You.com

“Technology is a lot like sex. Before the first time, you are afraid of it. Once you do it, you think, ‘I’m not very good at it.’ Then you start doing it and you don’t know how you ever lived without it.”
Wired magazine Senior Editor Nancy Miller

New: “6 Ways to Deepen Your Fan Connection on Facebook”
With nearly half of the U.S. population using Facebook, smart broadcasters use it to engage audience.
Read knowDigital’s research study, and view video of Sam Milkman’s presentation, at a recent radio convention. Even if you’re not a broadcaster, this data will offer insight into how you can exploit this powerful tool.

What’s the most common way people misspell your name?
Or the name of your business? Or your blog? Or whatever-else-your-web-site-is-about?
HC explains an inexpensive technique for pumping-up your traffic. The secret to showing-up-better in Google results?
It’s no secret at all…notwithstanding spam you’re getting from Search Engine Optimization (SEO) vendors who promise better results, by tricking-out your web site. Lotsa luck.

Other than ONE gimmick I DO recommend, the best ways to show-up are:
1. Create compelling content, and Google’s spiders will eat it with a fork and spoon.
2. Anticipate what the-person-you-want-to-find-your-content would type-into the Search box, and use those as keywords and meta tags, and in page titles and early in page copy.
3. Get linked. As copyblogger.com‘s Brian Clark figures:
“Most of what determines the ranking position of any particular page is due to what happens off the page, in the form of links from other sites.”
Social media like Facebook and Twitter will help A LOT…if your content is sufficiently compelling for people to want-to-pass-around.

As for that-one-gimmick…Put your web site address everywhere.
Put it in front of existing customers, not just prospects.
In almost every industry, your best prospect for future business is the customer who’s already bought from you.
What’s in a name?
On the Internet?
Everything.
The following names are for sale or license.
RSVP if you’re interested an any-of-the-following:

http://www.BeFunnyWinMoney.com
http://www.BeFunnyWinMoney.TV
http://www.funformation.com
http://www.GetOnTheNet.com
http://www.GetOnTheNet.TV
http://www.ListenToAmerica.com
http://www.ListenToAmerica.TV
http://www.ListenToTheCity.com
http://www.ListenToTheUSA.com
http://www.NewYorkBuzz.com
http://www.WashingtonBuzz.com

Writing On Your Web Site
“Anyone can publish on the Web, but not everyone is publishing material that’s ideal for online reading,” warns the voluminous and DARN useful Yahoo! Style Guide.
“Text that works best on the Web is text that gets right to the point fast and that makes it easy for readers to pick out information.”
Tips:
• Because “most online readers scan first,” favor “concise sentences that convey their point quickly.” Online content has “a few seconds – three or less! – to encourage people to read more, to take action, or to navigate to another of your pages.”
• So use short words, short sentences, short paragraphs, bulleted lists, and short pages.
• Front-load your content. “Put the most important content in the upper-left area of the screen. Put the most important information at the beginning of headlines, paragraphs, and sentences. Don’t spend time leading up to your point.”
• You’ll pop-up better when readers Search what-you’re-writing-about if you “place the most important words at the beginning of page titles, headlines, subheadings, and links. The most important words are typically your keywords,” the words you figure people would type-into Yahoo! or Google or another Search box.
• KEEP IT SIMPLE: “Include only one or two ideas per short paragraph.”
• Help the reader by “breaking up text into digestible, interesting chunks.”
• Bold text catches the reader’s attention, “but be careful not to overuse this effect: Too much bold text is hard to read and obscures the essential information.”

Tips For Better Digital Pictures
From Dan’s Camera City, official printer of HC’s Christmas card:

Fill the frame. Stepping closer or zooming to your subject will eliminate distracting clutter and make it easier to see your subject.
Put heads at the top. When taking photos of people, remember to put their heads towards the top of the image, not in the middle.
Use plain backgrounds. Take a moment to look at what is behind your subject. Cluttered backgrounds distract from your subject.

Turn the camera. For pictures of one or two people, a vertical format works best. You can better fill your photo with the subjects.
Up, Down and All Around: Often, we take pictures of kids and pets while standing over them. By getting down to their level, you can capture a more flattering image. Also try walking-around your subject to look for different backgrounds and lighting effects.
Use your flash outside. Sunshine often creates undesirable shadows, especially when the light is coming from behind the subject. Using a flash outdoors fills the shadows with light.

Don’t make the thousand dollar mistake.
Several business owners who-found-out-the-hard-way tell me that Getty Images’ form letter comes with a $1000 invoice enclosed. Pay up or we sue.
Just because you CAN right-click-and-copy a photo on the Internet doesn’t mean you MAY.. I use, and recommend, Fotolia.com, whose prices start at $1…lots cheaper than a thou.’ See also istockphoto.com.

Important copy tip for web pages & E-mail:
USE UPPERCASE LETTERS SPARINGLY!
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE SHOUTING!
There’s also evidence that too many caps slow the reader down.
Instead, consider bolding words and phrases you want to emphasize.
Be careful underlining, since online readers could think it’s a link that doesn’t work.

One word you should put in upper case: “FREE.” Not only is this a time-tested copy hook, it’s the culture of the Internet. Look at all the free information and services you can find online. Make your site a place where people can get something free.

Avoiding Email faux pas?
Easy: When-in-doubt, DON’T SEND.
Avoid the stimulus-response trap.
Unlike smailmail — which builds-in the deliberation time it takes to stamp a letter and walk to the mailbox — Email is too easy.
Unless you’re sending AOL-to-AOL, there’s no unsend.
So when someone-else’s-Email-rubs-you-the-wrong-way, take a breath.

Strike-back against spam! Read 10 Rules to Reverse the Email Spiral.