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The SitePoint Tribune #467 Copyright (c) 2009 October 15, 2009 PLEASE FORWARD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - News, Rants and Case Studies for Web Design Professionals by Brendon Sinclair Read the HTML version of this newsletter, with graphics, at: http://www.sitepoint.com/newsletter/viewissue.php?id=2&issue=467 Note: This newsletter is supported solely by advertisers like the one below. We stand 100% behind every ad that we run. If you ever have a problem with a company that advertises here please contact us and we will try to get it resolved. INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ever considered entering awards competitions for your work or business? I think you'll be extra motivated to do so when you read below about how it can really pay off for your business, staff, and clients. We'll follow this up by hearing about a popular four-and-a-half-year-old web site that now receives one billion views a day. Can you guess what I might be referring to? The service this site offers could be a great platform for you to market your business too. We'll take a look at this golden opportunity. Want to know the big stories and links from Twitter, but too busy to peruse all those tweets? You'll be interested in this service I delve into; it makes it easy to keep up with the Social Web. Finally, we'll wrap this issue up by paying tribute to a Tribune legend. I'll let you figure out who that might be. I trust you'll enjoy this issue of the Tribune. Miles Burke tribune@sitepoint.com [1] [1] <mailto:tribune@sitepoint.com> SPONSOR'S MESSAGE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 Minutes, 4 Prizes, 1 Survey Go in the draw and you could win ONE of the following prizes: - A new iPhone GS3 - A Nintendo Wii - An Intuos4 Wacom tablet Or perhaps you'd like to give $1,000 to charity instead? All you have to do is answer our 5-minute SitePoint reader survey. Click here to check out the details: http://www.sitepoint.com/launch/c8e060 Or do the survey now! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0GbE5RsW9gvMoolbOw_2fvkg_3d_3d IN THIS ISSUE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Introduction - Reap the Rewards of Awards Comps - One Billion Views a Day! - Use Video to Promote Yourself - Tribute to a Tribune Legend - Latest Tutorials - Hot Discussions - New Blogs REAP THE REWARDS OF AWARDS COMPS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Recently, my business entered a selection of web sites we'd created into two national awards programs. I'm pleased to say that we've just learned we have multiple finalists in both! It's a great publicity opportunity -- both for our clients and for us -- yet the rewards are more than just immediate. Here are just a few of the reasons why entering awards programs can boost your business. The nomination process forces you to hone those writing skills. Most awards applications ask you to explain the process, or just simply state why you believe your work is great. It's a fantastic opportunity to improve your writing and practice promoting yourself. If you’re ever involved in creating sales materials for your business, you’ll appreciate the benefits of this. Entering awards boosts team morale. The very act of entering is indicative of believing you have a chance of winning; for those who worked on the project, such belief is both rewarding and inspiring. Furthermore, imagine how your team will feel if the web site becomes a finalist or even wins! Recognition in the form of an award from peers or industry is so gratifying to receive. Award recognition is also a boon for the client -- imagine how they'll feel? You’ll be proving your worth in their eyes, as well as showing that you believe in their web site. Any client in this situation will soon be telling their friends and colleagues, so expect to receive a referral or two! There’s also the boost in web site traffic -- both to your own web site and the winning work. Additionally, most award programs link to both the winner and creator, proving an extra boon. Most awards have an event -- so make sure you seize the networking opportunities it provides for you. Be sure to take the team and fill your pockets with business cards! Look at writing a press release, or at least contacting your local media. Most journalists love a positive business story, and your success is newsworthy. Ask your client to circulate the media release to their contacts as well, or look at doing a joint statement. Make a point of also mentioning this success to other clients and prospects. They’ll be keen to hear about it, and your shiny trophy is testament to the fact you do quality work. It’s one of the best seals of approval you can gain! If you do receive a certificate or trophy, make sure you place it in your reception area or meeting room -– the more people who see it, the better. So get cracking and look for awards that you can enter. And best of luck with your entries! SPONSOR'S MESSAGE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Online Marketing Inside Out Kick-start your business with the crash course in online marketing Order a copy now for just $29.95! FREE BONUS: 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, by Darren Rowse (worth $19.95) http://www.sitepoint.com/books/online1 ONE BILLION VIEWS A DAY! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Google [1]'s acquisition of YouTube [2] must go down as one of the more significant deals in web history. Co-founder of the video service, Chad Hurley, took time last week to commemorate the union with a blog post on the official YouTube blog [3]. Here he mentioned that YouTube.com enjoys "well over a billion views a day," a milestone that's also reflected in their temporary logo tweak [4]. That's quite a growth curve, given that it was only three years ago that Chad and co-founder Steve Chen made a short video announcement [5] of the deal, and followed that up with a 'last day in our old office [6]' video. Congratulations Chad and Steve, it's a great effort for a web site that only launched in February 2005! [1] <http://www.google.com> [2] <http://www.youtube.com> [3] <http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2009/10/y000000000utube.html> [4] <http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/09/youtubes-new-logo-shouts-from-the-rooftops-1-billion-views-per-day/> [5] <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCVxQ_3Ejkg> [6] <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJOI3E4OdBw> USE VIDEO TO PROMOTE YOURSELF - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Speaking of YouTube, have you considered using video to promote your business or products? There have been some great success stories, like BlendTec's Will it Blend? [1] YouTube channel. The founder, Tom Dickson, is seen blending all manner of items in the videos -- from marbles to a camcorder -- to demonstrate the power of theBlendTec blender. With just some domestic video equipment and standard lighting, you too could be on the road to achieving the same sort of success. The recently launched Creators Corner [2] provides some insight into how to create and upload great video content. Once you've done that, all you need to do is embed the video on your own web site and promote it far and wide. Have you had previous success with YouTube as a marketing medium? I'd be keen to hear about it -- shoot an email to tribune@sitepoint.com [3]. [1] <http://www.youtube.com/blendtec> [2] <http://www.youtube.com/t/creators_corner> [3] <mailto:tribune@sitepoint.com> SPONSOR'S MESSAGE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Business Secrets You Can't Live Without! The Web Design Business Kit 2.0 * 509 pages of proven techniques for building a successful web design business * 73 essential web business documents * 100% money-back guarantee Buy the kit now to take advantage of FREE worldwide shipping https://sitepoint.com/bookstore/go/111/157cb2/ TRIBUTE TO A TRIBUNE LEGEND - - - - - - - - - - - Since July 15th, 2004 (Issue 298) [1], my insightful co-editor, Brendon Sinclair, has been penning his thoughts in this newsletter. If you read your way through last week's issue, you'll know that Brendon has decided to call it a day here at the Tribune, and that last week was his final edition. I'm sure I speak on behalf of all Tribune readers when I say we're going to miss Brendon, and I'd like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best in the future. Thanks for the last five years, Brendon! The next few issues will feature some special guest writers, before I eventually dive into taking responsibility on a weekly basis. [1] <http://www.sitepoint.com/newsletter/viewissue.php?id=2&issue=298&format=html> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thanks so much for reading this issue of the SitePoint Tribune. I look forward to being in touch in two weeks time. Miles Burke tribune@sitepoint.com [1] Editor, SitePoint Tribune [1] <mailto:tribune@sitepoint.com> LATEST TUTORIALS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CSS3: To Infinity And Beyond! by Alex Walker Browser support for CSS3 is continually improving. In this article, Alex walks us through a few of the coolest CSS3 properties supported in the latest development release of Firefox (3.6 alpha). http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1758 Share Media on Twitter Using Flex, Part III: Video by Andrew Muller In parts I and II, Andrew showed us how to build a slick-looking Flash frontend for Twitter and Flickr using the beta versions of Flash Catalyst and Flash Builder 4. In this final installment in the series he takes our application a step further by adding video functionality: allowing users to upload videos, and to take screenshots of their videos to post as images. http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1757 10 Things They Never Tell You In Firefox Extension School by James Edwards As a follow-up to his recent ebook, Build Your Own Firefox Extension, James has assembled this selection of useful tips, tricks, and hacks that he's collected from his experience with building extensions for Firefox. http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1756 Luke Stevens on Data Driven Design by Matthew Magain Luke Stevens is a web designer who believes firmly that testing is the future of web design. Matt quizzed him on data driven design, A/B testing, and Google Web Optimizer. http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1754 Killer Web Dev Tools with Ben Galbraith by Andrew Tetlaw Ben Galbraith, of Mozilla Labs, is speaking at Web Directions South '09 on The State of Browser Tools. Andrew had the opportunity to interview him about his Web Directions session, the Bespin project, and browser tools in general. http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1755 HOT DISCUSSIONS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Caching of Web Pages <http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=641961> Hey, Melbourne SitePointers -- come and join us for a meet and greet! <http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=641990> How to choose the best keyword? <http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=641587> Complex form design <http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=641165> Hey, Java gurus -- what should we write about on sitepoint.com? <http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=640573> NEW BLOGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Web Pro Business Blog: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS SitePoint Tribune Legend Steps Down (2 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/15/sitepoint-tribune-legend-steps-down/ How to Work with Indecisive Clients (5 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/15/working-with-indecisive-clients/ Is Text Messaging Marketing the New Advertising Fad? (5 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/13/text-messaging-marketing/ Web Design Blog: PIXEL PERFECT Apple Claims All Things Apple Shaped (6 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/15/apple-claims-all-things-apple-shaped/ Elements Of Design: The Line (1 comment) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/14/elements-of-design-the-line/ Make A Big, Beautiful Call-To-Action Button In Photoshop (11 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/13/make-a-big-beautiful-call-to-action-button-in-photoshop/ News & Trends Blog: INDUSTRY NEWS FOR WEB PROFESSIONALS Sir Tim Berners-Lee: Sorry About the Slashes (19 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/14/sir-tim-berners-lee-http-slashes/ Mozilla Joins Microsoft in Slamming Google Chrome Frame (34 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/13/mozilla-microsoft-slam-google-chrome-frame/ Web Tech Blog: TECHNICALLY SPEAKING 16 Fabulous Web Browser Options (13 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/12/web-browser-options/ JavaScript & CSS Blog: STYLISH SCRIPTING CSS Frameworks and Semantic Class Names (11 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/06/css-frameworks-semantic-class-names/ Podcast Blog: THE SITEPOINT PODCAST SitePoint Podcast #30: Google Infects IE (7 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/05/podcast-30-google-infects-ie/ Search Engine Marketing Blog: KEY WORDS - SEARCH ENGINE THEORY Bad Nested Code Could Hurt Your SE Rankings (12 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/10/01/coding-se-rankings/ PHP Blog: DYNAMICALLY TYPED Build a Lifestream with SimplePie (7 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/09/29/build-a-lifestream-with-simplepie/ Usability Blog: USABILITY 2.0 Do You Need Cake if the Icing is Amazing? (12 comments) http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/09/17/do-you-need-cake-if-the-icing-is-amazing/ ADVERTISING INFORMATION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Find out what thousands of savvy Internet marketers already know: email newsletter advertising works! (You're reading an email ad now, aren't you?) Find out how to get YOUR sponsorship ad in this newsletter and reach 95,000+ opt-in subscribers! Check out http://www.sitepoint.com/mediakit/ for details, or email us at mailto:adinfo@sitepoint.com HELP YOUR FRIENDS OUT - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - People you care about can take charge of their Website by effectively using the information and resources available on the Internet. Help them learn how - forward them a copy of this week's SitePoint Tribune. ADDRESSES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Send suggestions and comments to: mailto:tribune@sitepoint.com To subscribe, send a blank email to: mailto:subscribe@sitepoint.com The Archives are located at: http://www.sitepoint.com/newsletter/archives.php The SitePoint Tribune is (c) 1998-2009 SitePoint Pty. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. No part of this Newsletter may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. All guest articles are copyright their respective owners and are reproduced with permission. SitePoint Pty. Ltd. 48 Cambridge Street Collingwood, VIC 3066 AUSTRALIA You are currently subscribed to The SitePoint Tribune as: [email] To change the email address that you currently subscribe with: http://sitepoint.com/newsletter/manage.php To switch to the HTML version of this newsletter: <http://sitepoint.com/newsletter/htmlplease.php?email=[email]> To leave this list, please visit: [unsubscribe] Do Not Reply to this email to unsubscribe. 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