Update

I am amazed to find that there are still a solid group of folks following t his blog even though I haven't posted for nearly 4 months. We do have a really great backlog of articles that should definitely be of interest to anyone concerned with SEO and the like. So yeah, I'm not too sure when I'll be posting more on this blog, but in the meantime, enjoy what we have posted and be sure to leave feedback. Thanks again for your continued support!

SEO Opportunities

After examining a host of job opportunities in the SEO and freelance writing fields, I have come to the conclusion that the vast majority are not what they claim to be. Having spent the better part of the last few years writing for various online publications as well as personal blogs, I've come to the realization that the most certain job opportunities in this "business" are the ones that you create for yourself. Granted, there are many great opportunities that you can apply for quite simply by sharing your portfolio, but oftentimes... not so much.

With that said, I've been quite fortunate to be able to devote quite a bit of time developing original content across a stream of sites that have delivered quality content as well as a certain amount of SEO to my projects. These projects have generated a fair amount of revenue, but are by no means "paying all the bills". I am hoping to begin anew in the upcoming months. The goal is quite simple; build even more quality content across an even larger stream of publications thus building a more expansive portfolio which will not only better showcase my talents, but hopefully deliver more lucrative opportunities in the future.

Now, it is quite easy to say this and even more difficult to follow through. Knowing this, I plan on starting small. Essentially, I will be lining up my "ducks" so that there will be a solid framework in place from which to create the aforementioned portfolio. Currently, I feel as though my work is quite scattered about the "net" and needs to be reigned in properly. We'll see where this new process gets me.

SEO Ramblings

So it has been quite a while since I've focused on this blog. In fact, I would say it has been at least 8 months since I've really focused too much on any particular blog. Well anyway, this post isn't a promise to renew "blogger vigilance" or anything like that. I merely wanted to take a moment to express how surprised I am that this blogs SEO has held up as well as it has over the last 8 months. 

I would have to say that it is a testament to the quality of posts which have been written here over the months prior to the hiatus. Taking a look at some of the tags and labels from prior posts I would have to say that the best "performing" entries were of SEO, Free Services and Extensions. Honestly, the extensions posts were a lot of fun for a number of reasons (first being the revenue they generated). I have to say that this experience has been really good and I'm hoping to possibly move this blog over to Wordpress and spend a bit more energy on it in the upcoming few months.

In addition to moving this blog to Wordpress, I'm thinking of moving a couple of others to that "engine" as well, but we'll see what happens over time.

New Video Project

After spending the better part of the last month or so writing about file extensions and whatnot, I thought it might be fun to deliver a little information in to a new project that I am working on over at 8-Bit Memoirs. For those of you familiar with my personal blogs (8-Bit and 8-Bit 2.0) you already know that I am an old school video game enthusiast (retro gamer). Well, I am hoping to add a new element to those gaming sites that will deliver live play-throughs of some of the classic games that I have reviewed and am looking to review in the future.

Honestly, it wasn't terribly difficult to record footage and edit it on the iMac, it was really a matter of buying a decent DVR and finding the time to play-through some of the classics. Having said that, I am expecting delivery of the DVR sometime in the coming week and I hope to have the first play-through under way in about 2 weeks. I plan on posting them on the 8-Bit Memoirs youtube channel as well as a new site that is under development. 

This is really a fun time for me in regards to pursuing one of my passions. Granted, I am not tying this into any particular monetization endeavor or anything like that. This is simply me sharing one of my passions with you all.

As for this site, I am not too sure how much longer this will be viable. I had originally developed this site as a means for new bloggers to generate tips and ideas on how to stimulate their blogs and increase organic traffic. I like to think that this blog still maintains the original premise as well as a bit of technical knowledge that may help bloggers blog more efficiently as well. I've had a good time with this site and hope to continue on in one manner or another here, but we'll see what time brings. Thanks for visiting today!

Encrypted Email; No Worries

Having spent a great deal of time in the corporate world, I have come across a number of things that would make any "normal" persons head spin. Imagine having to contact tech support at least 5 times a day to seek answers for technical issues that you know how to solve yourself in minutes. That's right, it's all about access sometimes. Then again, I wouldn't want to be the one responsible for writing and rewriting code should something go asunder. Anyway, back to the matter at hand, encrypted emails.

As I mentioned earlier, having copious experience in the corporate realm, I've been on one end or another of countless emails, memos and pdf's. More often than not everything runs smoothly, but sometimes a driver is out of date or an extension goes askew and you are left with one of two things. First, an error message and second, an assignment that cannot be opened or completed thus leaving you in the "hole". To avoid this purgatory of the cubicle, I always suggest jumping onto the net and downloading a simple scan to check on that pesky pdf File Extension P7M.

As I've mentioned earlier, File Extension p7M allows access to a variety of business emails that may or may not be encrypted. The cure to the aforementioned malady is as easy as downloading a simple program, running a scan and downloading the required updates. Honestly, this is a simple solution to a problem that could leave you on hold for hours on end while a deadline quickly approaches. The Driver Cure system works with certified downloads and delivers a detailed report allowing you to see exactly what issues you are having (on your computer...) and how to correct them quickly and effectively. 

Seminar Announcement; Texas

As I mentioned earlier today, there are a number of great social media seminars that will be available over the course of the summer and my goal is to deliver the information to you so that hopefully you can attend and learn invaluable tools and skills. The first seminar I'd like to announce is in Dallas, TX on July 21. The seminar will focus on the utilization of social networking tools in order to better promote yourself, your writing and/or your business.

Target Audience, "Business owners and business managers ready to learn about competing for customers in the social web, and those wanting to gain insights into the latest developments in social networking and social business practices."

Personally, I'd like to attend this event, but I somehow doubt I'll have the free time to travel up to Dallas considering my busy schedule. If you happen to find yourself in the DFW area on the 21st, stop in, or at least visit the site. I think you'll pick up quite a bit of knowledge from the professionals on-hand. Anyway, I'll let you know about upcoming seminars around the country as the information becomes available.

Flash Drives; Portability Plus

Is there anything cooler than a flash drive? Think about it, not only do they offer an insane amount of memory as well as portability (keep in mind I'm from the floppy disc generation), but they can be fully customized and tailored to you, your business or personality. I mean, why mess around with a plain unit when you can have an extensive array of custom USB flash drives? 

I recently chanced across a company called Best Flash Drives that actually offers just about any style of USB drives you could possibly imagine. Would you like custom USB drives in the shape of a surfboard? How about a drive in the style of a Hershey bar? Yeah that's right, your imagination is pretty much the limit here. In addition to the aforementioned styling features, you can choose from a number of popular designs as well as fully customize your features. 

In addition to the aforementioned features, Best Flash Drives also offers incredible turn-around times on their products. If you want your new drive in 24 hours you'll get it in that time. If you decide a week or two is good, they have you covered. Honestly, I'm pretty impressed. Not only do these guys work with techies like us, but they also cater to both small and large businesses alike. As far as I'm concerned, being just as important as the "big fish" is pretty cool. 

Expo's; Learn on the Road

For those of you who are interested in learning new and exciting ways to improve your blogs traffic stream as well as learn a handful of great tips to better serve your readers, look no further than media expo's. I've been reading up on a few of the expo's that have "gone down" the last couple of weeks and I have to say that I was impressed at not only the amount of great information available, but also the wealth of knowledge offered by industry professionals. Think about that, industry professionals. Who better to pick the brains of?

I highly recommend checking out some of the local events going on al summer and fall in various parts of the country. Honestly, there are quite a few events going on if you know what you are interested in and where to look. 

A colleague of mine who is a professional blogger actually hosts a number of seminars from his office (a wifi fishing dock).  His seminars focus on a number of techniques including revenue generation, visibility and tech tips. If for some reason you cannot make it to North Carolina for a seminar, you should definitely check out his website Softduit Media. Seriously though, check out his site for a number of great tips and techniques to aid in achieving your writing goals.

Creative Projects: Extension PTX

I have been working on a number of creative projects the last few weeks and have been utilizing Paint Shop Pro among other programs and ran into a couple of errors due to some outdated drivers that I had been unaware of. With that said, I wanted to talk with everyone briefly about File Extension PTX. As you may already know, File Extension PTX deals with the program Paint Shop Pro (in addition to a number of other programs that utilize said file). Having not utilized this program over the last few months, I had a number of software updates as well as drivers to find the "fix" for. Needless to say, I utilized my Driver Cure download.

Honestly, this was one of those cases that I was fortunate to know where to go to solve this problem. After downloading the program, I conducted a search for any and all driver updates so I could get up and running again. Once I received my report I was able to select the certified updates I wanted as well as a few others I wasn't even aware of. 

I have to say that this system has save my butt a few times over the last couple of months. It comes as a real shock to me that I was missing so many critical components to my programs due to my anal retentive nature. Fortunately, I know where to go and what to do when I end up with files that can't be open or errors that keep my software from running effectively. 

The Explosion; New Admin at BlogExplosion

Having spent a great deal of time discussing the benefits of numerous auto-surfs and traffic generators, I wanted to spread the news that BlogExplosion appears to have found new administration. I took a break from utilizing their services since I was unable to gain resolution to a number of tickets that I filed. Recently, I have not only received resolution of those tickets, but also a new "test" ticket that I submitted to test whether or not this was an anomaly. I am happy to say that the ticket was resolved in 24 hours.

With that said, I want to recommend that those of you who may be searching for an auto-surf give BlogExplosion another go around. Don't get me wrong, I am not endorsing them or other auto-surfs, but I have to say that they can definitely give a tired blog a shot in the arm or a steady blog a nice little surge in readership.

Personally, I really miss BlogMad, but I'll live.

Quicken Extension

After spending a bit of time yesterday talking about WPD extensions and its uses and formats, I wanted to deliver some information regarding the File Extension QFX. For those of you who utilize Quicken Financial Exchange and other Quicken software, you are probably well aware of File Extension QFX, but for those who are unfamiliar, I will "run-down" a few notes briefly.

The aforementioned files are utilized in order to import various financial data and spreadsheets. These files would carry  wealth of information including account information (names, addresses, figures etc.) so they are what I like to refer to as "dense files". These "dense files" are transferred during various transactions and are actually returned via an OFX extension, but that is a battle for another day.

With that said, I think you can understand the importance of maintaining your drivers and updates when it comes to finance. I mean, we usually cover the blogging aspects of these extensions, but sometimes the financial aspect creeps into blogging; so why not. Anyway, this Driver Cure download in the above links actually works the same as other downloads I have mentioned in previous posts. You simply download the Driver Cure, employ a systems scan, examine the report and download the required certified updates to ensure your drivers and other programs are functioning properly. If you are curious about the aforementioned download, feel free to visit the links!

Mirror Blogging; Casting Away Page Rank

Journeying through the Blogosphere I've come cross some very interesting "phenomena", one of which is the "Mirror Blog". The phenomena that I am speaking of is the blog that carries duplicitous content from its host site onto its own. Now I've heard a number of things about these sites, the first of which is that Google doesn't appreciate these sites and will in hand negatively respond via Adsense blocks and Page Rank decreases. 

Now I don't pretend to be an expert on these grounds, but I am pretty sure that I can tell when something isn't good and I suspect these mirror blogs aren't good at all. I can see where an author might choose to do something similar as an offshoot. In fact my gaming blogs 8-Bit Memoirs and 8-Bit Memoirs 2.0 mirror concepts but never content. In fact, I have gone so far as to only advertise on one versus the both of them due to the similarities (plus my readers don't particularly understand the business end of blogging to which I don't discredit them). 

With all that said, I suggest you do not engage in the practice of duplicate blogs. I suppose I could put this entry into a category of its own titled "responsible blogging" or something of the like. Anyway, happy blogging and more extensions on the way!

Extension WPD

As I mentioned earlier today, I will be delivering a handful of posts regarding some obscure file extensions that are quite important although oftentimes overlooked. The first of these that I would like to take a look at is File Extension WPD. The WPD is commonly associated with data files. Typically this data file will be located alongside WAV files somewhere on the hard-drive. Although File Extension WPD is most commonly associated with audio files, it is most prominently used with a program called Saw Studio.

The aforementioned program uses the WPD file in order to assess signal frequency as well as intensity. Think of the difference of having a functioning extension versus not as listening to your television on mono instead of surround sound (yeah, huge difference). In fact, oftentimes if your drivers aren't updated you wont be able to access anything in the audio program. 

As with other Driver Cure downloads, this one is free and runs quite similarly to the others I have mentioned previously. First the download will scan your computer for erroneous or missing drivers and extensions and upon completion will supply you with a thorough scan report. Upon receiving the report you will be given a listing of certified downloads to restore your system to optimal performance. Honestly, I have never really had an issue with WPD files, but if I did I would likely utilize this download in order to restore my system. 

More Updates Coming

Over the last few posts I've been spending some time delivering day-to-day updates as well as a few other projects that I've been working on. I have recently started using Twitter as well as traveling once again. I am having difficulties updating regularly due to my schedule, but am planning on continuing delivering file extension downloads as well as other tools that will benefit bloggers and avid cpu geeks like myself.

Having said that, I have a couple of extension posts coming up today that deal with both WPD and QFX extensions. In fact, I am considering a contract with Driver Cure that will enable me to receive compensation for posting about their products and services. Personally, I think it is a win-win situation as it delivers great content and knowledge to you all while it puts a handful of cash in my pocket for playing "middleman". With that said, feedback is always welcome. Hope all is well with you all and happy blogging!

A Bloggers Query

This last week my wife and I had been blessed with the company of her parents and elderly grandmother. Much to my chagrin, I was unable to maintain my blogs and other writing assignments between both work and hosting our guests. With that said, I did spend a lot of time wondering whether or not "Gram" had a number of accident safeguards in place at home. I mean, what if she falls out of bed or slips and falls in the bathroom or something (she's 84!). In fact, she had just fallen out of bed the previous week and was sporting one hell of a contusion on her forehead.

Anyway, after talking with my wife later that night we came to the decision that we were going to look into getting Gram a Life Alert system so that if something should happen all she would have to do is hit a button and help would be en route. I have to admit that we don't know a heck of a lot about the Life Alert  system or systems, but we came to find out that not only can they be used as a "panic button", but can also be used as medication reminders, alarms and smoke detectors. I mean, all we really wanted was the large help button, but the piece of mind of all the other features really sealed the deal for us. 

We haven't purchased the system yet, but are strongly considering it. Unfortunately we live down here in Texas and Grammy lives in New Hampshire. If you aren't too sure about US geography that is about 2,500 miles. So needless to say I won't be the one ordering and installing the system. Anyway, we're going to try and bring my in-laws on board and maybe they can get the ball rolling. In conclusion, I realize this isn't really the topic of this blog, but I wanted to share the system with you as you may have elderly family members who could benefit from the concept. Happy blogging!

Text'ers Driving

During the last week I've noticed something incredibly dangerous that I somehow never really noticed before. Imagine driving down a country road in the morning and seeing an oncoming car (about a 1/2 mile away) slowly swerving into your path. At first I wasn't too sure what was going on, but as the car drew closer I began to slow down and pull as far to the side as I could. Almost at that same moment the oncoming car swerved dramatically back into its own lane. As the car flew by its horn honked and its driver gave me the middle finger.

Let's think about that for a minute. What did I do to deserve a loud beep and a middle finger? Was I the one swerving all over the road? Was I the one who had their head buried in "texting while driving"? 

With that said, I want to stress the importance of not "texting" while driving. I mean, let's face it, most people can't even talk on their hone while driving. When they are talking on the phone they are at least looking at the road. While "texting" you are looking down from the road onto your phone or what have you. Anyway, I'm still here and hopefully you are too.

Extension 2

As I mentioned earlier today, I want to bring you another driver download update regarding File Extension 2. For any of you who are familiar with File Extension 2, I am shocked. Having no idea what this file extension entails I made sure to read up on it quite extensively before publishing this post. Apparently, this extension is not only virtually unknown, but it also operates across multiple programs. 

Some of the programs in which this extension is paramount are truly from every end of the spectrum. Some of the uses are for video games (music files in particular), VoiceType Software, Unix systems as well as some setup menus for the GNU project (whatever that is). From what I've read, there are many other programs that may operate on this extension however they are unverified at this time.

With that said, I want to run down the specifics of the download process for Driver Cure which will take care of any system issues you may be encountering vie File Extension 2 errors. Upon downloading this program your computer will run a search for any outdated or corrupted drivers, then provide you with a detailed report on its findings followed by different certified downloads that will correct and update the drivers and extensions you may be missing. Personally, I think this download is quite handy, seeing as though it can detect such obscure extensions and drivers in order to increase your computers performance. Bet then again, don't take my word for it, check it out yourself!

Twitter Updates

After posting an article yesterday regarding my new Twitter account, I neglected to inform everyone that the account "8BitMemoirs" is named appropriately after my other blogs 8-Bit Memoirs and 8-Bit Memoirs 2.0. Either way, the account will be covering numerous updates from both of those blogs as well as other blogs I am currently working on. 

In regards to Twitter, I am enjoying their service so far, but am still in the process of gathering up friends and followers and hoping that some of them are actually reading my updates and of course articles. 

In other news, I hope that all these different download articles have been helpful for all of you out there in the Blogosphere. I'm not too sure how long my "contract" will be via Blogsvertise with these extension posts, but as long as I feel that they are beneficial for you all I will keep posting them. Honestly, I am learning quite a bit bout the different drivers and downloads due to the posts so I know at least I am finding them helpful. 

Anyway, keep creating quality content and keeping the Blogosphere well-informed!

Keeping With the Theme

As I mentioned in yesterdays post, I wanted to deliver a little more information regarding some file extensions. The extension I wanted to cover today is File Extension PVM. First off, I would like to shed some light on what exactly PVM is. A file extension of this designation involves images (digital images to be exact) transfered from a device to your computer. Once the image is taken, the device will typically format the data into a PVM file. The File Extension PVM, which needs to be running effectively in order to capture the image onto your computer, is an integral aspect to uploading images from any such device onto your computer.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, it is incredibly important to maintain your drivers and other software. Imagine the frustration of attempting to run programs or update files if you cannot even open up the application. Fortunately, there are a number of great downloads available online for problems such as the aforementioned. One of the downloads I am particularly enamored by is Driver Cure. 

Driver Cure functions just as you would expect. The download runs a full systems scan that searches for outdated or corrupted drivers and software, then compiles a detailed listing of any  issues that may have been found. After the detailed listing is compiled, the download then offers a complete listing of certified drivers that will replace any outdated or corrupted drivers which may have been found during the scan.

I'm not one to throw around endorsements, but I will say that as far as free updates and downloads go, Driver Cure is top notch. IN fact, the download takes a mere 10-15 seconds. Imagine being able to download a cure for any and all driver errors and outdates so quickly. Granted, a scan is a bit more comprehensive, but personally I think that it is worth the "price" (free)!

Twitter'ing

Well, I am finally attempting to utilize Twitter for both blog promotion and everyday conversation. I'm not terribly sure why I waited so long to join up, but I am definitely glad that I did. After being a "Twitterer" for 24 hours, I have three or four followers who are already loyal  readers of my old school video game blog as well as some of my other projects.

Having said that, I am still learning the various idiosyncrasies of the system and am looking forward to having "conversation" on the site instead of updates. So far, I am enjoying what I am seeing, but am wondering if anyone knows any techniques on the site that will better assist me in making use of it. Please, feel free to contact me via this blog or any of my other sites or contacts.

In the meantime, I expect to have a few more posts about various downloads and file extensions in order to help you blog more effectively. Anyway, happy blogging and I hope to hear from you all soon!

Twitter me at 8BitMemoirs!

Office Tech

In an effort to streamline my home business, I've been slowly amassing a number of technical gadgets and programs that will keep me "plugged in" to my business 24/7. Granted, it is easier nowadays to be "available" at all hours, but sometimes it is important to be able to perform more detailed tasks immediately. For example, I have a fax machine that I use constantly, but I turn it off at the end of the business day. Typically, in the morning, I turn the machine on and run through a ream of paper. Some of the documents take priority over others which leaves me with quite a bit of sorting. With that said, I've been looking for another system that will help me transfer the more pertinent documents more efficiently.

I recently received information regarding a new document management system from Axacore.com that may actually assist me by streamlining my document process. Honestly, I am looking for a system that will fully manage my documents as well as receive and send in a more efficient manner to personal and professional contacts. From my understanding, the system functions a s a fax server which will allow me to maintain the database from one application as opposed to multiple. The benefits of such a system are really something compared to what I am used to. The system also utilizes fax over ip (FOIP) which means I need to rig up some T38 cable, but that shouldn't be an issue seeing as though I am running a compatible system already. Anyway, I am giving this system some serious thought and will likely be running my mouth nonstop about it once I get up and running. In the meantime, thanks for tuning in and hopefully I've helped you with some ideas to streamline your home business which might even lead to an increase in your blogs traffic.

Twitter Traffic?

Is it just me or is Twitter all over the place nowadays. I mean, I switch on the television and CNN, MSNBC and even the right wingers on FOX are all about their "Twitter Board". Seriously, when did this happen? I seem to remember that sometime this last summer I read that Twitter was on the decline. 

Lately this blog has focused quite extensively on downloads and other free media on the net, but today I wanted to mention that this surge from Twitter might actually be a useful way to generate traffic to your blog. Think about it, you could plug your blog or link-drop and then who knows how far you could go. 

Granted, I am not on Twitter so I don't know the specifics. I know someday I will be on there, but like MySpace, I am just waiting for it to settle down a bit. With that said, give it a shot if you'd like to experiment with potential fresh traffic. If not, just keep on keeping on!

More Hosting Ideas

Having spent a great deal of the last few weeks pondering numerous website hosting possibilities for my blogs, I've decided to put the project on hold. After perusing the blogosphere and asking numerous questions of my "colleagues", I've come to the conclusion that their is no general consensus as to which hosting service would be the best for my needs. I feel as thought the marketplace is so saturated with these "organizations" that to choose one almost seems like a random act. 

I've researched numerous sites that sort, rate and compare the various hosting options for different criteria and have to admit that I was overwhelmed. Granted, a $5 a month service probably shouldn't be keeping me up nights, but I am just too anal about this kind of stuff. With that said, I managed to draw my search down to a few different companies, but am yet to select one. I am leaning towards InMotionHosting and BlueHost, but as I mentioned, earlier am yet to choose one.

Honestly, I feel like every time that I narrow down the field another great site pops up and brings me back to my indecisive state. I have to say that the Web Host Rating website has helped me narrow down the field a couple of times, so I will continue to utilize their website during my search. For the moment though, I am going to slow down my search and try to just continue solid blogging practices. In the meantime, thanks for your readership and happy blogging!

Swine Flu Update

It has been a solid week since the hysteria of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) broke so I thought an update might be pertinent. In Texas the outbreak raised many alarms, but little else. Several schools in the San Antonio and Fort Worth areas were shut down for a couple of weeks in order to stave off any potential outbreaks. Fortunately, the strain of flu was less "dangerous" than initially reported. In fact, after speaking with a number of healthcare professionals, it has been determined that this strain isn't really too much to worry about.

Unfortunately many people have passed away in Mexico due to the disease and other mitigating circumstances revolving around poor air quality and auto-immune responsiveness. By this I mean, the area around Mexico City where the disease began is an area of utter poverty and severe air pollution. As we all know, air pollution is one of the major contributors to a weakening immune system which in effect can render the flu to a epidemic state. I also suspect that the news media really went out of their way to "push" this story with their favorite buzz-words; Pandemic, Plague and Epidemic. I think the news media should issue an apology for creating a state of hysteria across the globe.

Now we return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.

Hosting Options

Having recently began investigating different web hosting services for my gaming blog 8-Bit Memoirs, I came across a really cool site that actually compares inexpensive hosting services side-by-side. In addition to the comprehensive "Top 10" listing of services, Web Hosting Geeks offers a wide variety of options for folks looking for an even wider variety of hosting services. Think about it, if you are searching for Unix Hosting, Email Hosting or even Forum Hosting you can access some great option via the sidebar on the Geeks website.

In addition to offering a wide variety of both traditional and specialty hosting options, Web Hosting Geeks also offers some other great features including tips for beginners. Some of the links (which can be found near the bottom of the main page) include general instructions to begin hosting, overseas hosting options as well as a guide for how to choose the best hosting options for your sites, blogs or what have you. 

If you are considering signing on with a hosting service, you really owe it to yourself to visit this informative sight so that you can comparison shop to satisfy those hosting needs. 

Missing BlogMad

Since the sale of BlogMad a few months back, I've been looking for another traffic generator (auto-surf) as well as a new social networking site for Bloggers. Granted, I could easily open up a profile on MySpace or FaceBook, but I'm not too sure I want that type of "experience" blogging. I was curious if anyone out there in the Blogosphere had any suggestions in regards to another blogging/networking traffic generator. 

I suppose I could run a Google search and see what pops up, but I thought it would be more fun to drop a line out here and see what the real bloggers are up to. In the meantime, I plan on bringing some additional information about different web-hosting services as well as the usual file extension remedies etc. In the meantime, have fun networking and surfing the Blogosphere!

Streaming Video Extensions

Since we last spoke in regards to extensions, we discussed the benefits of upgrading your drivers in order to better function while blogging. Well, today I want to take a few minutes to share with you another tip regarding the File Extension TS (specifically what it is and does). First off, File Extension TS is utilized while streaming live video (TS actually stands for "Transport Stream"). Oftentimes you may never be aware that you are having a problem with this extension with a few exceptions. Generally, these files run and auto-delete upon completion. If it helps, think about YouTube videos or the more classic MPEG files for example. Anyway, if you are having difficulties with your TS files then you ought to go ahead and delete your cache to fix the issue as well as free up some hard-drive space. 

Having spent a bit of time in the last few weeks combing through the large variety of File Extension issues, I have to recommend visiting Driver Detective and downloading their free scan and repair system. The aforementioned system actually conducts a systems scan of your hard-drive that searches for updates and missing drivers. After the search is completed the results are compiled and the correct drivers are automatically installed (the drivers are only licensed drivers so you don't need to worry about any future "bad news" from the download). Once the download is completed, simply restart your computer and you'll be streaming video in no time. 

These New PC Commercials

Being the proud owner of an iMac, I have to say that I get a little perturbed by all the PC commercials that bash Apple. The commercials tend to focus on the price of the Mac vs a PC. Well folks, you get what you pay for. I would like to see the "PC People" try to attack Apple on Quality or Function or maybe Hardware. Yeah that's right, PC's have nothing on Mac's in those departments. If you are in the market for a new computer all I can say is that you get what you pay for. So if you are looking to spend $500  on a piece of s@#t then go ahead and get a Dell or something, but if you want quality, pony up the extra cash and get quality.

I know this is a bit unusual for this blog, but I just saw this commercial for the fourth time today and felt I needed to address it (to make me feel better). Anyway, in the next couple of posts I'm going to delve back into a few file extensions as well as driver downloads. My goal is to continue to help you blog better and drive traffic to your sites by utilizing free downloads and techniques. Remember, the better your "systems" work the better you'll blog! Happy blogging everybody!

Driving It Home

I wanted to take a another post today to talk a bit about another download for your computer to hopefully remedy any issues you have been having with your QuickTime drivers and downloads. I recently suffered an error while trying to download a file via email from my brother and was greeted by a File Extension QTX error. Apparently my drivers needed to be updated in order to play the video file that he had sent me. Fortunately, I took the advice that I have been driving home in many recent posts and went ahead and ran a scan using Driver Detective's File Extension QTX download.

Upon downloading the program I began a systems scan and found numerous driver updates and redundant files that were inhibiting my hard-drive in numerous frightening ways. After the scan was complete I began the download of my new drivers and whatnot, and after a quick restart, I was watching my brothers video in no time. 

After conducting a bit of parallel research on this File Extension, I came to realize that quite a number of programs run a lot of QTX files (Quicken, Qtext and some Linux Ops. for example). As always, I would recommend only opening files from folks you trust via email as to avoid any potential trojans, viruses etc. In the meantime, be sure to check out Driver Detective for all your File Extension needs. Happy blogging folks!

Mighty Mouse for iMac

I've just about had it with the wireless Mighty Mouse for my iMac. When I first released it from its "plastic captivity" it used to gallivant across my desktop in a rather amusing fashion. After a while the tracking began to slow down a bit and the scroll ball would only function at an intermediate pace. Well, about a year later, the scroll ball no longer works and the tracking is "spotty" unless it is cleaned regularly. 

After searching across the net as well as the Apple support pages I found a couple of tricks and techniques to clean the accessory, but am yet to find a tip that will actually enable scroll ball use. I don't usually place this kind of post o this blog, but I had to work through my frustration as well as see if I could get a little advice from my readers on anything they might have done or heard about in regards to the mouse. 

Anyway, if you have any ideas please drop them hear as a comment or email me via MySpace or Blogger. Thanks again and happy blogging! 

More File Extension Info

Having spent a decent amount of time exploring several different free downloads the last few weeks, I wanted to take a moment to share some info with you all regarding File Extension XLS. As you may have already guessed, File Extension XLS has to do with spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel to be exact). There are many times when you may need to open a spreadsheet and are unsure where to open it. Well, I tend to open up my spreadsheets via Microsoft Excel (Mac), but at times I've received that dreaded File Extension error and had to scour the net for drivers and updates. 

Fortunately there are a number of great downloads offered by an even greater number of organizations. These downloads do a number of things that you may not even be aware of and are a great value at their price (free). 

In short, the aforementioned downloads will do a number of things behind the scenes on your computer. First the download scans your hard-drive for out of date drivers and potential error sources. Upon completing the scan, the download will then prepare a compiled list of any errors and search for the proper downloads and drivers in order to remedy the errors. Once all the updates are in your computer merely needs to be restarted and you will be on your way. You can trust that your productivity will be increased dramatically by updating and scanning your hard-drive with the aforementioned download. If you aren't too sure about it, try it yourself and see! In the meantime, happy blogging!

Skype Difficulties

Lately I have been using Skype quite extensively and have a couple of issues that seem to reoccur often. Now, before I delve into the aforementioned issues I want to throw out the disclaimer, "I love Skype". With that said, if I receive another random message from teenagers in the Philippines asking to be my friend and talk I'm going to officially "lose my s@#t". I tend to be a bit of a cynic, so when I see random messages from children in the Philippines I kind of figure a scam is afoot. 

Having said that, I have had the above situation occur three times this past week and it is beginning to stir my drink a bit. Anyway, I have heard that this has happened to a lot of folks with greater regularity so I suspect there may be some type of scam going on via Skype. If you have had this happen to you or if you should counter the same situation, delete their comment and do not answer them. In the meantime, happy blogging!

Finding The Correct Drivers

Having spent the last few blog posts discussing different file extensions and free downloads, I wanted to take a moment and spend some time on drivers. We all know that drivers are the sub-programs and routines in the background that "power" your programs and peripherals. Honestly, the only time you ever notice your drivers is when something goes terribly wrong and they aren't working. Oftentimes, a driver can be "misplaced" when you update an operating system or run your startup disc (which returns all factory settings and removes all but the aforementioned data). 

With that said, and with a driver or two "misplaced", believe it or not there is good news. There are a number of websites where you can download the required drivers for your peripherals and programs. Whether you are searching for hp drivers for your Deskjet or canon drivers for your Pixma, you can find them at DriversSoftware.com. One of my favorite features on this site is the wealth of information offered for each brand of driver you select. Not only will you see a list of accessories and peripherals, but you will also see what operating systems the driver will work for, but also the driver type. 

If you are having any difficulties with your computer and/or peripherals, I highly suggest checking up on your drivers and possibly downloading some upgrades. In addition to all the potential downloads, you can also run a free systems scan to check for outdated software that may cause issues in the future. Honestly, I'd go ahead and give the scan a shot even if you aren't having any driver difficulties, you might be surprised what you find. In the meantime, happy blogging and updating!

Blog Catalog Random Emails; It's Cool Though

for all of you who have been utilizing this blog for various tips and techniques to help you increase/drive traffic to your blogs are undoubtedly familiar with Blog Catalog. Without delving too deeply into the aspects of BC, I wanted to mention in brief about a great feature they created a few months back that enables you to automatically receive updates from the blogs you visit (blogs that are members of course). Now that I have a "preamble" of sorts, I wanted to clarify where I am going with the title of this article. One of the "not so cool" features are the constant email notifications that you have joined a new group or that a new person is joining your group. In addition to the fact that a full inbox drives me nuts, I know for a fact that I tend not to pay too much attention to any of the blogs I visit over there. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great blogs in that community, but it is kind of on my back burner nowadays. With that said, I'm not a fan.

I was curious if anyone else out there in the Blogosphere had any thoughts about this service and all the email notifications about groups and whatnot. Before you click the comments tab and tell me all about the ability to filter messages and whatnot, I already know that. Anyway, let me know what you think via the comments or email via blogger. 

System Diagnostic Tools

Having spent a bit of time discussing various system scan downloads, I wanted to take a moment to mention the advantages of running a Systems Diagnostic Tool to ensure you're PC is "firing on all cylinders". Before we tackle the nitty-gritty of system diagnostics, let's first discuss just what this tool entails. First, the tool scans your PC for errors and displays them so that the operator (you) can see where any issues or slowdowns are originating. Second, the diagnostic tool will clean and/or correct any issues that may have been found in your PC's registry. Think of this type of scan as a sort of spring cleaning. Finally, the tool will check for updates, run a detailed defragmentation on your hard drive as well as clean up any and all start-up functions you run. 

Now that we've discussed the advantages of employing a diagnostic tool, lets talk about why you might want to employ this system regularly. Chances are, your PC might be losing some of its performance due to a handful of maladies. Let's face it, if you spend a bit of time on the internet you have undoubtedly picked up a host of "bugginess" such as adware, malware and spyware. Over time these "bugs" can cause a host of issues on your computer. You may find that you receive more frequent error messages, system and application failures as well as slow PC performance. In time, and without the proper care, you may find your computer virtually inoperable due to the aforementioned maladies.

Fortunately, there are a number of  downloads and programs that you can employ that will not only clean up your PC, but also avoid the risk of acquiring adware, spyware and malware in the process. The system diagnostic tool that I am referencing can be found at MyFasterPC.com. One of the reasons I would like to direct you to their program is due to the free trial they offer via their site. My personal favorite feature of the free trial is the ability to run a full systems scan followed by a "quick fix" of 20 errors. You would be hard-pressed to find a better complimentary systems scan on the net that is not only this reliable, but free of malicious script. Having said that and discussed the benefits of said download, I'd definitely recommend visiting their "Learn More" page on their site. In the meantime, give the download a try and happy blogging!

We're Six Months Old!

Hey everyone, I wanted to take a minute to thank you all for making the first six months of Increasing My Blogs Traffic successful. I have to admit, when I began this site half a year ago, I had no idea that I would have faithful readers as well as a Google Page Rank of 2. Over the last several months, we've focused on a lot of different topics covering a lot of different ground. Whether we were discussing how to increase traffic, surf generators or free downloads, you have visited, commented and stirred up numerous discussions and for that I am grateful.

With all that said, I am looking forward to another great six months where we can hopefully touch on some new topics including software downloads, PC services as well as other tips and techniques to better assist new members of the Blogosphere. I also want to stress that we won't be forgetting the mantra of this blog which is to help assist you in generating heavier traffic, but we may head in different directions at times. Having said that, I would definitely recommend checking out some of my previous posts for some great tips and techniques to better "drive" your traffic. In the meantime, stay tuned and happy blogging!

Compression Format Extension RAR

Keeping with our current theme of updating extensions, I want to briefly visit a popular extension known as File Extension RAR. This file extension deals with data compression. File Extension RAR a.k.a. Roshal Archive and Rational and Reliable, was created in the early 90's as a new way of compressing files that has become the prime avenue of modern day file and data compression. Pardon the history lesson, but it is important to know how things come about and also what they have done and have developed into. Having said that, I would like to take a moment to stress the importance of updating the aforementioned File Extension RAR to ensure smooth operation of your CPU.

In addition to my blogger "parenting and nagging", I ant to extend a bit of information regarding this free download. The links in this blog post will deliver you to a download page where you can not only pick up this valuable download, but also an explanation of how the system works. In brief, the download works like so;

1. Scan for drivers which require some form of updating.
2. Scan completes and delivers a detailed "data sheet" listing necessary updates.
3. Download offers "official" drivers to ensure smooth operation.
4. Driver download and updates completed to ensure all functions.

If you are unsure whether or not you need to update these drivers, here are a couple of tips to help you decide. First, if your CPU is running much slower than it has in the past, you may want to run a defragmentation program to help compress your hard-drive. Second, if your CPU is still "off", you may need to update the File Extension RAR driver which is the pivotal piece of a solid "defrag". Finally, think security. Updated drivers not only help your CPU's efficiency, but also can be pivotal in stopping a hack or attack. 

Anyway, if you are serious about the smooth performance of your computer, update your drivers!

Conficker Worm

By now you all have undoubtedly heard about the dreaded "Conficker Worm" that is supposed to burrow its way into your hard-drive and send your personal info and keystrokes to some den of Ukrainian identity thieves. Well, although the worm is all too real, the ability of this worm to mutate into something much more dreadful appears to have just been one big fat April Fools joke. Not that identity or any other "ity" theft is a laughing matter, I think that it might be a good idea for everyone to go ahead and update their security software and protocols for their PC's and Macs. 

Feel free to visit the Symantec website and download some updates or to visit the Norton Antivirus website to do the same. 

In regards to the aforementioned worm, things appear to still be up in the air with its ability to "mutate" and wreak havoc on an unprecedented scale, so don't take any risks and go ahead and update you security right now! Thanks for tuning in, happy blogging and stay safe!

Don't Crash!

Having spent the better part of the last three years working from home on my iMac and PC, I've had many different heart-stopping experiences that lead to a cold sweat. Imagine working on a project with a fast approaching deadline only to suffer a major crash before your auto-save could kick in. Well, unfortunately this has happened to me a couple of times during my days of PC use. I remember the first couple of times it happened on my old HP. After the "explosion", I would spend the next 3 hours checking firewalls, antivirus software and my hard-drive only to find that my problem was none of the above. In fact, the only problem was outdated drivers. Imagine my frustration that a loss in both time and wages was due to something as simple as driver updates.

Needless to say, I spent the next three hours looking for different downloads to scan my hard-drive and applications for driver updates in order to avoid the epic File Extension ITL error message. With that said, I tend to run auto searches and scans at least once a day in order to keep registry files and drivers updated and I strongly recommend the same of you. I do still encounter issues time to time on my notebook when traveling (yeah, it is an HP that runs Windows Vista...). Honestly, the only issues I seem to be having is with my File Extension ITL which is due to a crossover program for iTunes. A few times the application has glitched out and frozen my desktop while a number of applications were running. Fortunately, I haven't ever been running anything too dire so the losses have been minimal, but this leeds me to the topic of a great download I want to recommend for those of you who may be running ITL Extensions on their PC's. 

There is a great program offered as a free download called Driver Detective which actually scans you computer for drivers that require updating. Once the scan is completed the program will give you a detailed listing of updates as well as recommend official drivers to upload. When I say official drivers, I am referring to drivers that are brand specific and tested to ensure proper operation in order to avoid potential bugs and crashes. So if you have been having difficulties with File Extension ITL or others, give this free download a chance, I don't think you'll be disappointed. In the meantime, happy blogging and remember; have fun!

Focusing

After a few months on sabbatical, it is nice to be back on the Blogosphere. Over the last series of articles, I've been focusing primarily on auto-surfs and traffic generators instead of more technical oriented programs and downloads. Well, I've decided to post a few articles containing some free downloads that will not only help your operating system, but also your ability to work seamlessly across numerous applications. 

Earlier this week, I wrote an article sponsored by "Driver Detective" which can be found by simply scrolling down this page or visiting the link. This article featured a download that will enable users to scan there O.S. to find software that needs not only upgrades, but driver updates etc. In my opinion this is a great download for a number of reasons that are too lengthy to mention here, just reference the article. 

In addition to that last post, I hope to have a bit of information posted in the near future for those interested in iTunes (ITL). Being an iMac user I have to say that I am always on the lookout for programs and free downloads that can provide greater ease when operating multiple applications on my O.S. Anyway, stay tuned for additional articles featuring some cool downloads and services. In the meantime, happy blogging!

Cannot Open File

Having spent many years utilizes personal computers with windows, I am quite familiar with maintaining my drivers and software updates in order to ensure smooth operations as well as the ability to "maneuver" through numerous applications. With that said, one of the truly frustrating error messages I received from time to time was the dreaded "Windows Could Not Open File Extension OFX". Usually when this occurred I would have to scour the internet for downloads that would not only update my drivers, but ensure the ability to open my files regularly; this is where Driver Detector comes in.

Driver Detector is a free download that not only scans your computer to see which drivers need updating, but also prompt you to update any of the drivers that require action. In addition to giving you "action items", Driver Detective will only suggest downloading drivers (especially those dealing with File Extension OFX) which are licensed and tested to ensure proper operation, because we all know that some downloads can be more trouble than they are worth. After all the downloading is completed the only thing left to do is restart and open up whatever files you wish. So not only will you be able to open numerous files, but you wont have to worry about the dreaded File Extension OFX error that plagued me for so many years pre-iMac.

BlogExplosion Under New Admin

I recently received an email from the new admin over at BlogExplosion regarding the mass of support tickets which were filed and I have to say that I was impressed. Not only did they solve all my questions and issues, but they responded to another inquiry (made that day) within 8 hours. For those of you familiar with BlogExplosion, that is one incredible feat. 

In regards to this blog, I've been absent for a little while due to some economic factors beyond my control. Fortunately I have been able to secure a few freelance jobs as well as pick up a full-time job over at a local business. I'm not too sure how these new "gigs" will effect this blog, but I suspect blog posts will return to a couple a week as opposed to the three month hiatus we just went through. 

Regardless, I need to get back into the swing of things as so much has happened in the Blogosphere. I mean, we have major news outlets "Twittering", numerous pay-per-post businesses going under and a number of social networking and auto-surfs doing the same. The face of the sphere is changing and I hope to be able to catch up and bring it all to you. Thanks for sticking around and in the meantime, happy blogging!

BlogExplosion Closing Down?

I heard that BlogExplosion may be going in the same direction as BlogMad and traffic generators in general. I suppose that may be a good thing for some folks, but will definitely inhibit some newer bloggers from beta testing their blogs to a "generic" audience. Personally, I like to put my newer blogs on traffic generators to find their demo. At this point you may be asking yourself, "What is the purpose of this post?" Well, the purpose of this post is to inform you of the demise of traffic generators and hopefully spur you to check out some more organic traffic generation methods (preferentially the ones I have dropped onto this blog the last two and a half months). 

Feel free to peruse some of the earlier posts on this blog and try some of the tips and techniques I've listed and recommended. Having spent a great deal of time finding great tips for increased traffic and piling them up here, I would love to have some folks utilize this blog as a resource. Other than Adsense, I don't expect to do any advertising here, so what I'm saying is, "This blog is for you as a resource."

In the meantime, I don't know for sure if BlogExplosion is "toast", but I suspect the end may be near. I have a few blogs that have been awaiting approval for over two months and have found that sending inquiries and whatnot have (for the most part) fallen on death ears. Don't get me wrong, it is a free service, so why expect a real hands own admin. Anyway, this is the same thing that happened over at BlogMad, so I think it is a safe assumption. In the meantime, keep creating solid content and have fun blogging!

Word of Mouth

Having taken a bit of a break over the holidays from my obsessive blogging, I am looking forward to posting a bit more frequently in the coming weeks. With that said, I want to talk a bit this morning about how wonderful "word of mouth" can work in regards to generating traffic to all of your sites and blogs. When I say "word of mouth", I'm not just talking about online networks and the Blogosphere (although both of those should be a main priority), I am referring to any daily activities. Recently, I picked up a new part time job to supplement income during this fiscal downturn and have not been shy in regards to my writing career and business. 

Lets face it, if you are any good with people in social situations you should have no trouble "advertising" your work. One of the things I like to do is update my MySpace or other networks with links to my sites/blogs so that people who meet me will have access to those things through regular channels. Honestly, I noticed after I networked a bit with people from my new employer that my MySpace page and blog hits spikes at an unparalleled level. Think about that for a minute. That is certified organic traffic from people who are "interested" in learning more about you and your business or activities. I don't know about you, but that is a win-win situation for anyone. Granted, it might be a good idea to delete anything incriminating (drunk pictures and the like) so you don't look like an ass. 

Anyway, don't be afraid to try word of mouth advertising. To go a step further, look at some of the products you may have around your computer. Chances are at some point somebody recommended them to you, now apply that to your blog/site/business and watch your traffic spike! In the meantime, keep creating great content and have fun, after-all that is what it is all about!

Happy Holidays!

Hello everyone, I just wanted to drop a quick post before I hit the road this year. Over the last couple of weeks we've had several people begin following "Increasing My Blogs Traffic" and we are glad to have them. My wife and I are expecting to be back sometime after the weekend and I plan on updating a bit more frequently after the holiday. 

I can't begin to thank you all enough for dropping in so frequently and joining in on the conversation. I hope all of you have a great holiday and we'll catch back up in a couple days!

Blog Catalog; Guerilla Traffic

As I mentioned in a prior post (that you can find here!) there are lots of great ways to utilize social networks to drive traffic. One of those networks I'd like to talk about today is Blog Catalog. Having written about this network in the past, I wont go into the nuts and bolts of the directory, but will instead focus on one of the great aspects to drive traffic via their service. 

When you create an account, you get many great features, but one of my favorites (for driving guerilla traffic) is the Shoutbox. If you are able to utilize the search directory option, you will be able to search through all the listed blogs for ones that are similar to your own. When you select a blog via the directory you can view the author/bloggers page and leave them a message via their personal Shoutbox. I usually like to hit the directory once or twice every few weeks for new listings. If I find a blog that I feel my readers might enjoy, I like to contact the blogger of the site and suggest a link or blogroll exchange. This is a great way to build link exchanges and drive traffic. Sometimes, you may even want to run someone else's blog through a page rank checker so you can get an idea on their rank and traffic so you will be able to tell if it is worth the effort of link exchanges and directory searches. 

In regards to guerilla traffic, you're messages via the Shoutbox can help steer people over to your blog if they are well written and not spammy. Most people who search profiles always read the public Shoutbox messages and if yours seems interesting they may just check your site/blog out! Happy blogging and traffic building!

I wanted to take a quick second to thank all of you for following this blog and wish you all a happy holiday season!

Blogging Just To Blog

I've been searching around the Blogosphere the last couple of days and have come to the conclusion that more people are blogging than ever before. I am very happy to see that so many people are joining different directories, networks and groups, but I am a bit disappointed in the fact that so many of these blogs are infrequently updated. Having said that, blogging is a commitment to yourself and your readers that is not to be taken lightly. Granted, sometimes we all have lapses or slips where we don't post regularly for a bit, so that is understandable. Speaking for myself, there are times when I feel like I don't have anything to contribute so I will hold back on posting drivel so that my readers don't feel that my content is becoming diluted.

In regards to some blogs that are infrequently updated, I would have to say that I am amazed at the quality of the material on these blogs that have completely ceased. Honestly, I read quite a few high-quality articles on well thought out blogs that hadn't been updated for well over 6 months. I am well aware that there can be circumstances that keep people from posting, but 6 months, wow!

For those of you who read and follow this blog, you're readership is appreciated and I want to assure you that although I no longer post daily, that I will continue to deliver the posts that you have come to enjoy from this site. I'm hoping to have a bit more SEO related content on the way as well as some more tips to generate additional organic traffic. In fact, my quest for next year is to develop a strategy of 40-50 tips on how to grow your organic traffic utilizing free service directories, networks and guerilla tactics. I hope that my readers who maintain focused blogs will be able to utilize these techniques in order to raise their visibility ten-fold. 

In regards to "Blogging Just To Blog", we all do it at times, but sometimes our readers would like to know where we are coming from and these types of blog help to further connect the writer/blogger with their audience in a more personal nature. Lastly, I just want to thank you all for reading and let you know that more content is on the way!

The New BlogMad is blogmad?

As I mentioned a little while ago at some length, BlogMad Admin had sold the domain to Today.com and as promised they will be creating a PPP service there. While I'm cool with that (even though it doesn't really matter what I think about it) I am a little upset that they decided to keep the domain title BlogMad. I for one associate BlogMad as a traffic generator, not a PPP service. Does it matter? In a word, no. 

Although I am not the biggest fan of PPP, I do understand the importance and growing sphere of influence PPP's are having on the industry and profession at large. Personally, I feel like PPP services don't offer decent rates for quality content. Take Associated Content for example, they ask for content "calls" and pay small royalties and occasionally a little peep up front. Honestly, I feel like they have similar metrics to Adsense, however they don't allow you to tweak the system to your benefit. Now are all PPP's like this, no, but am I willing to learn the intricacies, no. Don't get me wrong, PPP's are great for folks that can crank out the content and are willing to earn pennies where they could earn dollars instead. I'll likely stick with the advertising companies and run a 250 word article with a couple of links for $20. I feel that is always a worthy endeavor. 

Anyway, I have heard a lot of good things about EntreCard as a traffic generator, but have yet to sign up. I suspect I will after the holidays, but for the moment I can't be bothered to. In regards to traffic generator sites, I really feel like that "door" is begining to close and folks who utilize those services heavilly might be wise to approach traffic generation more creatively by utilizing SEO tactics as well as the "guerilla traffic" that I mentioned in my YouTube post a few days back. In the meantime, so long BlogMad!

FeedBurner's BuzzBoost: Increase Your Traffic

BuzzBoost is a cool service created by FeedBurner that allows users to share there latest blog entries across the Blogosphere in the form of a link exchange. This is an excellent tool to increase SEO as well as drive traffic to your blog from similar blogs worldwide. I began using this service last week in conjunction with a friend of mine and I am looking forward to seeing how well it works first-hand. 

As I mentioned, I recently I began using the BuzzBoost service provided free to FeedBurner users and wanted to give a quick tutorial regarding how to set up a BuzzBoost HTML code to embed. The process itself is quite simple, the hardest part is finding someone to share the HTML code with, but we've been down that road before (think Blogroll Exchange), so I know my readers are ready!

• Open up your Feedburner account and choose the blog you would like to create BuzzBoost HTML. Click the title and you will be brought to the feed screen for that blog.
  

• Next, select the "Publicize" tab in order to bring up different options for HTML exchanges.

• After clicking on the "Publicize" tab, you will be brought to this screen where you simply need to select "BuzzBoost".

• Lastly, you will instantly be given an HTML code to share and embed. You can make adjustments to the code by selecting different option that are available on the page when you scroll down. In the top box you will see the HTML code and in the bottom you can see how the code will appear on the page. 

Feel free to experiment with different options before you share or embed your HTML code. Personally, I just leave the code alone although there are many different ways you can tweak it. I would recommend playing around with it to see what works for you and your writing style. In the meantime, hopefully we have found another fun way to increase your traffic as well as bring in new readers to your site. Remember, keep creating good content and happy blogging!

LoudLaunch; Premium Bloggers?

I wanted to mention something pretty interesting that I cam across over at the LoudLaunch dashboard today. Apparently this advertiser has begun accepting certain blogs into their "Premium Bloggers" marketplace. As a "Premium Blogger" members will have the opportunity to write ad articles for large name advertisers like Nintendo, Sony and other advertisers who have larger payouts and more flexibility in assignments. 

I recently submitted my blog 8-Bit Memoirs to their service and am hoping that upon acceptance I am able to scoop up some great bids with some tech advertisers. I wanted to post the prerequisites so that other LoudLaunch bloggers can see if they can submit their blogs to the service and earn some extra revenue in these rough economic times.

Here is a screen capture courtesy of the Jing Project and Screencast of the prerequisites for the "Premium Blogger" service via LoudLaunch.

If your blog meets the above criteria and you're a member of LoudLaunch, go ahead and apply. With any luck, you'll be able to earn even more revenue through more targeted advertisements via their new system. In the meantime, keep creating great content and happy blogging!