10 Must-Have Plugins For WordPress

Published on January 20, 2010 in Blogging and Wordpress. 1 Comment Tags: , .

We have worked with WordPress since the beginning and have compiled a list of the best plugins for WordPress.

The top 10 plugins you shouldn’t be without:

  1. Google XML Sitemaps – Keeps your blog indexed regularly.
  2. All in One SEO Pack – Customize any post/page title and meta information.
  3. Contact Form 7 – Best contact form for WordPress. Easy to use.
  4. Twitter Tools – Twitter is becoming a standard, and this plugin “fuses” your blog with Twitter very well.
  5. AddToAny Button – Put a button on every page/post so users can share your information with others.
  6. WP Super Cache – Caches your blog so it loads faster. Be careful, this can conflict with other blog features, but is worth it if you want to speed things up.
  7. Google Analytics for WordPress – Easy way to pop your Google Analytics code into your blog.
  8. Page Order – Quickly change the order pages display in WordPress with this plugin.
  9. Maintenance Mode – Take your blog offline while you fiddle. Only admins can view changes.
  10. WP-SpamFree Anti-Spam – Keeps spam comments from posting in the background. No need for captcha boxes!

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Poll: Which blog platform do you prefer?

Published on December 16, 2009 in Blogging. 0 Comments Tags: , .

We all know WordPress has become the industry standard for bloggers, but we were curious to see how many people prefer other blog platforms.

Which blog platform do you prefer?

  • WordPress (75%, 18 Votes)
  • Google Blogger (21%, 5 Votes)
  • TypePad (4%, 1 Votes)
  • Squarespace (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Moveable Type (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 24

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Google Wave iPhone App

Published on November 3, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

The makers of Waveboard for Mac have just released their iPhone version.

Grab it here on iTunes

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Best Twitter Software for PC & Mac

Published on October 22, 2009 in Social Media Marketing. 2 Comments Tags: , , .

So you’re looking for the ultimate Twitter software for your Mac or PC? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve tried them all and we’re going to share with you the best solution to give Twitter a home on your computer.

tweetiemac

Our number one pick is Tweetie for Mac only (sorry PC users). It’s free (ad-supported) or only $19 for a license. This is the cleanest, easiest interface you can find in a Twitter client.

tweetdeck

For the PC people out there, TweetDeck has become the standard client of choice. Extremely robust in features and easy to use. This is also available for Mac as well. This utilizes the Adobe Air platform.

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10 Twitter Marketing Tips

Published on October 22, 2009 in Social Media Marketing. 3 Comments Tags: , , .

I’ve had a lot of requests to share some tips on how to effectively post to Twitter. Read below to gain more followers and grab more attention on Twitter.

  1. Don’t post too much, 2-3 times/day is perfect.
  2. Post to Twitter during peak hours. mid-morning is perfect, or right after lunch.
  3. Be helpful. Update your friends with interesting reads, or problem solving solutions.
  4. Controversy always works.
  5. Keep it short and sweet. Short blurbs like “WOW” or “HAHA” then a linking to your source always works well. It’s like the big red button in the middle of the wall, you gotta push it!
  6. Be human, and talk back. When you read something interesting, let the user know. Responding, and re-tweeting generates energy in your Twitter account and people notice that.
  7. Ask questions. People love questions and if the right question is asked you’ll get flooded with answers!
  8. Find a useful application for your phone/iphone. Most people don’t realize there are hundreds of applications on the web to use with your Twitter account. Having Twitter on your hip is crucial with this high-paced software. Click here for my list of the best Twitter software for mac and pc.
  9. Famous quotes both profound and inspirational can make someone’s day. Every now and then throw in a random quote into your Tweets.
  10. Tweet Adder. This software for Mac and PC is a must for automated Twitter maintenance. Build your Followers list automatically with this tool and target certain areas using specific keywords. Grab it here!

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3 Reasons Social Media Marketing Is Crucial to Your Business

Published on October 20, 2009 in Social Media Marketing. 2 Comments Tags: , .

social-media-marketing

Social marketing is becoming a standard. It’s free, easy, and very effective. Below are some reasons to get on board with  Social Media Marketing.

The spider-web effect. When someone reads something you say and finds it interesting it is very likely they will “Re-post” or “share” your message with their friends. You can take a marketing campaign to great distances. From the moment you post something, it may be weeks before it has finished circulating!

Search engine visibility. There are more and more factors arising every day that give your website better visibility on the web. A big factor is having your own business account with these big Social Media sites. The link from these sites to yours tells Google and search engines that you’re in the “loop” and they will prioritize your website over others because of this.

Connect with people. Social marketing puts you in the conversation. Help customers solve problems by offering your solution at a personal level. Ease in communication has created more competition for companies, and more alternatives for customers. This is good, and if you’re not in the “loop,” can be bad. Very important to be in the conversation before the other guy.

I will add more thoughts as they arise, but I feel this is a grey area for a lot of businesses.

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Bellezza Cristali’s Salon

Published on October 12, 2009 in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

We would like to welcome Bellezza Cristali’s to the web! Bellezza Cristali’s is a new Salon based in Danville, CA. Check out their website here:

www.bellezzacristalis.com

As you enter Bellezza Cristali’s, you will instantly feel like you’ve arrived at your Tuscan home away from home. We designed and decorated Bellezza Cristali’s to offer you a feeling of warmth, comfort and total relaxation.Arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time and snuggle up in one of our leather club chairs to relax with a cup of coffee or a glass of fresh water with citrus fruit garnishment. Browse our luxury, high-end product lines provided for your hair care needs, or spend a few minutes looking through a hair style catalogue of all the latest colors and styles.

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Want your own WordPress blog?

Published on September 25, 2009 in Wordpress. 1 Comment

We’re running a special to get you blogging on your own domain. Normally, you would get a subdomain with other blogging sites (yourblog.blogger.com, etc). For $15/month we’ll install and host your WordPress blog on YOUR own domain. This monthly price will include unlimited space so you can upload as many photos and blog entries as you want! It will also include a ton of themes to choose from pre-installed. Domain is not included, but costs about $10/year. Contact us today and mention the WordPress special to get started!


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Best Twitter Plugins for WordPress

Published on August 24, 2009 in Wordpress. 4 Comments Tags: , .

Twitter is becoming more and more widely used. Keeping your blog tightly integrated with Twitter will significantly improve your blog’s traffic. Below are 10 of the best Twitter plugins available for WordPress.

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logo & branding inspiration

Published on August 24, 2009 in Branding & Identity. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Picture 1

One of my favorite sites to find inspiration for company identity and logos is LogoPond. LogoPond is a large community of designers that submit their work, and the community then rates the logos.

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