December 1, 2004
Today’s tip is for folks who have a web site. If you have a web site, you are probably looking for ways to get found more easily on the search engines. Normally you do this by making changes to your site. One trick that doesn’t involve your actual web site is – sending out a press release that links to your web site. The steps are pretty easy:
1. Write a press release. Think of a topic that is even remotely newsworthy. Maybe you have a new product or service enhancement. Maybe you’re having a big sale or giving a presentation to an association.
2. Include your URL in the press release. Then readers can link directly to you from the press release.
3. Send your press release to a service such as PRWeb. They will distribute your release for free. (Enhanced distribution is about $30.) PRWeb will send your press release to thousands of people – but that’s not the best part. They will also archive your press release on their web site. Search engines (especially Google) seem to pick up these press releases very quickly. Like potential visitors, the search engines will follow the link on the release to your site. It’s a quick and easy way to get their attention or remind them that you exist.
I have had great luck with client web sites and press releases. Hopefully these steps will help you too. If you’re interested in the idea but don’t have the time and would rather outsource it – feel free to give me a call.
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Posted by Ann Treacy
November 24, 2004
Just for fun, today’s Byte is a Thanksgiving quiz today. You can share it with your families tomorrow – or just slip some interesting Thanksgiving facts into conversation and let them think you’re the smart one. You can get the answers here below:
1. What year did the Pilgrims have their first Thanksgiving Feast?
1621
1619
1564
1702
2. The Horn of Plenty, or Cornucopia, which symbolizes abundance, originated in what country?
Ireland
Holland
Greece
Turkey
3. With which Nation of Native Americans did the Pilgrims celebrate?
Ojibwe
Wampanoag
Sioux
Lakota
4. About how many people participated in the first Thanksgiving?
14
41
140
410
5. What president didn’t like the idea of having a national Thanksgiving Day?
Adams
Jefferson
Nixon
Lincoln
6. Which president first established the date of Thanksgiving as a national celebration?
Washington
Jefferson
Adams
Madison
7. How long did the Pilgrims’ voyage to the ‘New World’ last?
27 days
66 days
99 days
200 days
8. Who was in favor of making turkey the National Bird of America?
John Turkey
Benjamin Franklin
Ponce de Leon
William Bradford
9. When did Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade start?
1910
1917
1920
1924
Answers
1. 1621
2. Greece
3. Wampanoag
4. 140
5. Thomas Jefferson
6. George Washington
7. 66 days
8. Benjamin Franklin
9. 1924
If you have kids, here is a great site to learn more about Thanksgiving (while you watch the game).
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Posted by Ann Treacy
November 17, 2004
In honor of the passing of former Minnesota Governor (and long time library lover) Elmer Anderson, I am going to talk about libraries today. I know it’s not really technology – but they can be such as asset that I like to bring them up periodically.
Public Libraries
For business owners, libraries can be the best free consultant in the world. Next time you need a quick answer to a question – call (or email) your local library. As a former reference librarian I can tell you – we live for the fun and interesting questions!
Next time you need help with a business plan or major research, try visiting your library. Libraries have the books and electronic resources you need to look up information that will help you make good business decisions. The librarians can help you through the research process. (Again, we live for that stuff!)
Academic Libraries
If you live near a college, you might be able to access their collection too. Even if you can’t check items out – it can be a great place to get answers and do research. The University of Minnesota will let you access some pretty fancy databases if you visit them. And if you ever need technical or scientific information, it can be well worth the trip.
I have found when traveling that often academic libraries will let you use their computers to check email. Assuming that you aren’t there during finals weeks, don’t seem too menacing, and ask nicely.
Special Libraries
Special libraries focus in a niche area. They are open to the public in varying degrees. One example is the James J Hill Library. They have a business collection. You can access most of their items for free on site. Their web site has access to many free resources. But to get to the really good stuff online, you have to be a paying member. I mention them because the director said I could give you their phone number to call for a free trial. Their number is 651-265-5458; just ask about a HillSearch Trial and they will give you a password to try for a week.
I have focused on the business uses of the library – but I can tell you that the libraries are equal opportunity helpers. I know that some of the best (most fun) reference questions I got while a librarian stemmed from a bet among friends. So, next time you’re about to come to blows about who has won the most Oscars – call a librarian to settle the score.
Here are two web sites to help you find the library you need:
Metronet Minnesota Web Directory
The WWW Library Directory
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Posted by Ann Treacy
November 10, 2004
Last week someone asked me about free and low cost work spaces online. Specifically they were looking for space or tools that would allow them work with colleagues who were not on the same network. Here is what I found:
Standard Applications
Most of the resources that I looked at let you share a calendar, files and photos, create polls, and carry on an archived conversation
Yahoo! Groups
Yahoo! Groups is free but it includes a lot of advertising. You can limit use to members only or open it up to the public for people to join. Yahoo! Groups is good for a potentially public list, such as for your matchbook collectors club, a very casual list, such as your family or high school reunion list, or when free is the most important.
Intranets
Intranets is a low cost solution; it’s $60 per month for 5 or fewer business users and $50 per month for 10 or fewer nonprofit users. With Intranets you can host real-time chats. I have used Intranets and I think it works quite well – although the chats were not very easy to follow. A free 30 days trial is available.
HyperOffice
HyperOffice is another low cost solution; it’s $6 per month for one user, $30 for 10 or fewer users and pricing goes up from there. I haven’t used HyperOffice but it looks quite good. I think it would be a good solution for a contractor who needed to access files remotely. A free 30 days trial is available.
I have to say that I also found several solutions that didn’t have pricing – so I haven’t included them. And I have tried other solutions that I didn’t like much – so I haven’t included them.
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Posted by Ann Treacy
November 3, 2004
OK I feel like I’m inviting you to an Amway party this week – but it’s all in the name of information sharing. Last May I registered for Survey Savvy. They pay you to take surveys online.
I have not exactly gotten rich through Survey Savvy – but so far I’ve earned $20 for taking one survey. Here’s how it works. Companies pay Survey Savvy to send out surveys to qualified target markets. If your profile matches that target market they will send you a link to a web site to answer a couple of quick questions to see if you qualify to take a paid a survey.
For example, your profile might say you have a baby so you get an invitation to the Pampers survey. Then through the initial filtering questions they find out you use cloth diapers, so you don’t qualify to take the Pampers survey.
If you get the initial invitation but don’t qualify for the survey your name goes into a drawing for $10. If you do qualify they will send you to the web site with the entire survey. They surveys seem to be about 10 minutes long, and the payment seems to be about $20 per survey.
I like taking surveys so I have enjoyed my Survey Savvy experience. Also, I have not been inundated with unwanted email so – I thought I’d pass this fun site on to you. Here’s the sneaky part – if you join and take surveys I will get paid too, hence the Amway reference above. If you refer others you too will get paid every time they take a survey.
So with some hesitation I will give you my referral link: http://www.surveysavvy.com/?id=1353864&hid=1353864. Through here you can sign up online.
Thanks to Terri in Coon Rapids for getting me hooked up with Survey Savvy!
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Posted by Ann Treacy
