Avatar News October 26, 2006

Link Building Made Easy — Part Two

This month, we take a look at how you can deal with the requests you receive for link exchanges.

When you decide to publish links to other people's Web sites in exchange for links pointing to your site, you are trading in online 'recommendations'. Before exchanging links, it's generally a good idea to see if there is any benefit for you in doing this.

What to do with link exchange requests
To assess whether exchanging links with another site is good for you, it's a good idea to first assess the quality and integrity of the site requesting a link.

When to say 'no thanks'

1. Say 'no' if the quality of a site is low. Find out by viewing the Google PageRank (PR) of the page your link would be published on. If it has a low PR, (less than your site's) it is not a particularly 'strong' recommendation for your site from a search engine optimisation point of view.
2. Say 'no' if the integrity of the site is questionable. Does the site publish useful content or is it simply jam-packed with paid advertising listings? Do you find the site offensive in any way? Does the site look professional?
3. Say 'no' if the site is irrelevant to your industry and not of genuine interest to your site visitors.

Princes and paupers
Don't worry if you seem to be saying 'no thanks' most of the time to link exchange requests. One link exchange with one high ranking, relevant and professional Web site (a prince) is worth more than a multitude of link exchanges from Web sites at the opposite end of the scale (the paupers).

Countdown to Christmas

Sending electronic Christmas cards can save you time, money and a whole lot of writer's cramp. We can design and create your electronic Christmas cards, which you can then distribute to your mailing list. You can choose from stylish static HTML cards or fun animated Christmas-themed games (either templated designs or custom-made).

If you do not have a mailing program yet, think about using Rocket Mailing, which helps you manage and send out mailings.

If you commission a Christmas card from us before 30th November, we'll give you a discount of $50+gst.

Contact us today for more information.

New Address for Avatar HQ

Pound the pavement on Cashel Street no more, 'cos we're not there! Instead you'll find us on Level One, 179 Tuam Street, Christchurch CBD (postcode 8011).

Our new neighbours are Real Groovy and the Christchurch City Council. All our phone, fax, postal details and email contact details stay the same. The bonus for our visitors is the large public car park just over the road (new pot plants are welcome).

Meet M 'n' M — A New Avatar Double Act

Kiwi Michael and Pommie Matt joined the Avatar team recently and buddy up in the new offices. Michael is our new Business Development Manager and you can talk to him about any of your Web design and Web marketing needs. Once you've rubber stamped your project with Michael, you're then in the hands of the unflappable Matt, who in his role as Project Manager, will smoothly guide you through each step of your project.

In a freakish coincidence, both our new Ms love M&Ms and Eminem — and no doubt you're now musing on what a marvellous, mouthwatering and melodius match they make!

Interesting Tidbits

• Quarter of a million .nz domains registered! InternetNZ announced recently that the number of domain names registered under the top level .nz domain reached over 250,000.
• Balkanisation of the Internet predicted. The chairman of the IGF (Internet Governance Forum) set up by the UN, recently discussed why the Internet could eventually develop into separate networks as users' requirements of language, speed, bandwidth and security grow increasingly different.
• Internet Explorer 7 released. Catching up to other browsers such as Firefox, IE 7 features new tabs for Web pages instead of new windows, searching from the browser and an anti-fraud system. If you're an IE user, check IE 7 out.
• Firefox 2.0 also released! Perhaps trying to make sure that Microsoft doesn't gain too much ground, Mozilla release an upgraded version of their browser, Firefox 2.0 this month. New features include improved tab browsing, session restore, spell-checking for blogs and Web based email, Web feeds management, search suggestions and integrated search, live bookmarks and more.
• The $100 'laptop' school-bag. Non-profit organisation, One Laptop per Child will reportedly be supplying Libya with over 1.2 million laptops for use by school children. The laptops offer Internet access and are powered by hand cranks.
• YouTube makes a cool $1.65 billion. Around the world over 100 million people watch clips on the YouTube Web site every day and now its founders, Chad and Steve, have sold up to Google for $1.65 billion... that's right, billion.
• Small wigs for small people. Who could resist cuddling up to a baby Bob Marley? Check out these fabtastic baby wigs!
• Hallowe'en... the history. Sacred bonfires, animal head costumes, sacrificing crops and animals... no, not another night on the tiles for Rocket, but the stuff of legend and Celtic traditions known as 'Hallowmas'. Find out how sweets and pumpkins fit into the Hallowe'en tradition celebrated this month.
• Recycled office space. If only we'd had an office space like this one to move into... this is what happens when the Swiss turn their attentions to recycling.
• Most expensive office space in the world... Too small and too expensive with a square metre costing the equivalent of £80 billion. Take a look at this amazing micro office.

Sites of Interest

Here's a selection of sites we've designed, updated and/or promoted recently...

• Air Milford (update and promotion)
  Scenic flightseeing tours and charter flights to Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Aoraki/ Mount Cook and the Catlins from a small, friendly aviation company based in Queenstown.
• Taidow™ (update and promotion)
  Tai Dow™ and qi gong (chi kung) meditation techniques offer hope for people going through breast cancer treatment, anxiety treatment, stress relief and depression treatment in Australia.
• The Ridge (update)
  Location and section plans of land for sale in a luxury coastal real estate property development in Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Vending Direct (update)
  New Zealand vending machine suppliers offering snack, fresh food, hot or cold drink or combination vending machines to rent or to buy.
• TotalSpan (update)
  Leading New Zealand manufacturer of steel framed buildings including garages, carports, sheds, barns and temporary accommodation.
• Versatile Buildings (update)
  New Zealand's most trusted builder of garages and small buildings.
• RD Tours (update)
  Agricultural, photographic or beach walking tours around Queenstown, Glenorchy, high country farms and the Catlins.
• Lake Tekapo Motels & Holiday Park (update)
  Budget holiday park accommodation for families and backpackers, plus campervan sites with all the modern holiday campground facilities.
• Cuddon Limited (update)
  From freeze dry machines and giant salmon farm cages to New Zealand defence equipment and freeze dry technology, Cuddon designs and builds industrial machinery to exacting standards.
• Century 21 Marlborough (update)
  Residential homes, apartments, investment and commercial properties for sale in Marlborough and in the Sounds.
• PDL (update)
  PDL is part of the Schneider Electric group and its electrical and electronic products are sold in markets throughout the world.