FTP - File Transfer Protocol

FTP is a protocol that your computer uses to communicate to other computers on the network, including the Internet. FTP allows you to login into a server and upload or download files. The most common use of FTP for web hosting, is to update your web site, by uploading files to the server.

Here are some terms for your reference:

Uploading: Transferring files from your computer to the server.

Downloading: Transferring files from the server to your computer.

Anonymous Server: Allows any user to login without a specific login and password.

FTP servers can be anonymous or non-anonymous. Your FTP server for web hosting accounts, are non-anonymous. This allows you to login with a username and password, and access your files. It also prevents any user on the Internet from updating your web site!! Your provider will give you some FTP information to use the server, including: FTP host or IP, FTP Login, and a FTP password. The correct IP, login and password will give you access to your account, allowing you to update your web pages.

FTP can be used through a command line (like DOS), or through a graphic programs; the latter is more popular these days. Some popular FTP clients are SmartFTP and CuteFTP.

What is Good Content?

I’ve read that a good web site is all about content, content, and oh yes content. Now if you’ve managed to design your site so that you can fill it with great content, what next, how do you know what good content is?

This may be one of those things that you know it when you see it kind of thing but I think that there are a few basic points to make in regards to having good content on your site. Considering how important content is we should all really focus on adding good content to our sites.

1. Relevant. Your content must be relevant to your site. Why would you have articles or information that has nothing to do with whatever it is that you’re selling. You would think that this would be obvious but I’ve seen web sites that just have gobs of information that really doesn’t match their site.
2. Accurate. The information that you give must be accurate. Part of the reason that you’re adding content to your site is to add to your reputation as a knowledgeable person in your field so if your information isn’t accurate then you don’t look like you know what you’re doing.
3. Free. Now if you make your living by selling information then not all of your content should be free but some of it should. How are people going to know that you know what you’re doing if they can’t read or see any of your work. I sell stock photography and I offer all of my short informational articles for free, not only because I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience but it allows my customers to see that I know what I’m doing.

One last point but I’m not giving it as much importance as the first three, it would be ideal if all of your content was your own. Now there are exceptions to this, if you can’t write well then there is no point to writing poor articles with good information. The good information will be lost in the lack of writing ability. So it’s okay to use some of the free content, furnished by others, on your site. (Don’t forget to give them credit for their work though.) If you can create your own content I think that it the best case scenario for adding good content to your site.

How to Create an Enjoyable Web Page Design

Novice and professional designers alike – you may probably be skilled enough of any one or all of the techniques in creating a Web page and designing them. However, not all designs, even those made by authorities in the field, prove to be enjoyable and entertaining enough for the users. This is a fact that we hope does not irk some of our design enthusiasts and discourage them from honing their skills.

In terms of honing your skills in Web design, here are several pointers that will give you a chance to make enjoyable designs on a web site. These elements should be kept in mind to make it easier for your customers to interact with your web page, get satisfied with what they’re looking for and thoroughly have an enjoyable experience.

A logo is required – it’s high time for your business to acquire a logo. The logo is a means to define the look, feel and direction of your business. The concept of your logo will eventually transfer over to your web page design.

The purpose is required and you must understand it – you must identify the objective of creating a Web page. Various companies have various reasons for putting up a Web site, you should have a major purpose, too. And you must be consistent with it in your Web pages.

The goal should be identified – evaluate each page and align it with the goal you have for it. You might have an ultimate goal of having clients contact you and inquire about your services. If that is so, then you must create your Web page in a logical sequence wherein you will provide for instruction for your clients to contact you.

A navigation system that’s not confusing – your navigation system must be consistent throughout your site. It would not help you gain more visitors if your recent visitors get helplessly confused in the middle of your site and decide to close the window. The information may be good, but visitors don’t want to waste time thinking where to click next and how to make certain pop up windows appear.

Fast loading of your pages is a needed as much as possible - your corporate identity is reflected in the graphics and navigation inside your Web page. But they must be optimized for fast loading. Loading a page in 20 seconds or more is too long already for Web surfers.

Having readable pages are important – Avoid dark colored backgrounds and heavily patterned pages in your site. This tends to make your text confusing and hard to ready. Most visitors do not find it enjoyable to spend time in a Web site that they have difficulty deciphering. This also goes with small sized texts and very large texts where text that is too large can make it appear as if you are screaming at your viewers.

Technical jargons are a no-no – avoid the use of technical jargons that will just be ignored by readers. Make your users understand you and you will be able to connect with your target audience.

Create templates for consistency – all the elements in your site is guaranteed to be consistent if you provide a template. Having the navigation system and all common elements in the same place throughout your site is a great help. It makes it easier for your visitors to find information, and enjoy their experience. Having a template for you to work from makes creating new pages easier.

Use CSS style sheets – to have your users be instructed easily on how to get the contents of your page use the Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). There are several typographical information that you’ll found in CSS such as fonts, font size, colors, and spacing.

Frames are not advisable – in dividing the Web page into multiple windows, some designers use frames as a technique. The reasons for not using them tend to outweigh the reasons to use them since several browsers still do not support frame sites. Search engine optimization is affected then. It is best to create non-frames site first and then see if frames adds any functionality that your visitors would miss.

These elements are basic principles that any designer must live by. By remembering them, you will find even more reasons to enjoy brandishing your skills in Web design and make users enjoy your Web pages, too.

Ten Ways to Write Great Blog Posts That Get Attention

Millions of blogs fight for readership online (over 75 million by some counts), with thousands more being created every day. Making yours stand above the rest may seem like a daunting task, but here are ten suggestions for making your blog posts stand out from the crowd.

1. Write each post title so it grabs the reader's attention. It is the first thing someone reads, and it should get your reader's attention right away. Your title should both pique the reader's interest and be informative. Do not write "Business Writing Advice"; instead, say "The Best-Kept Secret to Reducing Your Business Writing Worries." Longer titles have the advantage of describing in detail what your post is about; 8-12 words are a good range.

2. Keep sentences short and clear. A little goes a long way. Readers are busy people and they will not spend hours detangling complex syntax or sifting through blocks of text. Also, use strong language. Start a new paragraph every few sentences, and limit each post to 250 words, if possible. If you cannot write it in under 250 words, split it into two entries.

3. Break up the text. Use numbered lists, bullet points, and subheadings to make your posts easy to scan. Lots of white space on the page is a good thing-it allows your reader to take mental breaks and let the knowledge soak in. In addition, with the inevitable clutter of banner ads and side text, this technique puts some distance between your writing and all those distractions.

4. Keep current. No one wants to read old news. Your job is to stay up-to-date so your readers do not have to themselves. Read newspapers. Scour the web for references. For example, if you write a blog about business communication, subscribe to Google News Alerts using keywords related to the field, such as blogs, podcasting, instant messaging, business letters, memos, and business reports, so you will always be well informed. Posting items from last month or last year will lose your reader's interest faster than you can say "Enron."

5. Be bold. Timidity is an easy path to anonymity. Do not be afraid to create and state your opinions. Of course, there are some situations in which objectivity rules-but you have to give people a reason to read this blog by you and not by the person next door.

6. Be accurate. If you make a statement, be prepared to back it up. Know what your sources are and quote them accurately. Misinformation spreads like wildfire online; do not be the spark that sets it off or the wind that fans it.

7. Contribute to the conversation. Links are great-but then what? Do not just post links to the same tired sites, offer your reader something new. Contribute to the conversation. Your goal is to be the site to which everyone else is linking-so you had better have something worth writing about.

8. Stay focused. Once you have defined the theme of your blog, stick to it. A blog about piggy banks has no business posting about the latest innovation in alternative energy. Such a deviance will only confuse your reader and chip away at your virtual authority.

9. Use key words liberally. Keywords are, well, key. Harness your blog's search engine potential by dousing your title and post with effective keywords that will help interested parties find your page in the vast, muddled blogosphere. This is one of the most important elements of getting your blog read-go at it with gusto.

10. Be consistent. Keep a schedule and stick to it. Post frequently-at least several times per week if you want to increase your potential of attracting new readers. Let your blog languish for weeks without updates and your audience will move on to fresher ground.

Maintaining an informative blog that people want to read takes hard work and good writing skills. Find what makes your writing unique-and flaunt it for all it is worth.