Here's something for all of us who post stuff on the Internet to be aware of:

Online hangouts like Facebook and MySpace have offered crime-solving help to detectives and become a resource for employers vetting job applicants. Now the sites are proving fruitful for prosecutors, who have used damaging Internet photos of defendants to cast doubt on their character during sentencing hearings and argue for harsher punishment.

by HomeBusinessWiz contributing writer Katja Bartholmess

Hello again, Home Business Wizzes!

In the last homepage booster we discussed the ways that fancy-shmancy web design can actually hurt your business. Today, let's look at the other side of the coin. I want to show you how even the simplest home page can help you land more clients - if you know the crucial homepage-boosting rules.

Today's booster recipient, Debbie Payne, launched her leadership consulting company at the beginning of this year. She maintains her own website (www.dpleadership.com) using an inexpensive html template, but is considering an upgrade to a more professional platform down the road. Until she does, let's explore a few ways Debbie can make her existing site more client-friendly and search engine-friendly without spending a dime.

And remember: my 7 point homepage critique is available to anyone with a company and a website. If you fall into that category and want to drum up more business, click here to get more info. There's no fee - just a suggested donation to a great charity.

As you read the following critique, ask yourself how these comments could be used to hotrod your homepage. Let's do it!

Google AdSense delivers great click-throughs and high revenues for one reason: the ads are targeted to what the user wants. (If you're new to Adsense is, click here for a beginner's guide to Adsense.)

How does Google know what ads to put on your website?

Google's robot picks out keywords on your page, gets a grip on what your website is about and delivers links that take users to sites that interest them.

That's great news... up to a point. As much as you want your users to click on ads that look interesting, you might not want to trust to a robot to pick those ads - and you might prefer to have ads on your page that pay the highest amount possible for each click.

But you don't get the choice. You can do lots of things to improve your AdSense revenue, from selecting the layout of your ad unit to choosing the color and size of the font, but one thing you can't do is slip into Google's database and choose the ads. If you could do that, no one would ever choose the low-paying ads.

Tricks of the Adsense game

That doesn't mean you can't do anything at all though. The fact is, some smart publishers have been noticing all sorts of interesting results after playing with their HTML code and changing some of the text on their Web page. And some of those results have been very surprising indeed.

For example, some publishers have found that placing keywords in certain positions on the page can have an immediate effect on the ads served. The owner of a site about recreation vehicles then would be able to do a little research online to find the highest paying keywords in his area and then - if he knew where those hotspots were - he could place those keywords in the right areas on the page. In addition to the usual ads about camper vans and RV's that his site would receive, the publisher could be certain that at least one of the ads was the highest paying possible. That's the sort of knowledge that's worth money in your pocket.

Why some areas of a Web page should be more important than others is a mystery well kept by Google's programmers. But some of Google's ad secrets are leaking out - and they're being snapped up by smart publishers who understand that knowledge and strategy are the key to massive AdSense revenues.

For more Google AdSense tips, visit http://www.adsense-secrets.com

Copyright © 2005 Joel Comm. All rights reserved

FreeConference.com now offers a new FREE teleconferencing screen share tool that works like a webinar. When you signup you need to choose the "FREE/Beta ScreenShare" feature.

Several people I know have used GoToMeeting.com and think it provides a very handy tool at a reasonable price. It is easy to use and easy to set up. No prescheduling required. Another easy and low-cost option is StartVisuals.com. It starts up almost instantly and is very easy to use. It has also proven to be quite reliable for a low-cost platform.

I have attended meetings on Intercall.com (they used to be named Raindance.com) and on Webex.com and found they work fine also. WebEx has the best feature set for small collaborative meetings. It doesn't take long to learn how to be productive, and impress your participants.The last time I checked, though, Intercall cost more than GoToMeeting (and Webex was way more) for the same service.

When choosing a webinar service, try each service if at all possible -- there are differences which may affect your meetings.

Tip: You will need a decent upload speed to show your desktop -- 256kb up will only work marginally, 512kb works well, 1,000kb or better is excellent for most webinar applications.

Another thing to be aware of is that using VOIP (voice over internet, such as vonage or skype) can sometimes affect the quality of webinar reception. You may experience hiccups in reception if you or your participants use VOIP.

by HomeBusinessWiz contributing writer Katja Bartholmess

Today I'm going tackle an issue that you and everyone with an online presence should know about: why you should avoid using Flash on your website. Ignore this advice, and you might let untold amounts of traffic flow right past your website.

[Editor's note added July 5, 2008: Google announced this week that they will begin to index content from Flash files. For a discussion of the SEO implications of this change, go to this article from e-consultancy.com. ]

Now back to the homepage booster...

Kathryn Lim is an image consultant who helps companies and individuals look their best by coaching them on their personal appearance. But her website, www.kathrynlim.com, isn't pulling its weight. In her words, "My website looks pretty but is not in alignment with what I truly want. It is not a marketing tool and does not really help me promote my business."

Kathryn, I couldn't have said it better myself. One glance at your website shows that your excellent consulting services are being hobbled by an insidious web demon - a demon known as Flash.

This article provides 8 sure-fire ways to increase your Google page ranking through building backlinks. Tips #2 - #8 come from the comprehensive guide to backlinks available at Search Engine Workshops.

Backlink Building Tip #1:

Backlink Building Tip #2:

Host your own affiliate program on your own server. Sure it takes more work: you have to set it up, administer it and pay out the affiliate checks. However, if you use an affiliate service, such as Commission Junction, the links point to the affiliate service and get redirected to your site. A more effective strategy is to host your own affiliate program, so all those affiliate links point directly to you. You can find affiliate programs, some of which may be free at The CGI Resource Index (Bill Gentry with Look Sharp Designs)

Backlink Building Tip #3:

Increase google page ranking by finding linking opportunities within discussion lists related to your site’s topic.  Warning: do so responsibly and carefully (in other words, don't join a discussion list for the sole purpose of getting backlinks.  Participate and add value to the discussion group). Try YahooGroups, which has thousands of topical discussion groups on almost any topic. I often send short posts to appropriate lists with links for my clients’ sites, and if you do so properly, it is very effective. (Eric Ward, President, NetPOST and URLwire)

Backlink Building Tip #4:

Anywhere you can leave your link, do it: in chat rooms, guest books and social networking sites (the warning from tip #3 applies here as well).  You would be surprised at where your link turns up on search engines when you start doing this. And if the search engine has found it, then it adds to your link popularity. (Don Hammond at DonOmite.com)

Backlink Building Tip #5:

Now that Google indexes the content of newsgroups, if you post to related newsgroups, be sure to use a signature line with your link and appropriate link text. (Robin Nobles of Search Engine Workshops, Online Search Engine Marketing Courses, and the TNT-Guides for Successful Web Sites.

Backlink Building Tip #6:

Ask a question at a site that has a question and answer page and include a link. Post questions on forums that allow links. Post into the newsgroups. Include an e-mail tail tag. Put it on your T-shirt. Include it as a sticker with each shipped order. Tattoo it on your forehead. Tell your mom. Get a vanity license plate. (Michael Campbell with Internet Marketing Secrets)

Backlink Building Tip #7:

The number one way I've built link popularity is by offering a good information product or service, establishing a good conversion on the site, and then getting super affiliates. I've found that getting super affiliates multiplies the number of regular affiliates I'm able to get. All of this leads to hundreds of inbound links. It takes a very disciplined approach, but one I've found very effective. (Jon Keel with Improved Results)

I'm surprised at how many people don't have their link in their signature line of their e-mail. (Don Hammond at DonOmite.com)