EzSEO Newsletter # 251

In this issue:

1. Google Slap for affiliate sites?

2. A Couple of WordPress Myths.

3. Google Friends Connect

4. Removing WordPress Version Number

5. Fr.ee Whiteboard Application

6. Last Call for NPC

Hi Again

There is a mixed bag today.  I’ll give you my take on the Google slap for affiliate sites, plus hopefully dispel a couple of myths about WordPress sites by showing you real examples from one of my own sites.  I have also started playing with Google’s Friends connect and I’ll tell you about that, plus lots more.

Let’s get on…

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1. Google Slap for affiliate sites?
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I have had a number of emails asking me for my opinion on the "Google Slap for Affiliate Sites".  If you listen to some people, Google does not like affiliate sites and is suddenly penalising them across the board.

Well, looking at my own sites, I see no evidence of this.

I would guess that actually nothing has really changed in the way Google views affiliate sites (and indeed ANY type of site). 

Thin affiliate sites will continue to be penalised (as they should be), while those "fat" sites that actually add value to the web will continue to prosper.

It is possible that this has been blown out of proportions because of a misunderstanding.  You see, the first time I heard about this slap was in relation to landing pages on PPC campaigns.  Whether that is the case or not, I don’t know as I currently don’t do any PPC stuff.  You’ll have to ask a PPC expert like Perry Marshall for his thoughts on this. 

It is also possible that another "thin" loophole has been plugged by the Big G, and that has knocked out a whole bunch of thin sites that were previously under the radar.  Whatever the reason for this "rumour" my advice is the same.

Continue building Fat Affiliate Sites. 

You can read my fr.ee guide on building fat affiliate sites here:

Creating Fat Affiliate Sites

Also available is my Fat Content Course:

Fat Content Course

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2. A Couple of WordPress Myths.
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There are a couple of WordPress myths that really bug me.

These myths are:

1. You have to add content to your site on a daily basis (or at least weekly).
2. WordPress posts will quickly lose rankings and drop out of the top 10.

To discuss these two myths, and why they are myths, I recorded a 10 minute video that uses one of my sites for examples:

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3. Google Friends Connect
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This week I added Google Friends Connect to my website at:

http://ezseonews.com

If you look in the right sidebar, just under the newsletter subscription box, you’ll see a friends connect box with an invite to join.

Please join if you want to and meet some of the others who have joined this small community. 

When you join, you can add a profile of yourself (click on some of the pictures to see their profiles), which can include links to your site and information about your business.

In the next few weeks, I hope to explore a little more and see what tools are available to me to build this little community and interact more with you.

If anyone is using Google Friends Connect on your own website, I would love to know how you are using it and any intersting widgets.

For anyone wanting to install this on their own WordPress blog, its very easy.

Go to the Friends Connect website (search Google for it), and setup the site in your account.  There are a couple of files you need to upload to your site, and then you just copy the supplied code into a text widget in your WordPress Dashboard and you’re all set.

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4. Removing WordPress Version Number
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WordPress includes a version number in your pages.  If you don’t update WordPress regularly, you may find yourself using an old version that has known security hacks. 

Hackers are on the lookout for WordPress sites they can break into, so it is often a good idea to hide the WordPress version on your site so they cannot easily find you as their next target.

Thankfully, removing WordPress version numbers from your site is easy (or at least it should be, but read the NOTE below).

1. Open up your themes functions.php file.
2. Add the following code:

remove_action(wp_head, wp_generator);

?>

Now the version number will be removed from your pages.

NOTE:  My brother was working on his WordPress site this week, and despite following my advice above, his site still showed the WordPress version.  The culprit was the sociable plugin which adds the social network icons to each post. 

If you choose to use the sociable stylesheet, it will attach the WordPress version to the call to the stylesheet.  I haven’t had time yet to find a solution, but I thought I would mention it as the sociable plugin is one I have recommended in the past.

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5. Whiteboard Applications

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I have a tablet & pen for my laptop, but I rarely use it.  I know Camtasia (the screen recording software I use) has some built in drawing tools, but I have not got use to using them.  I can see a lot of benefits to a more "hands-on" approach to my video tutorials, so I went looking for a solution. 

While looking for a whiteboard application that would allow me to create videos with diagrams, scribbles and writing, I found a nice fr.ee one.

You can try it out here:

Scriblink

Personally, I wanted something with a bit more flexibility, so I carried on my search.  I ended up buying one called NotateIt!  If you are looking for something similar, I can highly recommend it. You can get it from :

Notate It!

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6. Last Call for NPC

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In the last couple of newsletters I have reviewed Niche Profits Classroom.  You can read my review here:

Niche Profits Classroom Review

I just wanted to give you a final reminder in case you are sitting on the fence on this one.

For the next couple of days you can still get in and have a look around for just $1. 

Niche Profits Classroom

This one is not for lazy people as the system that Adam & Alen teach is to build a long-term business, not show you some shady techniques that work now but will be found out by Google eventually.  As with anything in Internet Marketing, success takes time, effort and dedication.

Well, that’s it for this issue.  If you want to read the recent issues of this newsletter, you can read them online at my blog:

http://ezseonews.com/

Have a great week!

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If you enjoyed this newsletter, please recommend it to your friends. Also if you have any tips of your own, questions or comments, please leave a comment at the online version of this newsletter: http://ezseonews.com

Any tips or questions & answers I print in this newsletter will also be put up on the web version of the newsletter with a link to your site if you want it. That’s extra free traffic for your site as well as an incoming link to your site.

The contents of this newsletter is copyright 2009 Andrew Williams.  If you want to republish any of the articles, you must get permission from the author.

This newsletter disclaims all responsibility for the advertising copy or the product advertised. You cannot rely on the fact that the newsletter has examined the product or recommends or endorses the product, unless it clearly says that it has, when you make your decision whether or not to purchase the product or interact with the advertiser. You are advised to do your own investigation before buying. Additionally, this newsletter may accept articles that we do not write or investigate the accuracy of and for which we may receive direct or indirect benefit or compensation. We specifically disclaim any responsibility for the content of such copy.

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