I immediately freaked out because it wasn’t exactly a high traffic day and I hadn’t made any significant changes to my plugin line up in quite some time. I went back and forth with tech support at Host Gator (who were very prompt) to troubleshoot the issue. What had happened was that my site was under attack. Their system knew something was wrong and shut down access to my site before any damage could be done (so far as I can tell).

They granted access to my IP only so I could go in and change up passwords, update the database and ban the IP address of the “intruder”. Once I gave them the indication that I had done everything, they turned the site right back on.

So instead of cursing my hosting company for shutting down my site last night, I am THANKING them! Thank you Host Gator for protecting my site!

With all the discussion about PageRank and its worth or lack there of over the past week, I just couldn’t help but to bring this cartoon back!

Need more Yoda goodness?

• Make a Yoda doll
• Learn to draw Yoda
• Make your own Yoda origami
• Test your Yoda knowledge
• Master Jedi Yoda Mini Snowglobe

It’s Monday, I couldn’t help myself

From Pablo:

When your website uses any kind of insert data in a database (register users, add comments or anything else) it’s better to create a holder page while moving and testing everything on the new host, avoiding forgotten data on your DB. I always do that putting a holder on the old host and, on the new, keep everything working fine, because when changing DNS servers it may take a while replicating the changes to the “world”.

From Steven Rushing:

Something that very new website owners may not think about is your databases. My very first host switch, I downloaded all my files and ran. I reallly didn’t like my host.  But without the database my wordpress files were useless! This was 4 years ago now, when I was very new, but DON’T FORGET YOUR DATABASES!

From Michael:

Problems arise when people buy domains from the same web host, because transferring domains is much, much more complex (if even possible) so I would also recommend that you never buy your domain from the same company that hosts your site, even though it seems more convenient.

From Dan:

If you have access to your machine’s hosts file, do this before changing the DNS servers with your registrar:

Add entries domain name pointing to your new hosting companies IP in your hosts file (Linux, /etc/hosts; Windows, should be %SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts). Then, when you go to your site in your web browser, you’ll be seeing it from your new site. You may have to restart your browser or even your computer (or just manually clear the DNS cache).

For example, if the new IP address is 1.1.1.1 and your domain is yourdomain.com, add this to your hosts file:

1.1.1.1 yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com

This way you can test before every committing to changing DNS servers. If all looks good THEN change your DNS over.

From Michael:

Check out a Slicehost VPS. Switched from multiple shared hosting providers to a VPS and the performance has been orders of magnitude better that a shared host. It’s for the technically inclined, but if you get a VPS or dedicated server, it’s trivial to move between hosts.

From Loren:

Your list is not perfect. When you sign up for new hosting, you can have the new hosting company provide you with your IP address so you can actually see your files on the web before you change the name servers. You will also need to update your scripts as the name of your database may change depending on some hosts.

Also, some hosts (such as for .nr domains) are very picky about name server changes.. it can really be hard when some lousy companies don’t even have an online control panel for you to manage this stuff.

From Andrew:

I would not recommend having your hosting provider register your domain for you in order not to have problems later when moving to a new host.

From Barry:

I agree with a couple earlier posts–for database driven sites, the database is the most important part. Here’s a good tip if you know how to configure your databases.

First copy the files to the new host, and then also copy the database to the new host.

Then change the permissions on the new host’s database so that the OLD host has permission to access the database, and then go to the old site and edit the config files to point to the database on the new host instead of localhost.

Now if you edit the DB content (posts, comments, etc.) the changes will all be on the new host, and the database on the old host isn’t needed anymore.

Then whan that all works, switch the DNS to point to the new host….and editing your local hosts file to test the new host first is a good idea.

From Vic:

easier way – if your host is cPanel; just tell your new host to do the transfer for you – they can do it immediately within a couple moments ; all your files + emails and settings will be instantly transfered.

From webhosting:

One of the reason I prefer CPanel control panel over other control panel is because switching between Cpanel host is much easier. WHM has a feature that can helps in downloading the entire site from one server to another and thus making moving host very easy (HostGator is using Cpanel).

From Gil Megadish:

I’m an expert at this field

I have moved 5 providers in the past 2 years. The guideline above is good for static websites. I have encountered difficulties not discussed in the post. Among are:

1. While DNS update is propagating, some users see the old server, to which they register and add new content. While others see the new server and add new content to that. Within 48 hours, nobody will be using the old server, but how do you sync the old with the new?

2. Apache/PHP versions matter! PHP of one version returns warning which is an error on the other. Different versions of shutils behave differently. And last but not least, sendmail never survives the move! Remember this!

3. Always make sure your new server can handle at least the same load as the old server. If possible, make an .htaccess to force 301 redirect to the new server (by ip address of course.)

4. Use Amazon S3 for user uploaded media!

5. Another trick I haven’t tried yet, is to set two A record on your DNS, with priority for the old server. Then let it propagate for 48 hours before simply shutting down the old server and removing it from DNS. That way, clients are supposed to try both IPs, so for the first 48 hours, they will always fail on the first IP before moving to the second. Haven’t tried it yet, but time will come to move again

From Vaibhav:

I had a similar post some time ago.. This one is specific for wordpress blogs. If anyone is interested, it is at: http://blog.gadodia.net/steps-to-move-your-blog/

From Baz L:

These steps work great if you have just HTML content. Things get a bit more complicated when you have MySQL databases involved. This will help: http://www.webdevelopment2.com/moving-wordpress-to-a-different-domain/

Have you done a hosting switch? If so, what would you do differently next time or what did you learn in the process?

Personally, I’ll take a link on a prominent blogger’s site any day! Why? Because quality always wins out over quantity in my book. Over the past few weeks I have been paying very close attention to where my traffic is coming from and the resulting effect it has had on my site.

During the week of my blogging birthday bash, my wonderful gift from Dawud of 164 Essential Tools for Online Success post was Stumbled, Dugg, and linked to from others. The Stumble was mistimed and never really got any major momentum so the resulting traffic came in the form of a few small spikes, but those small spikes are still lingering. The post did get a fair amount of Digg attention – 83 at last count – and did briefly hit the front page, but the resulting traffic was nothing to write home about and many of the Digg comments were snippy, at best. However, the number of blogs that linked to the post and endorsed it with nice comments, created the largest benefit – from traffic and inbound links.

Later in the week I did a post on the reality of Web site monetization and Problogger (thanks Darren) linked to it. Not only was the traffic increase equal to a Digg, many of those who found the post by way of Problogger took a moment to comment and let me know how they found it or they mentioned it in a post at their own site. This kind of interaction is just so much more important to me. I also noticed a nice jump in RSS subscribers during that time, too.

Of course, my experience is just that, my experience and my opinion. I’d love to know what your experience has been with Digg versus other traffic generating sources. 

Before I entered the world of blogging, none of the websites I designed for clients or myself had been monetized in any way (and none of them were blogs). I was aware of direct advertising as a means of getting a return on your investment, but I really hadn’t clued in to much else. One of my clients had started including affiliate links in her web updates and then she wanted some Adsense blocks added. I had never done any of this before so I had her tell me what she knew and I set about doing my own research to get more information.

The big names in the internet marketing world lead you to believe that all you have to do to start making money from your web site is to slap a few Adsense ads up there, buy their book or e-book, sign up for their affiliate program and “poof” – you will be an Internet Marketing Millionaire overnight. Guess what? That’s not quite how it works.

In my experience, monetizing your web site takes:

• Research
• Trial and error
• Traffic
• and Patience

Every web site is different and there are many different ways you can monetize a site. Certain methods work better than others based on your content, your audience, your traffic level, and your end goals.

Adsense and other contextual ad programs

Where it works: Niche sites tailored to a specific audience. Health, celebrity, consumer product, and extremely specialized niches work best. The less “tech-savvy” the audience, the better the click through rate is going to be (in my experience). Also, the higher your traffic rate, obviously the better you are going to do.

How to maximize your earnings: Use a mix of link ad and ad blocks and blend them into your design as much as possible. Try out a variety of placements using channels. If using on a general topic blog, place on single pages only for more relevant ads.

Affiliate Programs

Where it works: There are affiliate programs for just about everything from specific products to e-courses and absolutely everything in between. Affiliate links work best when presented as recommendations or reviews. Landing pages or pre-sale techniques really help. Affiliate links, if done right, work well even with a the traditional non-clicking audience.

How to maximize your earnings: Do your research. Find affiliate programs for products your audience already uses or would use – especially with a good recommendation from you. Use a pre-sale technique such as a well written landing page for better conversion rates.

Direct Ad Sales

Where it works: Selling text link ads or banner ads have the highest pay potential once your site gets fairly mature and starts getting consistent traffic flows. Having a defined niche/audience helps dramatically. Also, strong content and good SEO techniques make your site more attractive to potential advertisers.

How to maximize your earnings: Have a page about advertising on your site, or at a minimum, have solid statistics on your traffic, click through rates, and your demographics on hand. Be willing to share this information with potential advertisers. You can use brokerage services as well, but keep in mind that they will take a cut of your earnings. However, this may be the easiest way to break into the direct ad arena.

Paid Blogging

Where it works: You can do paid posting through a brokerage service or you can get paid to write regularly for a network. Most of the time the brokerages that offer pay per post (or review) opportunities require your site meet some basic requirements, but beyond that, you can choose which paid opportunities you wish to write on. Writing for a network requires application for the position, but can be a great way to earn money from blogging – especially when you consider what your current blog makes.

How to maximize your earnings: Look for pay per post opportunities that you enjoy, offer some value to your readers, and ones that pay fairly well. When getting paid to blog for a network (or similar), look for a network with a solid reputation, fair pay and bonus opportunities for increasing site traffic.

The Final Word

There are plenty of people making a really good living using a combination of web monetization methods, however I doubt any of them got there overnight and without making plenty of mistakes along the way. And for the record, I didn’t make very much money my first month of monetizing my sites – or my second – or my third. Around the 4th month, things started picking up. After a year of monetizing my sites, I have gotten to the point where I can consider MYSELF as a client – allowing me to stop doing some of the client work I no longer enjoy. I know there is still ALOT more I have to learn about making money on the Internet, but we’ll revisit my progress in another 6 months.

I would LOVE to get your insights on web site monetization. What has worked for you? Am I painting a realistic or accurate picture or have I had a totally different experience than yours?

Essential Keystrokes, Version 1.0 – the Blogger Days

We all have to start somewhere! Google’s Blogger platform was initially my choice because it was FREE, easy to get started, and it sounded like a good idea at the time. It was also a fairly good way to get comfortable with tweaking themes, and trying out different monetization options.

During that first version, I logged 50 posts between June 22 and September 29. Other stats include a whopping 31 comments, 11 inbound links and less than 200 uniques per month.

As I got my blogging bearing, it was evident that Blogger was not the way for me. I was limited by its constraints and no one even had a chance of remembering my URL. Around this time I had also started reading blogs like Easton’s Business Blogwire and Liz Strauss’ Successful Blog. The more blogs I read, the more I realized it was time to get my own domain name and try the WordPress platform.

Essential Keystrokes, Version 2.0 – Learning WordPress on the Fly

In September I purchased two new domain names – essentialkeystrokes.com and casualkeystrokes.com (realizing I needed an outlet for non-web design topics) and jumped into WordPress head first. I posted my first distress call less than a week later! Lorelle of Lorelle on WordPress came to my rescue – how is that for help???

Not one to go with the crowd, I searched high and low for a WordPress theme that was different from all the others I had seen. I found BoxyBlue from Geeks Make Me Hot and knew it was the one. I went to work tweaking the theme to make it my very own. Within the first month on my own domain my traffic more than TRIPLED, I learned how to get out there and be social, and Brian Clark of Copyblogger chose one of my headlines to remix (I still say WOW).

I also joined the MomGadget forum where I met Gayla and the rest of the crew. This is an inspiring group of bloggers and I can honestly say that their enthusiasm and willingness to share ideas, tips, and secrets for success really helped me gain a new insight into blogging.

In December I had a phone conversation with Liz at Successful Blog that became the inspiration for a very popular weekly series called Essential Tools, which has now had 27 installments. WOW!

By March my average monthly uniques was around 3,000 with page views above 45,000 and I broke the top 50,000 for Technorati (that’s a huge improvement from the bottom of the barrel.)

And then I started feeling “boxed” in.

Essential Keystrokes, Version 3.0 – I’m Starting to Hit My Stride

By late March I was beginning to feel boxed in by the two-column design of my theme and was on a hunt for something new. I looked high and low, and suddenly it hit me! My design was right in front of me. Since Essential Keystrokes is my “business” blog – an extension of my web design business, Keystrokes Design & Marketing, shouldn’t the two look something alike?

The three column layout of dkret was a good fit for the design. I designed the new look “live” and got some really awesome reader feedback in the process – something I would have totally missed had I not invited participation (thanks Kevin). Three cheers for collaboration!

I added some great plugins to help my blog with SEO, highlight popular posts, and encourage reader participation. As a result, May was fabulous! My uniques are now above 4,000, page views are topping 56,000 and Technorati has me at 17,000 now. I’d like to thank my 200 RSS subscribers, too. This blog has a LONG way to go, but it is clearly making progress.

There you have it! All you ever wanted to know about this blog – whether you wanted to know or not! Seriously, I really hope that this can help give some perspective on the evolution of an average blog. It’s not easy (but it’s not rocket science either), it takes a lot of patience, and you have to be willing to enter each day ready to learn.

It will be a lot of fun to look back on this post a year from now and see where the blogging world has taken Essential Keystrokes.

PS – Don’t forget about the great giveaways this week!

I am in the process of working on a new client project and part of the requirement was that I produce three different mock ups (yes, I am being compensated for all three designs) from which the client could pick their favorite aspects.

I did a handful of pencil sketches (David Airey would be proud of me) and then set out to work. I had been given some general guidelines of what they were looking for, but nothing too concrete.

Needless to say, I loved the first concept. Coming up with two other design concepts became much more challenging. I did manage to come up with the other mock ups, but I just didn’t like either one nearly as much.

We had a meeting with the client today to review all the concepts. Guess which one they liked best? The first one I did – with a few minor tweaks.

I am still glad I did all three versions because it gave me an even better feel for what elements the client is very passionate about (positive or negative).

How about you? Are you like me – a go with your gut kind of gal? Or are you a big time brainstormer, edit, re-edit, review, re-edit kind of a person?

Ben Yoskovitz wants to know our secrets – our secrets to productivity. He is holding a group writing project called The Ultimate Guide to Productivity and Adam Kayce of Monk at Work invited me to join in.

My secret to productivity isn’t really a secret – you have to LOVE what you do.

That said, I am not always the most productive person. I frequently fall victim to my two arch enemies, procrastination and perfection. I have to really take great care in which projects I take on to avoid these two menaces. Over the years I have learned what types of projects get me fired up and which don’t. In the old days, I was not in a position to turn any work down and I often had to take on projects that I didn’t love. Try as I might, the results of those projects show my real feelings and over time I am learning the power of “no”.

As I get ready to face the next decade in my business, the power of “no” needs to get stronger so that the power of “love” can guide my business to more productive, successful, meaningful work. In the fall I will find myself with larger blocks of time that I will need to manage. Something tells me that if I don’t love my work, I will be wasting an awful lot of time.

Alister Cameron also participated in this project and his post goes even more into depth about the importance of loving your work – i.e. passion and purpose.

I found some of the other participant’s posts to be very timely, too, like Wendy at eMoms At Home’s need for leverage and ChrisG is right on the money when he describes getting into a flow state – I call that times when you just have to “run with it”.

Need the zen? Dawud is all about staying focused and Adam needs clarity. Gayla’s zen is in the spreadsheet, and then some days its all about the caffeine!

Everyone is welcome to take this to their blog and share with us! However, I play by the rules, so I am personally tagging:

• Randa Clay of Randa Clay Design
• Lisa Sabin-Wilson of Just a Girl in the World
• Tara of Graphic Design Blog
• Yvonne Russell of Grow Your Writing Business
• Daniel of the Wrong Advices

Apart from the daily professional development and being exposed to the trends in my field, blogging has given me the opportunity to synergize with super talented professionals that I would have never met otherwise!

Synergy or synergism (from the Greek synergos, meaning working together, circa 1660) refers to the phenomenon in which two or more discrete influences or agents acting together create an effect greater than that predicted by knowing only the separate effects of the individual agents. (wiki)

I have experienced the satisfaction of helping others and I have certainly been on the receiving end of a lot of great help!

In her guest post at Alister Cameron’s blog today, Randa Clay writes about The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Bloggers. All of her points are valid and certainly worth the read, but her item #5 – synergize – is the one thing that I think every blogger needs to do, as it delivers the most pay off. As an example, Randa talks about our niche blogs and how we have generously given each other insight, feedback, how to’s and support – to the benefit of both of us. The end result is something much greater than we could achieve on our own.

At the MomGadget forum, members regularly share their tips, ideas, and support for the benefit of all members. The community is thriving and as a result, we are all better for it – the synergy at play even sparked a new blogging network where bloggers bring their own blog. After all – what fun is success if you don’t have anyone to share it with. And those who have walked a similar path to yours understand the meaning of that success much more!

Most recently, I experienced blogging synergy first hand when I decided to make over this blog – right before your very eyes! Many designers would have considered it unprofessional – not me! I knew that some of my readers would love to see the transformation happen and could learn from it. Me, I got some genius ideas out of it – things I might have missed out on if I were designing in a vacuum. (Thanks Kevin and everyone else who gave me input – you rock!)

What is your favorite blogging perk? Join the conversation and we will all benefit!

Tags: blogging, synergy, alister cameron, randa clay, mom gadget, gack ink

So, thank you to all who have linked to me and here’s to my next goal – the top 10,000.

It’s the little victories like this one that keep us blogging. Whether it is a traffic spike, great commenters, a few Adsense dollars, or a mention at another blog, the pieces all add up to happy bloggers. And happy bloggers share good information – and that helps us all.

And while we are on the subject (kind of), don’t forget to join my community at MyBlogLog. I currently have 35 members and would love to get to 100 by the end of March.

Did you celebrate any little victories this week or this month? I give you permission to brag – do it here in a comment or on your own blog and I’ll give you a link.

Have a great weekend!