Carving a Niche on the Internet

This lens is about finding your niche on the Internet. It will include information on web design, getting visitors, promoting, search engines and exposure.

The information is compiled from my adventures of trying to carve my own small area on the net, and what I have learned along the way. As I am still learning and trying to grow my sites there will be plenty of information going forward.

Of course, it will also contain a few shameless plugs to my other sites but that is to be expected!

Web Design Links

Not sure how your design looks? Can't remember the HTML code for bold? These links provide answers to almost all your web design questions!

W3Schools Online Web Tutorials: If you are just starting to learn how to design web sites or need a good reference the check on the W3 Schools Web Tutorials. They offer tutorials on HTML, XHTML, CSS, browser scripting, server scripting, XML, XSL, and .NET.
Essential Web Tools: A great listing of tools and resources for web design. A must have resource for any web design regardless of skill level.
Web Pages That Suck: Teach yourself good web design by looking at Web Pages That Suck. What better way to learn than by learning what not to do?
Designing a Web Site for Usability: Article with tips on designing a web site that will appeal to visitors.
Web Style Guide, 2nd Edition: WEB STYLE GUIDE, 2nd editionBy Patrick Lynch and Sarah HortonFront matterForeword by Lou Rosenfeld
Preface to the second edition
Preface to the first editionChapter 1: PROCESS Before you begin Planning
Developing a site specification
The site development process Site definition and planning
Info
Color Scheme Generator 2: Help select the perfect color combinations for your website using this cool tool. Select a color from the wheel and a color scheme is generated around that color.
Mark Horrell - Browser Screen Resolution Checker: The browser screen resolution checker shows what your web page looks like with the viewer's monitor set to different screen resolutions.

To use the browser screen resolution checker, type your URL into the box below, select which resolution you would like to check from the drop-down list and cl

Various Web Tools

Links to various tools for web design

This is a listing of sites that will help with the process of creating a blog, designing a website and promoting websites. These are great sites and tools to get yourself noticed on the net.

StatCounter Free Invisible Web Tracker: You have built your blog, started getting visitors and now you want more information about where the traffic is coming from. Check out StatCounter - A free yet reliable invisible web tracker, highly configurable hit counter and real-time detailed web stats.
egoSurf - ego surfing without the guilt.: A utility to boast your ego by ranking your place on the Internet. Type in search term and blog address then the site finds links to your blog and determines you ego.
Add your URL to Google: Add your URL to Google! Share your place on the net with us.
MSN Search URL Submission: Submit website to MSN.
SEO Today Article: Directories and Your SEO Campaign: SEO Today Article: Gone are the days in which directories were key players in online search and SEO programs, but David's latest articles begs to differ, and even gives reviews of some of the newest directories on the web.
Hotscripts.com :: The net's largest PHP, CGI, Perl, JavaScript and ASP script collection and resource web portal: HotScripts.com is an Internet directory that compiles and distributes Web programming-related resources, geared toward webmasters, developers and programmers looking for enhancing their Web sites and intranets with dynamic development tools.
RGB Color Codes: A great color reference guide for web site design. Shows a sample color with the RGB and HEX code.
CSS Reference: A good CSS cheat sheet for the amateur or pro CSS coder.
Website Tools: A listing of free website add tools such as counters, search engines and scripts.
Mayang's Free Texture Library: 3400 high resolution textures (1600x1200+). Free for any use.

Blog Links

Links Relating to Blogging

Whether you are just starting to blog or are a veteran blogger this is the place for blogging information!

BlogMad: So you have a blog and now you are trying to figure out how to get traffic. Come and join BlogMad one of the fastest growing blog traffic exchange sites on the net.
BlogExplosion: Another great site for getting your blog noticed on the net. Surf to earn credits that are used to show your blog.
Blogger: Create your Blog Now -- FREE: Create a blog at blogger.com.
TypePad: A hosted blog service. Publish almost anything instantly.
Blogcharm: A blogging site that pays members to blog.

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Blogging Tip

Get Your Blog Noticed

You have spent the time setting up a blog. Created, I hope, a very nice template and have been adding quality content but you still have no visitors. There are several things you can do to get traffic to your blog.

First, join a blog traffic exchange. Two really great sites are listed above in the Blog Links. I have used others but these ones have worked the best.

Second, when surfing other blogs make sure to leave comments. Not just random comments just for the sake of leaving comments - this is commonly viewed as SPAM - but comments that are meaningful and appreciated. If the owner of the blog likes your comments they are more likely to visit your blog and leave comments.

Using Links to Promote Site

Increase Traffic and Page Rank

You finished building your website. Created a great layout and populated the pages with quality and relevant content. Next, you submitted your site to all the major search engines but alas still no traffic! The next step to boost visits and increase page ranking is the use of links.

There are two types of links - internal links, which link to pages within your site, and external links - which link to pages external to your site. To help increase traffic and rankings you want to focus on external links to other sites and incoming links to your site.

This is where you need to be careful. When using links it is important to use relevant and meaningful links. Do not decide to throw up 30 random links on your site and expect miracles to occur. Select links that benefit visitors and are relevant to your site.

The same goes for links coming into your site. If you have a site that is about gardening a link coming from the WWF site is not going to benefit your site. Surf the web and look at potential sites that you would like to link to your site. If the topic is relevant and you feel it would add value then content the site owner and request a link.

One thing to avoid is the use of link farms, links exchanges and paying for links to your page. The use of such tools to increase links to your site is frowned upon by the major search engines and can affect your page rating.

Building quality links to and from you site takes time and patience - it does not occur over night - but in the end, the benefits outweigh the effort.

My Other Sites

This is a listing of other sites of mine on the net. Stop by and say hello!

PC Advice: I am the editor for the PC Advice site at BellaOnline. Come for a visit and get tips, tricks and hints about using your personal computer.
PC Advice Forum: This a forum that I run on Bella Online about personal computers. A great source to get questions answered about your computer.
My Weblog: This is my personal weblog or blog. Basically it is an area for me to post my rants, pictures and whatever else tickles my fancy!
Allison Nunn Web Site: This is my website for my consulting business.