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Is Your Web Host Milking You?

October 27, 2017 By Scott Fichter Leave a Comment

The United States is piled high with web hosts who have failed to stay on top of current technology. They stopped innovating because they know they don’t have to. They milk their customer base. They know it’s a difficult to move to a new host so there’s zero incentive for them to improve their service.

Keep Your Flexibility With Hosting

Never host your email and your domain name through your web host. If you do, switching means you’ll have to transfer your domain to a new registrar and deal with reconfiguring every computer so email continues to work. The alternative is to let it slide and continue to deal with the lackluster support, the spotty uptime, and the slow performance.

After reading this information, I’m willing to wager you’ll be motivated to switch to a new host because the technology has improved BIG TIME.

You Deserve the Better Tech!

Web Server Operating Systems – Apache is Old and Slow

Apache Http server — Apache is no longer the best game in town.

The Apache operating system has been the industry standard for PHP driven websites for a long time. This software is popular because it’s free. So why is Apache is loosing market share? There’s a new operating system that can run PHP up to nine times faster. The operating system is called LiteSpeed. It’s more efficient at the CPU level. This new software translates into more speed for your site because the computer hosting your site does not have to work as hard.

LiteSpeed Dances With WordPress

LiteSpeed has developed a caching plugin for WordPress creating a direct line of communication with the server to decrease load time. I host all my sites at MDD Hosting which uses this system and load time is fantastic. Some of my sites load in under one second. If you set up your site correctly, you don’t even need a content delivery network.

LiteSpeed Is Always Tweaking Their Software For Better Performance

I evaluate the value of a plugin by the frequency of updates. It reflects how much the developer cares about the quality of the software. I can tell you with experience that the LiteSpeed Cache plugin is updated within 14 days all year long. It’s incredible.

Are you using WordPress? If Yes, switch to MDD Hosting. They use the LiteSpeed web server operating system at their data centers. You’ll also be able to use the LiteSpeed cache plugin too. All you need to do is download the plugin activated it, and you are good to go!

Call your web host and ask them if they use the LiteSpeed operating system. If tech support replies that they have no idea, that’s a red flag because if they’d want to brag about it if they had it.

Self Healing Distributed Storage Uptime on Steroids

Does your site die during regular business hours from time to time? If yes, it means that your host has failed to stay on top of the current storage technology that’s available. Below explains how innovative web hosts do it.

You make an update to your site.
The new data passes through a super fast computer with a program that splits and copies your new data over an array of multiple web servers, not just one.
If one server dies, the data is still available for use on the other machines. And the system admins can fix the broken server without any pressure.

This data splitting and duplication is called self-healing storage or distributed storage. There are a few companies out there that offer this tech but the one everybody talks about in the data center industry is Storpool because it’s FAST.

For a fast visual that explains this cool technology check out this video demonstration.

Website Speed Depends on The Speed of Other Networks Responsible for Delivering the Data

Your web host’s server farm (aka data center) is responsible for sending your website information to the reader. Not all routes to the end user are created equal. Networks always in flux. Their performance (speed) is fast one day and slow the next. Power outages, Denial of service attacks, and hardware failure are just a few issues that can damage the speed of a network. Manually selecting what path is best would be an absolute time-consuming nightmare. So what do you do? YOU AUTOMATE.

Does Your Host Use Intelligent Routing Optimization?

Noction is a company that makes a product that automatically chooses the fastest path from your site to the visitor. Their product measures network performance such as latency and packet loss and automatically reroutes the traffic through the best performing internet provider. Does your host monitor traffic in real-time, so the speed of delivery is improved? Call your host and find out.

It Would Take An ARMY of System Admins to Do What Noction Does

MDD Hosting uses this technology at their data centers. The software is continually rerouting traffic through the fastest networks for maximum speed. It would take an army system administrators to do what Noction does. You’ll understand why when you see the steps involved needed to choose which network is fastest. Check out how Noction does it with the video below.

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Two Big Website Owner Misconceptions

October 25, 2017 By Scott Fichter Leave a Comment

#1 I Want Traffic Yesterday

One of the most prevalent website owner misconceptions is the desire for instant traffic. Here’s the bottom line, high traffic amounts are are grown over an extended length of time . Yes, you could pay for traffic, but if your site consists of just a few of pages, your money will be wasted. It happens to site owners over and over again, and Google makes a killing from this need for instant gratification. It’s like taking candy from a baby. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Be The Turtle Consistent, Committed, Slow

It’s best to start traffic development with blogging. Blogging allows you to test the waters to reveal where the interest lies in your market. It can take six to 12 months of writing to gain this insight. This requirement stops most site owners in their tracks. Most owners understand the importance of writing and agree that it’s needed. Most try it for an extended length of time but stop after realizing how much work it takes. If you dive in and try to accomplish too much too fast, I guarantee you’ll get burned out. The best way to blog is by slowly chipping away at it every day. Be the turtle because blogging requires a slow and steady commitment.

Write During Times of Peace – My Time is In the Morning

I blog in the morning (7 AM – 8 AM) Monday through Friday. I’m sitting in my recliner right now. My cat has her paw on my arm, and I’m typing away. I do my best to write a new post at least twice a week. Approach it mentally by chipping away at it. Blog writing is a marathon, not a sprint.

Old Posts Are Never Finished

I also update the posts that I’ve already written. I modify them on a regular basis. When the spiders visit my site, they see that the pages have changed. It sends a loud message that you are a player in your niche.

I don’t care how perfect your site looks. If you want traffic and you not blogging your loosing.

#2 What’s Best for Me Is Best For My Visitors

It can be difficult relinquish power when you’re buying a custom product like a website. It’s your money, and you want the site function your way. Don’t lose sight of your website goals. Are you looking to keep users on the site for as long as possible? Do you want users to act on a call to action like buying a product? There are design techniques that support these objectives. Make it a point to convey the end game to your designer and relinquish layout and design to him or her. When the beta site is complete, question the design elements. There is a science to designing, and I’m betting you will be fascinated as to why things are arranged in certain ways.

Below is a summary of just a few layout techniques;

Front page slideshows are bad
Navigation sub choices are not optimum
popups are not effective
color choice for buttons and links are crucial
Intelligent usage of space is vital
white on black text is not smart
links that open new pages are circumventing assumed function

And the list goes on and on and on. Want to learn more? Read Jakob Nielsen’s blog.

Dan Brock the Deadbeat Super Affiliate

October 20, 2017 By Scott Fichter Leave a Comment

Dan Brock is Lazy?

Is Dan Brock a lazy deadbeat who sits in a recliner and collects boatloads of affiliate cash with minimal work? Hmm, I don’t think so. I’ve been following him for a while now, and he cranks out up to three videos a week which is no easy task. I’ve made over 40 YouTube tutorials myself, and if you make a fully edited video, they can take 5 to 10 hours depending on their length and complexity. Dan is not lazy. He is a motivated and driven money making machine and his brand is gaining in popularity every day.

Dan projects an appearance of mediocracy with his flannel shirts and his loose-fitting socks but don’t be fooled. He is a cunning, smart, hardworking genius. He’s figured out a system to make money online, and his system sells. The brand he’s invented for himself is polished, unique, funny and I love it.

Dan Brock The Black Belt of Affiliate Marketing — The man (Dan Brock) slurps on a pineapple while collecting mad cash.

Dan’s Affiliate Marketing Course Costs Under $20

His money-making step by step online video course cost me only $17. Other courses come in at $200 to $500, so the reasonable fee is hard to ignore. Upon signing up, you’ll begin to realize that he uses the very information he teaches to make more money. His sign-up process upsells you on just about every click you make. The added offerings are hard to ignore. He sells tools that will augment your success with affiliate marketing. I have to admit that I got upsold on one product and I’m thinking of purchasing another one in a few weeks.

Humor Is An Excellent Method To Keep Visitors Focused

Dan Brock’s humor also contributes to his success. He works off the deadbeat persona that he created for himself. He even took the time to arrange a red flannel in a picture frame so he could place it on his desk. He pays homage to his brand without talking about it. He lets you notice it naturally. This technique is effective because you discover it on your own. I also love his talks while he sits in his lazy boy chair. Take note of the objects he’s placed around him during his videos. It’s strategic branding. Did you notice the box of Captain Crunch on the table next to his chair, the empty bag of chips, the soda? Ha!

Dan Brock Sells Freedom

Dan also encourages you throughout the course. Succeeding in affiliate marketing means you must convince yourself to act. A positive mental attitude, eating right, getting sleep and having the correct work frequency is discussed in the first part of his course. This information is critical, and it resonated with me. Blog method affiliate marketing is not easy, and it requires a personal conviction. If you stay up all night watching the shit box and eating junk how will you ever change your life in a manner that will create freedom? Yes, freedom is the end game.

What You Get For Your Money

If you make it through the lessons, you will begin to see the global perspective on how Dan approaches affiliate marketing. There are several ways to make money online, and Dan approaches it via the blogging method also known as squeeze page development. Below is a summary on his method to effective affiliate marketing.

How Dan Teaches Affiliate Marketing

Find a unique product niche. Dan uses medicine that fixes skin tags as an example.
Choose and buy a domain name that will sell this product niche
Install WordPress and install his custom theme set up for maximum sales.
Sign up for the affiliate program selling that product. Dan shows you how.
Create content that sells your product.
Use Fivver to promote that page. Update: 100% Confirmed Works: Get Details
Create a Youtube Video selling your product.
Promote that Youtube video with Fivver.
Blog about the product and provide links to the squeeze page. Promote with Fivver.
Create a new product and website and do it again.

Truth: Affiliate Marketing Is Not Easy at First

Dan conveys that doing this is easy. All you have to do is follow the steps listed above, and the money rolls in. When’s the last time you created a blog site? Was it easy? How many articles have you written? How many polished YouTube videos have you made? Was it carefree? The truth is Affiliate Marketing is not a walk in the park, BUT the potential for making money is unlimited. Your selling to the planet Earth! Your not making anything and your not delivering anything your just selling it. Can you imagine the income if you devoted all your energy into this system for one year? One website may create a trickle of income, but if you had ten sites (referred to as assets in the affiliate marketing world), the trickle would turn into a deluge of money. The potential for future revenue is limitless. Start now. It’s a gold mine.

Where I Disagree With Dan – Blue Host

Dan recommends Blue Host as the best solution for hosting. I passionately disagree with this recommendation. Blue Host is part of Endurance International Group. They are a HUGE company that powering millions upon millions of websites. I suggest that you stay away from the big hosting companies. Their service is wanting in a big way. Their servers are slow, and you’re treated like cattle. Stay away from them. The hosting I recommend is MDD Hosting.

They are privately Owned
Their servers use Lightspeed
Their servers use super fast ram drives with no moving parts
Their servers use self-healing distributed storage by Storpool
Their support is fast
Their support is accurate
Cost is minimal

This host suggestion is the only part of his course that I don’t agree with. Every other tidbit of info he provides is absolute gold.

Dan Brock’s Course is a Smart Place To Start With Affiliate Marketing

If you’re just starting out with affiliate marking cost will be an issue. Dan’s course only costs $17 so where’s the risk? There is none! The information he provides for the price is an absolute steal. His lessons are jammed with valuable information. In my opinion, the only questionable issue is paying Fivver to promote your content. The course was written in 2015, and things change. Google changes and I’m thinking there are better ways to safely promote your blog posts. Synthetically boosting traffic can get you penalized, so you need to be careful.

Dan’s course is a feature-rich, valuable course that will teach you how to sell product online without breaking the bank. This course is perfect for the beginner.

GO FOR IT!

Grant Cardone Motivation Works

October 16, 2017 By Scott Fichter Leave a Comment

His words will wake you up like raw coffee. He’ll tell you that debt is good, enemies are healthy, college and high school focus on the wrong stuff and sales is the most important life skill that you can have. He’s got an infectious rubber meets the road type of personality. You can tell he’s fought hard to be where he is now. He’s a multi-millionaire with his own jet and he’s the king of sales and motivation.

How I Found Grant Cardone

My exposure to Grant started when I found him on a podcast. I know to some it may seem weird but I enjoy listening to motivational podcasts when I drive or mow the lawn. I believe exposing your mind to positive information is advantageous. Every conventional media outlet is cranking out negative mental crap, so I choose to digest the opposite type of information. This positive thinking space is where Grant lives and breaths. He takes everyday concepts that we have been taught and turns them upside down with a positive spin.

Grant Cardone Motivational Concepts – Just A Sampling

Don't Wait — If you wait your not risking it. STOP WAITING.

Debt is good
A lower price sells nothing
Taking risk is required
Don’t wait to be perfect
Keep your money out of the bank
Objections are opportunities
If nobody hates you, nobody knows you
Criticism is good
Success is a requirement
Selling to friends and family is good
Calling too much on the phone is good

Bold, Brash & Funny

Grant is a black belt in getting attention. He’s bold, brash, funny and sometimes politically incorrect. His confidence level is unmeasurable, and he works like a machine. His words will surprise you because he challenges what you thought was an assumed fact. He turns your assumptions upside down. He’ll make you question your thinking which is a good for changing your life and advancing to a higher level of potential in life.

I read his book “Sell or be Sold.” The chapters touch on intelligent sales philoslophies and techniuqes that will wake you up.

Cardone’s success comes from countless hours of research on other famous salespeople. He holds a position that sales is a cornerstone skill that every human should have. Learning and using sales techniques is not bad or evil it is a bonafide necessity. Without it, you will never get what you want. His perspective on life is advanced in my opinion. He believes the ability to earn money is limitless. He believes that success can be achieved by all humans and all personalities. What’s needed is practice, adjusting life perspective, faith in self, and helping others. If you can do these things, you will become a success.

UPDATE: Wait a Sec

I just found out that he is a member of the Church of Scientology. I do think his talking points come from the truth but that damn church. I dunno, that church is not cool. I’m almost positive L. Ron Hubbard ripped-off Mary Baker Eddy. Hubbard removed God (spirit) and kept the money (materialism) which in my opinion is egregious.

My search for a higher potential continues…

UPDATE: I have decided that I won’t write off Grant because of his spiritual beliefs. His motivational perspective is sound. I will not shut him out. Nobody is perfect including me. His message and its effect supersede where he goes to church.

Page Jumps / Anchor Links For WordPress

September 21, 2017 By Tom Collins Leave a Comment

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Figuring out Page Jumps or Anchor Links For WordPress is one of those tasks that seem like it could be simple but if you don’t have the information it can be one of the pesky WordPress problems that’ll drive you nuts.

Why is it so Damn Hard to Find a Solution For Anchor Links For WordPress?

The problem starts when trying to Google “Anchor Links in WordPress” for the solution. WordPress calls them “Page Jumps. What the heck is a “Page Jump”? It’s like trying to learn how to change the oil in your car but your car maker names an oil change, “Slippery Liquid Replacement Procedure” This rebranding of “anchor links” makes it difficult to find the simple solution

Avoid The Rabbit Hole and Don’t Blame Your Browser

I’ve noticed that the first thing folks will blame for the problem is your browser. Ignore this rabbit hole. It’s not your browser. The problem is the code. There’s a lot of stuff going on underneath the hood with HTML and WordPress, and for some reason, you have to handle in page links a different way.

Hopefully, this post finds you. Anchor Links in WordPress is easy and it has nothing to do with your browser so ignore that rabbit hole.

Below Allows You to Place a Link to Content on the Same Page

STEP 1 – ADD LINK

This code will create the link that will take you to a place on the same page.

<a href=”#link-location”> The link </a>

Or if the Link is In a Menu Item (Custom Link)

<a href=”http://www.website.com/website-page/#div-id-name

I suggest not doing this because you can not hit the back key which is a big NO NO because you are overriding an assumed function. Doing this upsets surfers.

STEP 2 – ADD JUMP LOCATION

Place this code where you want the user to go on the page when the click the link above.

<div id=”link-location”>

NOTE: You enter this code in the “Text” view in the post or page editor in WordPress. Stay out

NOTE NOTE: Is WordPress removing empty <div> containers? Add this function to your functions.php

/ START Stop removing div tags from WordPress - Linklay
function ikreativ_tinymce_fix( $init )
{
    // html elements being stripped
    $init['extended_valid_elements'] = 'div[*]';

    // pass back to wordpress
    return $init;
}
add_filter('tiny_mce_before_init', 'ikreativ_tiny_mce_fix');

// END Stop removing div tags from WordPress - Linklay

The Genesis Responsive Header Plugin

September 13, 2017 By Tom Collins Leave a Comment

Affiliate Marketing Freedom

If you’re a fan of the Genesis framework, you’re most likely going to modify your logo for your masthead. There’s also a very good chance your new logo will be wider than what is best for cell phone screens. If you test the page in a responsivetest.net you’ll notice that the logo is cut off. Fixing it is a bit of a pain and it seems to be easier to look for a plugin solution. Nick the Geek developed a fantastic plugin called the Genesis Responsive Header. Before downloading it please read the following.

Finding The Genesis Responsive Header Plugin In The WordPress Admin Panel

Did you install it? Did you find it after the install? It took me so long to find it I almost gave up. Nick the Geek’s instructions on one of his posts states when you install the Genesis Responsive Header plugin, the plugin’s settings button can be found as a sub choice under the Genesis link in the administration panel.

UPDATE:

It’s simply not true. The plugin can be found in Appearance > Themes > Custom. Then click “Responsive Header.”

Is it Safe?

If you’re thinking that this plugin is dangerous because its not listed in the WordPress Plugin Directory, don’t worry. Nick the Geek is respected in the industry. His blog posts have so many comments it’ll take you 15 minutes to read them. Also if you read the forums at Studiopress.com and you do a search for “logo is not responsive” you’ll notice that the senior programmers refer to this plugin constantly.

That’s it. I hope you gain from this info.

Have a great rest of the day, fellow designer person.

🙂

UPDATE:

I just learned that the plugin does not work with HTML5 Themes.

This simple task is turning out to be a rabbit hole. I’m going attack this tutorial to see how it goes.

THE FINAL SOLUTION – updated 10/31/17

The reason why this plugin has not been updated and the reason why nobody cares about it is because there no need to use it. Take the following steps and you will learn how to modify your logo.

Create you logo in photoshop. Make a note of how tall and wide it is in pixels.
Make sure the background has been removed and save it as a PNG24
visit tinypng.com and compress you newly created logo file
Save the logo to your downloads file. Name it logo.png
Log into your WordPress admin panel
go to Appearance > Editor
Open up the functions.php file
Look for the code under this note // Add support for custom header
Change the width and height to match your new logo file
Hit save
Now click appearance > Customize
Click header image
Select your image or upload it in the next screen
It will ask you to crop the image make sure the crop includes entire image and hit save.
Check the logo on the front end. If the logo is not in the right position you’ll have to modify the CSS.