
What is Article Spinning?
If you’ve been researching SEO techniques to improve your Google ranking, you may have heard of article spinning? This article explains what it is, how it works and the risks involved if you’re considering it as an option.

Cybersquatting: What to do if someone else owns your domain name
Sometimes, a web design client will want a domain name that someone else already owns. Usually, this is just bad luck and they have to register something else but every now and then, they have a real problem because it is owned by a competitor or a “cybersquatter” and is a name they have trademarked, their brand or something that they had previously owned. Perhaps they are being held to ransom by the current owner, de-famed or the new owner is taking business from them. What can they do?

I got hit with a Data Recovery virus today!
I have spent the last 3 hours identifying and removing a nasty little attacker called the S.M.A.R.T. Data Recovery Virus. It’s a very clever piece of software that will try to convince you that your hard drive is corrupt and encourage you to enter your credit card details to “register” it and “clean” your computer. Don’t fall for it! Here is what you can do to fix the problem. Do Not attempt yourself if you’re not sure what to do.

Smartphone Growth: Why your website needs to go mobile now!
According to a report by BusinessInsider.com, something amazing happened in 2011. The number of smart phones sold was greater than the number of standard computers sold. They say that mobile device sales have only just begun to hit it’s growth phase and that in a few years, mobile devices will far, far outnumber PC’s.

Online shopping to boom in 2012
A recent report on ecommerce in New Zealand by PwC and Frost & Sullivan, shows online shopping will boom to a record NZ$2.68 billion in 2011. That is a massive increase of 12 percent from 2010. As traditional retailers struggle in the recession, online shopping will account for 5.1 percent of all retail sales in the country. It is estimated that $910 million (34%) of all sales will be to offshore online businesses. Can traditional retailing survive?

Study shows NZ businesses with websites make more money
MYOB have released a report into ecommerce in New Zealand that shows businesses with a website earned significantly more than companies that are not represented online. The study included over one thousand businesses and showed that Northland companies had the lowest internet presence in the country at just 21%.

Google Launches +1 Button in New Zealand and the World
Most Google users will have seen another change to the search results today as Google launched it’s new +1 button in New Zealand. The button has been tested in the USA since March and is Google’s answer to Facebook’s LIKE buttons and a foray into the world of social marketing.

Bios Life Slim launched in New Zealand
Bios Life Slim has been popular in the US for years but has only just been launched in New Zealand following successes in Australia. Unlike a lot of other diets plans or weight loss fads, I was impressed to see that this one has some actual science behind it. Bios Life Slim is even noted in the 2010 PHYSICIANS’ DESK REFERENCE as being beneficial for lowering cholesterol, heart disease and maintaining healthy body weight.

Boat dealer & broker websites
Boat dealers from Whangarei in the North Island to Wanaka in the South Island are already taking advantage of BOATS.co.nz to sell their stock. Boating professionals and can now list boats for sale on BOATS.co.nz and also update their own websites at the same time!

John Key in new YouTube video
Prime Minister John Key has featured in a YouTube video to promote Napier’s 2011 Art Deco festival. In a jaw-droppingly fearless 7 minutes of non-stop banter, John chats with Australian tourist “Shaun Wayne”, played by comedian and Shane Warne lookalike, Peter Flaherty.

Firefox 4.0 review
Hot on the heels of IE9 comes Firefox 4.0. At first appearances, it looks a lot like IE9, but a quick test reveals that there are many differences. I have to withdraw my comments about IE9 catching up with Firefox. Firefox 4 is yet another leap ahead in terms of user-friendly functionality.

England Rugby Football Union YouTube Fail (oops!)
In a glorious example of how the power of the internet can backfire, the England Rugby Football Union have been embarrassed by the release of a video on YouTube celebrating themselves as the “2011 Grand Slam Champions”. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen! (includes video)