Launch: GroupLoop.com

If you're responsible for organizing a committee, group, or event- you need GroupLoop. As of today, you can be one of the first to sign up for a FREE account. Don't worry, we've made it so easy that it only takes about 30 seconds to create a new account.

With GroupLoop, you can send messages, schedule meetings, upload documents and files, and more! Our system has been doing this for several groups in beta, and we want to do it for you -- FREE. When you sign up for a GroupLoop account, you start off on our FREE plan which has all of the same features as our paying plans. You can upgrade or stay on the free plan for as long as you like. It's free forever!

Why GroupLoop? Email makes a tangled mess when you're trying to coordinate several people, or discuss a single topic together. GroupLoop gives you a central place to do all of that, and since it's web-based, you can access it from anywhere!

GroupLoop provides a simple place for you to share and archive files (such as meeting minutes and financial statements), a central area for discussion, and a calendar to manage your meetings. You can view the official launch notification here.


Filed in: web2.0, collaboration, grouploop, non-profit, nptech

Web2.0: What are TAGS?

In the most simple form, "tags" are essentially keywords to find matching topics. They have become popular with the rise in blogging and social networking. Tags are usually selected informally and personally by the author/creator of the item, and not by a set of standards. Typically, an item (website, blog post) will have one or more "tags" associated with it. Once again, these are chosen informally and are subjective to the user who selects them. You'll notice that I have selected the following "tags" for this blog post to be filed under: web2.0, tags, keywords, blogging (see below).

Tags are sometimes displayed as a "cloud" image (left). The darker and larger the "tag" item means that it is more popular than the others. The cloud can change as new topics emerge or as more people become interested in a topic. If you click on an item in a "tag cloud", you will be contributing to the popularity of that tag.

As an example of using tags, you can click on this link. It will take you to a popular website where you'll see the most recent blog posts about the tag of "Israel" (which happens to be the most popular tag at the time of writing this post). If you are interested in a different topic, such as "politics", just enter it in the search box. Alternatively, click on the "tags" link below if you'd like to find more information about tagging. :)

Filed in: web2.0, tags, keywords, blogging

Congress Spanks Sex Sites

The US House of Reporesentatives approved a bill yesterday that makes it a federal felony for Webmasters to put innocent words like "Barbie" in META tags for a website that contains sexual content. The Senate has already approved the measure so it will be signed by President Bush on Thursday. Violation of the new law could land you a heafty 20 year prison sentence.

"America's children will be better protected from every parent's worst nightmare--sexual predators--thanks to passage" of the legislation, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said in a statement on Tuesday.

Better protected? Maybe. I'm not convinced this will solve many of the problems we have with sexual predators on the Internet and our children. Ultimately, parents need to monitor what your children are doing and what sites they are visiting. Even more important, do you know who they are chatting with in that chatroom? Your kids don't need to be "deceived" into finding content that is inappropriate for them, we all know there is plenty to be had.

Filed in: laws, congress, parents

CWS Blog Topics

We are adding new topics to our blog that you'll start seeing on a regular basis. In order for you to appreciate them, we decided to do a little background about what they are and why we think they are important.

Web2.0: If you haven't noticed, there is a plethora of new buzz words out there. I know, you're thinking that you just finally learned about keywords, META tags, and how to write content that is "search engine optimized". Now we have a whole new range of technologies hitting the scene. They have been dubbed "Web2.0" and include topics like RSS feeds, Tags, Blogs, Diggs, AJAX, and websites like Flickr, Digg, and del.icio.us. We'll begin to feature a new "Web2.0" topic on a regular basis; why it's important, how it can help you, and what the future might hold. You'll see these posts start with "Web2.0:".

Innovation Award: The second topic we're adding is the CWS "Innovation Award". This special "award" wins you nothing more than a mention on our blog and a "hats off" by our design team. We'll be searching the internet for LOCAL websites that deserve special recognition. The one thing that these websites will all have in common is that they will display a "creative use of the web". This award will be given for a design element that impresses our staff, it's that simple. We'll explain what was done right, why we were impressed, and provide a link to the website. You'll see these posts begin with "Innovation Award:".

As with any blog, your involvement is important to its success. If you notice something on a local website that catches your eye, let us know... it might just be given an "Innovation Award".

Filed in: del.icio.us, web2.0, blogging, awards, rochester

GroupLoop - Web 2.0 Review

We sent our GroupLoop application out to a few individuals in the Web 2.0 community for beta testing. Our first review came back with some very positive feedback. Artashes Toumanov wrote, "I have had a chance to test-drive the application ahead of time, and it looked very solid with fast loading pages and impressive interface. Flexibility and ease of use are the key ingredients of GroupLoop, looking to publicly launch the service sometime soon."

We are adding in the final tweaks and UI enhancements and expect to launch to the general public sometime next week. You can still sign up to be notified at www.grouploop.com. Thanks to all who have taken an interest in our little project.

Filed in: web2.0, collaboration, discussion, reviews

Flickr Goes Down

An interesting thing happened today, the Flickr website went down for several hours (and remains down as I write this). This brings up a very interesting topic when it comes to relying on Web 2.0 applications. People actually use Flickr to archive their images, so what happens when the website is unexpectedly down or data lost forever due to a "glitch" like this one?

I see so many new Web 2.0 companies kicking out every kind of web application imaginable under the sun. Many of them are one or two programmers who are working out of their parent's basements. Some of them might "hit the jackpot" and become popular so fast that they grow exponentially. If the "business plan" behind the web application doesn't support funding for enterprise level growth they will be in trouble real fast. When you hit the status of "Flickr", the world is watching and you'd better not mess up. Hopefully, this really is just a "glitch" and they haven't lost the entire database.

Give a Penny, Take a Penny

You might want to hold onto that penny the next time you think of throwing it into the community jar. It now costs our federal government more to make a penny than its value. It's actually worth more than one cent, as the rising costs of zinc (it's main ingredient) has increased it's production cost to 1.4 cents per penny. Just one year ago, it cost them only .97 cents per penny.

Due to this fact, Representative Jim Kolbe of Arizona is unveiling details of legislation to eliminate the penny. This makes logical sense to me. At the current rate, the Mint would spend some $44 million producing pennies this year, nearly $14 million more than in 2005. Every small business owner knows that "every penny counts"... when you're losing money on a product you can't make it up in volume.

Personally, I can't wait for the day when I no longer need "cash" at all and everything is done electronically. If you haven't used your debit card at McDonald's lately, try it. You don't have to sign anything and they push you through faster than if they had to count your change. Even better, it allows me to save my cash for those important things... like an old-school vending machine.

Maintaining Your Website Search Position

I found an article on TheStreet.com about how to keep yourself positioned well on search engines. The underlying theme between all of the items is that the search engines are looking for NEW and UPDATED content. Search engines want to provide their users with the most updated and relevant information possible, and all of these things show that you are actively updating your pages. In addition, by incorporating your keywords into the source code (alt tags, image names, etc) it provides them with more assurance that your content is relevant.

Here are the recommended tips and tricks:

Update existing content. If it's been a while since you last updated your Web site content, now's the time to do it. Update headlines, sub headlines and body text. Remember: Search engine spiders aren't looking for just any content; they're looking for content that's fresh and keyword-rich.

Add more content. Make sure there are at least 200 words on your main and landing pages. If there aren't, add more words. If there are, add 50 to 100 more words. Don't forget those keywords.

Add new pages. If you're trying to optimize an image-based or small Web site, add new content pages. Consider adding landing pages, articles, blogs, newsletter archives, site maps, etc.

Add internal page links. Link every page on your Web site to your main pages (i.e.: home, about, products, etc.). Main links should appear near the top (i.e.: top or side navigation) and should be repeated at the bottom of every page. Link to landing pages from within body text. Also, use your images to link to internal pages.

Add links to your Web site from relevant external sites. The key here is relevant. Link from sites that matter, such as online ads, published online articles (Tip: Create a signature line; see mine below), professional groups and organizations, testimonials from client sites, etc.

Rename pages. Incorporate your keywords into your page names. Don't just call your about page "about." Call it "about_keyword.htm." For example, I'm an Atlanta-based SEO copywriter, so my about page is "about_Atlanta_seo_copywriter.htm."

Rename images. If your images have generic names, rename them to include your keywords. For example, if you're a Houston-based dog sitter, don't name an image "littledogpics.jpg"; instead, name it "Houston_dog_sitter_littledogs.jpg."

Update alt tags. Add alt tags to your images. Make sure your keywords are included as part of the tag. For example, if you're a residential painter, your alt tag should read: alt="residential_painter_yourname".

Update meta tags. Replace irrelevant keywords. Limit meta-tag keywords and descriptions to the keywords and keyword phrases used on the page. Refresh your description meta tag regularly.

Update the page title. Update the title every few weeks or every other month. If you add another page by copying an existing page, make sure your page title and keywords coincide with the page content.

SEO is an ongoing process that takes time, skill and patience. Schedule regular updates and keep those keywords and content fresh, and you'll be well on your way to holding your position. If you're frustrated because you're not getting the results you want, don't give up; it may take a few weeks before you see the results you want. If you're still having problems, consider hiring an SEO coach or an SEO copywriter.

A complete list of SEO services provided by CWS can be found here.

TeresaChapman.com Website

Teresa Chapman, a local Realtor with Re/Max, has unveiled her new web site (created by CWS, of course). Her new website features a MLS "quick search", featured listings, mortgage calculators, community links, and more.


She has been a real estate agent since 1990 and promises to "make your home buying or selling process as stress free, and enjoyable as possible." She can be reached at (507) 287-7731 or http://www.teresachapman.com. She was a pleasure to work with on this project and we look forward to working with her in the future.

Web Application Programmer Wanted

Corporate Web Services is seeking an experienced web application programmer. Qualified candidates will have prior experience working with ASP, .NET, SQL Server, PHP and MySQL. This full-time position includes retirement plan, health insurance, paid holidays, sick time, and vacation time. At least 2 years experience programming in a web environment is preferred. Salary Based Upon Experience.

Apply online at http://www.cws.net/jobs.

Find DateMaster and Win

As you know tonight is "Singles Night" at the Honkers game. You can print a ticket for free admission to the game. But it doesn't stop there! I will be at the event tonight and will have a few goodies to give away to the first few people who find me and say they read this blog post. What might you win, you ask? I might just have a few tickets to the PGA Nationwide Tour event at Somerby next week... among other things.

See you at the ballpark!

Is this a Freudian slip?