FAQ-Tastic Lite 1.0.6 & User Manual: Coming soon »

Written by Zain on April 8th, 2008
{ 3 comments }

I’ve not been well the last 4 days. Despite the shivers; aches; hot and cold flushes; runny nose and sore eyes, I’ve still been doing whatever I can to get this latest version of our WordPress FAQ plugin out.

Not just that. I’ve also been working hard on completing a new user manual for it. It’s nearly done except I just have to create some supporting pages and add those links to it.

The FAQ-Tastic User Manual is also Fa(q)ntastic – even if I do say so myself. Why? Because this 30 page, PDF user guide been lovingly crafted and taken just over 6 days to complete to include:

  • screengrabs of every page in the WordPress administration needed to use plugin (and images of how it would appear on your site)
  • a step by step guide showing exactly what to do – from installation, activation to using the plugin.
  • a detailed explanation of the difference between Simple and Paged FAQs.
  • an explanation of Paged FAQs and their real purpose.
  • bookmark links to easily jump to the section you need.
  • and best of all… it’s FREE!

WordPress FAQ-Tastic Lite version 1.0.6 User Manual and plugin - read more »


WordPress 2.5: “Gray Hack” Redundant? »

Written by Zain on April 3rd, 2008
{ 31 comments }

Some of you may remember an article I did a while back called “WordPress Blogroll SEO Gray Hack ” where I explained how to search engine optimize (SEO) your WordPress blogroll and control the amount Page Rank juice flowing out of your external links.

Well, I was pretty pleased with that article – it got some really nice responses and the best bit is that out of 2,170,000 (two million, one hundred and seventy thousand – yes, you read that right!) pages with the keyword “WordPress blogroll seo” in Google.com, guess which site comes in first place?

Yup, that’s right, Knowledge Constructs. Not only that but my site comes up in the #2 slot too!

I’m pretty pleased with that – it means the money and time I put into Stompernet has paid off and it’s convinced me that I know how to rank well in the search engines :) . (Trust me… sometimes I *really* need to be convinced that I can do something!).

Anyway, those results are so good, I decided to take a screengrab of this moment.

wordpress-seo-blogroll.png

(click thumbnail for a larger image)

No… don’t get me wrong – it’s not to brag about how well I’ve done (although it’s pretty awesome now I think about it). The reason is very simple. I just wanted to take a moment to enjoy the glory because the “Gray Hack” is now redundant (*sigh*… my page will never rank this well ever again!)

OR IS IT?!? :P

As I wrote the other day, I’m currently in the process of playing with WordPress 2.5 because I’m building the new FAQ-Tastic Pro site and came across *what I thought* was a really handy field in the new version of WP Breaker :P (well, for SEO) – it’s a “rel” field:

00-wordpress-brecker-rel-field.png

(click thumbnail for a larger image)

Initially, I thought “COOL! Now I don’t need to keep adding these darn hacks to sites I build to help them with nofollowing links on the blogroll!. Someone over at WordPress must’ve seen how much Internet Marketers and SEO experts need to be able to add nofollow links – they must know their stuff!”.

BOY WAS I WRONG!

On closer inspection, the field is only there to provide a visual display of the selection you’ve made. You CANNOT change the entries, like I thought it would. Try typing into the “rel” field and it won’t let you.

NUTS. Back to the Gray Hack then! Search Engine Optimize your WordPress 2.5 Blogroll: A How To Guide »


WordPress 2.5 Brecker: No Page Slugs??? »

Written by Zain on March 31st, 2008
{ 16 comments }

Yeah, I know… I’ve been away for a really long time. Too long. Don’t expect me to make up excuses and apologise for my absence.

I’m back with a renewed focus. I’ve been working on getting FAQ-Tastic properly released. And some of you may already know there’s a Pro version in the pipeline. Well… It’s nearly here. So sorry for the delay (nuts… I just apologised didn’t I? Damn my Englishness).

Well there’s a snag with the new FAQ-Tastic plugin… Last Saturday saw the release of WordPress 2.5 (a.k.a Brecker – after “an exceptionally talented saxophonist” Michael Brecker. Who knew? Who cares?). Now I got to test with this new version…

Anyway, I’ve only just managed to download WordPress 2.5 and start having a play with it today. This “Brecker” version *is* pretty cool and has some *really* (and I mean *REALLY*) cool features…But one thing troubles me:

HOW THE *&$( DO YOU EDIT THE PAGE SLUGS IN WP2.5?!?!

OMG, do you realise how serious it is for your average Internet Marketer if they’ve taken the slugs away?LOL… okay, don’t worry. They’ve not taken the page slugs away – it’s just not intuitively found. Most bloggers wouldn’t think of changing their page slugs but for anyone serious about Search Engine Optimization, changing the page slugs is ESSENTIAL!

So I’m going to show you how. And cause I’m nice, I’m going to give you pictures too (actually, they’re screenshots for a new ebook I’m doing) WordPress 2.5: Changing the Page Slug (with images)


WordPress SEO: Top 7 Optimization Areas For Beginners (Part 2) »

Written by Zain on December 18th, 2007
{ 47 comments }

In Part 1 of WordPress SEO: Top 7 Optimization Areas For Beginners I promised you that I would reveal the 1 WordPress plugin that I use to optimize at least 5 of the 7 areas that I outlined in the last article.

In this article I’ll tell you exactly what the WordPress plugin is, explain why it’s an all in one SEO plugin packed into a neat bundle and even show you how you use it.

Up until now, most people have been using several plugins to achieve the same job. Truth be told, you’re wasting time if you are having to handle several plugins.

In this post we’ll look at:

  1. 7 Key Optimization Area: A Summary
  2. How this WordPress all in one SEO management plugin can optimize 5 of the 7 key SEO areas.
  3. How can an all in one SEO management plugin save you time?
  4. Tips on Permalinks for SEO in WordPress.
WordPress SEO Video For Beginners » Read More »


Google Analytics Code Update »

Written by Zain on December 15th, 2007
{ 2 comments }

Looks like Google has just updated their Analytics code from the legacy “urchin.js” file to a new file called “ga.js”.

Apparently, according to the Analytics website, this new tracking code will enable you to “to gain access to a wide range of exciting new features as they become available“.

Anyone have any ideas what the new features might be?

Whatever it is, just remember not to put *both* codes into your pages!

Looks like a few WordPress plugins might need a bit of a code revamp to ensure these changes are up to date… (naming no names – Mr Godley! :P ).


WordPress SEO: Top 7 Optimization Areas For Beginners (Part 1) »

Written by Zain on December 15th, 2007
{ 30 comments }

In this post, I’ll be taking you through the top 7 SEO areas you need to optimize in WordPress in order for your site to rank well in the search engines. Even if you don’t use WordPress, this post may be useful to you.

In Part 2 of this post I’ll be showing you the 1 plugin for SEO that I use on all WordPress sites I build for clients which makes it easy for them (as novices) to take control of their site (without really needing to know the technical aspects of what’s happening!).

If you’re relatively new to search engine optimization you might already know the Top 3 areas that you need to optimize (and if you don’t, then you need to start learning quickly!): 1) Page Title, 2) Meta Keywords and Descriptions and 3) Permalinks.

So… what are the other 4 you need to learn? Well, here’s a quick summary of what we’ll be covering:

  1. Page Title
  2. Meta Keywords & Description
  3. Permalinks
  4. First Paragraph
  5. More links
  6. H1 Site Name
  7. H2 Site Description
This post will show you *WHERE* to optimize but won’t go into specific details on *HOW*. While the sites I create rank well, I would not pretend to be an SEO expert. Useful SEO links are provided at the end of this post.
WordPress Search Engine Optimization: Beginners Tips & How To Guide »


Internet Marketing: Attention Age Video and More »

Written by Zain on December 13th, 2007
{ 19 comments }

As regular readers may know from my last post I was a little disappointed at how things were on my site in general. I’d neglected it and not paid enough attention to it.

Well, “paying attention” is exactly what I’ve been doing recently – to my site; to my themes; to things that matter.

Having a chance to re-group, here’s a list of the top 5 things I’ve been doing recently:

  1. Re-designed Site, WordPress theme and Content Ideas
  2. New free WordPress Christmas theme for download
  3. FAQ-Tastic and FAQ-Tastic Pro: News Update
  4. Top Secret e-Book Project
  5. Rich Schefren's Attention Age video contest
Attention Age video, FAQ-Tastic Pro, Free WordPress themes and more »


Worst Internet Marketing Copywriter Award 2007 »

Written by Zain on November 29th, 2007
{ 17 comments }

I’m going to claim this title now even though there’s no awards ceremony.

Why am I admitting to this now?

Well, to be honest, my copy sucks, is completely untargetted and I’m not sure that people read this stuff anyway. A few comments here and there but mostly people only come to this site for one thing. And it sure isn’t the copy!

How Do I Know My Copy Sucks?

nice_big_cup_of_stfu.jpg Well, the (ir)regular readers of my blog will know that I’ve been off for several weeks now. Partly as an experiment and partly due to knowing that my efforts in the Internet Marketing game aren’t getting me very far. In fact, checking regularly on my Google Analytics screen I see that my traffic has INCREASED since I STOPPED writing. Go figure! Maybe if I shut up long enough maybe I could get some really decent traffic to my site ;) .

For a lot of you, this might be a great strategy to implement – I’ve seen some awful copywriting (but I really think this 1 reason is enough to prove that I should hold this title!). I might do an ebook called “Easy Ways to Get More Traffic by STFU!”. Who knows… it might do better than I’m currently doing. 7 Copywriting Tips From A Copywriter Who Sucks » Read On »


Pay Attention. Stay Focused. Reap Rewards. »

Written by Zain on November 28th, 2007
{ 3 comments }

Regular readers of my blog will know I’m a big fan of Rich Schefren. Earlier this year, I had a blast in Florida learning how to treble my reading rate and getting the inside scoop on how Rich run’s *his* business. I learnt a great many things at the Accelerate seminar.

And the most powerful things I’ve learnt from Rich at the event this year was “How To Focus”.

Again, reader’s who’ve stuck with me for a while (Lord knows why :P ), will know that it was after the Accelerate seminar that my site really took off (well, had a radical facelift and completely changed). I’ve now been in the process of completing work and not getting distracted.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because Rich Schefren has some very powerful tools that could change your perspective, mindset, career and even way you see life.

And the best bit? He gives excellent advice away for FREE!

So what’s Rich giving away now? Pay Attention! Learn How To Focus & Make More » Read On »


Reminder: Free Aweber Segmentation Script »

Written by Zain on November 18th, 2007
{ 3 comments }

Just a reminder for those of you who read my post on the Free Aweber Segmentation Script but *didn’t* sign-up or download the script – I will be taking the script down from the system tomorrow (Monday) so this is your last chance to grab it. [note: sorry - that should read "Wednesday" - the original post was delayed by 3 days and I forgot to update this follow up! Durrr...]

If you want it that is!

The reason why I’m taking this script down is that it’s just “a script” – the aim of this is to determine whether or not there is enough interest out there (you lot) for a WordPress plugin that would enable you to easily create a simultaneous Opt-in box and WordPress sign-up form for your pages.

That’s right – a “single sign-on” system that has a double whammy of registering users while getting them into your auto-responder sequence!

Anyway… if that interests you, then let us know you are interested by taking action and signing up now.

Go to the previous post on the Free Aweber Segmentation Script, scroll down, add your name and email and be counted!