Main Street Open » Open Toolbox

Video: Using Google Webmaster Tools

Terrell Sanders — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:22:55 +0000

Do you ever wonder what Google knows about your site? Maybe you have a new site and wonder IF Google knows about your site.

To help answer these questions, Google provides a great resource called Google Webmaster Tools. These tools let you see what Google knows about your site. They also help you tell them about your site. And like most Google tools, it’s completely free.

These tools also provide a great set of resources for existing sites. They show which pages are indexed, your highest ranked keywords, where your traffic comes from, and much more.

In this session we will look at how to use Google Webmaster Tools to submit site information to Google. In the next session we’ll look at some of the reports and insights Google can provide on a mature site.

To start the submission process we generate a sitemap. A sitemap is a specially formatted file that lists all the pages on your site. Our demonstration site is based on WordPress, so we will use a free plugin to generate this file.

If we don’t have a sitemap, then whenever we launch a new site, we have to wait for Google to discover it on their own, and then hope they actually find all the inside pages.

But first we have to register our site with Google Webmaster Tools tell them we exist. Here is how:

Watch Open Toolbox Video

Webcast: Building Sustainable Websites Using WordPress

Terrell Sanders — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:40:08 +0000

URL: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5727147

(Original live broadcast: Friday, March 26, 2010)

With it’s thousands of community-provided themes and plugins, WordPress offers an array of options never before available to web developers. But it also brings new challenges for building sustainable websites – those that can be upgraded without breaking, maintained and enhanced without shattering into pieces.

In this session we will discuss principles and guidelines for using WordPress or other open source tools to build sustainable websites. We will discuss the challenges and hidden gotchas of both open source software and community-provided addons, and strategies for making sites easier to support and enhance in the future.

If you are a WordPress developer, or a businessperson looking at WordPress as a platform for your next website, this session will give you some great guidelines for avoiding the “dark side” of open source software.

The session is presented by Adam White, who leads the customization team for MainStreetOpen.com.

Benefits of Brochure Websites

Terrell Sanders — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:18:53 +0000

Sometimes when business owners first start investigating websites they get overwhelmed by the options and costs. They see huge content-driven sites with $10,000+ price tags and immediately decide they can’t afford a website.

In our latest video, I address the simple “brochure” type website that is a great starter site for most businesses. These sites are available for less than $1,000 and require no ongoing maintenance.

Check out the video for more details on brochure websites.

WordCamp in Oklahoma City?

Terrell Sanders — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:05:38 +0000

We’ve kicked this idea around before, is there enough WordPress interest in Oklahoma to justify attempting a WordCamp in Oklahoma City?

What are they saying about you? Using Google Alerts

Terrell Sanders — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:55:08 +0000

Want to track your business’ publicity? Google Alerts are a free and easy way to monitor what people are saying about you on the internet.

This video shows you how to setup Google Alerts to and discusses several ways to use them.