Archive for Uncategorized
WordPress Post Plugin – Side bar post display
Posted by: | CommentsI am searching high and low for the Wordpress template tag that allows you to list your posts by categorey in a sidebar. Of course this has lead me to not yet find an answer to my question, but I have been playing with some great Wordpress plugings for displaying your posts in your side bar.
I like the Category Posts Widget. It is light weight and has most of the features your average blogger would need.
Display thumbnail images via WP 2.9’s new post thumbnail feature.
Set how many posts to show.
Set which category the posts should come form.
Show the post excerpt and how long the excerpt should be.
Show the post date.
Show the comment count.
Option to make the widget title link to the category page.
Multiple widgets.
Another great side bar widget for wordpress is Query Posts Justin Tadlock. It allows you to display posts by tag, category, author, time/date, custom field key and/or value.
Choose any number.
Order by various terms.
Show pages.
Show the full post, excerpt, or even order them in a list.
And much more…
Justin’s side bar widget is a bit more ‘techy’ but all of his plugins get high ratings from me.
How to Schedule Future Tweets on Twitter
Posted by: | CommentsEvery now and then I get a great idea for a series of tweets on a specific topic related to my industry. Of course I don’t want to flood my followers with 10 tweets in a row, so the abiliaty to schedule future tweets comes in handy for anyone using twitter.
I have put together a list of services and programs that allow you to schedule future tweets on twitter. Some are free twitter schedulers and some a premium services allowing you to schedule your tweets and provide other options as well.
1) Twuffer A simple easy to use website for individual accounts. No sign up required.
2) Future Tweets: In beta and expected to always be in bets 
Shows the source of this Twitter update as “from FutureTweets” or not at all. Didn’t see a way to set a ‘custom’ note.
3) AutoTweeter. Desktop software only $20. A lightweight platform that runs on windows start up.
4) Tweet you later: Nice dashboard, easy to use, free auto twitter scheduling, lists your past and pending tweets, no need to enter your twitter account details (more secure).
5) Twaiter: Twitter url shortner, spell check (yeah!), follow management, multiple account option,
6) Schedule Twitter Posts: Free with a cap of one post every five hours.
7) HootSuite: All in one social media manager and twitter auto scheduler. Allows multiple accounts. Amazing amount of plugins and addons. Schedule tweets from yoru desk top or browser, even your i phone.
My top choices:
For those of you with one Twitter account to schedule future tweets on. I suggest Twaiter (with spell check). It’s simple and has the tools you need.
For those of you twitter geeks (like me) needing more – it’s all about HootSuite.
Before you pay a PR consultant
Posted by: | CommentsAs a blogger (yes, I have a ‘mom blog’) I receive daily ‘PR pitches’ from pr companies whose clients have paid them to promote their service to the Mom Blogger community. I decided to blog this afternoon to express a growing concern I have with PR companies offering their services online to promote a product or service online.
I can not help but wonder how some of these smaller PR firms stay in business. Their email write ups are fine, but they are agreeing to take money from a client whose Internet presence is well – horrid. Step 6 before steps 1-5 are done.
PR is about a clients reputation and sending out news releases to promote a site that looks as though it was created in 1999, does not brand the client in a positive way.
I feel the purpose of hiring New Media PR company is to help a client build their reputation online. A important part of that would be providing the feedback for necessary changes to their online presence before you launch any PR strategies.
Today I received a pitch for a children’s holiday book. The pitch was written and sent by a PR company for authors.
You have to remember that this pitch is being sent to a list of Internet Savvy mom bloggers who understand web 2.0 (they are bloggers!) From the email they are directed to a website that looks like it may have been put together by my 7 year old son in his elementary school computer center (which is NOT an exaggeration.)
I then went to the PR companies site and again saw a site that would have been a candidate for my webinar ‘Is your website a web 1.0 dinosaur’.
So here are some tips for PR people who may not be all that Internet saavy.
Before you start promoting a client online;
1) ensure they have an up to date website. Wordpress is free and a well designed SEO business site can be completed for about $500.
2) Ensure your clients are up to date on social media concepts and using social media. $300 US will get them up and launched across over 200 social media sites.
3) Launch your PR strategies to point back to landing page on your clients site -(or your website) specific to the offer you are promoting. Include an online form for more details, a place to download creative, press releases, media tools (including HIGH res images) and your full contact details as the PR rep.
If you need help finding affordable Social media consultants or Wordpress Design, please ask me and I will provide you with some names.
But for the love of all things on this planet. PLEASE update your websites and STOP all promotion online until it is done.
Word Press SEO Plugin Page Error Redirection
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WordPress SEO is my topic of research for the next few weeks. So be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss all of this weeks WordPress SEO plugins and tips.
Today’s Worpdress SEO Tip: Don’t lose your posts when you update old posts or adjust your wordpress permalink structure.
Install this handy Wordpress SEO plugin:
The Redirection Wordpress SEO plugin allows you to manage all your 301 redirection and track your 404 errors in Wordpress. Redirection is now on my list of MUST HAVE SEO wordpress plugins.
Twitter Backgrounds for Affiliate Summit
Posted by: | CommentsOK, so I need to get to Affiliate Summit and I need your HELP and yes I am not asking you to give me money;) I am asking you to consider purchasing a custom designed Twitter background that brands your business or blog.
I normally charge $50 over at Her Social Media for a custom twitter background but my Get Her Media to Affiliate Summit Jan 2010 special offer is just – wait $30.
AND I will list your blog or business here on this page forever (or for as long as blogging is still in fashion and the blog still exists). So please contact me with your Custom Twitter background request by sending me a @hermedia shout out or using the contact page.
