Premium Website Picks: January '09

Editor — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:58:45 +0000

In my web travels (and twitter sessions) this week, I came across several sites that made me think, “Hey, that would make a great post” or “That’s is really good info”. So I thought I would pass these jewels along in their original form by the original authors.

These posts were chosen as Premium Websites because I witnessed first hand their benefit to a website or blog owner. The post or website made me reconsider a choice I had made, or am about to make. It also provided some form of excellent value in response to questions I came across during the past week or so.

So here they are, in so particular order. This weeks premium website picks for the first month of 2009.

How to Build a Variable Width Website

Creating an Awesome Home Business

Martin Malden writes this hype free blog for website and blog owners. His advice is always spot on. This week, another friend of mine, Sean, was having CSS problems. Being in the middle of my own design projects, as he described his issues my mind was cluttered with the issues I was currently facing. So I helped where I could, but didn’t really solve all of his problems.

Enter Herb Stalk from “What’s This Web Thing“. Sean left a comment on Herb’s new social network asking for help on the matter. Herb promptly pointed Sean to Martin’s latest blog post. I also had a look at Martin’s post and it made me examine what I was doing with my own projects. Martin’s advice not only solved Sean’s problem, it helped me in taking another look at my issues and I resolved my problems as well.

This shows that one post, and a collaboration of people is a thing of value.

“Brand” Me: What’s It Worth To You?

The Cause is The Habit

I have had a fruitful week on Twitter and met db. Damien “db” Basile in from New York and runs the blog “The Cause is the Habit“. Damien’s post on branding gave me some new directions of thought as I plan how my own website portfolio is going to brand itself. Making me reconsider such deep questions like “who am I online” and “who do I want to be”.

You can find out more about Damien here.

10 Promising Free Web Analytics Tools

Six Revisions

As I have been running websites for about 10 years, I have a continued interest in analytics in relation to website traffic. Too much value can not be put on the data collected from those that visit your website. So it was with great interest that I devoured this post on web analytics tools, as an alternative to the main stream tools.

The 10 tools reviewed here DO NOT include a review of Google Analytics, Crazy Egg, Alexa, Compete or even Quantcast. Everyone of the tools is worth a look. I was very impressed by the research that the writer had done just to identify the tools in the first place.

What’s This Web Thing

I posted a review of this site earlier in the month. Their membership continues to grow at a consistent rate. This is probably due to the fact that there is such a good community atmosphere here. Just look at the example of Sean getting his CSS issues resolved. This is exactly what the network was designed to do and it works well.

If you haven’t gone by and visited this new network yet, I recommend that you have a look.

Free Twitter Ribbon Ad Generator

Twitter Know How

I have really been getting into the spirit of “all things Twitter” this month. I have been looking for a unique way to advertise to visitors of my main site (Siam Communications) a way to follow me on Twitter. I feared that a menu item just wouldn’t stand out like I wanted. And I couldn’t find a way to work an icon into the current design of the site.

So I was really pleased when I cam across this site. The banner sits at a 45 degree angle in the upper right hand corner of the browser screen without detracting from my message or website design.

Summary
Thanks for coming by and reading about our valuable finds. Tell us if you have found a Premium Website that you feel has exceeded your expectations, or has helped you solve a particular problem.

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Help Us Build a Social Network

Editor — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:30:32 +0000

Last month, we posted a quick post on the opening of a brand new social network for website owners. This new social network, named “What’s This Web Thing” (WTWT) is quickly gaining acceptance among website owners from around the world.

Its free to join.

This new network is all about website and blog owners helping other website/blog owners. They are just starting out and have a handful of members as of this writing. But the number of registered members is rapidly increasing.

In addition, the folks at WTWT want hear from more website and blog owners. They want us to talk to them and make suggestions about the network. So now we as website owners have a great opportunity to state what we would like to see on a social site.

“We want to find a way for this site to help website and blog owners“, says Herb Stalk, the network’s founder.

While the membership has a good mix of web professionals with their own website and experience, Herb is still looking for more diversity. “We are looking for ALL types of sites, from blogs to shopping sites to outdoor sites to finance … everything.”

The most valuable part of this particular Social Network is it’s members and what they have to offer. I know from personal experience that getting started with an online business is very difficult. The online world is a very different environment from which to operate a business.

Everyone of us, at some time, has been in a position where we needed advice or help. And usually, we turn to someone who has some higher level of experience for advice. Well, this network is perfect for website and blog owners from all levels of experience.

If you are just starting out, there are load of professionals that are willing to help you with your problem. If you are more experienced, this network is a chance for you to share your experience with the rest of us.

What’s Available on WTWT
As with most Social Networks, WTWT is a place to invite your friends or make new friends via the website. WTWT is running on the Ning Social platform. Like many of the Ning sites, there are many features that make this Social Network unique. Here are just a few:

Create Your own Groups and Invite Members
Add/Download eBooks
Add/Download Photos and Videos
Download Software Products

The feature to Create your own groups is especially appealing. Many of the members have come up with some great ideas for these group areas. Here are a few of the groups already available:

Can You Help Me – This group was started as a general non-specific area where people can request website or business help of any kind.
Web Design – A group concerned with design issues and how they relate to the effectiveness of your site and business.
Twitter For Your Web Business – Tell us how you use Twitter in your Business. What’s your favorite Twitter Client?
SEO and Search Engines – A group to discuss and better understand SEO.

Join now and create your own special group about your specific area of expertise or about a subject you want to know more about.

This Social Network is in a good position to be one of the most valuable networks on the Internet for website owners. Come by and have a look at “What’s This Web Thing” and join in the fun of building this network.

If you want to network and learn this is the place.