A webmasters quandary

So, your site doesn't get listed when you search for it in Google... unless you actually type the URL in the search engine (not much good for those looking for your site is it??)

So here's the deal.

Follow the instructions from Google's help site here

Make sure you don't violate the quality guidelines for a website. This includes stacking your site with Meta tags... a once popular, but now frowned upon method of attracting search engines.

You might even want to create an XML sitemap to aid in Google spidering your site.

Ohh, and the coolest bit of all - use Google Sitemaps to manage your sites and see just how google sees them!!!

Goodluck

Hmmmmmm

A penny for your thoughts....

Call centre woes... but how true???

Apparently this is a true story from the Word Perfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired.... blow that - give the guy a medal I say!!

Operator: "Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?"
Caller: "Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect."
Operator: "What sort of trouble??"
Caller: "Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away."
Operator: "Went away?"
Caller: "They disappeared."
Operator: "Hmm So what does your screen look like now?"
Caller: "Nothing."
Operator: "Nothing??"
Caller: "It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type."
Operator: "Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out??"
Caller: "How do I tell?"
Operator: "Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??"
Caller: "What's a sea-prompt?"
Operator: "Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?"
Caller: "There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type."
Operator: "Does your monitor have a power indicator??"
Caller: "What's a monitor?"
Operator: "It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on??"
Caller: "I don't know."
Operator: "Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??"
Caller: "Yes, I think so."
Operator: "Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall."
Caller: "Yes, it is."
Operator: "When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one??"
Caller: "No."
Operator: "Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable."
Caller: "Okay, here it is."
Operator: "Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer."
Caller: "I can't reach."
Operator: "Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??"
Caller: "No."
Operator: "Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over??"
Caller: "Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark."
Operator: "Dark??"
Caller: "Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window."
Operator: "Well, turn on the office light then."
Caller: "I can't."
Operator: "No? Why not??"
Caller: "Because there's a power failure."
Operator: "A power......... A power failure? Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in??"
Caller: "Well, yes, I keep them in the closet."
Operator: "Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from."
Caller: "Really? Is it that bad?"
Operator: "Yes, I'm afraid it is."
Caller: "Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them??"
Operator: "Tell them you're too f*%king stupid to own a computer!!!!!"

Mainland trip with a dash of Rugby

Spent last week up on the big island for work. Well, had two days working out of Newcastle, then took a drive through the Hunter Valley on Friday - did some wine tasting and bought a few cases (freighted home). They have some seriously good plonk up there - may i suggest a weekend junket for anyone considering the Hunter Valley... chill out, B&B and "taste" up a storm!!

Then came the 3.5 hour drive down to Woolongong... can I just say thank god for Sat-Nav as it carefully planned the path of least resistance through Friday afternoon Sydney traffic. Arrived in time to get changed, have a quick drink and it was out on the town with Nicole and her crew of friends. Cheap drinks at the City Diggers (recently renovated RSL), dinner, more drinks and then off the the Illawarra Hotel for some dodgy early 90's and 80's music.... and some seriously bad singing on our behalf!!

Drove back up to Sydney Saturday morning (after 4 hours sleep), met Rossi at the airport where Justaan picked us up. We bummed around Sydney for a few hours (Krispy Kreme's, Birkenhead Mall, EQ with the famous Love Sac), then picked up Amanda and went to Montezuma's on Manly Beach for lunch. Then began the road trip to Canberra for the rugby.

Checked into the Novotel, grabbed a beer with Mike, then the four of us headed off to see the ACT Brumbies vs. the QLD Reds. Fortunately I managed to grabbed some pics there so this isn't a 100% boring post.

Wideshot at the rugby


Rossi, Amanda and Jus


More ruggers - those Brumbies move too quick for clear shot!!


And lucky us were sitting behind a bunch of airline hosties and their man-whore pilot boyfriends,... certainly added to the entertainment for the evening


So anyways, the Brumbies ended up creaming the Reds 36-0... a whitewash really.

Anyways (can you tell I'm tired and CBF writing this?).... drove back up Sunday morning after pancake breakfast and only JUST made check-in in time with a couple minutes to go.

All in all, a tiring trip - but great to catch up with the friends that I don't see much of, and a perfect way to re-stock the wine collection!!