(by 5 people)
After nearly ten years online I've seen a lot of things. I've seen websites grow from something only big companies could afford to manageable solutions for small businesses and individuals. I've seen selling online go from cutting-edge to darned-if-you-don't. In just the last few years, I've seen domains go from $70 a year to $7!
In that time I've also seen a lot of really great web and Internet tools. A few stand out, and I'm here to show you which ones are the best that I've seen. If you know of another great tool I may be interested in, email me and tell me about it!
Trillian: All your chat programs in one
There's MSN, ICQ, Yahoo!, AIM, mIRC...AAHHHH! How do you chat with everyone without crashing your computer? The answer is Trillian, a program that allows you to log into all your chat accounts from one simple program. While it doesn't support a lot of the extras that MSN, Yahoo!, and AIM offer, it does squelch the bickering. "How come you're never online????"
Download Trillian
Download Trillian
Firefox: More than just a browser.
I downloaded Firefox for the first time about a year ago, and I refuse to go back to Netscape or MSIE (unless I absolutely have to because Firefox doesn't support somethign I need to view).
As of late, I've discovered extensions. Extensions are awesome little add-on tools that allow you to do great things through Firefox. Below you will find links to these tools.
As of late, I've discovered extensions. Extensions are awesome little add-on tools that allow you to do great things through Firefox. Below you will find links to these tools.
- Download Firefox
- Download Firefox and enjoy using the Internet more effectively. You can block pop-ups, easily manage your saved form and password info, and browse multiple websites through tabs in a single window.
- Download Thunderbird
- I haven't actually tried Mozilla's new email client, but I will let you know how it goes!
- Morning Coffee Extension
- Every day I visit the same dozen websites to check messages, upload articles, or run my business. Morning Coffee allows me to open them in multiple tabs with one quick click of the mouse.
- Squidoo Extension
- The Squidoo extension is fabulous for quickly adding links to your lenses.
- Tab Mix Plus Extension
- I am forever accidentally deleting tabs, but with this fabulous feature, you can undo closed tabs or lock and protect tabs - saving you the hassle of lost information.
- Internote Extension
- This feature allows you to leave yellow stickies on websites! Great for making notes of things to do, or capturing signature information on sites that don't save it for you (such as MySpace!)
- Add Search Engines
- You can now search dozens of websites from your browser, such as Technorati, Amazon, Wikipedia, ESPN, and Flickr.
Organize your Goals using Basecamp
Basecamp is officially my new favorite thing in the world. The Citizen Squids are using it to manage some of our neat new projects, and I created my own personal account to manage my gazillion projects.
Setting up an account is free if you just want to manage one project. If you want to manage more, there's a monthly fee. I created one title for all my projects. You can create to-do lists for each of your smaller projects which is awesome because it allows you to break your work down into tiny, manageable tasks. You can create messages about your ideas and set milestones for major deadlines.
As an author of several current and future books on goal achievement, I give this a big two-thumbs-up!
Squidoo, of course!
Since discovering Squidoo, I've stopped creating futile websites that take years to reach decent rankings on the search engines. I've made more money with Squidoo in one month than some of my old websites made in a year. Since you're already here, I'll assume you know where to find Squidoo. ;)
Here are some tips for using Squidoo, and tips for using Groups. You'll also find more great lenses at the Addicted to Squidoo Group and Groupers Group.
Here are some tips for using Squidoo, and tips for using Groups. You'll also find more great lenses at the Addicted to Squidoo Group and Groupers Group.
MySpace: not just for teenagers and personal pages
While I have a personal page for networking purposes, I mainly use MySpace to promote my CafePress shop.
The groups, blogs, and bulletins are great for posting pictures and descriptions of your wares, and networking with people who can help bring traffic to your store.
For some easy MySpace personalization tips, check out MySpace Made Easy. You'll find great tips for running a CafePress shop at Success with CafePress.
The groups, blogs, and bulletins are great for posting pictures and descriptions of your wares, and networking with people who can help bring traffic to your store.
For some easy MySpace personalization tips, check out MySpace Made Easy. You'll find great tips for running a CafePress shop at Success with CafePress.
A Cartoon For You
Can You Digg It?
Digg is a great way to keep track of websites you like AND generate some buzz about hot new articles and tools. There are some serious Diggers out there who spend all day (well, maybe not all day, some I'm sure) reading hot new links and voting on their popularity.
You never know which of your submitted links could hit it big on Digg!
- Cognition Nutrition: Food for Thought
- They nailed the title, this is really exciting.
- Holy Bat Bouts: Batman vs. Batman vs. Batman
- This is cool. All the Batman movies duke it out. I'm sorry though I think Dark Knight rules!
- I'd Like to Apply for a Loan (Pic)
- McCain In 2003: We Can ‘Muddle Through In Afghanistan'
- Today, video was unearthed in which Senator John McCain in 2003 says we can just ?muddle through i...
- Dark Knight iPhone App Lets You Jokerize Yourself
- It's essentially just a marketing tool for the Dark Knight movie, but hot damn if we don't like this...
