Dustin Brewer - The technology of design and marke

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Your robots.txt isn't safe from the SERPs
2007-10-15 17:00:00
It appears as though your robots.txt file that tells search engines what to crawl and what not to crawl is being indexed by Google. This means all those pages/files that you don't want crawled are available to the general public by just doing a Google search for the robots.txt file. Oddly enough they are even getting PageRanks.
More About: Robots , Safe , Robo

Pointing your visitors at the content
2007-10-10 15:00:00
It is important to remember why your web site is around, if you lose direction with it you can easily fall prey to having a lot of fancy web site but not much purpose for your visitors. I see this all to often in the web design field where a client wants a lot of fancy stuff and they lose track of why they have a web site in the first place. If you sell clothing, you want it to be extremely straight forward about how to find and buy clothing. Not how cool your flash/ajax looks.
More About: Content , Visitors , Tent , The Con

Manipulate images online for free at Rsizr
2007-10-09 15:00:00
I came across an interesting web site called Rsizer that allows you to manipulate an image by cropping, resizing, or several other pretty cool little tricks. All this reminded me of Adobe's upcoming Photoshop Express that will work over the web. It will be interesting to see our computing experiences not defined by how fast our processors are or how much memory we have but by how fast our internet connections are.
More About: Images , Free , Online , Pula , Ages

Safari is starting to support downloadable fonts
2007-10-09 14:00:00
It looks like the technology behind Safari , Webkit, is starting to support downloadable fonts. This could mean we could use more advanced forms of typography within web sites in the near future. Currently Safari is the only one I know about that is supporting the CSS @font-face feature but it is expected that the other browsers will soon join suit. It is exciting to think about using fonts other then the classic web safe fonts that you would find across various operating systems.
More About: Support , Fonts

Newsvine has been acquired by MSNBC
2007-10-08 21:12:00
It looks like the popular user published news site, Newsvine has been acquired by MSNBC . The site which launched in March of 2006 and now receives millions of page views a month. Currently the Newsvine team consists of 6 people. Newsvine had raised $1.5 million in capitol before it had been bought out. The figures of exactly how much the purchase price were haven't been released, some speculate that it was as high as $54 million. This news is groundbreaking as of yesterday. The deal, however, was finalized on Friday, October 5th 2007. Mike Davidson the co-founder of the news service has detailed the release of this information on his blog. Apparently it has been in the works for a few months now and the deal was finally at the point to make it public. You can find out more over at Mike Industries, on Newsvine , TechCrunchor even on the MSNBC web site about it.
More About: Has Been

What is with all of the pink?!
2007-10-06 06:23:00
A lot of sites went pink last year to show their support for breast cancer awareness. This year there are over 500 web sites that have signed up on the Pink for October web site. I've obviously joined the crowd and intent on keeping my site pink for all of October to show my support. If you have a web site you should also. No, really. Go now. Do it.

What is with all of the pink?!
2007-10-06 06:00:00
A lot of sites went pink last year to show their support for breast cancer awareness. This year there are over 500 web sites that have signed up on the Pink for October web site. I've obviously joined the crowd and intent on keeping my site pink for all of October to show my support. If you have a web site you should also. No, really. Go now. Do it. (update: i fixed the link, apparently I was linking to myself.)

ProBlogger is having a birthday giveaway worth $54k
2007-10-03 15:33:00
The birthday giveaway for the Problogger site is giving away $54,000 worth of cash and prizes to readers. There are simply small tasks you have to complete to qualify for some of the prizes. This website birthday thing seems to be growing in popularity, where a website will turn 1 or 2 and celebrate by sponsors giving away donated prizes . At any rate, check it out over at Problogger.
More About: Birthday , Worth , Wort

ProBlogger is having a birthday giveaway worth $54k
2007-10-03 15:33:00
The birthday giveaway for the Problogger site is giving away $54,000 worth of cash and prizes to readers. There are simply small tasks you have to complete to qualify for some of the prizes. This website birthday thing seems to be growing in popularity, where a website will turn 1 or 2 and celebrate by sponsors giving away donated prizes . At any rate, check it out over at Problogger.
More About: Birthday , Worth , Wort

Weekly web design news link roundup
2007-09-30 04:58:00
I found a great article today from Molly Holzschlag about split brain theory and the day-to-day lives of web designers. I found another gem at David Airey's blog about following logo design trends. He asks his readers whether they follow any trends in logo design. I of course believe it is impossible to ignore any design trends. I found a great article on blogging from ProBlogger and their guest speaker Kelly Phillips Erb, who talks about tax deductions that bloggers overlook at tax time. This article can be helpful for anyone that counts blogging as part of their business. My last article that I want to spread for this week comes from SEOMoz about the importance in understanding that a link is just a link when it comes to SEO. Summarized, the article stresses the importance that one bad link isn't going to kill you.
More About: News , Web Design , Design , Roundup , Link

Weekly web design news link roundup
2007-09-30 04:58:00
I found a great article today from Molly Holzschlag about split brain theory and the day-to-day lives of web designers. I found another gem at David Airey's blog about following logo design trends. He asks his readers whether they follow any trends in logo design. I of course believe it is impossible to ignore any design trends. I found a great article on blogging from ProBlogger and their guest speaker Kelly Phillips Erb, who talks about tax deductions that bloggers overlook at tax time. This article can be helpful for anyone that counts blogging as part of their business. My last article that I want to spread for this week comes from SEOMoz about the importance in understanding that a link is just a link when it comes to SEO. Summarized, the article stresses the importance that one bad link isn't going to kill you.
More About: News , Web Design , Design , Roundup , Link

LinkedIn is going to add photos tomorrow
2007-09-27 19:07:00
LinkedIn, the professional social networking tool is said to be adding photos to its network on Friday. The social networking software for the professional industry has had a very conservative point of view in the past. However, recently Facebook has become very popular amongst industry professionals because of its less locked down approach. LinkedIn has decided to go ahead and allow 1 photo per a user. Currently the network reports it has 14 million users and adds 250,000 new users every week. There are also reports of the service opening up its API to developers to custom design widgets inside and outside of the social networking service.
More About: Photos , Tomorrow , Going , Goin , Morrow

LinkedIn is going to add photos tomorrow
2007-09-27 19:07:00
LinkedIn, the professional social networking tool is said to be adding photos to its network on Friday. The social networking software for the professional industry has had a very conservative point of view in the past. However, recently Facebook has become very popular amongst industry professionals because of its less locked down approach. LinkedIn has decided to go ahead and allow 1 photo per a user. Currently the network reports it has 14 million users and adds 250,000 new users every week. There are also reports of the service opening up its API to developers to custom design widgets inside and outside of the social networking service.
More About: Photos , Tomorrow , Going , Goin , Morrow

How titles should be used in web design for SEO
2007-09-26 21:37:00
As we have all heard, titles are a very important part of anything. Especially when it comes to designing web sites, the title says it all. The title element is how your site is understood by your visitor and also by search robots. In the past people would stuff their titles with as many keywords as they could think of to ensure that search engines would pick up the keywords and they would rank higher. That really isn't the point and so search robots ever since have given less importance to titles.
More About: Web Design , Design , Titles

How titles should be used in web design for SEO
2007-09-26 21:37:00
As we have all heard, titles are a very important part of anything. Especially when it comes to designing web sites, the title says it all. The title element is how your site is understood by your visitor and also by search robots. In the past people would stuff their titles with as many keywords as they could think of to ensure that search engines would pick up the keywords and they would rank higher. That really isn't the point and so search robots ever since have given less importance to titles.
More About: Web Design , Design , Titles

What do you want to know more about?
2007-09-24 21:57:00
It can be hard from time to time to come up with ideas for what my readers want to learn about or read about on the site. So, I think it would be nice to hear back from some of you what you want to see on the site. Whether it is as general as having more CSS examples and tutorials or something specific, like getting a certain exploding browser to cooperate. I can talk about any design topic that you want to know more about or even inform everyone better on what to do and not to do when it comes to SEO. At any rate, the more specific you are the more likely I will be to write an article about it. Also, if you would prefer note that you would like a poll instead of an open forum. I thought it would be nice to not have restrictions on ideas to really give you, the reader, control over what you read. *Also, expect a redesign this week. I have a complete revamp coming that is going to blow this crappy design away.

What do you want to know more about?
2007-09-24 21:57:00
It can be hard from time to time to come up with ideas for what my readers want to learn about or read about on the site. So, I think it would be nice to hear back from some of you what you want to see on the site. Whether it is as general as having more CSS examples and tutorials or something specific, like getting a certain exploding browser to cooperate. I can talk about any design topic that you want to know more about or even inform everyone better on what to do and not to do when it comes to SEO. At any rate, the more specific you are the more likely I will be to write an article about it. Also, if you would prefer note that you would like a poll instead of an open forum. I thought it would be nice to not have restrictions on ideas to really give you, the reader, control over what you read. *Also, expect a redesign this week. I have a complete revamp coming that is going to blow this crappy design away.

I'll be at the Webmaster Jam in Dallas
2007-09-20 04:16:00
I'm leaving for Dallas tomorrow for the 2007 Webmaster Jam and thought I would just drop a note to anyone else attending and let them know that I would gladly have a drink with anyone interested in chatting. I should arrive at the Adam's Mark Thursday sometime around 9:00-10:00PM. It should prove to be a fun time.
More About: Mast , Aster , Alla

I'll be at the Webmaster Jam in Dallas
2007-09-20 04:16:00
I'm leaving for Dallas tomorrow for the 2007 Webmaster Jam and thought I would just drop a note to anyone else attending and let them know that I would gladly have a drink with anyone interested in chatting. I should arrive at the Adam's Mark Thursday sometime around 9:00-10:00PM. It should prove to be a fun time.
More About: Mast , Aster , Alla

The NY Times stops charging for content
2007-09-18 07:10:00
It looks like the New York Times finally realized that charging for content is an out dated practice. They recently have opened up their archived news articles to the public. It has taken them awhile but I'm glad to see they have finally come to their senses on the matter. I know this doesn't seem like much news to those of you that don't read the NY Times but it is a sign of the times. As some of the old media sites start to completely move to advertising based models you have to ask yourself what the next step is going to be. There is always the fear that advertising is going to go further then it already is as far as intrusiveness goes. It is not that I am against advertising at all. It is quite the opposite, just curious to see the next phase in advertising that is going to keep all of the old and new media sites making money. At any rate, I've got 100 years worth of back-dated stories to read.
More About: Content , Stops , Charging , Tent

The NY Times stops charging for content
2007-09-18 07:10:00
It looks like the New York Times finally realized that charging for content is an out dated practice. They recently have opened up their archived news articles to the public. It has taken them awhile but I'm glad to see they have finally come to their senses on the matter. I know this doesn't seem like much news to those of you that don't read the NY Times but it is a sign of the times. As some of the old media sites start to completely move to advertising based models you have to ask yourself what the next step is going to be. There is always the fear that advertising is going to go further then it already is as far as intrusiveness goes. It is not that I am against advertising at all. It is quite the opposite, just curious to see the next phase in advertising that is going to keep all of the old and new media sites making money. At any rate, I've got 100 years worth of back-dated stories to read.
More About: Content , Stops , Charging , Tent

New SEO extension for Firefox
2007-09-14 04:52:00
The guys over at 97th floor have been testing and now released to the public a Firefox extension that adds a status bar to the bottom of Firefox and lists Digg, Reddit, Stumbleupon and del.icio.us numbers for the current page you are on. The Social Media for Firefox extension is quick and easy way to check all of the sites without having to visit them or hope the site has the option built in. This new extension is has been an awesome addition to my status bar where I have Aaron Wall's SEO for Firefox and Search Status extensions. It also adds the functionality on the aforementioned sites of showing what the others sites are ranked at for that page. Which is an awesome little feature for all of the social marke... media web sites out there.
More About: Extension

New SEO extension for Firefox
2007-09-14 04:52:00
The guys over at 97th floor have been testing and now released to the public a Firefox extension that adds a status bar to the bottom of Firefox and lists Digg, Reddit, Stumbleupon and del.icio.us numbers for the current page you are on. The Social Media for Firefox extension is quick and easy way to check all of the sites without having to visit them or hope the site has the option built in. This new extension is has been an awesome addition to my status bar where I have Aaron Wall's SEO for Firefox and Search Status extensions. It also adds the functionality on the aforementioned sites of showing what the others sites are ranked at for that page. Which is an awesome little feature for all of the social marke... media web sites out there.
More About: Extension

Open source Dreamweaver alternatives
2007-09-13 21:25:00
I have used Dreamweaver for a long time now, before that just like most in the field it was notepad. I used to not need anything fancy but the more I learned about Dreamweaver the more I liked. For instance, the ability to create keyboard shortcuts for custom snippets was endlessly handy. It is the one feature I have yet to find done decently in any other software. I also like auto-complete because when it is done right it saves you tons of keystrokes.
More About: Open Source , Open , Source , Open-Source , Alternatives

Open source Dreamweaver alternatives
2007-09-13 21:25:00
I have used Dreamweaver for a long time now, before that just like most in the field it was notepad. I used to not need anything fancy but the more I learned about Dreamweaver the more I liked. For instance, the ability to create keyboard shortcuts for custom snippets was endlessly handy. It is the one feature I have yet to find done decently in any other software. I also like auto-complete because when it is done right it saves you tons of keystrokes.
More About: Open Source , Open , Source , Open-Source , Alternatives

Nominated for best blog layout
2007-09-13 21:21:00
I was nominated in the Okie blog awards for the best blog layout. The Okie blog awards are a local, Oklahoma-based blog community and apparently I have got the attention of the members within it. I thank you to all who nominated me and I hope to see those same people vote me to the top in the category also. I would greatly appreciate any of the votes I receive and would like to invite any of my readers that reside within Oklahoma to vote for me as well. Due to the nature of the Okie blog awards, only Oklahoma-based bloggers can vote for the nominees. So if that includes you, please visit the Okie blog awards page and help me and my fellow Oklahoma bloggers out. Thanks.
More About: Blog , Layout , Nate , Mina , Nominated

Nominated for best blog layout
2007-09-13 21:21:00
I was nominated in the Okie blog awards for the best blog layout. The Okie blog awards are a local, Oklahoma-based blog community and apparently I have got the attention of the members within it. I thank you to all who nominated me and I hope to see those same people vote me to the top in the category also. I would greatly appreciate any of the votes I receive and would like to invite any of my readers that reside within Oklahoma to vote for me as well. Due to the nature of the Okie blog awards, only Oklahoma-based bloggers can vote for the nominees. So if that includes you, please visit the Okie blog awards page and help me and my fellow Oklahoma bloggers out. Thanks.
More About: Blog , Layout , Nate , Mina , Nominated

Weekly link roundup for September 7th
2007-09-07 20:25:00
It has been a long week of adjusting after the labor day weekend. You get into the mode where you are just not used to working and coming back Tuesday morning you are totally unprepared for the week ahead of you. But here I am on Friday picking right back up to bring some great stuff to everyone. It looks like Bitbox has a great set of Web 2.0 layer styles that can help save you time if you are making a lot of Web 2.0 layouts for applications.
More About: Roundup , Link , Weekly , September , Sept

Weekly link roundup for September 7th
2007-09-07 20:25:00
It has been a long week of adjusting after the labor day weekend. You get into the mode where you are just not used to working and coming back Tuesday morning you are totally unprepared for the week ahead of you. But here I am on Friday picking right back up to bring some great stuff to everyone. It looks like Bitbox has a great set of Web 2.0 layer styles that can help save you time if you are making a lot of Web 2.0 layouts for applications.
More About: Roundup , Link , Weekly , September

I've been staying too busy
2007-08-31 20:36:00
I know it is typical this time of the year to see blogs kind of go dead for a bit and I apologize I'm another one of those guys. But it happens, anyway... I've been busy at work with some big projects that we are trying to get live. Late nights, long hours the whole bit. Hopefully I will start finding more time to add some new content and stuff up here. At any rate, I'm preparing my link round up and hopefully a nice article about CSS design structure to add to the mix.
More About: Been , Busy