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Messages - Dynaweb

#256
Wow, that is great for you!  Did you get a traffic spike?  (Cool interview BTW).
#257
(Form the horse's mouth)

Take a look at the new ways PayPal is making a world of difference
for web developers like you.


******************************************************************
The Future of Electronic Payments
******************************************************************


Building Creative PayPal Platform Solutions

As the use of electronic payments grows, cash is no longer
king. Developers are. You and your e-commerce programming peers
have boundless opportunities to shape the future of online
financial transactions.

For instance, governments are now accepting taxes through PayPal.
Tenants pay rent. Businesses pay wages. Even alimony is sent
through PayPal. The examples are diverse, but the fundamentals the
same-easy, secure, and reliable transactions made possible by
PayPal developers.

Help Shape the Future of Electronic Payments

Build your own innovative solutions with resources at the PayPal
Integration Center, including SDKs, APIs, and sample code.
https://www.paypal.com/IntegrationCenter/ic_home.html?pal=CTA6V4XUA2ZU8

Give us feedback on bugs or improvements at:
developer(at)paypal.com
#258
Scripting / Re: web forms being hijacked by spammers
April 24, 2006, 07:17:06 AM
This is a big concern lately.  Security on websites is very similar to other forms of security -- there are no absolutes.  The game is to stay ahead of the bad guys.  In order to do that you must identify your vulnerabilities and secure them.  I believe a big loophole lately is with Email Injection where a spammer inserts potentially thousands of BCC lines into the form via an external script.  If your web form does not prevent against this then you will need to modify it for sure.  Other common vulnerabilities include:
- Naming your web forms "formtoemail" or "mailform" or like that.  That is just inviting for spammers looking for a new exploitable.
- Leaving email addresses "out in the open" where spambots can easily scoop them up.
- Leaving "testing" versions of form-to-email scripts up by mistake.  While you have forgotten they are there, spammers use google to find and exploit them!
- Forgetting to exclude your contact-me pages from search engine listings using either robots.txt or meta tag exclusion methods.

HostNed has a web dev team so they can evaluate and secure your forms for you if it is something that is too technical for you to do yourself.
#259
Announcements / New Item To FAQs -- Site Promotion
April 19, 2006, 12:48:30 PM
There has been a new item added to the HostNed FAQ/Knowledgebase -- Site Promotion.  Take a look http://www.hostned.com/members/faqs_site_promotion.html
If you have any suggestions, feel free to present them to me.

Thanks
#260
Scripting / Re: URLTRENDS.com
April 02, 2006, 11:03:42 AM
That is a really cool looking site.  I will use it when considering to buy an existing domain name.

Quote from: zelo on March 22, 2006, 03:27:59 PM
...a web site I have almost literally stumbled across ...

Speaking of stumbling, another neat site is http://www.stumbleupon.com
They have a browser bar similar to google's but you use it to vote for or against certain web sites.  Ones you recommend will be shown to others randomly when they click the STUMBLE button on their bar.  NEAT!
#261
Just Chat / Re: Virtual Tradeshows
March 23, 2006, 02:59:38 PM
Quote from: zelo on March 23, 2006, 02:28:54 PM
I've already had some of my advertisers giving me a "free pass" to some of the $50 "shows".
Now I'm jealous.  I have never been offered a free pass to a virtual tradeshow :(
#262
Just Chat / Virtual Tradeshows
March 23, 2006, 08:08:58 AM
Check this out.  A virtual tradeshow.
http://www.ecomxpo.com/home.htm

QuoteeComXpo is the virtual tradeshow for search, affiliate and interactive marketers. Since the show is 100% online and virtual, you can attend from the comfort of your home or office computer. All the benefits of a top tradeshow, without the hassle or expense associated with traditional tradeshows. More than 7,000 advertisers, publishers, search marketers, merchants, affiliates, networks, agencies and vendors will attend, making this the world's largest tradeshow for ecommerce marketers.
neat :)
#263
Just Chat / MOVED: Adoption Website
March 17, 2006, 02:58:39 PM
#264
Articles / How to Design a Website from Scratch
March 11, 2006, 08:29:46 AM
So you know what your website is going to be about - how do you set out to design it?
You need to think of two things. What content are you going to have on your site, and secondly, what is your site going to look like? And what will the layout of the pages look like, the colours etc.

Content

The first thing to think about is the possibilities that a website gives you. Even if your website is going to be an online store, do not think about the site as a catelogue. The benefits of the web is that your website does not have to follow a linear format - it is not restrictive like a book. The format of the web means your visitors will be able to dip into your site at any point, and also be able to jump around to those parts which are the more interest to them.

Don't, therefore, set your site out like chapters in a book, where later chapters rely on information which has been picked up in earlier ones. Instead your pages should all be able to stand as items of interest in their own right, and have links through to other relevant information your visitors might need!

No one needs to start with a blank sheet of paper - there are millions of web sites already out there. The first thing you can do is research. Look at what other people have done - no, you are not going to copy their ideas, but you are trying to see what appeals to you, what you think works well, and what turns you off completely!

So you've looked around, had a few ideas. How will you know that your ideas are going to work? How can you waste hours of abortive effort?

What you want in three clicks.

Want to know the golden rule? You should make sure your site visitor can find what they want in a maximum of three clicks! You should remember the three click rule when deciding how to set out your pages.

A common suggestion is to use a story board approach but the problem with a story board is it makes you think in a linear way - and as we discussed above, with a website you've got the ability to go backwards and sidewards as well as forwards!

One method of thinking about designing a new website is to use a mind mapping process, or to draw up a spider diagram.

You start with just your main subject in the centre - this will be your home page.

First layer
Next think of the main topics which people may expect to find in a site such as yours - on a retail site for example, the first layers may well include the catelogue as a general heading. On a site about dogs the first layer may be 'breeds'.

Second layer
You are now able to go further into each of your subjects. A catelogue for clothes may be divided here into Men's clothing, Children's clothing etc., and the dog breeds may now be listed as Gun Dogs, Toy Breeds etc.

Third layer
Not all of your first layer menu items may lead to a third layer, but some will. To continue our examples above, Chidren's clothing may now be divided into boys and girls. The Gun Dogs will be divided into the Retrievers, Spaniels etc.

By playing around with your ideas on paper in this fashion you can see where your topics fit best. It may be that some third level pages fit under two second layer pages - no problem, you can link a page to each, and have it appearing on more than one menu. It is what makes sense to the visitor that counts!

Having your site set out in a diagram also makes it easier to see how to link up your pages using hyperlinks, i.e., but clicking on a word on your site, the visitor gets taken to a different page without having to go back through the menus.

Colour scheme, templates etc.
Once you have the plan of what you are going to put onto your site you can start to think about individual page layout and colour schemes.

Again, look at other people's sites, especially those you like. What looks good about them? Sites which have a uniform layout on each page often look far more professional than those which experiment with different colours on every page and different templates. This isn't to say that every page must be the same, but have some consistency, for example, where you place the menu buttons, so that people know they are still on your site. If the navigation menu buttons are always in the same place people will quickly become familiar with the feel of your site, and be able to move round it a lot quicker, and therefore take in a lot more of the information which you want to provide them with.

Making your site look professional is important unless you are just putting up a few pages to share with family! Let's assume the reason you wish to make a website is to earn some extra money at home, or to advertise your business or promote an activity. Apart from colour and consistency here are a couple of other tips. Firstly, look at the size of font you use - don't mix it up too much, or use too many different colours. Make your the type face you use can be seen clearly on the background colour. Secondly, is it easy to get to the information

The most important person!
Finally, don't forget that YOU have got to like your site. You will be having a very close relationship with it and it will be very demanding on your time, especially in the early days. Take advice from friends or colleagues, but at the end of the day, go with what you are happy with. If you are uncomfortable with your site you will not have the same enthusiasm to work with it.

Your first pages
Now you have the schema for your website, you have chosen your colours and background, you can start to put together your first pages.

Here are a few tips:

1. Get a few pages together and get your site up there and published! It will take anything from a few weeks to 7 or 8 months to be indexed by the search engines. The main search engines such as Google like to give comprehensive listings only to mature sites. The sooner you get your site published the sooner you will get good rankings in the search engines.

2. Do not use the words 'under construction'.

3. Get other people's opinion on your site - good comments will give you confidence. If your hosting company has a forum you may be able to showcase your new website there to get advice from others using the same software.

Conclusion

A website doesn't just emerge – it takes a lot of work and an awful lot of planning. But if you make the investment of time you won't lose out. If you don't have a website no one is able to tap into your knowledge or see your creations. If you build your website badly your visitors may not be able to find their way around, and a lot of what you do will be wasted. If you take that bit of extra effort and care you will have a site that is very easy to use, and which will become popular because of that!

Pat Ransom has worked in the IT industry for 15 years and is experienced with local government and company websites. Having designed and published a successful and acclaimed website in her own right the secrets of website design and publishing are now available to be shared at http://www.webmasterproductions.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_Ransom
#265
Articles / Web Site Content and SEO
March 11, 2006, 08:27:25 AM
(Revised May 2024)

Content is King
The most vital aspect of your website is its content. It's essential to create material that's both engaging and informative, aligning with the intent of your visitors. Think like a search engine: prioritize clarity, relevance, and value.

Technical SEO
Modern search engines can parse complex scripts, but it's still best to ensure your content is accessible and indexable. Use JavaScript and other non-HTML elements judiciously, enhancing user experience without hindering crawlability.

Quality Matters
Spelling and grammar are more crucial than ever. Aim for flawless writing to establish credibility and trust. Keep sentences and paragraphs concise for better readability and engagement.

Originality
Avoid plagiarism at all costs. Search engines have sophisticated methods to detect copied content, and penalties can be severe.

Tags
Title Tags -- The title tag remains a cornerstone of SEO. It should succinctly describe the page's content, with your company name at the end, if included.

Meta Tags -- Meta tags have evolved. Beyond description and keywords, include tags for content type, language, and structured data to enhance understanding and visibility.

Alt Tags -- Alt tags are mandatory in XHTML and HTML5. They should accurately describe images and include relevant keywords.

Local SEO
Incorporate geographical locations into your content and tags where relevant, as search engines often favor local results.

Link Building
Cultivate quality backlinks from reputable, relevant sites. Mutual linking can be beneficial, but focus on the value and relevance of each link.

Privacy Policy
A comprehensive privacy policy is non-negotiable. It's a trust signal for both users and search engines.

Traffic
Genuine, organic traffic growth is a positive signal to search engines. Avoid artificial traffic spikes that could raise red flags.

Advertising
Paid advertising can increase visibility and traffic, but monitor your campaigns closely for the best ROI.

Crawlers
Ensure search engines can discover and index your site. Use legitimate methods like sitemaps and consistent, quality content updates to invite regular crawling.

Patience Pays Off
SEO is a long-term strategy. It may take months to see significant results, but persistence and adherence to best practices will lead to success.

Remember, SEO is an ever-evolving field. Stay informed and adapt your strategies accordingly.
#266
C. Thomas Wright III, author and webmaster of Zelo.com which has brought the web such pages as First Names & What They Mean (#2 Google [first names]), Zelo Nursery Rhymes (#1 Google [nursery rhymes]), and his ever-funny Blonde Jokes (#1 Google [blonde jokes]) is at it again with a brand new web site... Name-Stats.com.

Says CT3 (his nickname), "this site goes beyond the origin and meaning of names and explores the popularity of names from all over the world. A lot of time researching popularity of names, not just here in the United States but from other countries is something I have not seen on the internet before, and thought it was time people had easy access to such information."

Name-Stats.com includes name statistics for first names (male and female) and surnames (last names [US only] from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Sweden, Scotland, and more are being added every day. Like all of his web sites, this web site is basic in design and heavy on information.

CT3 says he has plans for a site about people's birthdays as well as other ventures he is working on. He can be reached at zelo(at)zelo.com.
#267
Advertising Boards / Online FTP Client
March 11, 2006, 07:32:21 AM
FTP Live is a Free File Transfer and Editing from your Web Browser

This service is great for making those quick-but-essential file uploads, downloads, or edits when on the go.  This service is free and you can even include it in your own web pages!
#268
Critique My Site / Re: Name-Stats.com
March 08, 2006, 08:27:20 PM
Quote from: Afterburn on March 08, 2006, 07:15:51 PM
Simple design yet very affective and easy to navigate. Great job, keep the great work going, if you need a design feel free to ask me and we can work out some negotiations.

After (and everyone else).  Feel free to plug your services in the "Advertising" forum at
#269
Critique My Site / Re: Name-Stats.com
March 08, 2006, 08:25:27 PM
Yes, the simple and easy-nav designs are really "in" right now, so thats cool.  I noticed a could things additionally:

1) You do not have a standard navigation bar or anything.  Is there a reason for that?

2) You linked to hostned at the bottom using the text "web hosting".  That's really great!

3) Your header links to page "index.php" and not "/".  Is that intentional?
#270
Well, when you carry a positive balance in your PayPal account (have $$ in there) it is automatically put in to a Money Market Fund (a type of mutual fund *).  A mutual fund is very much like a savings account that you would open at a bank, but they are known to have slightly higher interest rates in exchange for minumum balances (i.e. $500 or however much).  In recent years, mutual funds have become so popular that ther sometimes is no minimum balance, as is the case with Pay Pal.  So every month you get paid $$ for having a balance in there.  It encourages you to keep a higher balance so you can accrue more money in interest.  The contraversial thing about it is that I have not met anybody who would advise to keep a lot of money in their PayPal account, mainly, I assume, for security reasons.  From what I understand, it is not FDIC insured  :o


* Money market funds have relatively low risks, compared to other mutual funds (and most other investments). By law, they can invest in only certain high-quality, short-term investments issued by the U.S. government, U.S. corporations, and state and local governments. Money market funds try to keep their net asset value (NAV) — which represents the value of one share in a fund — at a stable $1.00 per share. But the NAV may fall below $1.00 if the fund's investments perform poorly. Investor losses have been rare, but they are possible.