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Alexa Announces ‘New’ Rankings Posted: 17 Apr 2008 12:30 AM CDT Alexa have announced it’s overhauled their ranking system. You can see their announcement here via TechCrunch. They have ditched their toolbar as the sole source of their rankings and are now pulling in data from other sources too. This means that the skew towards tech sites (as their readers are more likely to use the toolbar) has been addressed (or at least they’ve tried to address it). Those who check their rankings regularly will now see new rankings. For some there will be little change where as others will see increases or decreases. For example my other blog Digital Photography School now shows up on Alexa with a very similar ranking to ProBlogger. Previously it was much much lower despite having higher daily traffic numbers. It’s still not perfect (DPS ranks at 16561 (i’m not sure it used to be but it was in the 20,000s) and ProBlogger 12917 (previously in the 3000’s despite DPS having more actual traffic) but it’s at least closer. PS: Amit has tracked how the changes have impacted the rankings of some blogs. Share This

Teaching Sells - $1 Intoductory Offer Ends in 15 Hours Posted: 16 Apr 2008 08:19 PM CDT Just a quick note to let you know that TeachingSells (the course that teaches you how to set up a Membership Site) is closing it’s $1 introductory offer in about 15 hours from now (noon on 17 April EST- US time). The $1 offer gives you 7 days unrestricted access to all of the information in the course. Actually, it’s 9 courses as they’ve produced some amazing teaching in these areas: How to Create Content That Sells How to Effectively Market Interactive Learning Environments How to Create Killer Multimedia Content with Quick and Easy Tools Seven Profitable Business Models for Interactive Content Developers Your Blueprint for Building Membership Sites with Open Source and Low-Cost Software Educational Marketing: Persuasive Promotional Content That Prompts Action Advanced Positioning and Creative Adaptation Strategies Quick, Easy, and Inexpensive Niche-Focused Membership Sites Multimedia Storytelling - When the Medium is NOT the Message You get all of that for $1 for 7 days - but that offer ends in 15 hours so if you want in sign up today. The other cool news from TeachingSells is that they’re adding new courses to their syllabus in the coming weeks. Courses that they are covering next include: Launch Strategies for Membership Sites and Training Programs The "Entreproducer" Model for Online Business Success Under the Radar Affiliate Marketing Quick and Easy Content Strategies How to Explode Profits with Seminars and Workshops Share This

27 Thoughts On Blogging For The Artist Posted: 16 Apr 2008 12:08 PM CDT Guest Post: Robert Bruce is one of the most widely read, linked and reviled poets working on the web today. Grab yourself a free poem every Monday morning, subscribe to Knife Gun Pen. 1. There’s never been a better time to be a working artist. Ever. 2. There’s never been a worse time to be a working artist (if you’re not truly dedicated to your craft). 3. Social Media will not help you if you’re sending folks to sniff out a pile of crap. 4. If you’re thinking about SEO while writing your digital novel, you’re already screwed. Quit now. 5. The tech tools do not make the artist. 6. If you’re spending more time on Twitter than on your novel/painting/film/poem/play/sculpture, you’re dead. 7. The creation of great art has nothing to do with Community. 8. You will never have as many readers/listeners/viewers as TechCrunch. Get over it. 9. If you’re the real thing, you’ll be around in 30 years, still working. Most of these services and sites you now admire will not. 10. Your Technorati rank is not as important as you think it is. 11. Do not try to please an “audience”. They will ultimately hate you for it. 12. Income isn’t proof of anything. Ask Van Gogh. 13. Aim for Greatness, not the front page of Digg. 14. If you have a fall back plan, you will, inevitably, fall back onto it. 15. Though tempting, you’ll never crush your own mediocrity working only four hours a week. 16. If success finds you, please resist the urge to open a restaurant or start a line of clothing. 17. You do not need the middleman anymore. Quit begging. 18. If you wouldn’t do it without an audience, don’t do it all. 19. Ultimately, nobody really cares about your work. It may seem “negative” but trust me, this knowledge will serve you well. 20. Artists don’t outsource. Unless you’re Andy Warhol. 21. Make the technology work for you. Not the other way around. 22. Remember that the mainstream culture has yet to catch on to the power of the individual artist online. Keep working. 23. Consider getting a second job instead of slapping another Adsense unit next to the .jpg of your latest painting. Contrary to popular belief, work won’t kill you. 24. You no longer need to live in New York or Los Angeles. See: Hugh. 25. Do not work for the good opinion of anyone. Work for joy, wonder and the Lord God Almighty. 26. You do not need a signed letter from The American Academy of Arts and Letters to begin. 27. Blogging is easy. Art is not. Share This

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