Author Archives: inforids - Page 9

Starting A New Blog | The First Essential Steps every Blogger must Consider

Going to start a new blog, great! But if you want a really cool & attractive blog you should first consider a few things that are indispensable for newbie stepping into blogging. This article will introduce you to essential aspects of blogging before you actually start & help you to have one with a professionally-crafted design & content.

Identify the Central theme/idea for your blog

Deciding the central category/idea/theme for blogging: It should be clear what is the basic theme of your blog that all your blog content would reflect. Write some of the articles early before you have the blog. It will help you easily post them quickly on your blog.

Choosing the blogging platform

Deciding the platform for blogging & signing up: Choosing the platform for blogging is easy depending upon the services provided & eminancy of the platform. Sign up & start blogging.

Most popular blogging platforms are:

If you are new to blogging & want to put first steps towards blogging for fun, you should go for Blogger platform which is best & easy to start with. Blogger provides you with all the elements which can be easily used to write your posts & publish them to the world, even when you don’t have any idea of web html & web programming. Just go & sign up in the blogger account & start on writing . Blogger also provide major facilities to work on the templates not only by editing the  Html but also to add extra codes thorugh adding the gadgets code in the layout.

WordPress.com too offers similar type of services to bloggers but in a completly different way. This platform is easy to work on & allows users a limited control over their blogs in terms of choosing themes & plugins.

But if you own a domain & have hosting space, then WordPress.org is the excellent & most widely platform used by bloggers. WordPress.org platform extends capabilities of the blogging & provides many support services like  themes & plugins uploading. It has taken blogging to the next level.

Blogging Services are very large in number & are greatly influnced by the popularity & taste of the bloggers. The number of bloggers using a blogging service also vary accourding to the region & countries.

Choosing the right theme/template for your blog

Deciding the fully working & attractive template/theme which suits your blog central idea: A 3 column template will be the best choice & can be downloaded free. Many websites are itself dedicated for providing free blogger templates & wordpress templates.

Writing the first blog article & publishing it

Writing the blog content is one of the most important stage which you need to take seriously. I had already explained it here

The 10 most important things bloggers need to know before writing a blog article


Top CSS Tutorial, CSS Reference Sites for Learning & Mastering CSS

As web designer, you may already familiar with CSS. Mastering CSS is very important and needed for web development. CSS will save you much time in web design process as well as maintaining your website and make the site load faster, save hosting bandwidth and more professional. So it is good to learn and mastering CSS. You may ask it is hard to learn. Learning CSS is not easy but also not so hard to learn. Just think that: everyone can learn and mastering CSS why not you.

The following is list of top useful resource sites where you can find CSS Tutorial, CSS Reference, CSS article, CSS tips and tricks and other CSS related topics:

A List Apart

A List Apart is very useful resource site for people who make website; you can learn and read articles, tutorials, tips around CSS topics from many authors. Learn for practicing experience.
A useful resource place where you will see what many other people are bookmaking about CSS topics such as CSS tutorials, CSS articles, CSS tips, CSS trick and so on.

CSS Basics

CSS Basics provides 18 chapters which cover necessary CSS skills (including CSS Class, CSS IDs, CSS Position, CSS Fonts and so on) for web designer. You can read and learn chapters on the website or you can download all chapters as PDF format to learn at your own peace in computer.
W3Schools is very useful resource site for web designer which provides free CSS tutorials from basic through advance level. You also can find more on CSS such as CSS example, CSS reference, CSS quiz, CSS exam.
SitePoint
SitePoint provides a very good CSS reference. One important thing which makes it more useful CSS reference is that you can view in live demo and test CSS code yourself.
CSS Dog is another good resource for learning CSS and HTML. You can learn CSS start from beginner to advance level. In website, you can also found the CSS reference

Transforming Ravage 2GB Flash Drive – Adding “Transformers Effect”

If you are a Transformers lover, then now you can add “The Transformers Effect” to your digital life by using creative 2GB flash drive which may look like a Ravage Transformers toys. This toy like flash drive will serve as a utility device in the normally but can transform into a savage cat when you play with it. The drive is compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista as well as Mac.

This Transforming Flash drive is one of the most creative additions in BigBadToy Store after the impressive designed gadgets like Dinobots or SkyLynx, is available for pre-order for $42.99 (eta September 2009). Via Nerd Approved

Make Interview Easy: The Most Common Blunders

What actually do happen, Interviewers when asked about their Interview just after they come out, finishing the Interview process, they say “Everything went very well and will break the deal.” But actually they didn’t get the “Golden-Apple” in their hands & it is sometimes true even with those candidates who are qualified enough for that position.

If it happens then there are some little but dangerous negative vibes which can ruin your chances of getting your dream job. I had already focused on Make Interview Easy: The Art of Interviewing

What are the most common blunders one should get rid off & put the best face forward? Here are some most common mistakes:


Everything went very well and made the deal.

Red Flag 1: “My Alarm clock didn’t ring!”

If you are late for your interview, it indicates that you are lacking managing & organizational skills. It straightforward puts a bad impression on the Interviewer.

Red Flag 2: “I know everything”

Trying to show that you are the only “gem” in the field may be sometimes critical. Indeed Knowledge is power but information & answers should be planned, short & delivered to the point according to questions.

Red Flag 3: Talking too much

Applicants sometimes stray from the topic while answering & talk too much which can bring them negative points.

Red Flag 4: “Sorry, I haven’t googled it yet”

If you not know the answer of the question then don’t try to fool the interviewer simply accept that you can’t remember the answer.

Red Flag 5: Involving your Personal things into it

Never involve your personal things, story into the interview process. Try to separate your life from your work & organizational life.

Red Flag 7: “I don’t really have any weakness.”

When asked about your weakness, cite your weakness that you have but would not make any effect on your working ability & organizational life. If you are saying that you don’t know about that or you don’t have any weakness, then it is really unnatural because “No-body is perfect”.

Red Flag 8: Speak true, Speak confidently

Never lose confidence during the interview & if you are speaking lies it will definitely make to lose your confidence & you will be trapped. Remember that Interview also involves testing your psychology.

Red Flag 9: Maintain your behavior

During the interview, if you are emphasizing on your point, emphasize politely. Don’t be rude, abrasive & dismissive. Because it will directly put a question mark on your personality & blow the “golden-apple” away from your hands.

Red Flag 10: The Finish – “Any Questions?”

If you have already processed all the information & important facts related to the organization you are applying for than you can ask questions. But the questions should be meaningful & pre-planned. If you are questioning it shows that you are really interested in the respective organization.

Make Interview Easy: The Art of Interviewing

Make Interview Easy is the topic I am going to speak on, is always on-demand of many job seekers, really involves some attention because today, it just act as a tool which will definitely provide you the “Extra-Edge” over others in this competitive world. In this article I am focusing on the “The Art of Interviewing” & I will provide “Most Common Interview Blunders” in my next one.

Make Interview Easy

Indeed Interview is an Art in present day scenario. Interview is a situation which every one has to face in his /her life because it has just become an indispensable part of selection process which can be thought as “The Measuring Unit of Selection Criteria” to judge candidate’s suitability for a particular job & work environment. Even a 4-5 years old child has to face the Interview for admissions to start his educational journey.

Let’s come to the point, Success in an Interview needs confidence & enthusiasm in the candidate, right from the point a candidate enters the room till he finishes it up.

The first thing you should keep in mind that the Interviewer doesn’t know you,  so “You’ve really got to work at the impression you make” & it is really important as all your work starts from here.

How are you dressed up, how you express yourself & how savvy you are about the company are the things putting the first impression on Interviewer.

The better you start of, the easier the things coming in your way. Simply making the “First Impression” is about 25% of job got done, but it doesn’t mean that you have the “Golden-Apple” in your hands. Yes, it is still at good distance, which you have to cover by having patience & giving your best, as you can.

If everything goes well, you will find your hands just 20% away from the “Golden-Apple” & it is the time to make a “Bull-Shot” by asking a valid question to the interviewer about the company plans & policies. Yes, it makes a difference. It shows your interest & anxiety about the company. But try this “Bull-Shot” only if you have an early knowledge about the company concerned otherwise it can turn into a “Fatal-Shot”.

Fast Final Scan

  • Be confident & polite in what you speak.
  • Try to maintain an eye to eye contact while talking to the Interviewer. If there are more than one Interviewer, be attentive to all of them.
  • Try to be positive & expressive in the Interview.
  • Try to listen the questions carefully & follow “to the point” strategy in your answers. Excessive talking & lengthy description on a subject will be harmful. If you don’t know the answer simply tell them that you don’t but never try to make them “puzzled” because they are the experts of the field from which you got the question.
  • Don’t become aggressive at any point in the Interview as it will be a ”Red-Cross” on your behavior & will give a negative impact to the Interviewer.

Enjoy Interviewing.

Download Harry Potter Theme

SmashinGeeks has released Harry Potter theme for Harry Potter fans which is quite good. Harry Potter Font, built-in harry potter prologue are also used in the theme. This theme is quite simple and elegant.

Download Harry Potter Theme from SmashinGeeks 

The 10 most important things bloggers need to know before writing a blog article

Article content decides it all. Your articles decide the audience, their responses & their credits. When you start a blog (Don’t have a blog yet,  See 10 Nice Reasons to Start a Blog | Blogging is Power, create an article there are ten ways you can approach your subject matter. Which approach you choose will have a big impact on how fast you grow awareness and audience, plus will be decisive in how easy you find the actual writing. What needs to be done before taking pen on the paper is really important to know because it answers how you can write an article more effectively.

Almost every writer likes to put the best content for the readers & a little pondering before putting their fingers on the keyboard can produce best results. Brainstorms, outlines, and research are all part of the planning and preparation steps that many writers work through before they sit down to actually string words together. But there are ten important questions that every writer must ask before creating that first draft & publishing it.

1. Knowing & attracting your Audience

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Rather than focusing your topic you can focus your audience. This is a tradeoff between these two. You identify a motivated audience, cater your blog articles specifically to them, and then can select anything that interests you that will interest that audience too.

2. Decide on an identified, focused subject

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Identifying the right key for the lock is the art of subject identification. Audiences love when you are ultra-specific in your goal and articulate it well. It works especially well when you identify a pressing need.

3. The Power of Titles

Any article is first identified by the title. The title should be appropriate & put the major idea of the content. The title has the ability make or break a blog post. It impacts how (and if) it’s found in search engines and social bookmarking sites, it influences whether people visit your blog in News Readers, it affects whether people leave a comment and is vital in whether people actually read what you have to say.

4. Good Images conveys it All

Image gives life to simple words on the paper & every image you use must say something related to the topic. This technique can be used for providing an additional point of interest in your posts. I do use images in every post on this blog but find that when I do that those clicking through on the post in my feed reader increases. Images have the power to communicate in ways that words cannot – use them.

5. Be Original & Creative

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Try to speak your own words. Come up with your own content. It helps giving readers an assurance that they reading a fresh & new content. They have got something new. You can think something unique to say and say it in a creative and fresh way. Say what everyone else is saying in the same way that everyone else is saying it and you’re almost guaranteed of being largely ignored. Stick away from any type of copyright infringement.

6. The Presentation stands for 50% of all your work

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Many times online readers tend to scan content & images on the website. As a result if you place visual cues in your posts that draw their eye to important points you’ll find people stick with you longer into your posts. Think like what you will like if you visit a website that is, think like the reader’s point of view & it will help you how to present the things more simply & beautifully.

See also: Top 8 Website Killer & Common Blog Design Mistakes | Dont Let them Go

7. Work on content organization & structure

A single well written list post can launch a blog to great heights in the blogosphere. While the prolific nature of lists in the blogosphere can also mean your lists get ignored, but listing the thing helps keep your article more organized. I find that when writing the same content as a list that you write as an essay like article the list will almost always get more attention. They easily caught the attention of eye & let readers to stick to the content until they catch the idea behind them.

8. Style of your writing

Writing

There can be some difference in the tone of your writing that could not match with what readers want. A fiction piece will have an altogether different tone than a well-researched article. The language you choose, and the styles in which you write are largely directed by your target readership. Always pick a up a tone & style that is simple, clear & understandable.

9. Publishing & Socializing on a Right Platform

Few pieces of writing are publishable across different formats. You should at least have a general idea of the final format; especially be aware of whether your piece is headed for print versus electronic publication. For choosing the right socializing platform for your article after publishing it, you need to think on the need & effect of the article content on the set of readers & audience. Once you understand that, socialize it across suitable platforms.

10. Impact of the Article

Almost every writer wants to make readers feel something. It is important to think the impact of your article on the readers.

One of the positive impact can be Decrease in the Visitors Bounce rate on your website & can yield high traffic to you blog.

See Tim Ferriss View on Building A High Traffic Successful Blog [Video]

What do you want your readers to feel? Hope? Anger? Joy? Controversies? Is your article is imparting knowledge? Is it going to affect a specific set of people thinking? Writing informs, entertains, and sells. It intrigues, educates, and inspires. It’s imperative to know what impact your work will have on readers. Otherwise, it may end up having no impact at all. It is always to look up the results of what you are planning to do.

What do you think now? Share your views with us & comments below.

Trillian Astra: Revolutionizing Instant Messaging

At long last, Cerulean Studios has released Trillian Astra, the long-awaited next version of its popular multi-protocol instant messaging client. Currently, Trillian Astra is avtrillian-logoailable an invite-only download, this Cerulean Studios product is best in its class.

Trillian Astra helps you organize your online life with its powerful and flexible interface for IM, social networks, content syndication, the Web, and email.

Trillian was not the first IM app to offer multi-network connectivity, but it stood out of the crowd thanks to an intuitive interface design that helped users manage their contacts from different networks in a much easier way.

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The program now supports Live Messenger, AOL Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, Facebook, MySpaceIM,  Skype, Jabber, IRC, Twitter, e-mail accounts (POP3 and IMAP) and Bonjour, besides the Astra proprietary network. Trillian Astra boasts a nice interface design, though it can get quite bloated with contacts lists from a dozen different IM platforms. Trillian Astra is now at a beta testing phase, but if you are too curious to wait until the final official release, fill in this form, sign up to subscribe as beta tester and you’ll probably get an invite soon. Mine took hardly a couple of minutes to arrive.

Some of the interesting Features Trillian Astro offers:

  • One Login for all accounts
  • Offline Messaging
  • File transfers with proxying
  • Video & voice calls
  • Easy inline image transfer
  • Sign on from multiple locations
  • History window
  • Bookmarking
  • Group Conversations
  • Program Execution & control
  • Tabbed windows
  • Color themes
  • Your contact list everywhere
  • Protocol refresh
  • Powerful plugins

WordPress 2.8 Baker Released | A First Look on its Key features

Finally the “Baker” version of WordPress arrived yesterday, with so many cool & more enhanced features. Named for noted trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker, this WordPress had got a lot with it for the people who love it. Major improvement were done in the themes, widgets, taxonomies, and overall speedwith about over 790 bugs fixes. This video explains  more than the words.

Highlights of what’s new in WordPress 2.8:

  • New drag-and-drop widgets admin interface and new widgets API
  • Syntax highlighting and function lookup built into plugin and theme editors
  • Browse the theme directory and install themes from the admin
  • Allow the dashboard widgets to be arranged in up to four columns
  • Allow configuring the number of items to show on management pages with an option in Screen Options
  • Support timezones and automatic daylight savings time adjustment
  • Support IIS 7.0 URL Rewrite Module
  • Faster loading of admin pages via script compression and concatenation

Five Reasons Why Facebook Rules

While Facebook has been a major website almost since it hit the Internet, 2010 saw its rapid rise and spread throughout the world and the Internet as a whole. The Facebook phenomenon is unparalleled in social media worth. These five reasons describe precisely why it is highly unlikely that Facebook shuts down anytime soon.

1) Social Media as Marketing Tool

While Facebook was always a way for people to connect with people, 2010 saw the rise of Facebook used to connect businesses with people. By providing Facebook-only discounts, Facebook credits, community discussion boards, and a central location for all direct engagement with customers, Facebook business pages became a vital component of a business’ marketing strategy almost overnight. Furthermore, Facebook became more business-friendly as a whole, allowing businesses to connect with customers through advertisements based on information on customers’ Facebook profiles. In fact, practically every page of any importance has “Like” buttons next to each piece of content on the site. This “Like” button allows users to tell their friends what sorts of websites they visit in real-time, with a literal click of a button. The Like button changed the nature of Internet marketing, seeing a rise in organic methods of advertising. Word-of-mouth advertising is much easier today, thanks by and large to the social trends provided by Facebook.

2) Improved Apps

Facebook’s Developer Driven development also saw the rise of social apps, a unique Facebook phenomenon. Games which were half achievement-oriented, traditional play and half the social experience provided by Facebook exploded in popularity during 2010 and show no signs of stopping. Apps were created not just for gameplay but for a wide variety of uses, all of which emphasized a social component. While playing with and talking to people over long distances was once the purview of online gamers, by and large young males, Facebook apps have widened the appeal of that activity to nearly every demographic.

3) Accessibility

With the rising popularity of smartphones used to surf the web, it is clear that online access from any location, at any time is going to become as ubiquitous as electricity, roads and other infrastructure elements. Phones like the T-Mobile Galaxy S or AT&T’s iPhone let you download Facebook apps on your phone for instant access, enabling users to log in anytime, anyplace.

 Unlike many social media sites, Facebook emphasizes its messaging platform, showing that it’s on the cutting edge of technology. For instance, Facebook messaging is a form of free email hosting accessible through any channels. With the rising popularity of smartphones used to surf the web, it is clear that online access from any location, at any time is going to become as ubiquitous as electricity, roads and other infrastructure elements. Facebook understands that no matter where we are or what we’re doing, we’re going to want to connect with our friends and family that is why many new phones nowadays come with a built-in Facebook button. Facebook’s messaging system is so easy to use and connect with that it is indeed a Titan.

4) Constant User Interface Updates

While Facebook users often complain whenever the UI changes, by and large all of the Facebook user interface updates have been well-executed, resulting in a more fluid, dynamic experience of connecting with friends over the Internet. Through it all, Facebook has never lost its core principles, among them being unlimited web hosting for all of its users’ social interactions and personal information. Constant evolution always marks a growth-oriented company, and Facebook definitely fits that bill.

5) Rise of the “Social Web”

Facebook by far is the most sociable social network out there since it has been integrating openly with major players in the online community beginning with its competitor Myspace and now with Flickr as well.

All in all, Facebook is here to stay and as forecasts show set to rule the cyber world!

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