Mutterings for the Minority An insight into the world of DDWT

Get to the top on Google

That's my aim and one of the reasons why I've recently been reading David Viney's book - 'Get to the Top on Google: Tips and Techniques to Get Your Site to the Top of Google and Stay There'.

David is a self confessed leading Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) expert and works with companies large and small to improve their search engine rankings. Which is one of the main reasons I decided to take the plunge and start reading it - courteousy of Swansea central library.

Whilst I'm not what you'd called an SEO virgin (is there such a thing?) I'm also far from being 100% au faux with the ins and outs of the SEO business - although I do intend getting there one day. Thankfully the book is set out in a way which caters for the lower to middle of the road SEO readers and as such has something for everyone.

It's also reassuring to read the same fundamental rules and themes that I've picked up from reading about SEO elsewhere, as I've often found that some people proclaim to be SEO experts when in fact they merely provide their own (often mis-guided) judgements on SEO.

Aside from the usual SEO stuff, the book has provided me with a useful insight into how you could utilise Google Maps and Google Earth as part of an SEO strategy. Who'd have thought that a little 'corner shop' business could benefit from these tools in a search engine kind of way.

The section on links was also useful, providing some useful pointers to lots of web based link directories (with associated page rank) and other suitable avenues for exploring in order to boost your link strategy. Just one word of advice (warning?) - make sure you use a 'disposable' email address (e.g. links @ domainname . com) for registering your site with ANY of the directories. As of the ones I tried such as Jayde has insisted on sending me quite a few daily emails relating to my submission and SEO. But hey, what do I expect for a free directory submission.

One gripe I do have - which isn't related to the book - is David's website SEO Expert Services. Somewhat surprisingly the blog on the site was last updated in August 2008, which I'd have thought isn't good in terms of both SEO and enticing new customers? Perhaps the site forum is a hive of activity, but as I was too tight to shell out for the subscription fee I couldn't tell you

Anyway, don't let the site put you off borrowing/buying the book it's worth a read and will certainly give you some food for thought in terms of SEO and how it can be applied to your business strategy.

Just one parting shot though, don't think that this book alone will get your website to rank number 1 in Google, it won't. It will point you in the right direction, but only hard work will get your site to the top and keep it there. There is NO quick fix in terms of getting to the top in Google.

Canon Pixma MP600

Back in early December I'd bought a brand spanking new Canon Pixma MP600 multifunction colour printer, as our old Brother laserjet printer was on its last legs. At the time it was a bargain at £94 from Argos and I was chuffed to bits - especially after reading such a positive review of it in PC Pro magazine.

So here I find myself a few weeks on with a constant 'U150 - The following ink tank cannot be recognized' errors, meaning I can't use the darn printer and as a result have an outstanding support call to Canon to "sort it out".

My frustation - anger? - is compounded by the fact that a quick search on Google reveals numerous other people having the same problems, which to me indicates a design fault with the MP600 (and the ink tray in particular). Don't these companies test their products stringently enough before releasing them for general sale?

Huh, some start to the new year eh!?

All work no play

After my day of relaxation and enjoyment yesterday, it was back to the graft today and time to catch up with some freelance web work I've been doing of late.

I've got a couple of projects on the go at the moment, one for Siop Ty Tawe and the other for the Pontarddulais Partnership. Both of them are nearing completion and then it'll be time to do the work I'd scheduled for another client of mine.

All of the the freelance stuff I've done over the years has given me a great insight into the world of open source software and an opportunity to broaden my skills and knowledge in this field. I've also come to appreciate the hard work of others that have made open source what it is today.

In terms of the web, if anyone is looking for a Content Management System to run their site (whatever the subject - personal, business, community, promotional, etc), then you wouldn't go far wrong by taking a closer look at Drupal and Joomla for a solution. Couple this with a quality but affordable hosting solution such as those offered by Lunarpages - which I've blogged about in the past - and whose packages have improved further since then.

Heck I even run Ubuntu 7.04 server at home as well as my Windows XP machine and despite the former being somewhat of a 'new kid on the block' it is certainly a slick and smooth OS. If you've ever fancied having a go at linux but are petrified of nobbling your windows machine, grab yourself a copy of Knoppix - the linux on a bootable CD solution. There's no need to install anything, just put it in your CD drive and watch it booth up - hey presto you got yourself a linux OS to play with. Oww did I forget to say it's all free as well

Have fun - I certainly have (especially being an anorak like!).