With all the bitching and moaning about the changes to the Facebook privacy policy we have to ask ourselves why are they now changing as they have always been one of the most private social medial websites for people to network and meet up.

We believe that it ultimately has to do with search engines now wanting to incorporate content from social media websites into their results. recently we have heard news of Twitter doing a deal with the business networking website “Linked In” to allow that website to bring in its content.

All the Major websites are doing it, MSN live chat now allows you to bring in your MySpace information into your account there. The use of a login system called Open ID allows you to have one account from facebook for example and that can be used on loads of other sites, making it easier to integrate larger and larger sites together.

Facebook is estimated to have nearly 1,000,000 users in Ireland by Christmas 2009, so now they have 1/4 of the population, they also have what all hungry search engines need. . . Content. We talked about content for web last week and how it will be needed more and more in the coming years.

Google Live Search

This is a new feature of Google’s algorithm that basically reads social media websites such as Twitter and uses its content as the results for questions searched for. So this is a big step away from google showing your websites it read through last night and showing you the “latest news”. Well if its from last night then its not the “latest” but if its from Twitter or F it is the latest. Facebook and Twitter are no strapped to a computer desk any more, we carry them around with us, they are now part of most mobile phones with all of us feeding them each time we click on a letter.

Doing a search today, google replied with a live twitter feed as the first results and then the normal listing from websites it would have indexed the day before. This is Google specifically pushing the social media websites as they have the “latest” content and this is why they need to read our content on Facebook!

For more information on how the interweb is changing call 053 9430748 to make an appointment.

Warning All Businesses in Ireland.

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Delete this email if you receive it, to not answer, just delete, it is a scam

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Dear Madam/Sir,

In order to have your company inserted into the registry of Worldwide Business Guide for 2009/2010,
please print, complete and return the enclosed form (PDF file) to the following address:

Worldwide Business Guide (WWBIZG)
Apartado 3054,
29649, Sitio de Calahonda,
Mijas Costa, Málaga, España.

Or Fax to:  + 34 952 937 440

Email:  register@worldwide-businessguide.net

Updating is free of charge!

To unsubscribe, please send an email to unsubscribe@worldwide-businessguide.net

Often we come across flagarent cases whereby companies have taken the content off one website and put in onto another. This has been highlighted recently whereby www.connect2pakistan.com stole the content off the best voip and did online service called MyDivert.com

Mydivert.com  = original creators, others only copy.

The brainchild of programming guru Joel Driver of Webdream Solutions Ltd, a registered Irish business. Webdream have created MyDivert.com out of seeing a gap in the market and most importantly a gap in the use of the technology in Internet Telephony use. Joel has a inherent programming skill (yes, he is a bit of a nerd, lol !!!) that is rare these days.  As more and more developers are being let go from the larger IT companies around the world, It’s great to know that smaller companies like Webdream have been there for years working away while others have risen and fallen. Joel’s logical and practical programming skills are in full use in this service his company offers.

Now a recognized global brand, MyDivert.com has attracted the attention of other inferior companies trying to catch up and it seems their only way of doing this is to copy his ideas and website content “Word for Word“!

In one ways I know it’s a compliment to be copied, but in others it also means that users might accidentally go to the wrong site when looking for his services. Duplicate Content issues are also a factor and one would hope that the major search engines would see that the newbies are simply a copy and that MyDivert.com are the original creators of their VOIP/DID Call Services.

Well done Joel for the creation of the service and to the others that copy you, maybe Karma will overcome where Google doesn’t

For the best VOIP Internet calls see mydivert.com

Dave Jordan

CadaMedia.ie

Internet Registry Ireland – Again and Again !

The calls to our office are now on a daily basis and what looks like hundreds of companies in Ireland are getting so called “Renewal Letters” from this foreign company asking them to renew their listing on a European Business Website.

This morning was an accountant from Dublin, who believed that due to new regulations in the internet that he must renew his subscription. He didn’t have one in the first place, but the letter looked official and Irish.

Small Print

I asked him if he read the “small print” and he said he hadn’t. Not until the demand letters started to arrive had he looked again and the fine detail on the contract he had signed.

I would suggest givig us a call if you are in the same situation and I will let you know how to move forward with this type of issue.

Dave Jordan 053 9430748

True, we have a business on the phone today telling me that they paid over 2K to a guy to design a website 4 months ago and since have got nothing. It turns out that the guy was subcontracting the job to kids who where letting him down and so he couldn’t produce the website himself.

If you are looking for a website for your business, make sure to look for :

• Good references,
  • Ask friends if they have heard of the company?
  • Do they operate from a mobile number?
  • How long are they in business?
  • How long have they worked in the industry?

• View their clients websites,
  • Look at the quality of their work
  • How many clients do they have?
  • How much do they charge?

• Ring their clients,
  • Ask about the company/person
  • Was the job to their satisfaction?
  • Did they pay too much?

• Make sure they are a registered business
  • Check with www.Revenue.ie or www.Cro.ie

• Are they charging too much?
  • Are they calling and doing the “Hard Sell”?
  • Are they pestering you for business?
  • Are they desperate for your money?

+ If you have answered Yes, then look else where for a website design company.

* And last hint, choosing a web design company in Wexford is easy, just use some common sense and choose a company that is established. There are many “fly by nights” in every industry and our industry is no exception. So be careful.

Dave Jordan of Cada Media Ltd (previously T/A “The Web Guy”) has been trading in the Internet business supplying professional, quality service since 1999. Our Office is located at: , Rosc House, John Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

Why use a Newsletter for your business?

This another one of the frequently asked questions we get asked about how to use the Internet for business.  A email newsletter is a fast, efficient, cheap method of communicating with your clients.

You don’t even need a website!

There are many types of newsletter systems available both as hosted (on your own website) or as stand alone applications hosted on someone else’s website. Here are a few links to get you started.

• www.newsweaver.ie
• www.toddle.com
• www.constantcontact.com

We offer our own hosted versions on our clients website that have no monthly bills, you simply type up the newsletter and send. The system takes care of the legal issues like having an unsubscribe option etc. Note our systems wont charge you a monthly fee or won’t charge you per email.

Remember these types of systems will give you great stats, they will let you know who looked at the newletter, what part of it they clicked on to return to your website and much more.

To find out how a newsletter email system can help your business, call Dave or Roz on 053 9430748

Intellectual Property

It was announced today that the new budget will include a new tax relief for capital expenditure spent on the gaining of Intellectual Property. They have given no details yet this this will play a large roll in the Internet and Web Technology.

More details will be in the Finance Bill as soon as it’s released.

I have just got off the phone with a company in wexford providing accommodation and I would like to help others who are in a similar situation about Google Maps and their listing in Google Maps.

If your business is listed in the Mapping facility of Google on Maps.Google.com it could have been put there by a number of sources

• The previous owner of the business.
• A Guest.
• A Tourism Body.

We did some research whilst on the phone to this business and we discoved that they had two listings on Google Maps. Neither of which they had created. They now need the 2 locations pins moved as they are in the wrong location on the maps. The person was under the impression that we had created the location pin as we had created a map for the Wexford County Tourism Board but our map was just a plain Google map that had a search facility built in.

When they inserted their business name into kthe search facility it jumps to http://maps.google.com/ where a full Google search is carried out. It was there we found the 2 wrong location pins. We found the name of the users who created the pins as were able to give these to the person to follow us and ask them to change the location.

Easier Way……

We would suggest that businesses create their own “location Pin” by creating a Google Maps Account Google and then running through the steps involved. It might take about an hour in total as it allows you to insert photo’s, video, links to your website, address, telephone numbers, fax numbers etc

The internet is a complex network of applications and databases that have been opened up to the general public by means of Web 2.0, meaning that the general public can add content to this knowledge base. So as you are adding content to your own website don’t forget that others too are allowed to add inforamtion too.

Sometimes the information others publish is incorrect, so for more inforamtion about Google Mapping and how it can help your business please give me (Dave Jordan) a call on 053-9430748

I hope this helps . . . ?

Someone has taken my website?

Someone is advertising on my website?

These are all everyday questions we hear these days as many companies are cutting back on their costs for running their businesses and choosing to maybe not renew their website address.

But I bought the domain name. . . . .

This too is often heard as companies wonder how someone has the audacity to buy the domain they already own. The Internet is not like “land” or “Property” you don’t own a domain name for ever, you register it for a period of time, usually one year at a time. Your web design company should contact you each year and let you know that it is up for “Renewal“. This means that the years registrations fees will be paid and your website address will be kept in your name.

What if you don’t renew or you forget to renew it?

Well the sad truth about is that it will probably be registered by another company within a few days if not the next day.  We have heard about 5 stories in the past week of companies who have forgotten for renew their domain name and that their website address is now registered to another company.

What does loosing a domain name really mean?

Here are a few things to consider about loosing your domain name.

1. Change your Headed Paper
2. Change your Business cards
3. Change your Compliments Slips
4. Change your Advertising signage
5. Change your Vehicle signage
6. Change your Email addresses
7. Change your Answering Machines messages
8. Change your Logo
9. Change all links pointing to your website
10. Get a New Website Designed
11. Ask Golden Pages to take back every book and change your advert?
12. Ask Google not to show the old website address?
13. Start your link building campaign again.
14. Basically start your business from scratch!

And all of this because you are trying to save a few Euro, Well in fact as you can see from the above list you are actually deciding to spend thousands.

So why am I telling you all of this, basically to try to help companies understand the importance of their website to their business. Building a successful business in a recession is all about being smart. Be Smart with your money, your work hard for it, spend it wisely.

For more informatin about Renewing your Domain Names, Contact Dave Jordan today on 053-9430748

We have noticed that we are getting more and more requested from companies asking us to help remove their spam from their inboxes. Staff are wasting time each morning and afternoon going through up to 100 emails per day selling online drugs to relationship advice! (some are similar !)

Not only is this wasting time, but you as the owner of the business are also putting yourself in a legal situation with respect to the content you are making them view by asking them to use your company email. Does it say it in your employee contract? Nope! Most people overlook it.

Anyway . . We have the solution for your Spam Filter and Anti Virus Needs. Call Dave Jordan on 053-9430748 to more help and advice.

Tel: 053-9430748

We received an email from a very concerned client of ours this morning asking if their domain name was up for renewal as they have already paid for it just a few months ago. The email as you will read below is suggesting that we have sold our company to an Italian business.

An extract from the email = “Given the recent situation with your current provider selling their company to an Italian provider, we have heard that their existing customers are worried about the decrease in phone support and increase in pricing. As such we are happy to offer an Irish alternative.”

We have not, we have simply re-branded our company from The Web Guy to Cada Media this Summer. The sales person was actually referring to another business.

This is a disgrace, the implications are enormous for the Internet industry in Ireland. To add insult to injury the domain name in question is not actually due for renewal until 2009!

Poaching clients in this manner is a new approach for DigiWeb and their sales force.

If you receive an email from them please let us know.

Dave Jordan – Cada Media Ltd – 053-9430748

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From:* Real Name [mailto:sales_name_was_here@digiweb.ie]
*Sent:* Date- September 2008
*To:* Sales
*Subject:* Domain renewal & hosting services

Good Afternoon,

I notice that *your domain Real_Name_was_here.ie* is due for renewal on the 18th of October.

Given the recent situation with your current provider selling their company to an Italian provider, we have heard that their existing customers are worried about the decrease in phone support and increase in pricing. As such we are happy to offer an Irish alternative.

Digiweb are Ireland’s leading hosting company and as such can offer very competitive hosting prices with the knowledge that your domain is staying with 100% owned and managed Irish company.

You wouldn’t need to wait until 18th before transferring to us either as you can transfer at any time before then to start benefiting from the superior support and competitive pricing

Please feel free to use my contact details regarding any questions you may have.

Sales Digi Web

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Duplicate Content is getting it’s serious tie on these days as many websites are falling down in respect to “Duplicate Content Copyright Infringement”. We supply web sites that our users can update, upload text and images themselves, but where are they getting the content ? Where are they getting the images from?

We have been advising our clients for a number of years now to make sure they write good web content for their sites to attract visitors. If they use content from other sites/books then they will attract visitors such as solicitors and american lawyers!

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Sample letter received

Pursuant to US Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Ireland Copyright Act

To Whom It May Concern:

I represent X Company (client), the exclusive publisher of the XXX book, which is a secure test instrument restricted to purchase by qualified individuals. The book is an original work of authorship registered with the United States Copyright Office.

It has recently come to the clients attention that you have a web site that contains an unauthorized reproduction of the Book. The reproduction, display, and distribution of the material at the online location infringes our clients copyright in the book because the test items are reproduced and displayed on the online location without our clients’s permission. As such, the web page you are hosting clearly infringes both U.S. Copyright law. See 17 U.S.C. 512(d) and New Zealand Copyright
law .

LOCATION OF INFRINGEMENT

The location of the infringement is:
http://www.yoursite-name-here-.ie

NOTICE OF TAKE DOWN

The purpose of this letter is to advise you of our clients’s rights and to seek your agreement to (1) remove and destroy the copyrighted material; and (2) disable or remove any hyperlink(s). Please note that the disabling or removing of Pearson’s copyrighted material from this site should include destroying the usefulness of any textual directory or pointer information contained therein.

Please confirm in writing that you have complied with the above request.

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

Clients name reserves its position insofar as costs and damages caused by the unauthorized reproduction and/or display of the book and any information locating tools with respect to online locations engaged in infringing activity. Pearson also reserves its right to seek injunctive relief to prevent further unauthorized activity, particularly any information locating tools, pending your response to this letter. We suggest you contact your legal advisors to obtain legal advice as to
your position.

VERIFICATION

The information contained in this notification is accurate as of the time of compilation and, under penalty of perjury, I certify that I am authorized to act on behalf of our clients, xxx client name has a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

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We are letting our clients know that if they get a letter in the post today asking for the renewal of their domain in an internet directory the DELETE it, of SHRED IT, Its a German company asking you for €958 so they can put a link to your website on theirs……

Internet Register Ireland

This is a copy of an email and letter that is currently being sent to owners of domain names in Ireland.

This German company is asking owners of domains to send them €958 euro to get listed on their internet directory.

It is a SCAM and delete or shred it. The notice reads with the following text:

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Please use the enclosed reply envelope to return the form with your current details for the Internet Register Ireland, or reply by fax. Only then will the Internet Register contain the latest information. Your basic data will e updated, even if you do not place an order. In the lower part of the form you can state up to three search keys, in addition to your sector, by which interested parties shall find you in the Internet Register. hese search keys are only into consideration if you place the payable advertisement order below by signing. You can confirm the accuracy of the stated details by correcting the following data: Click on ImageClick for Larger Image

Order

We hereby place an order with DAD Deutscher Adressdienst GmbH (hereinafter: publisher) under the general terms and conditions of business cited overleaf, to publish the above details highlighted in the Internet Register Ireland, published by DAD GmbH. In addition to the sector, we have the opportunity of stating up to three search keys by which interested parties shall find us. The register contains Irish companies, self employed, organisations and public institutions with internet addresses and appears on the World Wide Web under www.internet-register-ireland.com. The advertisement costs 958 EUROS per annum and is payable in advance after issue of invoice. The order is valid for the next three years from the date of order, and is extended each time by another year, unless written notice to terminate has been given three months prior to the end of the term of contract. The publisher reserves the right to specify the layout of the advertisement. The data shall be stored electronically. German law applicable. Exclusive place of jurisdiction and performance is the registered place of business of the publisher.

Internet Register Ireland

This is a copy of an email and letter that is currently being sent to owners of domain names in Ireland.

This German company is asking owners of domains to send them €958 euro to get listed on their internet directory.

It is a SCAM and delete or shred it. The notice reads with the following text:

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Please use the enclosed reply envelope to return the form with your current details for the Internet Register Ireland, or reply by fax. Only then will the Internet Register contain the latest information. Your basic data will e updated, even if you do not place an order. In the lower part of the form you can state up to three search keys, in addition to your sector, by which interested parties shall find you in the Internet Register. hese search keys are only into consideration if you place the payable advertisement order below by signing. You can confirm the accuracy of the stated details by correcting the following data: Click on ImageClick for Larger Image

Order

We hereby place an order with DAD Deutscher Adressdienst GmbH (hereinafter: publisher) under the general terms and conditions of business cited overleaf, to publish the above details highlighted in the Internet Register Ireland, published by DAD GmbH. In addition to the sector, we have the opportunity of stating up to three search keys by which interested parties shall find us. The register contains Irish companies, self employed, organisations and public institutions with internet addresses and appears on the World Wide Web under www.internet-register-ireland.com. The advertisement costs 958 EUROS per annum and is payable in advance after issue of invoice. The order is valid for the next three years from the date of order, and is extended each time by another year, unless written notice to terminate has been given three months prior to the end of the term of contract. The publisher reserves the right to specify the layout of the advertisement. The data shall be stored electronically. German law applicable. Exclusive place of jurisdiction and performance is the registered place of business of the publisher.

I want to let companies and business know that if a so called “Web Expert” tell you it will cost over €1,000 to change the who is information, it is robbery. Stop and call us asap. We have had situations whereby we have worked on cases for clients that the previous website designer had registered the domain name in the wrong name and when the company in later years wanted to move to another web developer that they were asked to hand over payment of over €1,000

The internet company had registed the domain name in the wrong name and said they “owned” the name. It’s like asking a solicitor to buy a site for you. Then you build a house and live there happily. Years later you decide to sell up and move on, but only to get told that you can’t sell as technically the land belongs to the solicitor still. Then you have to pay him/her off to gets the deeds.

This is exactly what happened to one of our clients.

Please Please Please, be warned, there are sharks out there in every business, do you homework, research, ask the right questions, Who owns the domain name, is it a .com or a .ie.

If it’s a “.ie” then your in a better chance of getting your hands on it, If its a “.com” good luck tracking down the company in america where it was originally bought.