SEO by Chris Estes

Content Management Systems, or CMS, are common place at an ever increasing pace. CMS systems are intended to manage large websites with a template and database. Not diving into a whole lot of technical jargon about CMS systems they are intended make life easier when managing a website. One of the most common, if not the most common, CMS system is WordPress.

WordPress is attractive for most people because of its cost. It’s Free! Being free and widely distributed makes it vulnerable to security breeches. Due to the constantly evolving risk for security vulnerabilities also means the constant stream of updates. With every update and tightening security means new code being inserted into your database and templates. With every update means new bugs. New bugs means more updates. Checking for updates has become part of my daily routine. The constant updating is time lost. The time isn’t so much the issue as the constant customization of code and re-customization of code. Every plugin and update brings in hours of coding. Why is that a problem? I’m not a programmer. I’m not a developer.

WordPress is an open source technology that is created by the community at-large. That means that some of the worlds best programmers and developers donate their time for only recognition in return. By the same token that means some of the worst 3rd rate programmers/developers are donating their time also. In most cases I am willing to bet that most of them are mediocre or at least inexperienced. I understand why so many of them would be willing to devote a considerable amount of time. For the great exposure and widespread visibility. Hasn’t everyone done that? As many of as rely upon wordpress being the best and with so many second rate people working the forums and code sections. I think a professional CMS system maybe in many of our futures. If a lot of money is on the line, 15 year old kids programming maybe effective but in most cases they lack the experience to develop for business.

I use WordPress for most all the site I own. Once upon a time the system worked for me flawlessly or atleast I remember it working that way. I have nothing but problems with it now. The constant change in plugins and updates has left a few of my sites riddled with errors or code that I did not intend to be there. On one of my website there is a plugin that is generating a commented out code that is being run by some backend function that pings another server which is leaching my post and publishing it as there own. I wouldn’t mind so much if they wanted to recive a ping when their plugin is being used but not for scrapping my content. I am tempted to run a local script that just constant pings and injects code into their server. But that is just vindictive. So instead I spend the time learning what they wrote and cutting out the parts I don’t need or ones transmitting to other sources I don’t trust. I put lots of time into my website and to keep it functioning correctly at peak performance in the back end so that the front end is nice clean and jumpin. But instead for a post to go out I spend 30 min writing and another hour fixing bugs. If you are a begining user you probably have no clue what most of the functions are going on in your application. Some of them could be hurting you.

Most day’s I like WordPress, but today I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. The bugs the incompadibilty of the free templates and plugins is killing me. I have hit a cross roads with them. I am considering a totally different CMS system, Now to find one that I can have control over and only uses the plugin and code that I want to appear. WordPress without plugins is vitrually nothing but a journal, For some sites that works. For me it does not. The paid CMS systems cost a lot and I am not willing to pay for one.

If you know of any good CMS systems around that would be worth while feel free to share them. I have tested droopal it just doen’t work for me. I have Ideas on how to create the perfect fail proof CMS System. That would be part re-inventing the wheel and someone willing to do it for free. So It looks like I may be with WordPress until my wish magically comes true.

Content Managment Systems are meant to make life easier. For me WordPress makes it worse. If it doesn’t get better I might just go back to hand filling php templates by hand. Though time consuming and defeats the usability of the greast sections of the Admin section. So because there is no easy answer to the CMS solution I will just have to learn to love wordpress again.

This Post is geared towards Fellow SEO’s

Back in December there was a lot of talk about Sam’s Club offering SEO and SEM services. I haven’t seen a follow up on the service and wonder how the service is working out. I have not seen or heard of a business actually using the service.

Over at Search Engine Journal they discuss “Sam’s Club Search Marketing: Good or Bad for the Industry?” I haven’t seen a follow up since the rumblings started. I would like to get a hold of a solid review of the service. Let me know if you can review it objectively and show proof of the service.

As indicated in my last posting about Helping Bloggers and Charity I talked about a guest post I wrote for a fellow blogger in need.

The post, entitled “Status Quo Blogging”, was about standard status quo blogging post. It is by far not a landmark post and serves as a working example of status quo blogging.

To read the post visit Social Desire, the blog “devoted to everything Social Media and Web 2.0.” You can view the post directly at “Status Quo Blogging“.

Bloggers have problems too. As much as living the life of avatars and behind the screen name there are real people. Earlier this week on twitter Shana of Social Desire requested help:

Then on her post she requested it again on her blog which you can read about on Social Desire. I submitted a guest post which if it makes it through the vigorous filters of Shanna you should see it soon. Stay tunned for the announcement of my guest blog post helping out a friend.

Around the first of this year I made a charity post and since I am in the feel of donating to an organization I would like to do another one here on the end of this post.

My charity of choice for this post is the American Sleep Apnea Association. The American Sleep Apnea Association is the only non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about sleep apnea and to serving people with this common disorder.

The American Sleep Apnea Association is dedicated to reducing injury, disability, and death from sleep apnea and to enhancing the well-being of those affected by this common disorder. The ASAA promotes education and awareness, the ASAA A.W.A.K.E. Network of voluntary mutual support groups, research, and continuous improvement in care.

From the ASAA Website

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.

Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues.

Since moving back to Alabama I have noticed that there are lots of businesses that do not have websites. In today’s world of the internet that is almost appalling. With the low cost of having a website and creating one is very easy. In today’s world of working and living online not having a website is preventing visibility to internet using customers.

Example:

My favorite local restaurant, Campbells Field, located miles from anything that resembles modern civilization. I even tried looking them up in the phone book and could not find them. This quaint little restaurant has excellent food and for cheap and situated next a great view of a local working airport. They have T-shirts and sponsor local little league baseball teams. They have a marketing plan that is based solely on word of mouth. Over the past few years I have put reviews and resources out to help promote them out of the kindness of my heart for the community.

The fact they don’t have a website or being listed in the phone book is hurting their growth.

In my opinion every business needs a website at least helping promote themselves locally. No matter the business having a website is simple. With the abundance of hosting providers that provide free domains and hosting for only $3.99 a month. Once you sign up they even give you automated tools to build a website. With about 30 minutes of work you can have a webpage that will bring you business that will pay for the cost within a few customers.

The host I use 1and1.com has several plans that are economical and are great for a first website. You don’t need a fancy designer or expensive web team. Most of these services make it “so easy even a caveman can do it.” Click the banners or use the domain search form to see if your company name is available. Even if you don’t want to create a webpage it is wise to purchase your companies domain name. You don’t want someone using your name.

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Here is a recommendation to all small business owners no matter what you do. Buy your domain name setup a few page website no matter what it looks like. Put information about your services and how to contact you. A link back to my website will help raise the style, class, and look for your website.

One thing to remember though about having a website is a direct reflection on your business. So take that extra step create the website. If you feel that it is necessary barter with an employee, family member, friend to help you. The idea is to save on cost until it proves to you that you will get a return on your investment. The more time and money you spend on the design, development, and promotion of the website will get you a larger return on investment.

Promoting your new website can be time consuming but with all the social media outlets it has become easier. If you don’t promote it then don’t expect a large return on your investment. Having a page with links to it means it will promote itself naturally and require little input from you.

So Purchase your web address set it up on a basic hosting plan that has automated web building tools and you will be on your way into the future. Check out 1and1.com as they have the entry level plans I recommend.

If you have questions about setting up your first webpage don’t hesitate to contact me.