Web Marketing Strategy Update

Further to my [Free Site Map Creation For Google Sitemaps->] post, here’s a free and feature-packed Windows application by Johannes Mueller called [The SOFTplus GSiteCrawler -> http://johannesmueller.com/gs/] you can download to create your XML site map. It’s free, but Johannes would appreciate a donation if you find it useful.

Alternatively you can try the [open source -> http://www.opensource.org/] [Endsheet software -> http://www.tipue.com/endsheet/] if you have Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 installed.

[Sitemap Filter -> http://www.sorrowman.org/sitemap-tools/] is another Windows tool for [Google Sitemaps ->https://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/]. Whilst it doesn’t yet support the creation of site maps, it enables you to filter particular URL’s out of an XML site map, FTP it to your site and submit it to Google.

When I was preparing to start publishing this blog a couple of weeks ago, one of the things I was finding it difficult to get my head around the idea of trackbacks and how they work. What was a trackback URL? Where could I get one? And what was I supposed to do with it anyway?

I searched for information and read stuff here and there intermittently over several days. I couldn’t seem to find a complete explanation, and it was only by putting together the bits I’d read in my mind that it gradually sank in — simple as it is.

Then yesterday I was going through some emails, and read one from [Jim Edwards -> http://www.ebookfire.com/cmd.php?Clk=1132012] that led me to finally click through to his [blog -> http://www.igottatellyou.com/blog/]. And what do I find while I’m poking around? Not just a guide to trackbacks, but an audio visual guide! Typical. Now only I discover it!

Whilst I admit didn’t actually see all of [Jim's 3 part guide in streaming video -> http://www.igottatellyou.com/blog/archives/2005/02/how_to_really_g.html] because I was doing some other stuff at the same time, I did hear it all from start to finish, and have just one comment: If you don’t understand trackbacks, this resource will make what they are and how to use them crystal clear. And if it doesn’t, maybe you should consider giving up!

The tutoring on the videos is done by Thomas Pierce, who’s own blog, [How To Blog For Fun & Profit -> http://blogforfunandprofit.blogware.com/blog] is bursting with information. Head over and read his thoughts on [4 Pillars of Effective Blogs -> http://blogforfunandprofit.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2005/2/1/299656.html] where he makes some very good points.