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There are only 8 days until Christmas, to celebrate the count-down we will be releasing a brand new screensaver every day. This is our gift to the world. We call todays screensaver "Milk and Cookies", in celebration of that special day when santa is rewarded by a lovely cup of milk and a cookie or two.
Click here to download
Simply download the free installation file and follow the prompts. Once the screensaver is installed you will need to open the Screensaver Properties window to select it.
This file has been checked for viruses and is to be free from spyware, adware and all the other nasty things. The screensaver is our gift to you, no strings attached!
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The Google Reader Satellite is small program that runs on your computer and alerts you whenever new articles have been published on your favourite blogs and websites.
Simply download the Google Reader Satellite and use your existing Google Reader account (or create a new one) for instant usability.
Click here to download Google Reader Satellite (925kb)
This download has been checked for viruses and is guaranteed not to contain any spyware, adware or any other malicious software. It is a free download for your enjoyment with no strings attached.
A big special "Thank You" goes to Adam Davies for providing the sound effects.
It is worth noting that Google Reader Satellite is not affiliated with Google Reader in any way. It is a free tool provided by Adamant Solutions to enhance the Google Reader experience.
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Popular social news site "Digg" has a reputation for being a democratic news website worthy of competing with mainstream sources such as CNN. Both news sources focus on completely different "news worthy" stories, but a few months ago we were lucky enough to have our site listed on Digg and CNN within 2 days of each other. Now it's time to share the results with the world.
Formalities (AKA What is Digg?)
Digg is referred to as a "democratic news website" - Any member can publish an article or story, linking directly to the original source. The community then decides whether the story is worthy of being displayed on the front page (also referred to as a "Digg"). Once a story receives enough Diggs it is automatically promoted to the front page, where thousands of visitors swarm to the site at the same time. This has been called the Digg Effect and can also lead to crashing of web servers and melt-downs at power stations (well, not the latter).
You already know what CNN is, so I won't bore you with the finer details.
Digg Statistics
On the 5th of September a story linking to our website was promoted to the front page of Digg.com. Our site received a total of 76, 185 visitors over the course of 1 day (out of a total of 83,532 visitors), the bulk of traffic coming from Digg during the first hour or two of being displayed on the front page.
CNN Statistics
2 days later, on the 7th of September, the story was picked up by CNN along with a direct link to our website (I have been told this is highly uncommon). Within moments of being published on CNN our site attracted a whopping 377,606 visitors out of an amazing 438,840.
Lifespan
The next day we noticed a sharp decline in visitors from both sources. Digg referred just under 20,000 visitors while CNN had a much lower number at just over 4,000.
It took Digg 5 days to push less than 500 visitors our way. While CNN sustained its traffic for a longer period of time, taking 15 days to go below the 500 mark.
Interestingly enough the statistics show that CNN's traffic actually increased on the fifth day after steadily dropping over the first few days. We are not entirely sure why this happened.
It's interesting to note that CNN still refers an average of 300 people per day (even 4 months down the track), while we are lucky to receive the occasional visitor from Digg on a week to week basis.
Visitor trends
It was interesting to see CNN visitors who were interested in participating on our site. They spent more time browsing, commenting and generally spending more time than Digg users.
We have no ads on our site so I am unable to compare the often discussed lack of revenue from Digg visitors. However with that said, given that CNN visitors spent more time and browsed through more pages, it is plain to see that they are more likely to click on adverts.
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This morning Heidi Lineham from Heidi Who Photos sent through the professional photos she took at the Mayors Christmas Dinner Event. I have to admit they are much better than the ones that I took.
In the beautiful red dress is my fiance Annie, to the right of her is myself and the newly elected member for Kingston Amanda Rishworth.
The event was held at the Christies Beach Surf Club, an icon of the South. The two-story building has breathtaking panoramic views that overlook the coast and the esplanade as it curves around the cliff face.
Out of sheer coincidence it is also the venue that our wedding reception will be held. In fact, that wasn't the only similarity. The caterer and photographer will also be offering their services at our wedding. Talk about a small world!
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At this time of the year it is often hard not to think about the future. While some reflect on lifestyle changes, while others will be pondering the prospects of new clients and customers in the coming year – But the smart ones will be planning to expand their business online.
E-Resolution #1: Generating extra revenue without lifting a finger
For businesses offering products it is worth noting that it is now easier than ever to start making extra money from online sales. Getting an e-commerce website developed is quicker than you think, within a few weeks you too can be selling more items. Not to mention, a website is accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week to a global audience. You can literally be making money while you sleep.
Those offering services or information should look into cost effective a Content Management System. With the click of a button your website can be updated with the latest details and sales pitch. The web is dynamic, vibrant and ever changing, make sure you don’t get left behind.
E-Resolution #2:Blog, blog and then blog some more!
Online statistics have shown that blogs (just like the one you are reading now) are an easy, cost effective way of increasing the number of visitors to your website. A blog turns a stale informational site into a dynamic communication with the visitor. If you haven't got a blog yet, do yourself a favour.
E-Resolution #3: Getting an E-Facelift
Like a building it is important to refresh the look and feel of your website every few years. If your site was designed before 2005 or 2006 you may want to consider a makeover. It’s also important to keep up with the latest technologies, there have countless advancements within the last few years – make sure your business is taking advantage of them!
E-Resolution #4: Advertise for free online, before your competition does!
Many businesses fail to see the importance of advertising online, or don’t quite understand what it is. A trusted website developer can assist you in shaping your website and advertising campaign to take advantage of the free exposure from search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Ninemsn. You are most likely losing potential clients right now.
E-Resolution #5: Staying ahead of the competition online
In business it is important to stay ahead of the competition, but to do so you need to be ahead in the first place. Sit down and work with your website designer to formulate an online marketing strategy that matches the needs and requirements of your real-world strategy – by doing so your website designer can service your needs to the best of their capabilities.
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