Say NO to splash and entry pages
By · CommentsThinking about a splash page or entry page that a visitor has to view or (click to skip) before heading on to view your blog or e-commerce site? Don’t.
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1) It’s outdated.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? Read More→
Manage your Wordpress pages with this WP plugin
By · CommentsHave you ever spent tons of time searching through your WordPress Page admin trying to find the page you wish to edit ? Once you ahve more then ten WordPress pages listed on the WordPress Pages edit page, finding the one you are looking for can be time consuming. Even frustrating.
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 !
How to Schedule Future Tweets on Twitter
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.
What’s an IAB creative standard ?
By · CommentsLearning about online advertising standards is important for any blogger or website publisher hoping to earn revenue through advertising. Just as print advertising publishers have standard ad sizes and requirements, the same applies to online advertising.
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.
When creating your own banners be sure to follow the guidelines. Banners should have a file size of no larger then 40K and animations should be 15 seconds.
Be a great publisher – keep your layout clean and make sure your template or theme accommodates the Universal ad package.
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.
Contest just for bloggers
By · CommentsI was asked by Julie over at Things You Should Do, to help promote her contest celebrating her soon to arrive 1,000,000 visitor.
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
