Fun4TheMoney

Here are my brand new Xisto-hosted forums, thanks to Tonic, who set the whole thing up for me. My Forums These forums are for all of my websites--some of which are pretty lame, but I'm working on all of them. Please go post something. I don't have any traffic, yet, so there's no reason to hang around, but I really don't want my forums to look naked when I start promoting my sites. Thanks, y'all. Suz

Here you go. Sorry I couldn't find it last night--I was on the goofy old laptop and couldn't do much. GetPaidForum.com There's some really good info over there and serious but friendly people, too. (No place is as good as here, however.

DUH! I read a glowing review of this product somewhere else, but didn't sign up. Then, I read your honest evaluation, decided the "real" downside wasn't as bad as what I imagined the other review either didn't know or didn't want to tell, so I signed up under you. BTW, this was the first thing like this I've ever signed up for, so getting my name on the dotted line isn't easy. I did discover a serious drawback, however. If you're on an old, slow, dialup connection (which is what we country mice have to contend with) it takes at least 4 times as long to search through Netbux as it does to go straight through Google. If I sat down and concentrated on just this program, it would take well over an hour at my connection speed. Naturally, you city slickers with your $#@^ DSL, broadband, and all that fancy stuff don't remember what the blue bar looks like, so you might not notice the difference. Suz

How could anybody resist such a glowing testimonial? I rushed right over and signed up under you right after reading your post. I'm going to get my son to sign up, now, and I'm sure he'll keep it going. I'm not sure how many levels down it goes, but you should be sipping champagne on your yacht by Christmas, I'm sure. Suz

There's a whole forum out there for this topic, called GetPaid. They post good and bad stuff about most money-making programs. I can't find the link right now (I'm on the old laptop) but you should be able to do a search and get to it. If not, PM me or ask again, here, and I'll get the link, tomorrow, from the "real" computer and post it.Suz

I was filling out an application form for LinkWorth, which had a site ranking calculator built into it. I'd like to put something like that on my site. Anybody know where I can get something like that?Suz

I have done some link-swapping with some of those automated "submit URL" programs that are supposed to put my link into a sorted directory, but these links never show up in the Google "link:" section. How can I find out if a site has been banned by Google?Suz

That is scary. Mine is in there, but it's still listed to the people who had it before us. Maybe unpublished phone numbers are the way to go. Suz

Strange--I get more info from my Xisto site than I do from my real domains, and I haven't even submitted this one to Google. I don't get anything from yours, however. How long has your site been up? The date on my Google page is april 22. Is yours newer than that? Suz

You're welcome. I owe this forum a lot. It feels good to be able to pay some back once in a while. Suz

If you get that "simple look at the webpage" it's a good thing. Every little bit helps. If you don't get anything on the others, it means you have some work to do--so do I. Plug in the URL of your biggest and best competitor and you'll see what I mean. My competition gets lots of info in all those categories. To me, this is a good tool to help determine where I stand and what needs improvement. It's also free, quick, and easy, which always appeals to me. Suz

If you do a Google search on your URL--without quotes you'll get a screen with great info on your website. Some sites get a "cache" screen which is cool (mine doesn't ) but you will get the "link back" info, plus some other good marketing stuff, like "similar sites". Remember--no " " or you'll get just the regular search results.Suz

WOW! That puppy bumped me up 8 days. It was about 1625 characters, I think. That means all I have to do is post one of my average freelance articles over here every week and I'll never have to worry about counting days for posting. I'll also be eligible for an upgrade in no time. LIFE IS GOOD! (And so is Trap-17.) Suz

1) Be sure your site is clean. Dead links or missing graphics won't impress an editor. Your submission will probably be deleted without ceremony or notification if there's anything wrong that an editor can spot in the first 5 minutes.2) For most categories, content is still king. Even if all you want to do is sell widgets, put some helpful hints on your site. The more really good original information you have on your site, the better your chances of being accepted by ODP.For most categories, a collection of links is not good enough. Helpful hints, articles, tutorials, news, blogs, features, are all important. After all, ODP is a collection of links. Why would they want to link to another one? Because you offer some sort of content--not just a list of links.3) Submit to the right category. If you try to break into a major category, when your site really belongs somewhere else, all you'll do is waste time. Editors can only add sites to their own, carefully defined categories. If you submit to the wrong place, your site will have to stand in line, twice. An editor will eventually get around to you, but not with much enthusiasm if your submission isn't appropriate for that topic. Then, all he or she can do is pass you on to another editor, who will also have to evaluate your site before adding it to the directory.If you aren't sure where your site belongs, click on the Description link in the upper right area of the category screen, and read the requirements, carefully. If your site doesn't quite fit, but it's important for you to be there, go back and add the required elements to your web pages before submitting. Otherwise, keep looking until you find the right category for your site.4) Be sure your title and description tags are up to snuff. Some SEO guidelines say that description tags can be long, but ODP guidelines say that a description should be only 2 or 3 lines. Get all the important stuff up front, since the rest won't make it in there, anyway.Keep your description objective and precise. Leave out "cool" "terrific" "etc." "and more". Just tell it like it is, briefly.Note: If you submit your own site, you can write in the description, but, if an ODP editor finds your site somewhere else, the title and description tags come up, automatically, when the URL is entered into the submission program. If your tags already meet their standards, you'll make it easy for a busy VOLUNTEER editor to submit your site without taking a red pencil to your description tag.5) Keep your site current and clean. Part of an editor's job is to check links, regularly, to make sure the sites are still being maintained. If a site falls into disrepair, it can be deleted without warning.I'm not an expert on ODP, yet, but I am learning. I hope this helps a little.

LOL! Now I'm an editor so I can answer my own question. Yes I can submit to other categories. No, I don't get preferential treatment. Suz

You should always apply to a small category, first. If you do well, then you can apply for a bigger category. Send me the URL and category for your old site and I'll try to get it removed for you, but all I can do is recommend, so if it's a really busy, understaffed category, it might not do any good. Suz Suz

Even if there aren't any editors in your category, editors in the up-line can pick up the slack. Suz

Thanks for the detailed answer. It sounds like a very fair system. I'm relieved to know I can "bank" some credits for when I get buried in a project and can't get over here to post anything.I have sort of a longish post to put up about ODP, so this will be a good test. I'll try it out right now.Suz

I could be wrong about this, so please check it out somewhere else, but I've read that sites that pay in anything but US dollars charge some sort of extra fee to actually get the money into our American hands. I read it twice, but it was in the fine print in those licensing agreements, and my eyes (and brain) had already glossed over by the time I got to that part. Sorry to be so vague. Suz

If hosting credits aren't the same as posts, how can I find out how many I have? I have over 100 posts, but got turned down for the upgrade. I only post serious questions or answers, with an occasional thank you, so I'm not sure what they want for hosting credits. Now I'm concerned about losing my site. I just put all of my message boards, here. Are my posts not good enough to keep my site active, either?

Good luck with your solo. I started out with piano, played French Horn in band, then fell in love with the folk harp. If anyone else plays the harp and has a website for it, I'd be happy to link to you from my currently empty harp page. My Harp Page Suz

Hmm, I think it's been about 1 1/2 to 2 years, but I can't remember fer shure. Suz

If you have Windows 98, you must have Windows Paint. Give it a chance and really dig into it. You'll be amazed at what it can do, but all it's features aren't obvious, and some require creative use of the clipboard. Post your exact requirements and maybe I can help. I wrote a whole tutorial thing for kids with Paint, but it was so long ago I've forgotten more than I remember. LOL! Suz

I've had my PayPal account for almost 4 years, and used the heck out of it when I was an eBay Power Seller. I've never had a single problem, and I've been through a chargeback, some kind of goofy error where a charge kept repeating--don't know who's fault it was, but PayPal got it fixed. I've also had to issue several refunds. I have a debit card. I transfer money into a checking account. I've also used their shopping cart system (but only once). Every experience has been fine--no hassles or headaches anywhere. It is a pain to get set up, however. That nonsense about "it only takes a minute" is erroneous. Not only do you have to fill out a long application (unless that got easier when eBay took them over, but I doubt it) but you also have to fool around with their verification process, which involves a few pennies deposited to your checking account or a dollar or so charged to your credit card. Sorry to be so vague, but I set mine up so long ago, I don't remember and things may have changed since then.My only experience with a real merchant account was also several years ago and it was a NIGHTMARE! I set it up for a consulting client. She paid through the nose to several different agencies. They all screwed her over. The ordeal was complicated, convoluted, and wound up costing her over $100 per month, which was more than her little business generated in revenue. PayPal may have higher fees, but you only pay if you sell something. Setup and maintenance are FREE.I'm sure online merchant accounts have improved over the years, and, if you also sell stuff offline, a traditional merchant account may be the only way to go, but, if you're just starting out selling stuff online, IMHO, PayPal is the only way to go.Suz