Source Point Launches and Aids Technology Businesses in Sourcing

Jul 142009
 

sourcepoint

Source point at SourcePoint.com recently announced the launch a global business to business sourcing directory to aid businesses in sourcing products, services, equipment, devices, materials, components, chemicals and more worldwide.   Source point is fast, efficient, useful and completely free.  Small business owners and large corporations alike can take advantage of the source point business database to find new manufactures, suppliers and distributors of almost anything and potentially benefit from cost cutting and huge savings.   For the technology industry source point provides a massive directory of technology services providers to make product sourcing quick, easy and efficient.

A Little Style

Mar 082009
 

biz

So what’s the difference between your site, and the 1,000 plus others out there that are doing the same thing you are? Anything? Is your topic at least unique? I came across this business directory and guide the other day, and saw something they did different than the 100,000+ directories out there. They gave it a little style.

They Are All The Same

In an effort to improve my sites visibility I often submit to directories. The one thing that I am really getting sick of though, is that they all seem to be made with the same crappy directory software, have the same hard to fill out forms, and look like they were made twenty years ago. I’m basically submitting to get a link, no one actually uses those directories. Do they?

This One is Different

When I came across IBizDir though, I saw a directory that had effort put into it. It was actually designed for people, not robots. In truth, most directories are designed for people, but this one was built in a way that visitors might just come back. They spent the time to give it a nice logo, they gave it some cool flash showing you it’s a little more than a directory, and they gave it actual content (the business guide). Adding the business guide is a nice touch for a business directory. It makes a simple directory a valued business resource, and that is how you can get your new visitors to come back for more.

You Are Special, Not

I recently watched a DVD of the comedian George Carlin. One if hit bits were about how kids are not all special. The logic is simple, and George’s. If everyone is special, then there is no one especially special. If no one is especially special, then there should be no special people. George was basically saying that we shouldn’t say to kids “you are all special” because the fact is, most of them are not (except mine).

Anyhow, the point is, I’m saying your site is nothing special, and if you think it is, you better have a better reason than the fact that you made it. Take the time to give it a little style, make it unique, and be the special good one that out shines the rest.

What’s That Extension?

Dec 092008
 

Think you know your extensions? Quick, what is a M2C file? Don’t know? Why it’s a IBM voice language new user file of-course. Obviously we don’t know them all, but here is a killer easy to use directory of most extensions known, File Extensions.

The Directory

File Extensions has thousands of extension names identified. The “F” page has over 400. There are a lot of file extensions out there. They have a quick search form so you don’t have to go digging around to find your extension. Just type it in, and up will come it’s info. A pretty handy website for when your boss tells you he can’t open that file using Microsoft Word. Well, duh Jack, it’s a Lotus Notes data entry.

The Software

File Extensions also has a registry scanner designed specifically to analyze those extensions. It looks for those forgotten or deleted applications left behind that could has been messing things up for your PC. As I write this post, the software is currently scanning my PC. Nearly 1,000 errors found so far. It’s an old PC. Install and download was quick and painless, and only took about five minutes to scan my entire registry. Before you make any fixes though, I would strongly suggest backing up your registry first. Please run this scan at your own risk.

Love the directory, and I think this is the sites major selling point. I will have to wait and see over the next few days how I like the software.

A Naked Website

Dec 032008
 

Is your site naked? I have a few of my own. They are simply not ready yet. So what makes a naked website? Probably many things, but one thing that has been really getting me latey is the missing tag line. It’s like walking around without your pants on. Once those visitors find your site they see nothing but your goods, and who knows what they will do with them.

A Little Personality

Check out a Guide to eating out in Herefordshire. That link is a suggested tag line for them. This site is, in my eyes, is naked. Their site is a local dining/visitor guide, but you would never guess it by looking at their header. Checking out their logo, LBS Portal, offers no clue to site contents. Tag line? None. The site is essentially naked. Visitors need a little personality or something to remember you by, and though content is king, it still needs a name.

The Herefordshire Business Directory on thier site was in full birthday suit, missing logo and tag line. If you are shooting for return visitors some kind of branding/dressing needs to be implemented. Visitors need visuals and catch phrases if they are going to remember your site. Naked guy or naked guy with a cowboy hat on, who are you going to remember?

Take the time to add a little flaire to your site, and make sure your visitors know who you are. If you can’t do that, then your just another website.

A Guys Directory

May 252008
 

As a webmaster, online site promotion often falls into your department. You are the web expert for the company, right? Marketing a site by means of directory submission is not one of my favorite things to do, but a site doesn’t exist unless you tell people about it.

A little tip to improve your time spent submitting to directories is to focus on certain types. Don’t just submit to 100 random directories. There are lots of directories that focus on target groups. Ozami Internet Guide, for example targets men under the age of forty. Ozami is a paid directory, meaning you have to pay to get you site listed. So another tip is to do your homework before buying. Looking around the site, they obviously have sold many listing, a good sign. Checking with Alexa, they obviously get real traffic, and are very well ranked. Checking their domain, they have been live for at least four years. They also have excellent PR on Google which means they have quality sites linking to them. I believe all of these things added up would easily equal a quality directory submission.

Another tip I like to do after purchasing a listing is to see if I can get a free write up in their blog. I had to look around a little on Ozami’s site, but I found a link in the footer, Ozami’s Blog. Looking at it, you can see they have a category for site reviews so you might be able to get them to do it. Not everyone likes to do that, and I am not suggesting Ozami does. Offer to write it, if it helps. Looking at their blog roll, I was also able to find another category specific directory for SEO geared sites. So even if they don’t post a free article, you get another place to submit your site.

Focus your time spent submitting to category specific directories, and maximum your time on them.

Leaving Breadcrumbs for Navigation

Mar 082008
 

First, let me explain what a breadcrumbs are in the world of website navigation. Breadcrumbs are essentially directory links, and as you get deeper into the directory, the breadcrumb menu expands.

Here is an example of bread crumb links as you might see it on the web if you were on page “Sample” in the “Images” folder on this site:

Best Web Image>>>Images>>>Sample

It’s a natural method of navigation when you are on a directory website, but what I have been noticing lately, is that a lot of sites are including this method in support of their primary navigation system. This is not always a good thing, especially if your site is not a directory. If you use it make sure your sites hierarchy supports it.

Redundancies in content can often confuse a visitor, and this applies to menus as well. In fact, menus can have a more devastating effect because this is how a visitor begins to understand the site hierarchy. Having multiple menus conveying the same message, is similar to over using emphasis. The primary objective of a page may be lost if it is overloaded with multiple items that have been equally emphasized. If you keep the visitor focused, and use emphasis sparingly, you should only need one menu to clearly navigate your visitor. If you are using one already, don’t go rushing to delete it. Calculate it’s value, and if it is high for the space it requires on your site, keep it. Improving navigation is a good thing.

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