I found this this website HTML5Test.com in my travels and have been using it to see how the different browsers render content and different elements. And to my surprise each of the browsers that I use for testing had very different results in rendering HTML, let alone HTML5.

This really put me in a dilemma.
How can you truly make your own website compliant across all platforms. In all honesty you can’t. Though you can be W3C Compliant across many different browsers when it’s strictly CSS based, it’s a whole different bunch of apples when it comes to HTML5.

What are you doing to make sure that your online presence is making the grade? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Have a wonder day.

PS Don’t strive for perfection, simplicity is the key
Tim

Hey Guys & Gals, I wish to apologize for my lack of keeping up with my blog and keeping you up to date on all the latest happenings, but I’ve been quite busy as of late.

Let me explain.
A good friend of mine, suggested (since I didn’t have any clients) to try a small freelance website called www.fiverr.com . So I gave it a shot, just for the heck of it I put up a couple of gigs.

The gigs I put up on the site were a Custom wordpress theme and a Custom Twitter Background, and low and behold I was swamped with work.

The only drawback from the whole thing, is you do everything for only 5 bucks, that’s right only 5 bucks.

I know it’s a step down from my normal pricing, but I will have to say you definitely get experience. Not only in coding and design, but in communication. Many of the clients I have found on www.fiverr.com really have no clue what they want, and I’d hate to say it, but many of them want the world on a silver platter.

On the upside, I have meet many clients that saw no problem in paying my normal fees especially when they find out that it comes with 1 year of support and upgrades and revisions.

What have you guys and gals been doing lately? I’d love to know what you have been doing during this slow economy. And what your plans are for the future in your business.

Have a wonderful Labor day.
Tim

Did you hear what’s happened again?
Google has even gone as far as giving the BIG SLAP to some of the major retailers.

Websites like JC Penny and Overstock to name a few.
A recent blog post by a good friend “Andy Jenkins” you know the guy, especially if you’ve ever heard of Stompernet. He’s the brawn in SEO and really knows his stuff.

I’d love to post it all here but, I’d rather have you go over to his blog and read all about it, give him all the kodo’s for an excellent article.

Then come back here and let me know what you thought, fair enough?
Until next time

Tim

Facebook has done it again with another fantastic update to the standard FBML pages that you can create on Facebook.
It’s now called “Static HTML iFrame” which was created by (by Jason Padvorac).

Static HTML iFrame Tab, allows you to add 2 landing pages: 1 for non-fans, and 1 for fans. Check out the video below to learn more about how you can utilize this application to increase “like” conversion and get the most bang for your buck.

But, after watching the video, I found that it wasn’t as easy as it looks. But then again I’m not a real big fan of Facebook. Only because it can be quite addictive when it comes to the different game apps. (Big Time Waster for Me lol)

But if you got even a basic knowledge of HTML and a little CSS you can do some amazing things with this application, just like the video above suggests.

We did a little “Sample Test” that you might want to check out here. If the page doesn’t load right away, you might have to refresh the page. Only because it didn’t load the first time for me. But that could just be a minor glitch.

Don’t forget to click the “Like Button” when you view the Landing Page I created above.

I’d love to know your thoughts about the new app “Static HTML iFrame” even if you haven’t tried it yet. Oh BTW, if you guys are using the Old FBML, not to worry it’s still available, but I don’t know for how long.

Until next time I’d love to know your thoughts.
Thanks
Tim

I’ve been reading a lot of emails lately, asking for advice or help in starting an online business using WordPress or even Joomla for that matter, and it made me realize that there are still many of you that are totally clueless as to what to do.

And believe me, I’ve been where you’re at right now. And even at times I find myself at a standstill in my business, where all my projects are finished, then I’m back to the marketing grind to acquire another client or too.

This really hinges on you, yes I mean you.

What is your passion?

What I mean by this is, do you have something that you like to do, that others will pay money to learn about what you do.

There are so many things that I too have a passion about, such as reading the bible and writing devotionals on my prison ministry site over at http://blog.prison-ministries.info and helping others. And music (I play the piano), working out in the gym and so on and so fourth.

Anyone of these types of topics can be your passion as well, but are you doing anything with your passion that will allow you to make a living on the internet.

I’d love to know what your doing online that aligns with your passion, that is allowing you to make a living online. Go ahead and make a comment below.

Until next time, have a wonderful day.
Tim

I recently came across an interesting video on YouTube when I was searching on the topic of creativity. And the reason behind it was, many guru’s tell that we should build our business around our passion. Mine of course was website design.

In my early years I would love to draw, and would come up with some very creative and wacky drawings. Who would have thought that I would be a website designer. It wasn’t even thought of back then. (Oops, guess I’m showing my age here)

Throughout my years in school I was always told that getting a good education would allow me all kinds of advantages and mostly likely land me a good job. (that could not be further from the truth)

In this interesting yet funny video, you’ll learn what education has done to creativity.
Click Play to watch the video:

Until next time, I’d love to hear your comments about the video, in regards to your own experience when you went to school.
Have a wonderful day, and BE CREATIVE!!!
Timothy

Sorry I’ve been a little behind the ball lately but I’ve been doing a little research on QR Codes.

What is a QR Code you might ask?

Watch this little video from CBS News…

I’ve got one too, so if you see this image anywhere on the web or in a flier or storefront window, you’ll get a special surprise.

You might want to consider doing this also. It may help get the word out about your products and services to a wider audience.

You can also checkout a free QR Code generator website I found that was free at http://www.qrstuff.com/

Until next time I’d love to hear your comments.
Have a wonderful day
Tim

A good friend of mine just shot me a video via email and asked me a simple question.

Are You a Winner or a Loser?

This video is not for the faint of heart. (literally) If you have any health problems don’t watch this short video.
But if you’ve got what it takes to make a difference the click the play button to get into the game.

Now that you’ve watch the video, what are you?
What are you going to do in your business, that will take it to new heights?

• What are you going to do to get more sales
• Drive more traffic to your website
• Get more optins to your list
• Get more followers on Facebook or Twitter

I’d love to see your thought’s. What can I do for you through this blog, to help you take your business to the next level?
Until next time.
Tim

In our previous article on Affiliate Marketing we spoke about the “7 Ways to Drive laser Targeted traffic to your website. In staying with that theme we’d look into the benefits of working online as an affiliate marketer.

Benefits of Being an Affiliate Marketer

Affiliate marketing has become one of the most effective ways to advertise online. It is also one of the easiest ways for anyone with a website to make a profit online. Affiliate Marketing is an agreement between a merchant and a website owner. The website owner, or the affiliate, allows the use of their site for the promotion of the merchant’s products by linking to the merchant’s website. In exchange, the merchant pays a commission to the affiliate on all sales generated by the affiliate. Every time someone clicks on the link on the affiliate website and proceeds to make a purchase, the affiliate gets a commission. The merchant will pay the affiliate only when a customer clicks on the product link and makes a purchase.

Affiliate marketing programs are described as a win-win situation for both the merchant and the affiliate because of the pay-for-performance scheme. Both the merchant and the affiliate enjoy some benefits in affiliate marketing. There are many benefits on the merchant’s side. It gives the merchant a wider market in which to advertise a product or service. Affiliate marketing will give the product or service the maximum exposure that it may not get with other traditional advertising techniques. The more affiliate sites a merchant has, the higher the traffic, which can convert to sales. Affiliate marketing is the equivalent of having an army of sales people who will do the advertising and will only get a commission if a customer purchases.

Meanwhile, since an affiliate marketing relationship is a win-win situation, the affiliate also enjoys many benefits. Foremost among these is the easy way to make a profit. The affiliate can earn by having an ad or link to the merchant’s website, which prospective customers will hopefully click and proceed to make a purchase. As soon as the customer clicks on the ad on the affiliate’s site, is redirected to the merchant’s website and goes on to buy that particular product, the affiliate earns a commission. The more referrals there are the more profit for the affiliate.

Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to earn money while at home. There are virtually no production costs. The product is already developed and proven by the merchant, and all you have to do to find, as many prospects as you can that will bring in the profit for both the merchant and the affiliate. Affiliate programs are usually free to join, so affiliates do not have to worry about start-up costs. There are thousands of products and services you can choose from. You can find affiliate programs for every product under the sun. Surely, there is a product or service out there that is relevant to your website.

In addition, there is absolutely no sales experience necessary. Most affiliate programs offer excellent support when it comes to providing marketing material. The simplicity of affiliate marketing allows you to be an affiliate marketer at the least cost and the most comfort. You can even build a successful affiliate marketing business right in the convenience of your own home. In affiliate marketing, your responsibility is simply to find prospects for the merchant; you do not have to worry about inventory, order processing, and product shipping. These, along with customer service support are the duties of the merchant.

Because of the global reach of the internet, you can easily find thousands of prospects. You can intensify your advertising campaign by exploiting more aggressive and productive strategies such as viral marketing. By attracting more prospects, you also maximize your potential to earn. Another benefit of an affiliate marketer is the minimal risk involved. If the product you are advertising is not making money then you can dump it and choose another. There are no long-term binding contracts tying you to products that are not making enough money.

All the same, the best benefit of being an affiliate marketer is the opportunity to increase your income; and you can make a profit even if affiliate marketing is only a sideline business. With your own affiliate business, you can earn easily earn extra income, although you do have to exert effort and use your imagination to maximize your earning potential. Indeed, affiliate marketing is one of the simplest and most effective business opportunities on the web today.

7 Ways to Drive Laser-Targeted Traffic
An affiliate marketer may have all the things needed for him to be able to succeed in a business such as affiliate marketing. He may have the necessary drive, diligence and perseverance to be able to understand how the system works. He may have all the tools necessary in maintaining the business, including a really unique and interesting website which could earn him a fortune if only the whole world could see it. However, all these would prove useless if he does not know how to drive traffic to his website. His business would sink into oblivion together with all the sales, fortune and dreams that he might have realized if he only knew how to do this particular task.

Getting people who matter to see one’s website is a difficult undertaking if he tries to consider the fact that there are rivals everywhere waiting to pin him down. The immensity of the internet as well as the affiliate marketing world has given birth to the fierce competition between affiliate marketers, each of whom has his own great product to offer. With all the websites piling on top of each other, how would one be able to stand out? The seven best ways to drive laser-targeted traffic to one’s own website would help those who are bent on sticking it out with this business wherever it is bound to take them.

The first step in driving traffic to one’s website is by relying on search engines and what they can do for the affiliate marketer concerned. Because they are popular for driving free targeted traffic, they should not be ignored by all means. Having top search engine rankings is vital in building popularity links, and the use of the right keywords is important in attaining this goal. Once a website is on top of the list, it is easily accessible to anyone who wants to see it for himself.

The second way in driving traffic to one’s website is by contacting other webmasters for a possible link exchange partnership. Locating websites that are related to one’s own website is the primary task. Once there, he should be able to establish communication by personalizing everything as much as possible. It is then possible to make reciprocal link exchanges between webmasters whichever way the affiliate marketer prefers.

The third way is through writing one’s own articles. This is an effective way in promoting a website, because good content that are appreciated by readers will lead them to visit the writer’s very own website out of sheer interest.

The fourth way is through joint venture marketing. This is one of the most effective ways of promoting a product or a service. Having a partner through ad swap or link exchange is beneficial to both parties as it allows them to reach a wide customer base in a short amount of time.

The fifth is through joining affiliate programs. Having affiliates to do the work means allowing them to bring tons of traffic to a website. Skyrocketing sales would be realized as a result, and both the affiliate and the website owner will benefit from the situation.

The sixth is by having a list of subscribers that one can refer to every so often, because they are those which would prove to be valuable assets for the marketer concerned. The use of autoresponders and personalized newsletters is one way of keeping track of them all, and holding on to them by letting them know about new products and services is an essential task that should be done by the affiliate marketer concerned.

The seventh is by knowing one’s market through and through. It is important for traffic to be targeted to those who might have a special interest in the theme or topic of one’s website. This way, a solid customer base is going to be created. Once a potential customer shows an interest in a particular website by paying it a visit, one must not waste time in trying to show him that his effort is worth it.

Traffic generating strategies are important in trying to make one’s affiliate marketing career inch forward. It is always advantageous to plan one’s moves in any business that he might undertake. This is particularly so in affiliate marketing. If one knows how to get people to see what he has to offer, then he is on the right track.

Until next time, have a wonderful day.
Tim

PS, If you like what you learned in this article tell a friend, if not tell me (lol)