Many thanks to Carra Riley of Cosmic Cowpie fame for allowing us the opportunity to participate on her Blog Talk Radio series. 

Please see details below.

    
 

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We all know that content is king.  That will never change.  However, it is interesting to learn how Google ranks page speed when considering the value of a website.  While a higher loading page with little to no content will never outrank a page that is full of great info that happens to load at a slower speed, Google can give a little more weight to a page that loads faster than one with similar content but a lower load speed.

So, how do you keep good content without sacrificing page speed?  Don't overdo it.  You want to keep your site easy-to-use and not hard on the eyes.  Using too many widgets, videos, slideshows, etc. bogs down the load time.  Not everyone has high speed internet access.  And even those that do can find some pages taking a long time to load because of all the info the program has to read first.  Focus on the key elements you want your viewers to see and direct them to another interior page to get more details.  If a person gets antsy waiting for your page to finish loading, they will head on over to the competition that won't make them wait.

Google's goal is to rank the most relevant information highest in their search engines.  How quickly or slowly a page loads doesn't affect that at all.  However, making your website both user-friendly and quicker will not only keep your audience engaged, it will also help you stay above your slower competition in Google.

In the end, how does Google rank page speed?  It's not more of a priority than relevant content.  But, it is something that should be considered in your website's overall design.

Pamela Cendejas, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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I used to be able to find great Spanish Rice in package made by Knorr. I don't know if they quit making it or my grocery store just stopped carrying it.

I came up with this Spanish Rice recipe out of desperation. It's so simple and only takes a few minutes and even fewer ingredients. I am not real big on measurements when I make this, so use your own judgement and taste.

Mexican Cooking Spanish Rice Doesn't Get Any Easier Than This

• Cooking Oil 1 cups white rice
  
• 1/2 cup bottled salsa - your favorite brand
  
• 1 1/2 cup water
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
  

Barely cover the bottom of a large frying pan with cooking oil. Heat oil. Add rice, salt and garlic salt and brown slightly. Add water and salsa. Bring to boil. Cover frying pan with lid. Turn heat to low temperature and simmer for approximately 15 - 20 minutes. Do not stir until completely cooked.

Everyone's taste is different. So, try it this way and then adjust, if needed.

    
 

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Videos aren't all about what you see.  With the popularity of video positively exploding in the last few years, people tend to focus only on the visual aspect of the video and almost completely forget about the audio part.  This is funny, considering the bulk of information provided on a video is through what you hear, not what you see.  If what is being said can't clearly be understood, what is the point of making the video, right?  Following a few basic rules will help you make a more professional sounding video and make sure that your message gets across clearly and concisely.

1. Don't rely on the built-in microphone on your camera for your sound.  This basic microphone is not meant for higher-quality sound.  Instead, look for a camcorder that includes a jack for an external microphone.  Most of the more professional cameras have an XLR connector while others utilize 1/8" or mini-jacks for their external microphone feeds.
2. Cheaper isn't better when it comes to sound.  While you don't have to spend thousands on a high end external mic, don't go for the $35 low end either.  They aren't much better than your built-in camera microphones and will usually pick up all the sound around you, drowning out whatever you are trying to say.  Lavalier mics (similar to the small mics used on the lapels of newscasters) are excellent so long as you place them near the face (on the lapel or collar of a shirt) and away from anything that can rub up against it, causing disruption in the audio.  If there will be several people being recorded on camera, you may want to consider several microphones with a mixer or a boom mic.
3. Make sure the high or low impedence of whichever microphone you choose matches the technical aspects of your camera to avoid feedback.
4. Use headphones to monitor audio sounds when recording.  These will help pick up any outside noises that you may not be able to hear while you are videotaping but sounds that the microphone will pick up easily, such as traffic, phones, etc.
5. Monitor your video in real time.  This will allow you to see exactly what the camera is seeing and avoid costly retakes when possible.
6. Check the microphone levels.  If the level is too high, it can create distortion.  If the level is too low, you may not be able to hear what is being said.
7. If necessary, rent professional equipment.  If you find that you will only need the higher end camera and audio equipment once or twice, it is more cost effective to rent the equipment.  However, if you are looking to make professional style videos more often, it is well worth making the investment.

If you plan on creating and utilizing videos for your online marketing, you need to remember that videos aren't all about what you see.  Invest in proper audio equipment so that your message can be heard.

Pamela Cendejas, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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Feeling a little stressed?  Who isn't?

Today has been one of those days - the Internet was out, the phone lines were down and I was just fed up.

A very good friend of mine, Billy Ethridge, emailed the following YouTube video.  I was instantly transformed.  I think you will be, too.

Whether you're having a stressful day or not, please do yourself a favor and take a listen.

    
 

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Wondering what's for lunch?

According to the National Restaurant Association, here's some interesting statistics about how we eat lunch:

• Over 27 percent of full-time employees frequently spend their lunch break doing things other than eating.
• 45 percent of employed adults feel that they have less time for lunch than they used to.
• In a typical week, 29 percent of male workers eat in a sit-down restaurant at least once; 26 percent of women do.
• Almost 65 percent of employed workers eat a meal that can be held in the hand, such as a burger or sandwich.
• 50 percent of working adults bring lunch to work at least one time per week.
  

Where do you fall in these statistics?

Please share any statistics you know of.

    
 

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Is linking considered a copyright infringement?  Some news organizations want you to think so.  Now, to be clear, I am not talking about plagiarism or using copyrighted photos as your own.  I'm actually talking about simply linking to an outside source, whether on your site, in a blog post or even through an email.  News Corp, one of the largest media corporations in the world, is considering blocking search engines and feeds from utilizing its content.  It considers all of its content copyrighted intellectual property, including links.  While the content itself is, indeed, the property of the person who originally wrote it (and rightfully so), why would they consider a simple link to the article an infringement on their copyright?  And why would they want to block their content from being linked?

As you know, SEO is partly dependent on good links.  Linking to a good site, article, etc. that carries weight in the search engine algorithms can help increase the weight of your site, bringing your site up in the rankings.  If search engines don't have access to these reputable sites, will that have an affect on your site?  It might.

Some people who are against News Corp's stance (primarily journalists) say that this is a way to control what people read instead of allowing freedom to see differing viewpoints.  They believe that this opens the door for online news media to negotiate with corporate search engines, giving them "exclusive" access to only their online media that includes only their opinions and blocking out others that don't agree.  Since journalists are relying more and more on digital media for source material, limiting access to information hurts them.  Other opponents believe that, if the information in question is freely available to some members of the public, it should be available to all.

Not all news organizations agree with News Corp's argument, however.  Many media companies understand that links drive traffic to their sites, increasing their audience and adding value to their contributors and content.  And, the whole point of creating online content is to drive traffic to your business, isn't it?  So, do you consider linking to be a copyright infringement?  Please let me know.  I'm very curious to see what you think.

Pamela Cendejas, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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Breadsticks for Two sounds perfect! Since our kids all grown up and have families of their own, it's sometimes difficult to find recipes that are suitable for two people. It's okay to freeze the extra but somehow it doesn't always taste as good. So, here's the perfect recipe that serves two and can always be eaten in one sitting.

Breadsticks for Two

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 egg white

1 teaspoon water

4 frozen bread dough dinner rolls, thawed

1. In a shallow bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, basil and garlic powder. In another bowl, whisk egg white and water. Roll each dough ball into an 8" rope. Dip in egg white mixture, then roll in cheese mixture. Twist each rope three or four times.

2. Place on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 20 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-16 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

By the way. . . I think heaven must smell like fresh baked bread.

    
 

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Martin Luther King Day is a wonderful time to reflect upon the changes that have occurred as a result of it's namesake's dedication and service.

    
 

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Since January is National Get Organized Month, I found a great way to get organized online with OfficeZilla.  OfficeZilla provides a private and secure online area for your company or organization to share files, calendars, forums, tasks, phone messages and more absolutely free.  The unlimited space allows for any sized files that you need to be shared amongst as many people as you choose to have access.  You can even assign people to "groups".  Only the people assigned to the group you create can have access to the information in the group.  This information is not shared to any outside source anywhere else.  Also, you are in control of everything: what is seen by whom, giving permissions, etc.

Why should you use OfficeZilla?  With more and more people and businesses communicating via technology: email, faxes, phone, teleconferences, etc., it can be difficult keeping up with changes to important projects or information being passed around.  OfficeZilla provides a place to store all up-to-date information for any project, discussion, etc. and keep all involved parties "in the loop" at all times.

No matter how many members, no matter how large the size of the file, OfficeZilla is the perfect way to keep yourself, your staff and your company on track.  Get organized online with OfficeZilla today.

Pamela Cendejas, your Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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