I just got off the phone with the CEO and Founder of Pyrabang, Christian Perrillo (see note at the very end of this post). I had a specific reason for calling (a subscription problem of my own doing), and was more than pleasantly surprised to reach him by phone.

For the observant visitor, you’ll note on the sidebar of this blog, the vertical box to Pyrabang. It “looks like” (in its own odd way) a Google adsense box (which are also there). However, that’s where the resemblance stops.

Pyrabang is more like Digg’s little brother – in my mind – especially after the conversation that I just had with Christian.

Only “similar to Digg.” Pyrabang goes well beyond that popular social media website. Pyrabang’s tagline is “the new media” and this new media serves multiple purposes: (more…)

I’ve known Melanie Milletics for a while now (list building secrets), and I’ve been hanging onto a notice of hers called, “What is a Magic Blog Post?” for a few days.

Today is the day I made the time to go read (and you should, too).

There are certain vital points she makes that really impact your posts (or your website for that matter) that I won’t rehash, she’s stated them quite nicely. However, I did notice a glaring what I’ll call “mistake” within her post. A mistake I see way too many web site and blog owners make – not coding their click-able links to open in new windows!

Such a small thing, with such huge implications!

When you are reading, and someone mentions a resource or reference to even more information (and assuming you are really interested), ten to one you’re going to click that link (like above) – which is also what I (and anyone else with common sense) is praying that you will do – it’s there to be clicked for a reason.

Yet after you click on it, do you think I want you to disappear for good? Of course not! I want you back to either finish up reading and/or to take the time to look around (use the search bar on this blog), watch the videos (there are even more “how to’s” in the right hand sidebar on a wide range of topics, that’s just one example), and (of course) COMMENT about what you’re reading.

So that simple bit of code – your “target” to open in a new window or blank window is critical.

You work hard to get your visitor, don’t let them just slip through your fingers. The coding is:

target=”_blank”

To see it in action, just right click anywhere on this page outside the framework of the blog itself (in other words pick a “white area” even if it’s colored, but doesn’t have words) and View Source (in IE) or View Page Source (in Firefox).

o  Go up under EDIT on your browser (very top)

o  Choose FIND and type in Milletics (it’s unique and only mentioned once on this page – okay twice but this one doesn’t count there’s no link involved)

o  Now look closely at the coding just prior to her name.

See how the code is put together? See the “target” part?

You can hand code this yourself in HTML or if you are a Wordpress blog user, from the what-you-see-is-what-you-get view, just highlight the words, click on the little chain to make the link, and then select TARGET (new window).

Website owners you really need to do this, too.

It’s actually very sad to me when I see someone just willingly giving up their visitor. Don’t make me hunt to get back to you!

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Please COMMENT, we love feedback!

This past week, Janet Giacoma, a Whole Hog Blogger and extensive article writer, wrote to ask how does one add their Twitter feed to EzineArticles.com. Apparently, she’s heard through the grapevine, and has demonstrated proof from those sources, that adding (updating) your EzineArticle profile to include your other social identities can have real benefits.

Well, it could be me, but it did take some doing to locate the steps. Actually I had to finally just hold my breath and head to the EzineArticle blog, do a search for “twitter” and voila! here’s the results (quoting a bit of that forum post):

“Here’s the 6 simple steps on how to quickly add your social media links: (more…)

UPDATE 9/25 at 4:03 p.m. – we just test installed it and unfortunately while installation went smoothly, as soon as it was activated the entire blog disappeared – never fear just deleting the plugin brought the blog back online. However, we urge caution and read, read, read first

Now onto the information:

It’s great to have great friends, and this morning Linda Rembowski of ForcedGreen gets my high five award

She sent me information that you’re sure to want to investigate for yourself. WordPress Double Opt-In Manager Widget. (more…)

For a fun (and educational!) Sunday, I’d like to share a resource I just discovered via a Blogcatalog visitor.

Divyatha (or Rhinestonne as she is known at BlogCatalog) has several interesting blogs, including her Best of Web Pages.

It was on that site that I found listed along the sidebar, (more…)