Groundzero Webmaster Newsletter : Issue #12
Copyright (c) 2002 : http://www.ground-z.org
December 28 2002 : All Rights Reserved
Editor : Rik Tairea - webmaster@ground-z.org

The Groundzero Webmaster Newsletter is a free monthly eZine created for webmasters and website owners who are looking for useful resources, tools, editorials, software, eBooks, promotion and design tips to help get the most out of a website. For in-depth reviews of webmaster resources and website tools, articles, books, software, awards and past newsletter issues then visit make sure you http://www.ground-z.org


- In This Issue -

1. Introduction
2. Recommended Resources
3. Top 10 Resources @ Groundzero
4. Editors Corner
5. Promotion Tip
6. Recommended eBook
7. Design Review
8. Recommended Software
9. Contact/Unsubscribe/Subscribe/Privacy
10. Final Thoughts
11. Newsletter Details


- 1.Introduction -

Welcome to Issue #12 of the Groundzero Webmaster Newsletter. This month in the "Editors Corner" I talk about my new years resolutions in relation to my websites and we also have the usual recommended resources, promotion tip, eBook, website design and software reviews.

Can you believe that 2002 is over already?

I don't know about you but it feels like the year has come to a very quick end. It feels like it was only yesterday that I sent out the very first issue of this eZine, did you know that the Groundzero Webmaster Newsletter has been around for a year next month.

Personally, it's been a very interesting year for me website wise. I've taken this webmaster thing very serious this year and all the hard work has paid off. Traffic and website revenue increased and it feels great that something I really love doing has been worth it.

A big thank you to everyone who sent in feedback about the new web hosting section of Groundzero. Some of the comments about the design was very flattering and I'm glad you people liked the simple look. Feedback about this newsletter is always great so feel free to tell me what you think.

Groundzero - http://www.ground-z.org

Enjoy this months issue!


- 2.Recommended Resources -

1 Design 4 Life :
http://www.1design4life.co.uk
1 Design 4 Life provides search engine optimisation services to get your company/website high positioning in the search engines. Their focused search engine optimisation and ranking services will build brand awareness, increase traffic and drive up profits. 1 Design 4 Life is headed by one of the foremost optimisation experts.

TinyURL :
http://tinyurl.com
TinyURL will create a tiny URL that will not break in e-mail postings and never expires. You can also make a smaller URL that will work for any page on your site or hide your affiliate link from the visitor with only the tinyurl.com address visible to your visitors.

PageRank Explained :
http://www.iprcom.com/papers/pagerank
This document explains in great detail the Google PageRank Algorithm and how it works. PageRank is a topic much discussed by Search Engine Optimisation experts. At the heart of PageRank is a mathematical formula that seems scary to look at but is actually fairly simple to understand.


- 3.Top 10 Resources @ Groundzero -

Here are the top 10 rated webmaster resources reviewed at Groundzero. Visit the "Webmaster Resources" section and read in-depth reviews on various website tools, guides, affiliate networks, traffic generators and software. New webmaster resources are added weekly and are rated out of 5.00.

1 - Logo Creator
2 - iPowerWeb
3 - A Best Web
4 - Group Mail
5 - CoffeeCup Firestarter
6 - Ulead Cool 3D
7 - Fineclicks
8 - CoffeeCup HTML Editor
9 - NetStudio
10 - Shareasale


- 4.Editors Corner -

"New Years Resolutions"

The second half of 2002 was great for me website wise. Take Groundzero for example, traffic and revenue has increased amazingly (the new tv and dvd player I just purchased is testimony to that) and I am very happy with the results.

The thing is that I know my websites and I can do much better, so I've decided to setup a few new years resolutions for 2003. Now these are not necessarily goals or plans because I consider those to be more in-depth and long term.

1. Create More Mini Sites.

I don't know what the correct definition of a mini site is (if there is actually a definition) but I tend to to call 2-10 page websites that concentrate on a certain topic or selling a product(s) or service(s) a mini site.

I created a couple of them this year and I could not be happier with the results. They are easy to create, maintain and optimize and once you feed them traffic they can convert very well (if you are selling something).

If you want to sell a certain product or a group of very similar products or services then they are a very good way to go. I had planned to create some total websites this year but have I chosen to make around 4 mini sites instead.

2. Learn More About Search Engine Optimization.

I made my first website back in 1998 but didn't start to optimize "all" my webpages for search engines until late 2001. I can just imagine some of you calling me an idiot and some of you going search engine what?

If you don't know jack about search engine optimization (seo) then do a search at your search engine of choice or check out the article section @ Groundzero. I thought I knew a good amount of seo (I didn't consider myself an expert) but I wasn't as smart as I thought it was.

A couple of months ago I was wondering why some of my so called "optimized" pages were being out ranked by pages that were badly designed and written. So I checked the source code of some of these pages and had noticed a couple of things that they did that were quite simple and should have been obvious if I had done more seo research.

3. Try Not To Procrastinate.

I've had this problem since high school and I'm betting that it's a genetic trait passed down on my fathers side of the family. My motto in high school was "why do it today when you can do it some other time".

As a webmaster I have new ideas on a daily basis but being the lazy (insert your own expletive here) that I am I either do not implement the idea at all or do it 4 months later. As some of you know it can be pretty easy to miss the boat, especially if it's internet related.

It's a very bad habit that I have been aware of for years so it's about time I took care of it. For example, I recently launched a new web hosting section @ Groundzero in November. It was a couple of months late because I took my time and I am now wishing I had concentrated on it earlier. It is doing very well now but I am sure it could be performing better.

There are probably another 100 new year's resolutions I could write about but these are on the top of my list. I highly recommend you construct your own resolution list, it could help 2003 be a great year for your website.

Happy New Year!


- 5.Promotion Tip -

Link Leads :
http://www.linkleads.com

Link Leads allows you to advertise on other websites by exchanging links with similar sites. Business and personal websites have an opportunity to gain targeted visitors by creating small, quality links pages to generate hits.

By becoming a Link Leads member, you can select sites to exchange reciprocal links from in their targeted search engine, and receive the linking information for those sites instantly in your e-mail.

Membership could improve your visitor traffic and search engine ranking. Also, by referring potential members, you can generate additional reciprocal links to your website.


- 6.Recommended eBook -

Title : MyBiz Article Collection
Price : Free
URL : http://www.mybusiness-resource.com/freebook.htm

This eBook is aimed at helping net business and website owners with certain aspects of running a website (especially one on a limited budget). It will help to teach you sound marketing principles that will unveil the mask of online marketing and running an online business.

Topics Include :
- what not to do in web marketing
- explains what really makes an e-book viral
- how to create a killer sales letter
- creating unique selling positions

If you are looking for some content for your website you have permission to copy any of the articles featured in the eBook and post them to your website as long as you leave the links in and give full credit to the author.


- 7.Design Review -

Site Name : Design 481
Type : Personal / Portfolio
URL : http://d481.com/index-low.html

Design 481 provides an interesting view of website creator Tim Medora's graphical, musical, and literary work over the past couple of years. Design 481 is also a past Groundzero Design Award winner.

What caught my eye when viewing this website were the graphics which look really smooth, clean, welcoming and professional. The layout of the webpages are also very clean and easy to follow thanks to the fact that the content is well spaced out.


- 8.Recommended Software -

Name : Handy Image Mapper
Type : HTML Image Maps
Size : 382 KB
Price : Free
URL : http://www.silveragesoftware.com/handytools.html

Handy Image Mapper lets you easily create and insert image maps into HTML documents to arrange your website navigation by means of images. Different parts of an image can provide links to different destinations.

Handy Image Mapper can map gif, jpg, png and bmp images and can work with any HTML editor. This software also has the ability to add an unlimited number of Image Map elements which include rectangular, circular and polygonal region types of map elements.


- 9.Contact/Unsubscribe/Subscribe/Privacy -

If you have any questions regarding this newsletter then please feel free to contact me by e-mail. You can also send in any feedback about the Groundzero Webmaster Newsletter. I love receiving e-mail so feel free to send in a message to just say hello or, if you need any help (website wise) then send in a question that I might be able to help you with.

contact - webmaster@ground-z.org
unsubscribe - unsubscribe@ground-z.org
subscribe - subscribe@ground-z.org

I absolutely despise SPAM and I will respect your privacy. I will not share or sell your e-mail address with anyone, I will not send you any unsolicited mail or collect any demographic information about you. Your e-mail address will only be used to receive the Groundzero Webmaster Newsletter and any correspondence with me will remain confidential.


- 10.Final Thoughts -

I hope you enjoyed Issue #11 of the Groundzero Webmaster Newsletter. Remember you can always read past issues of this newsletter on the website and the next issue will be sent out January 28th 2002. Please feel free to send any feedback or comments you may have about this newsletter.

If you want to recommend some webmaster resources/websites, eBooks, software or any well designed websites then let me know, even if it's yours. If it benefits others then I'll feature it in an issue of this newsletter so send it in.

If you think you know someone who might be interested in reading this newsletter then do them a favor and forward them this entire e-mail or point them to the Groundzero website located @ http://www.ground-z.org

If you want to help out some more and you think that this newsletter is useful then feel free to put a link on your website pointing to Groundzero @ http://www.ground-z.org

Thanks for your time and stay safe.
Rik Tairea :)


- 11.Newsletter Details -

You are receiving the Groundzero Webmaster Newsletter because you submitted your e-mail address by way of e-mail or a sign-up form located at Groundzero. If you do not wish to receive this publication anymore then use the unsubscription e-mail link located in Section 9.

No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. You may forward this eZine by e-mail as long as you forward it in its entirety. It is forbidden to post this newsletter on any website or republish it in print or other media without prior written consent from the editor.