A simple default .htaccess
by Brian TurnerIntroducing mod_rewrite and .htaccess
Using mod_rewrite and .htaccess together can produce some very useful effects.
What is mod_rewrite?
Simply put, a piece of software commonly installed on Linux servers, that allows the server to modify internet addresses (URLs) before the pages reach the a browser.
What is .htaccess?
Simply put, a file that you place in the main web [...]
The Search by John Battelle
by Brian TurnerThe Search by John Battelle is essentially a wander through the history of search engines – how they developed, and how they transformed the internet.
You might sort of figure that out by the subtitle: “How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture”.
It’s not a technical book – it simply [...]
December 27, 2005
Spam man wins email case
by Brian TurnerA man living in the Channel Islands, has successfully claimed damages of £270 from a company who sent him unsolicited email.
Nigel Roberts filed a claim against Media Logistics UK, who had sent unsolicited e-mail providing adverts for contract car firms and a fax broadcasting businesses.
Although Media Logistics UK acknowledged the claim, they failed to appear [...]
Christmas sales start slow but end merrily on high
by Brian TurnerHigh street sales were slow to pick up as Christmas approached – but have ended on a high note with retailers reporting greater activity over the Christmas weekend and Boxing Day.
Shopping analysts Footfall put the increased sales due to increased promotional activity, better opening times, and the fact that Christmas occured at the weekend.
The Christmas [...]
December 23, 2005
Legal responsibilities of webmasters
by Brian TurnerLiabilities of forums and blogs
While many webmasters can strictly control the content they publish on their sites, when it comes to online communities – such as forums and blogs – the issue of third party comments can become an acute legal issue.
This is not least where complaints of defamation are raised in response to third-party [...]
CBI withdraws extended maternity leave support
by Brian TurnerThe CBI has withdrawn its support for government plans to extend maternity leave.
The government plans to extend maternity leave from 6 months to 9 months in April 2007, and originally suggested that HM Customs and Excise would pick up the tab on the increased administration costs.
However, recently Gordon Brown determined in his pre-budget report that [...]
December 22, 2005
Microsoft threatened with daily fines
by Brian TurnerMicrosoft has been threatened with daily fines to the company by the European Union, for their failure to open up their operating system to third-party software developers to use.
The EU ordered Microsoft to offer documention that would allow software companies to better provide products for use on the Windows operating system.
However, the EU ruled that [...]
December 21, 2005
Google confirms AOL deal
by Brian TurnerGoogle has confirmed that it has invested $1 billion for a 5% stake in AOL.
The investment also sees Google helping to make AOL content more visible on Google, with preferential advertising also offered.
The move is seen as important for Google – prior arrangements to deliver Google advertising on AOL currently account for 10% of Google’s [...]
December 15, 2005
Links are dead – long live links!
by Brian TurnerBy Brian Turner
Contents:
Links are dead – long live links
Florida
Sandboxing
Clickstream
Clickstream indicates quality
Building for Clickstream
Clickstream vs Links
Are links dead then?
Conclusion
Links are dead – long live links!
Links for SEO are already dead. A lot of people haven’t realised that yet.
More specifiically, I’m talking about links for SEO in Google – the use of link building to increase rankings [...]
Blogs and forums for marketing your business
by Brian TurnerBuilding a community for marketing
One of the key marketing tools I often recommend to clients is to try and build a community to market to.
The two main methods of doing this are blogs and forums, and both allow for different elements of community development.
Why is this important?
Well, for a start, both can provide a [...]
Tax win for small business
by Brian TurnerA small business has won a landmark court ruling over how much tax they pay.
According to the BBC, the case hinged around the paying of dividends to a spouse who was the partner in the business:
The company had a turnover of £91,000 for the year in dispute, derived from Mr Jones’s activities.
He drew a [...]
Retail sales up November
by Brian TurnerRetail figures for November were significantly up, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
Although food saw the highest three-monthly growth, all sectors recorded increases, with overall growth at 0.7%.
According to the ONS:
Compared with the same period a year ago, sales volumes in the three months to November 2005 were up 1.3 per cent. At [...]
December 7, 2005
W3c sets sights on VoiceXML
by Brian TurnerW3C – the organisation for setting web usability standards – is turning attention to voice formats for use with the internet, such as VoiceXML 3.0.
VoiceXML 3.0 uses voice recognition for people using the internet, and relies on voice commands instead of keystroke commands.
According to CNET at W3C looks at next-gen voice technologies:
The W3C has now [...]
Microsoft fined for anti-trust in south Korea
by Brian TurnerThe BBC reports that South Korea has fined Microsoft nearly £20 million over an anti-trust ruling, that orders Microsoft to unbundle its messenger system from Windows.
The ruling also raises concerns about Windows’ Media Server and Media Player preventing other companies from being able to compete.
This follows similar action in the US and EU – the [...]
EU domains go live
by Brian TurnerEURid has today oepned up purchases of .eu domain names – but for the time being, only companies with a valid European Union trademark can apply for registration.
In February 2006 the registration process will be widened to other companies – but only for company names, distinctive titles, unregistered trademarks and tradenames.
General consumers won’t be [...]
December 6, 2005
Brown tackles SIPPS and REITs
by Brian TurnerGordon Brown sent mixed signals to the financial sector today, with announcements that residential property will not be eligible for SIPPs (Self Investment Pension Plans) – however, he still plans to open the UK property market to general investment via REITS with legislation in 2006.
The problem for the treasury on SIPPs is two-fold – firstly, [...]
December 4, 2005
Marketing for Dummies
by Brian TurnerThe Dummies series has a good reputation for being accessible, useful, and generally helpful in introducing ordinary people to sometimes complex topics.
“Marketing for Dummies” by Alexander Hiam unfortunately doesn’t really live up to the reputation.
Although it starts of well enough – “Designing a Great Marketing Program” touches base on basics, all too soon he’s discussing [...]
Old Marketing vs New Marketing
by Brian TurnerInformation and the New Economy
The internet has radically changed the marketing world in a number of key ways. Chief among these is the increased accessibility of information for customers.
Customers can now not only compare products and services more easily, but also communicate with one another more.
This means that selling on price alone, and ignoring the [...]
SEO tools
by Brian TurnerTools for everything from backlink analysis to keyword positioning have become key aspects of SEO campaigns. There are certainly plenty of tools available, and this page aims simply to list some of the more useful ones out there, for a range of different requirements.
Link checking tools
Checking the number of indexed backlinks to a site can [...]
December 1, 2005
Skype releases video beta
by Brian Turner Popular VoIP software maker Skype has released Skype 2.0 beta, which now allows video links while people chat.
Although video has been a available to messenger services, from Microsoft and AOL, this is the first time Skype has integrated video with it’s VoIP telephony service.
As well as adding video calling, the new version is designed [...]