Flukeit

Brian Gardner blogged about checking his site statistics and noticing how over 60% of his site visitors were using Firefox, while just over 20% were using Internet Explorer. Just aroused my curiosity, so I checked the stats for a couple of my blogs and found the contrary.

According to Google Analytics on site A, Internet Explorer runs away with the prize by roughly 70% to 20% as shown here:

Checking stats from site B revealed something altogether different. The margin is much wider as shown:

While site A is a blog about reviews and is more consumer oriented, and site B is a blog directory that might be visited by more experienced with the web, we could make the argument that internet users who are more savvy to the internet are more likely to be using Firefox Browser. Most people, in my opinion, simply use what came prepackaged on their computer.

It wasn’t until I was browsing through some stats on one of my websites that I realized the power of Google Images.

This is not a heavy traffic site, but on this particular report, ALL of the traffic is from Google Images!

There are a couple of things, in my opinion, that can help use Google Images to help drive traffic to your site.

1. Make sure the filename is relevant and is catchy.

2. Make good use of alt tags.

These two key items will not only help Google find you, it will give the users reasons to keep clicking.

Several days ago, I came across a site (I don’t recall where) and noticed the new service by Snap. It’s a link preview box that opens when you hover over an active external link from a website.

I liked this feature. I think it adds something that benefits the viewer of your site.

I was amazed at how simple this feature is to add to your site.

To get this working on your site, all you have to do is visit the Snap website, enter your url and a valid email address then you are given a code to place before your /head tag.

I have since added this feature to several of my sites, including this one.

Going against everything I talked about in previous posts, and as if I had any extra time on my hands, I started another forum.

I contemplated using PHPbb script, in order to keep the cost down but decided that I’m going to go all out and do it right so I bought another VBulletin license. The new board is geared towards Labor Unions and the url is http://www.unionchat.org.

I am also using the Chestnut style, created by Allan. I have decided that I will be adding a link directory with this as well.

I’ve been noticing a growing trend in some of the forums I frequent. People are renting their signature lines (links) as well as their avatar.

I recently sold my avatar image on Digital point for $8.00 for one month. I guess there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a good way to advertise, and when enough people have the same avatar it created a bit of a buzz around the forum.

Signature line rentals are also getting popular, although mine aren’t for sale. I think they are too valuable to me to let someone else use.

Obviously, the higher your post count, the more you may be able to charge for rental.

I am beginning to ponder the possibility of soliciting a few rentals from some of my other forums I visit.