10 Ways to Build Traffic to Your Site:
SELF-PROMOTE:
To help secure readers, add a favorites or bookmarks option so visitors can add your Web site to their reading list. Along the same lines, add an “e-mail this” and “share” tab at the bottom of each post. You might also try creating a weekly newsletter that highlights your best content. Blast it out to readers who sign up.
Comment on online forums and blog posts and link to your Web site each time. Make sure your comment adds to the conversation. Do not spam. Also add your blog or Web site to your e-mail signature, Twitter, Facebook and other online accounts. Claim your blog on Technorati and look into submitting content on StumbleUpon and Delicious. Also, create a “lens” or page on Squidoo.
DON’T WAIT ON GOOGLE:
Be proactive. Send your site to Google and other search engines. If you rely on them to crawl your content, you may be waiting a long time.
WRITE USEFUL, ORIGINAL CONTENT:
This sounds obvious, but it bears mentioning. Attract readers by writing well and regularly. Then keep them interested by continuing to do so. When you’re building a base, try to post new, original content at regular intervals. Use blogging software that lets you set an automatic publishing time so you don’t have to physically get up early in the morning, for example, to manually post your content at that time. Also pay attention to your headlines. Use simple keywords to describe the subject of your posts.
BRING ON GUEST BLOGGERS:
Another way to increase traffic is to use an established name to bring the desired traffic to you. Find someone who writes well on your topic and ask them if they’d be willing to contribute to your Web site or blog.
MAXIMIZE TECHNOLOGY:
Don’t just rely on text to attract readers. Use video, podcasts, slide shows and other multimedia to create dynamic content.
LINK AND TAG:
Link to other sites within your post and ask other blogs to link back to you and add your Web site to their blog rolls. Another option is to submit your site to blog directories.
Use headers, title tags and meta tags to optimize your site for search engines. Use keywords to describe what your Web site is about. Also make sure that your site’s content matches your meta data and other tag phrases. HitTail is one service that helps you home in on key words. Don’t forget about your images. Make sure they, too, are search-engine optimized.
ENGAGE THE READER:
Respond directly to e-mail and comments. Even a short mass e-mail message will begin to open a two-way dialogue. Showcase your personality by sharing personal anecdotes where relevant so that you can establish a rapport with your audience. Another option is to conduct a reader survey or poll so you can improve on your site based upon your readers’ preferences. Tracking and analyzing your statistics also helps. You might also try joining a syndication service such as BlogBurst.
PROVIDE AN RSS FEED:
Feedburner and FeedDemon are two sites that can set you up with this.
THINK GLOBALLYRemember, the Internet spans the globe. Even if your Web site is local in nature, it can still attract readers in another country, so don’t limit your base. If you’re able to add language options to your site, all the better.
DON’T FORGET THE OFFLINE WORLD:
Sure, the Web is great for spreading the word about your site, but so is in-person communication. Use word of mouth and, if you can afford it, a well-placed print advertisement.
BE PATIENT:
Building traffic takes time. Set short-term goals for yourself, but understand that this is a long term process.
What have I missed? What other ways can you get more people to check out your site? Comment away.....
Learn.... Share.... Repeat....
Operating System : Microsoft Windows 7 Build 7100 Release Candidate 1 (Direct Links)
Download instructions:
Thank you for testing the Windows 7 Beta. You're playing an important role in helping deliver the best version of Windows yet. Now, we hope you'll join us for the next part of the Windows 7 journey, testing the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC).This is the really fun part of the testing process: you help by simply using the RC. When you do, your PC will automatically and anonymously send our engineers the information they need to validate the changes and fixes they made based on the Beta tests and your feedback.Read this first
Here's what you need to know before you get started:
* You don't need to rush! The RC will be available at least through July, and we're not limiting the number of downloads or product keys. So you have plenty of time.
* Installation: If you are running Windows 7 Beta you’ll need to back up your data (preferably on an external device) and then do a clean install of the Windows 7 Release Candidate. Then, you’ll need to reinstall applications and restore your files. If you need help, please see the Installation Instructions.
* Tech details/updates: before installing the RC, please read the Release Notes and Things to Know for important information about the release.
* Routine news: For day-to-day news, keep an eye on the team blog. And, you can get non-technical news, tips, and offers by subscribing to the monthly Exploring Windows newsletter.
* Back up your data: We know you know this already, but please back up your data and please don't test the RC on your primary home or business PC.
* Keep your PC updated: To get critical updates, be sure to turn on automatic updates in Windows Update.
* Remember expiration dates: Please plan ahead for the Beta and RC expiration dates. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to rebuild your test machine using a valid version of Windows before the software expires. Windows will notify you that the expiration process is beginning and two weeks later your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. The Beta expires on August 1, 2009, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009. The RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010. In both cases, you’ll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS and reinstall all your programs and data. (Microsoft Official Site)
Serial:
6 Promising tech startup casualties
SIX (6) Promising tech startup casualties:
Indiatimes Infotech
The global economic slowdown is not only gobbling up jobs, but also companies. And the worst
victims in this carnage are start-ups. In the last few months many tech start-ups which were viewed as `trailblazers' and `sizzlers' till a year back have either closed down or have been sold for a song. Lacking enough cash to cushion the deepening economic crisis these young companies have been forced to wind off operations. Here are six `promising' companies that have fallen fatally to the economic turmoil.
Attune Systems
California-based Attune Systems Inc wound up its operations in December as the slowdown pains started hurting the software maker. The 25-member team at Attune Systems developed network file management products aimed to reduce file management complexity for the enterprise, government, and education storage environments. Attune's flagship product was Maestro File Manager FM5500 NAS virtualization appliance. The Maestro appliance provides a global namespace, allowing administrators to combine multiple physical volumes into one virtual volume. The application acceleration and file virtualization vendor, F5 Networks, recently bought the intellectual property of the now-defunct Attune Systems.
startup casualties
Reactrix Systems, a company specialising in interactive projected advertisements in malls and
movie theaters, folded despite $75 million in venture backing. Founded in 2001, Redwood City, California company received $45 million fourth-round of funding in 2006. The company had strategic partnerships with National CineMedia and Samsung. Experts believe that the company's crash came due to the depressed advertising market caused by the economic downturn. The company apparently lacked enough cash to cushion the blow. Also, some believe that its offerings were considered too futuristic and experimental for clients to gamble their shrinking advertising budgets.
Fuzz.com
Another tech start-up that fell to slowdown is online music start-up Fuzz.com. In its farewell message to its registered users, the company wrote, "Sadly, we are contacting you to announce that Fuzz.com is shutting down on February 13, 2009. We have decided to shutdown because of increasing operating costs and flat revenues. It simply no longer makes sense for us to keep Fuzz.com running. Please note that once the site is shut down on February 13, 2009, the band and user accounts, and all other content on Fuzz.com, will no longer be accessible." Founder and chief executive of San Francisco-based music start-up, Jeff Yasuda said "We couldn't drive enough visitor traffic on the site to make it a viable business." It is being widely speculated that the company has decided to shut down in wake of dedicating their entire funds and resources to Blip.fm, a music station. VuBotics
Tech startup VuBotics Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after being in business for
three years. The Atlanta-based software company marketed products to improve reading speed and comprehension on digital handheld devices. According to media reports, VuBotics raised $2.3 million in a stock sale in August 2006 and about $2 million additional in angel capital in 2007. VuBotics had issued 56 million shares to 500 shareholders, according to its Chapter 11 filing. In the month of October, VuBotics hired Jules Stine, a corporate reorganization expert as its new director and chief operating officer.
three years. The Atlanta-based software company marketed products to improve reading speed and comprehension on digital handheld devices. According to media reports, VuBotics raised $2.3 million in a stock sale in August 2006 and about $2 million additional in angel capital in 2007. VuBotics had issued 56 million shares to 500 shareholders, according to its Chapter 11 filing. In the month of October, VuBotics hired Jules Stine, a corporate reorganization expert as its new director and chief operating officer. TZero Technologies
Another tech start-up that fell victim to the economic downturn was TZero Technologies, a Ultra-wideband (UWB) start-up. Less than a year after raising $18 million from OVP Venture Partners and others, TZero Technologies recently announced it is closing down. The company joins a shakeout in UWB that has claimed WiQuest and Focus Enhancements. Founded in 2003, TZero's ultra wideband chips are used in HD video audio/video components. What led to the possible shake-up of UWB is the high cost of UWB chips which never gained a foothold in the consumer market. Also, established technologies such as Wi-Fi, and new ones such as WirelessHD posed a great threat. Also, UWB started with much fanfare as a way to get rid of wires between consumer devices and an easy way to move high-definition video around the home. However, the promised high-speed data transfer fell short of expectations.
Guava Technologies
Guava Technologies Inc is among the startups that sold themselves up for sums which experts 
term less than what their investors may have spent on them. Millipore Corp acquired Guava Technologies, a developer of cell-analysis systems, for $22.6 million. California-based Guava made roughly $22 million in revenue last year.
term less than what their investors may have spent on them. Millipore Corp acquired Guava Technologies, a developer of cell-analysis systems, for $22.6 million. California-based Guava made roughly $22 million in revenue last year.
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