BOTW Coupon (Best of the Web Coupons)

Distinct SEO.com is always keeping track of the latest BOTW.org coupons and discounts so check back often. Last Update: July, 1st 2008.

To use the coupon follow the link below and when prompted enter the following BOTW Coupon Promo Code:

Promo Code: FIREWERX

Current working coupon for BOTW.org: SAVE 20% on all NEW submissions and sponsorship advertising in the Best of the Web Directory and BOTW Blog Directory.

Be sure to enter the Promo Code: "FIREWERX" during the sign up process and you will instantly save 20% on new directory submissions as well as sponsorship advertising products.

Save 20% on new:

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http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/06/12/yahoo-and-google-strike-a-deal/

Yahoo! will now be using Google technology to display ads in their search results. Actually, it's Google technology and Google ads...... sigh.... monopoly in ads.

Wildrose Alliance Party Makes Rookie Mistake

Last week we blogged about how big name companies, even media and web outlets, do not employ even the basics of SEO. This week, we want to show you why having basic knowledge of web servers will save you brutal embarrassment. How's this for bad.

In Alberta the provincial election took place March 3rd, 2008. One of new and competing conservative parties in the running were looking to steal for votes from the dominant PC party. Only problem, they are so new that people don't know much about them. How do folks check out the platform and even find out about candidates? Usually online nowadays. Only problem? On election day you couldn't! It was ELECTION DAY and the web site went down due to too many visitors!

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I don't really know what to call them but the whois data reads, "MetaPredict" as the registrant. But first, some context. I've been developing, or rather, coding a new design for a web site I own as a hobby. Basically I'm using an old domain as my test server. Easy enough yea? Well I also had some broken links in my design on my server (with an unused and unindexed as far as I knew domain.) Basically I misspelled the domain name of the real web site in some outgoing nav links. In fact, I can tell you exactly how I spelled the 'mistake'....

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For those of you who haven't heard of PayPerPost (PPP) they run a service that connects bloggers and advertisers. Advertisers pay a fee to a have a certain 'level' of blogger post/review/comment on their web site/product. Seems like a good idea? On the surface it is, and if you have loads of money in your advertising budget this is a good way to get some one way links quick and easy. Here are some things that have me puzzled though.

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I'm not one for ranting and raving, well maybe only occasionally, but I can't help myself right now. I need to share just a quick note about Adsense and Google's non-attempt to clean up the industry. Over the summer months Google has apparently gone to great lengths to remove think affiliates on their Adsense networks. If you're an advertiser this is good news, the cheapo clicks that send users to other web sites that are nothing more than a landing page full of more Adsense ads are being removed--or so we thought

Thin Affiliates Really Losing Adsense Accounts?

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Some interesting announcements by Google, coupled with a foray I've been having with a Dmoz editor, has brought a number of privacy questions to light regarding the internet giant. For example, Feedburner is now offering all sorts of free tools that used to be paid. This comes after the purchase of Feedburner by Google. Google also provides tons of free Webmaster tools including Analytics and Webmasters. (At the end of this article I give some tips (useful I swear) on How to Get on as a Dmoz Editor.

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Everyone is starting to note the impact of Web 2.0. Well OK, admittedly if you're just picking up on it now you're quite late in the game. Still, web designers and marketers have long learned and implemented Web 2.0; much later (present day) the mainstream media and semi-unprofessional web marketers are starting to pay attention.

Here's the thing. If you're just catching on with Web 2.0 it's not actually the place where you want to start. Rather than jumping on a crowded Web 2.0 bus, why not get into the driver's seat and lead the pack? New web developments, marketing promos, and other online business planning should in the very least reflect Web 2.0 trends, but should also be considering and defining what comes next.

Web 3.0 / Web Cubed to Replace Web 2.0

What will replace Web 2.0 and what will that look like? Somewhat haphazardly I have named in Web Cubed (for Web 3.0, by the way, I'm willing to have someone point out that I'm not the first to use Web cubed). Bare in mind, I'm not suggesting Web 2.0 must logically progress to the next number in three (or cubed) but for the sake of this post I'll stick with simple numerics.

I think we can divide web trends in a variety of categories, i.e. design, market planning, choices, etc. For example, what will Web Cubed look like? That's a good question and I'd love to hear from all web designers. What will it feel like? I'd love to hear from the programmers. How will we produce it and promote it? I'd love to hear from the marketers and planners.

Here are my top thoughts on what Web Cubed will consist of.

1. A Continuation of communal aspects. Why is Wikipedia, Facebook, MySpace, etc., so popular? Connections, community, people remain hugely important to web browsers today. The importance of the community mentality of online sites will continue to replace the desire of the individual.

2. Designs will become more abstract. Instead of congruent headers and footers you'll experience asymmetry in web design work. Colors will be vibrant, collage, patchwork, wavey and mutant ideas will replace unity, symmetry.

3. Purpose will be replaced with play. Interaction with environments and combinations online will be desired over selection and rigidity.

4. Marketing becomes courting clients and not selling products and services to customers--(this has been around for a while mind you). We should also acknowledge methods of marketing will change; low-bit youtube will be replaced with full and high quality and perhaps some day 3-D video.

5. Change will be embraced and rapid change will become norm in information retrieval. Consider the continuing rise in cellular media and methods of sending and receiving communication (not just RSS but RSS to mobile in the least).

These are but a few aspects that are sitting perhaps in the tail-end of Web 2.0 but are also ready to lead the way for Web Cubed which for some who are ambitious, has already arrived. What are your thoughts?