@KindNotes thanks in reply to KindNotes #

All stumbled @swonderlin @RaviJayagopal @LadyRiposter Cause that's what good Twitter friends do #

I am thinking that 3 days is too long to expect customer support from an affiliate network when you are a merchant …. #

Good morning #

@RaviJayagopal sending u a dm in reply to RaviJayagopal #

Working on Submission forms at blogpressreleases.com work work work #

@Royal_3 let me know if you have any problems in reply to Royal_3 #

spruce up YOUR blog. enter 2 win a custom header, banners, and twitter background http://bit.ly/b36ghW #

I am thinking 3-5 business days 2 approve a new merchant who wants to PAY YOU or answer support is too long. U need more support staff #

Deleting my DMs so if i haven't answered yours please @hermedia me instead #

@tradingnothing yup I have lots of dms that are sent when I follow someone so it would take forever to manually erase each one in reply to tradingnothing #

@Origami_Hearts THANK YOU #

I am disappointed – I missed Friday follow #

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Spending the morning working on P&C #

@acraftymom love to meet canadian bloggers hope you check out blogpressreleases.com in reply to acraftymom #

@mr7617 sounds like we have some common canadian interests #

@autismparents like the tweet …. #

@StuffSmart its ok I have a puppy everything is dirty now! going to send u a dm in reply to StuffSmart #

announce your blog for free at blogpressreleases.com #

@hereslizz overwhelmed with the blog giveaways ? It's not so bad if the giveaways relate to the blog topic …. in reply to hereslizz #

This blogger gets free pr ops, ad buys, and content ideas via @blognewswire -Join me #

just read this code … <?php endif; // if you delete this the sky will fall on your head ?> LOVE IT #

Lots of cookies – one place http://ow.ly/11Fmw #

@BarelyDomestic awwwww Thanks in reply to BarelyDomestic #

@toywithme thanks a million in reply to toywithme #

@kidsroomdecor he sure is he is my affiliate manager mentor @akagorilla in reply to kidsroomdecor #

@hashwordpress Thanks in reply to hashwordpress #

spent some time blog surfing & inviting bloggers 2 blogpressreleases.com now I shall fill up my coffee cup & play runescape i mean work #

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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.

What IS a splash page ” A page in a Web site that the user sees first before being given the option to continue to the main content of the site. Often a splash page will consist of animated graphics and sounds that entice the user into exploring the rest of the Web site. Some splash pages will bring the user to the main Web site automatically, and some require the user to click on a link that will load the main page. “ quote Useful design

I can not more adequately get my point across then to simply say “DO NOT EVER use an entry page” on your website. EVER. So now that I have made that clear let me tell you why;

1) It’s outdated. DO you want users to think you are a serious professional website, company, or blog?

Your site needs to not look like a site built in the year 2000 (because, yes, that was TEN years ago. Ten years is a decade.) Are we on the same page now about splash pages?

2) Search engines don’t like splash pages. The best traffic to your site is traffic that WANTS to be at your site and they often arrive through a – search engine. A entry page or splash page often has not indexable content (except maybe a title). Be nice to the search engine – if you want the search engine to be nice to you.

3) YOU think it looks pretty – your graphic designer thinks it looks pretty. Your blof or website is NOT a display ad, its a website.

Why do people use the web instead of opening the yellow pages ? They want INFORMATION. The less clicks the better. So like the search engines your visitors want information that is not found on a splash page or entry page. So this means simply; Your visitors don’t like Splash pages.

4.) Bail out rate. This is the percentage of visitors who land on your site and LEAVE without surfing content, subscribing to your feed, or making a purchase. A splash page has a bail out rate of more then 50% (based on my experiment and tracking).

5.) You don’t want your website to show up on the list of Flander’s Websites that Suck 2010.

“I try to tell clients that Web design should reflect the real world, and you don’t see real-world equivalents of a splash page. Think about Wal-Mart. Are you forced to wait at the front door and watch a thirty-second movie before you’re allowed to enter? No. Then why would you make your visitors wait to get inside your Web site?” (Flanders 2002) Web Pages that Suck

So here it is. If you come to me and ask me for feedback on your website and you have an entry page or splash page.

I am going to tell you that your Blog or website sucks because I will be the 50% that simply close the window at your splash page and I won’t ever see your content. (As apposed to the up to 50% who wait for it to load as they get frustrated before they see your site.)

So please. SAY NO to splash pages. Say NO to entry pages.

My tip for today. No splash pages. Period. Ever.

I have launched my new site – http://www.BlogPressReleases.com if you blgo – please sign up for free #

@AkashicBooks thanks in reply to AkashicBooks #

I have launched my new site – http://www.BlogPressReleases.com if you bLoG – please sign up for free #

@RaviJayagopal can u follow back so I might DM you in reply to RaviJayagopal #

I just made my first etsy purchase (fromAveritasm ) http://bit.ly/5RQGTJ #

@CarissaRogers send u a dm – with a way to do that (will need to come up with something better in reply to CarissaRogers #

@NoFlashCards or crazy I vote crazy. in reply to NoFlashCards #

I am a walking ZOMBIE #

@MandaBlogsAbout I am manually adding them – I am pretty sure I got yours up this morning it randomly pulls them onto the list in reply to MandaBlogsAbout #

@angiewith3 THANKYOU in reply to angiewith3 #

@Calgaryone which one ? in reply to Calgaryone #

@Holly_Hanna ahh the definition of parenthood = sleep deprivation in reply to Holly_Hanna #

@evelynwrites I agree with the contest – just trying to figure out how to TRACK something that big in reply to evelynwrites #

sorry if i sent more then 1 dm – i would say it was a 'bug' but it was my sleep deprived state sending the wrong link the 1st time #

@inspiredesigner following you now your link went live about an hour ago …. in reply to inspiredesigner #

@evelynwrites that might work I need to tally who uses a hashtag by tweeple in reply to evelynwrites #

@Calgaryone sorry bout that – following you now and yes but the link was broken in reply to Calgaryone #

@IrinaWardas following you but dont DM me its always flooded best to @message me in reply to IrinaWardas #

I am here for about 20 min then off to my sons Dr apot – so let me know if u need me before then #

I am here for about 20 min then off to my sons Dr apt – so let me know if u need me before then #

@Calgaryone I am creating a news and PR wire for bloggers in reply to Calgaryone #

@Calgaryone Well feel free to pass it on to anyone you think could benefit Thanks ! in reply to Calgaryone #

@warp65 thanks for considering …. in reply to warp65 #

OK anyone interested in donating items for a BIG BIG twitter contest ? DM me #

@TulaHotYoga see every now and then I find a reason to live in Toronto…. but never when I am faced w a job op in reply to TulaHotYoga #

@4fabfams love to find Canadian blogs #

@wibiya loving it two thumbs UP in reply to wibiya #

Is excited to see @BillGates on twitter … now if only he'd give my 11 son an interview I know my son would get an A in school #

@ListPlanIt Can I count you in as a contest sponsor #

@TulaHotYoga you can still buy a house with a real yard under 200 000 #

night everyone #

Looking for some free PR – we need sponsors for a big Tweeterish contest #

get your name out in twitter land by being a sponsor for tweeple contest DM me if you have a prize in mind …. #

The sun is out … and I am stuck watching from a window #

@IndulgeaLittle not today but the lack of vatimin D will pay off in reply to IndulgeaLittle #

Heading to Herblogdirectory.com to approve new blog listings. Get yr free listing now and it will go live #

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There is a solution to help you manage your WordPress pages in the admin panel. Geeky Weekly My Page Order is a WordPress Page management plugin that helps you manage the order of your pages, this makes finding the pages needing constant update a snap. It also allows you to group your wordpress pages within the WP Page edit screen. How does it work ? It inserts a DRAG AND drop FEATURE in your Wordpress Edit Page screen!

My pages were a random mess of pages including drafts here and there.

The drag and drop feature allowed me to lsit them in a more organized order.  Our main pages (update often such as FAQ’s), All the pages by member type, Followed by the admin pages (like login & registration), followed by drafts, pending pages.

A quick save and back to the edit pages screen and now I can find what I am looking for. This is a great plugin to manage, group, and organize your WordPress page order in the edit page screen.

Now here’s even better news! Geeky Weekly has more of thes wordpress plugins to manage more areas of your Wordpress admin panels!

• WordPress Plug in – My Link Order – Organized and manage the order of your WP links
• WordPress Plug in – My Category Order – Organized and manage the order of your WP categories
• WordPress Plug in – My Page Order – Organized and manage the order of your WP pages

You can install these from your Add new upload plugin screen in your WP Dashboard. More details can be found at Geekly Weekly.

Please note that this will not work with Admin Management Xtended which has it own drag and drop page ordering. I haven’t checked to see if the Link and categories plugins conflict with Admin Management Xtended.

I give this Wordpress plugin -> My Page Order 4/4 stars !

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.

Online advertising is not new, though the idea of blogs is relatively new, website publishers have been selling ad space long before the days of WordPress.

Account managers have tracked and monitored ads and know what works so don’t try to invent something that will push the big advertisers away from your website.

The guidelines were updated in November 2009 based on the input of leaders from creative agencies, media agencies, and publishers.

If you are hoping to work with large networks and advertisers you need to be able to support the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau)’s Universal Ad Package. The sizes are:

300 x 250 – (Medium Rectangle)
180 x 150 – (Rectangle)
160 x 600 – (Wide Skyscraper)
728 x 90 – (Leaderboard)

Additional sizes can be found on their wesbite however, the sizes above are standard to all large media buys.

Kay McFarlane is an outsourced affiliate manager specializing in products and services for parents and women. Become a partner at http://www.HerAffiliateManager.com and receive free affiliate coaching and opportunities.

Because I like the quality of her prizes (who wouldn’t want to win a weekend away), I am sharing the contest.
Grand Prizes -
California – Paso Robles (Central Coast Wine Country) – 3 Night Stay at Hotel Cheval with wine tasting tour.
California – Calistoga (Napa Valley Wine Country) – 1 Night Stay at Chelsea Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast
Florida – Amelia Island – 3 Night Stay at the Amelia Hotel at the Beach
South Carolina – 2 Night Stay at the Kiawah Island Resort

So head on over and learn how you can blog you can blog your way into some great prizes. Click Here Follow Julie on twitter  @juliemarg

P{ostling is incredibly user friendly. The service is designed for those of us who may not be techy geeks but need a way to save the time of having to log onto five or more social media sites each day. The dashboard is clean and easy to navigate.

Postling allows you to;

• update your social media ’statuses’
• create a Blog Post
• upload an Image
• or share a link.

These are the four main actions of managing a Social Media account and for a small business owner really the only tools you need to jump into Social Media.

At this time Postling only allows you to link up the following Social Media accounts:
Facebook
Twitter
Blogs
Wordpress
Blogger
Tumblr
Typepad
Squarespace
Drupal
Photos
Flickr

I am hoping they will add bitly support and more of the social media networks I use on a regular basis. Especially Linked In (as it is an important network for small business owners), plurk, and  indent.ca.

Try managing your social media accounts for free at Postling. Click Here