Archive for Web 2.0 Resources
How to sync your Outlook Contacts with Google
Posted by: | CommentsI didn’t think syncing my outlook contacts to GMail would be so hard. Apparently google does have a solution in you have business email. However everyday Gmail users have little options for syncing their GMail contacts to outlook.
I really needed a way to sync my outlook contacts (and calendar) synchronized to both Gmail AND my blackberry (with out having to plug my blackberry into my computer).
Here are some ways to sync your outlook with your Google Account:
1) Google Business members can use Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook ($50 per user a year).
2) Blackberry users can sync your BB contacts with outlook contacts (using BB Desktop Manager). THEN use the free Google Sync mobile software, sync your BB contacts with your gmail account. (Requires you to plug your blackberry into your computer.)
3) Companion Link: A variety of sync products including Outlook to Google. $free 14 day trial to make sure it works for you then $39.99 to buy. Reports of doubling contacts and extensive time to sync large volume of contacts.
4) Soocial: Soocial is very upfront stating they are a BETA project when it comes to syncing with Outlook.
They clearly list possible conflicts and suggest backing up your contacts before syncing. A few fields will be overwritten. “Are you aware the Outlook client has issues? ONLY DOWNLOAD IF YOU THINK YOU ARE UNAFFECTED OR YOU CAN LIVE WITH THE ISSUES.”
Soocial is only for contacts. I am going to test Google Calendar Sync to see if these TWO options together will work for keeping Google updated with both my outlook calendar and outlook contacts. A possible solution to my outlook/google/ blackberry contact syning issues….
MUST watch video if you are having a website made
Posted by: | CommentsRichard Darell of BitRebel shared this great video in his blog post and I felt a need to share and comment.
If you are in the process of creating a site or redesigning a site you need to watch this (it’s only 4 minutes long)
I have worked with a few Internet companies going through ‘updating their websites from web 1.0′, designing ad servers with a client admin, and many WordPress CMS sites and this video is bang on.
1) You need to design your site for your USER. Not because it looks pretty. Not because it’s the ‘in thing’ or because YOU think it’s cool (are you really your target user?)
2) Your design team needs to work directly with your developer, your marketing team, and your customer support. Everyone should be part of planning, the development process, testing, and launch. If not, you ARE going to miss some vital components and GREAT ideas that could have made your site better then your competitor.
3) Web sites can NOT be stagnant. Do not be afraid to try new things. If your users like it, build on it. If your users don’t then pull it. Don’t be afraid to launch things in beta. Your users will provide you with the input needed to make new features better.
Networking site for women She’s Connected
Posted by: | CommentsMy list of Networking sites for women is growing. This morning I signed up for a new networking website for women in business called She’s Connected.
The site allows you to create both a personal and business profile, list all of your blogs, websites, and social media profiles (twitter, linkedin, facebook, myspace).
Here’s what the founder Donna Marie’s profile says about why she created She’s Connected:
‘I have been blogging and using social media sites for women for a few years now and my friends had to listen to me complain from time to time about how difficult it was to manage both the personal and professional sides of my life. So, I thought, wouldn’t it be great if there was a place where I could create two profiles but only I knew the two were connected?’ more
She’s Connected is affiliated with an advertising network that appears to help bloggers earn revenue with advertising on their blogs. This of course allows for the free networking site (someone has to pay the bill).
It’s a great idea and reminds me of BlogHer and it looks very promising. I will blog later about the network. Right now I will share a few features about the She’s Connected network;
Message Center | Connections (aka friends) | Groups | Photos | Journal | To do list | Calendar | Articles | Event Calendar
A few things I think the site is missing:
1) Ability to pull in your Google Calendar (I don’t need another calendar I need a way to stream line the internet’s BEST free Calendar into my current social media profiles.
2) Open ID platform
3) A way for user feedback (important in a beta program – such as Get Satisfaction)
4) Ability to pull in your Twitter feed into your updates
5) A way to include your RSS feeds into your profile
She’s connected (a networking site for women in business combined with a social media network for women and bloggers) is in beta and it looks really promising. Go create your profile and add Her Media as a friend.
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Ping FM Firefox addon
Posted by: | CommentsI have been using Ping FM more regularly in an attempt to utilize my time spent updating my social media profile status alerts as of late. Which has sent me on a mission to test out and locate a favourite Pingfm Firefox addon and Ping FM Blackberry application.
Last night I discovered a hand PING FM Firefox addon: Ping Fire
It has all three of the items I need and the developers also have a Pingfm Blackberry application that I will download later today.
However, it is not working with any firefox versions above firefox 3.0 Hopefully they will update it soon. You can get an unofficial version at Alex’s site (it’s working for me).
You will also need your PING FM application key. To get this log onto PING fm and go to: http://ping.fm/key/
The Ping FM firefox addon ‘Ping fire’ allows you to update your ping fm status from your firefox toolbar with a handy button.
It also allows you to highlight the content of any website or blog and quote it to Ping FM. The selected text and the current URL will be added to your message.
Here’s a quite screen shot of the post dialog box:
Ping Fire’s Ping FM firefox add on supports:
* all of Ping’s content types.
* your own custom triggers.
* posting shortcuts. Such as @tt for Twitter and @fb for Facebook.
It’s a great handy Firefox addon for those of you looking to update all of your social media networks quickly using Ping FM.
Your Online Business VCard and the lost art of outlook contacts
Posted by: | CommentsI was thinking today about the amount of time I spend trying to keep the large volume of ‘Networking’ contacts I have organized.
My Blackberry contacts Sync to my Google Contacts which syncs to my Outlook contacts to ensure I always have my contacts with me. However, how can I pass your business on to a potential lead for you if I don’t have all your contact details ?
Here is an example; there are about three SEO consultants that have taken the time to offer to help me with my site for free (if you are reading this , please contact me again;). Yet none of them attached a full and complete outlook contact to the emails they sent me.
Providing me with a completed Vcard or Outlook contact would have ensured I had their full contact details readily available in my blackberry when the father I was speaking to at the water park was asking me how to get more people to his business website last weekend. I can offer general advise but I am no SEO expert.
