The exchange went like this:

Hello Mark – Wow – impressive – Thanks for stepping in to do the web changes in the interim. My listing looks [...]]]> I recently exchnged emails with one of my manufacturing organizations that I am a member of.  The webmaster is out with an illness and someone is filling in in the interim.

The exchange went like this:

Hello Mark – Wow – impressive – Thanks for stepping in to do the web changes in the interim. My listing looks much better.

Anyhow, on a recent family trip I had the following conversation:

Hi Lydia. It was so nice to finally [...]]]> It’s the nature of the beast.  Because of my internet marketing, most family members rely on me for IT issues (and I hate IT).  That’s the whole reason I wrote the book – taking the technical jargon out!

Anyhow, on a recent family trip I had the following conversation:

Hi Lydia. It was so nice to finally meet you and Rodger. Sorry we did not have more time to go through iPad stuff. Here is the link to the page where I have computer tips. Click on “Three Simple Tips to Speed Up Windows XP. http://get-top-ranking-on-search-engines.com/computer-tools-tips-tricks/

If your computer is not faster after dong this, look at any unnecessary programs and delete them, by going to Start –> Control Panel –> Add / Remove Programs (make double sure the program is not important – if in doubt – leave it. I usually have to Google the program name to find out what it is. I almost deleted a necessary Microsoft program once, because I did not recognize it. 

If it’s still not faster, it might be a shortage of RAM and or an older processor. Go to Start –> My Computer and on the left under “System Tasks” click ‘View System Information” You should have at least 1 GB of RAM, more is better. RAM is something that can be added to most laptops pretty easily – the Geek Squad at Best Buy can do it if you take it in. An old processor is not worth replacing. You might weigh the costs of getting a new one. I just replaced my old laptop, with a new HP for $400 (on sale at Costco) and it’s saving me about 30 minutes a day it’s so much faster. Slow computers are a real drag, I even overheard Rodger complaining about using Facebook, because it took so long to turn the laptop on.

I like HP and I opted for the i3 Intel processor, because I don’t need anything more powerful. In my opinion the i5 and i7 Intel processors are overkill, because I don’t play any games. Games require larger processors because of all the graphics.

My best tip for the iPad is to start using Drop Box www.dropbox.com (it’s called “cloud computing”) They give you some free storage and then charge you for over that amount. If you carefully select which folders from your “My Documents” file system that you want to include in the Drop Box folder, you won’t eat up all of your space. For example, I don’t store very many pictures or video files in my Drop Box folder, mainly Word and Excel documents. The great thing about Drop Box, is that if you edit a file on your laptop, it automatically updates it on any device that you have tied into your Dropbox account. Maybe you have a Desktop, or a second laptop or your iPad. It keeps all files synced and available from any device.  I recommend loading the DropBox software and setting up your account info on your laptop first, then downloading the DropBox app for your iPad.

If you decide to go the Drop Box route, I can refer you, from my account and they give me a little extra space – or just sign up on your own. They have a little video you can watch when you first go to www.dropbox.com

I am also a huge fan of the Good Reader iPad App. It allows you to “Open In” Good Reader whenever you open an email that has a Word, Excel or PDF attachment and it creates a little file management system right on the iPad -(kind of like a “My Documents” Windows filing system). When you click on the attachment it asks if you want to “Open In” Good Reader.

If you want the ability to “edit” Word or Excel documents, then there is an app called “Documents to Go” I don’t use it much, because I still use my laptop for the heavy lifting (Excel spreadsheets) but the Documents To Go app gets the best reviews and I do like it when I have used it. (You can’t edit documents in Good Reader for some reason – I just like the Good Reader filing system better then Documents to Go) If you have both the good Reader app and the Documents to go app, you will be prompted when you open an email attachment (PDF, Excel or word) on your iPad asking which program you would like to “open in”

Y’all take care.

Thanks for all the fantastic questions and interaction – Student participation make these work!

Feedback is always welcome – Let’s start the two way conversations – please click on “comment” below to start a discussion.

As [...]]]> Our Google class was sold out once again – Sorry to the folks who couldn’t get in.  Maybe we should increase the venue?

Thanks for all the fantastic questions and interaction – Student participation make these work!

Feedback is always welcome – Let’s start the two way conversations – please click on “comment” below to start a discussion.

As discussed in class – Let’s “Like” each other on Facebook  and support local Austin business.  I’ll like yours once you like mine, hopefully others will come here too….Please follow the link below to my book ”Page”  go ahead and “Like” it, then post a comment with a link to your “Page”  Hint: – Just copy and paste the link from your internet browser address bar when you are on your own Facebook “page” and then paste it in the comment section on my Facebook page so we can all click on it – Please be sure to scroll through everyone’s comment on my page so we’re sure to go to each other’s pages and ”Like” each other.  It’s a beautiful thing : )

(Hint:  Follow the link form other students’s post to their “page” and like it, don’t just “like” their comment in my post on my page, that only “Likes” their comment – not their page.)

http://www.facebook.com/GTROG

We talked about the importance of setting up a proper keyword rich URL / username and title – See this link for Facebook User Name Guidelines and other FAQ:
http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=900

See this link to set up your Business / Product “Page”:

http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=175

The ultimate goal is to end up with a Facebook URL that looks something like this:

www.facebook.com/LaptopStand

Here are the slides from the class – They are in PDF format which can be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat reader (installed on most computers).  Once you open this link in your internet browser, you can save the PDF (file - ”save as” in your browser) to a folder in your computer for future reference:

Austin Google class SBDP – University of Texas

From Google: http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1408986

If you want your authorship information to appear in search results for the content you [...]]]> Google is using a new method to “Qualify” a backlink.  Since so many Black Hats have overused backlnks (ask JC Penny) Google is using Google +  as another way to verify the relevance,  authorship and qualify the link.

From Google: http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1408986

If you want your authorship information to appear in search results for the content you create, you’ll need a Google+ Profile with a good, recognizable headshot as your profile photo. Then, verify authorship of your content by associating it with your profile using either of the methods below. Google doesn’t guarantee to show author information in Google Web Search or Google News results.

Option 1: Link your content to your Google+ profile using a verified email address.

Option 2: Set up authorship by linking your content to your Google+ profile

By Greg Bright

Hi Julie.  Thanks for the update.  To your question:  ”Is there a point when too many words in [...]]]> A recent client asks about the number of keywords you should put in your URL.  As mentioned in our keyword chapter, if you don’t already have an established website domain address, consider launching one with keywords in the URL.  ( www.get-top-ranking-on-search-engines.com is a perfect example)

Hi Julie.  Thanks for the update.  To your question:  ”Is there a point when too many words in the domain name is detrimental?”  Yes there is from the standpoint of which keywords you are focusing on.  If your keyword research is showing that the majority of folks are searching on all five of the words you have (correctly) separated with hyphens, then it’s OK.  If only two or three of those keywords are getting high search results, then the rest of them will dilute the value of the two or three most important.  I hope that helps.  The new book is about done!

By Greg Bright

Download PDF of Google Class Course Syllabus

Google: Make Sure Your Customers Can Find You

(4/25/2012) Google: Make Sure Your Customers Can Find You! provides hands-on, step-by-step instructions for getting websites found through high ranking on Google and other search engines. Using real world examples, [...]]]> Be sure to sign up early - these SEO classes fill fast.

Download PDF of Google Class Course Syllabus

Google: Make Sure Your Customers Can Find You

(4/25/2012) Google: Make Sure Your Customers Can Find You! provides hands-on, step-by-step instructions for getting websites found through high ranking on Google and other search engines. Using real world examples, local author Greg Bright will present Search Engine Optimization (SEO) using non-technical, layman’s terms -from one small business owner to another. SEO is all about getting high ranking in the natural search results, and it is free. This class is taught by a University of Texas Adjunct Instructor and counts toward the 6 course requirement needed to earn your Small Business Success Skills Certification. 

Time:  9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location:  201 East 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701
Fee:  $35 includes light breakfast
For Information:   512-974-7800     
To Register:   512-974-7800 

Sigh up at the Austin SBDP Website here:

http://www.austinsmallbiz.com/WebCOE/new-sbdp-calendar.htm 

By Greg Bright

Monday April, 9 2012 – #1 AT&T dumps Yellow Pages division for $950 million.  Following in the footsteps of its closest [...]]]>

2012 AT&T Houston Yellow Pages - at 1.5" = 1/4 of its old size

Monday April, 9 2012 – #1 AT&T dumps Yellow Pages division for $950 million.  Following in the footsteps of its closest rival #2 Verizon, who dumped theirs years ago.  I guess they are finally admitting that usage numbers are down – way down….ya think?

Read more: USA Today

Wells Fargo now allows money transfers using email and mobile phone numbers.  It’s limited to other Wells Fargo customers and Bank of America customers, but they say they will be adding more banks soon.

More signs that mobile is here to stay.  According to  a survey by Fiserv, mobile [...]]]>

Wells Fargo now allows money transfers using email and mobile phone numbers.  It’s limited to other Wells Fargo customers and Bank of America customers, but they say they will be adding more banks soon.

More signs that mobile is here to stay.  According to  a survey by Fiserv, mobile banking is everywhere. More than 25% of U.S. households use mobile banking via text messaging, mobile browsers and downloadable apps.

Download report here:

http://www.fiserv.com/resources/2011-consumer-trends-survey.htm