greaving over shoulda coulda woulda's...
I should have said....
I should have done...
I wish I had the chance.....
If I only had another day,hour,minute.....

Once someone crosses over, it is much harder to make amends, say what you need to, forgive, be forgiven....for them and us.

Now is the time.. for us to make amends with those we wronged or who wronged us, or speak your truth, or tell someone you love them...

The only moment we are guaranteed is the one you live in right now at this very moment...don't waste another second....do it...You'll be glad you did.
Here is a thought for today-

Ojibwa Prayer

Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds
And whose breath gives life to everyone,
Hear me.
I come to you as one of your many children;
I am weak... I am small...I need your wisdom
and your strength.
Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever
behold the red and purple sunsets.
Make my hands respect the things you have made,
and make my ears sharp so I may hear your voice.
Make me wise, so that I may understand what you
have taught my people and the lessons you have hidden in each leaf and each rock.
I ask for wisdom and strength,
Not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able
to fight my greatest enemy, myself.
Make me ever ready to come before you with
clean hands and a straight eye,
So as life fades away as a fading sunset,
My spirit may come to you without shame.

Why you should watch The Pursuit of Happ"y"ness (2006)

http://fredbliss.gaia.com — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:25:30 GMT

I have seen very few stories brought to screen that have been as powerful and inspiring as The Pursuit of Happ"y"ness, which recently came out on DVD. The story (if you are not familiar) is about Chris Gardner, the man who, as a single father, homeless at times, was able to put himself through the very competitive internship at Dean Witter to become a stock broker and financial planner. In the face of the worst adversity, Chris succeeded in reaching his goals, and today is a very successful broker and multimillionaire. He also has a thriving speaking business.

After I watched the movie, I felt incredibly thankful to have what I have, to be able to have the opportunity to build my business with the help of so many wonderful people, and yes, those people include you all!

You must watch this movie. It will really energize you in your endeavors. After all, if Chris could do it, you can certainly do it too!