The first time I tried Snagit (TechSmith) was to take screen shots of the Miva Merchant admin when writing the official guide to the software. I’d previously paid someone to capture screens for me, but it was tedious to work with an obscure file naming scheme, and counterproductive when I needed to move things around. Snagit allowed me to capture what I needed, at different resolutions. It was a simple program, and quite inexpensive.

If PhotoShop is too rich, or overkill for your work, try Snagit. It boasts many standard tools, including drop shadows, filters and watermarking.

Snagit is still affordable (currently $49.95), but now boasts hordes of tools for simple and on-the-fly graphics editing. I used to “snag” the screen and use PhotoShop to resize, add effects and run filters. Now, I can edit most images for this site from within Snagit itself. And, yes, I can also work with images never captured through the software.

The beauty of Snagit, however, is not just what I can capture, but how… Not only can you grab pages via a scrolling window method, Snagit can capture entire web pages with links intact. This is quite useful when I need to archive a page before modifications, or, unfortunately, when I need to capture a site that’s ripped off my work. You can also set up custom profiles for capturing at specific resolutions or percentages.

Default, basic capture profiles are sufficient for most. When you want to do something special, though, you can create custom settings.

The ability to use output commands is a plus. Snagit can launch virtually any program (including email and FTP) to attach or upload images. It can also output to Excel, Word and PowerPoint (to name a few). Need to include the graphic with a description in a new Word document? Just choose “New Document” from the drop down.

Output files to email, FTP, documents and more. You can even customize outputs to specific programs. If that weren't enough, you can also download "stamps" for marking up images.

And, while I’ve always had an affinity for Google’s Picasa and Adobe Bridge, Snagit’s image library feature is more than sufficient for those wanting a single tool to handle it all.

I first used Snagit more than five years ago. Price wasn’t the deciding factor for me. After all, I have always needed tools that get the job done and save me time. It just so happens that Snagit fit the bill across the board.

Snagit is available for both PC and MAC, and is available for trial or purchase directly from TechSmith.

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2011/04/14.
| Permalink | 2 comments
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags: Ecommerce, organization, web design

The company does offer a 60-trial (up to 100 subscribers) as well.

And, yes, I use Constant Contact for my mailings.

Trusted Email Marketingand Online Surveys

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2011/02/19.
| Permalink | Be the first to Comment!
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags:

While Google and other sites cache web pages, the best way to ensure you’ve got a timestamped copy of any page is to capture it yourself.

Here are some common tools and methods (most of them free) to help you keep track of pages via snapshots:

The Print Screen key just may become your best friend. After pressing the key, you can paste screenshots into documents, graphics programs and other software.

• The Print Screen key. The quickest and easiest way to capture what a page looks like is to use the Print Screen function. This captures what’s seen on the actual screen (no scrolling) and stores it in memory as a copy. You can then open any graphics or document program and paste the image to save it.

To “print screen” capture on a Mac, hold down the Apple key ⌘ + Shift + 3, then release. Then, click your mouse on the screen.

• Use a screen capture tool. I especially like Snag It, which allows you to capture pages several different ways, including saving an entire page by scrolling in the browser.
• Create a PDF. If you have a PDF creator, you can “print” the page to a PDF file. If not, you can use a free service called PDFMYURL.com (simply enter the full URL of the page and the service will create a PDF file which you can save to your desktop.
• Save As… Most web browsers allow you to save entire web pages to a local HTML file. If your browser doesn’t offer this option – or if results are less than desired – you can always view the source code of a page and copy and paste its contents to a separate file.

After capturing a page, name it logically so you can easily reference it later. Some programs will, by default, name the file in timestamp format, which isn’t terribly helpful when you need to find something on the fly.

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2010/10/08.
| Permalink | 6 comments
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags: archiving, browsers, organization

When it comes to business, maintaining records – including store product images and descriptions – is key in the event of unexpected server woes. Backups are also necessary. But, what if you accidentally delete a necessary file?

Upon first noticing a missing document (or other file), fret not. Most of the time the file is still recoverable. Here’s how to find what you fear may be lost:

The first place to look for deleted files is in the trash or recycle bin.

1. Check the Trash or Recycle Bin. On both Macs and PCs, when you delete a file it goes here first (unless the file is way too large for the bin, in which case you’d have been prompted to confirm you wanted to permanently delete it. To recover a file from the trash or recycle bin, simply drag it back to the desktop.
2. Look on the backup drive. If you back your system up regularly (and you should), this process is usually as simple as connecting the drive to the computer and browsing or searching for the file. If you backup your system to the cloud, good cloud services allow you to search not only by file name, but content as well.
3. Check incoming or sent email. Was the file emailed to you? Did you email it to someone else? If you archive your incoming and sent emails, a copy of the file should still be there. If not, and it isn’t too embarrassing, you can always ask the original sender or recipient to send you a copy.
4. Check the server. If the data was previously placed on the server (for review or public display), and you have access to the server (via File Transfer Protocol or some other means) it’s easy to connect and re-download.
5. Check the site cache. If it’s a graphics file, and it was previously live on a web site, check Google’s page caching. If the file is still on the server, a cached page may point you to the exact location. Cached pages are also useful in locating previously published textual content.
6. Run recovery software. There are several free and pay-for recovery programs and any reputable one will likely locate the deleted file as long as it’s not corrupt. Note, however, the best way to recover a file is to restore it to a new folder, and not to the original location.
7. Call in a pro. If nothing else works and recovery of the file is dire, bring in a professional.

While there’s no guarantee that any type of file is recoverable, the majority of actions you perform on your system – especially on a PC – can be undone. The key is to take action as soon as you discover the document or file is missing. Also, it’s wise to always review the files in the trash or recycle bin before confirming their permanent removal. Double checking never hurts.

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2010/10/07.
| Permalink | Be the first to Comment!
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags: Ecommerce, maintenance, Mistakes That Kill, troubleshooting

Count me among those who feel registration is just another word for “prepare to be frustrated” when it comes to commenting on a story or blog post. Sadly, so many sites still don’t get it…

Here are the top reasons people don’t comment at sites that require registration:

Systems like DISQUS provide much more value. A single login allows users to comment and react to posts across thousands of sites. Is yours one of them?

• Time. More often than not, it takes longer to register at a site than it does to type the comment itself, even if it’s a few paragraphs.
• Email. Since the bulk of registration methods require the user to confirm by clicking a link in an email, the email program must be opened.
• One-time visit. If a user isn’t a regular at the site, he/she doesn’t see much value in registering.
• Speaking of value – most sites provide little or no value for registering. The process is often used to better identify humans, but that’s largely a benefit to the publisher, not the user. Where’s the give-back?
• Email lists & notifications. Some registrations result in users getting discussion alerts automatically. Others add them to the site’s email list. Visitors should always have the option to check whether or not they receive notifications.

There are alternatives to requiring registration, which still cut down posts generated by bots and automated spammers. Some of the most popular tools are:

Akismet. This popular WordPress plugin scans comments in real-time, eliminating a significant amount of spam. It’s not 100% foolproof, but it does catch the bulk of auto-generated and inappropriate comments. Using this method requires that you check your blog frequently to remove any bad messages which get posted. In my experience, a six-month run using this feature alone resulted in only one spam post making it through.

CAPTCHA. Users must enter the letters/numbers displayed on the screen to prove they’re not a bot. This feature, however, is becoming less popular. When users have to try several times to get the words or numbers correct, the chances of them leaving increases.

Comment Systems. Systems like DISQUS and Intense Debate automate the process of both posting and moderating comments. Users create an account with the system (or login using other social media accounts, like Twitter) and their full counts of posts and “likes” are tracked across the web. These tools are increasingly popular because once a user is logged in, he can just post a comment at any site using the system and an avatar, email address and web site URL is already linked via his profile.

I prefer DISQUS over Intense Debate for a few reasons:

• Intense Debate links to a WordPress account. Unfortunately, once an email address is linked via WordPress.com, changing parameters on the profile is difficult.

• DISQUS is more widely used by most of the guru bloggers I follow.

• The profile features of a DISQUS account are simpler, and so is the commenting method. Users can click on other users’ profiles to see what else they’ve had to say (you can see my DISQUS profile here).

When choosing a commenting system, make sure your top priority is encouraging visitors to get involved in real discussions. The simpler the process, the more comments you’ll receive, and, in turn, the more loyal vistors. You’ll also generate additional traffic via search engines, as comments themselves become searchable.

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2010/10/05.
| Permalink | 5 comments
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags: blogging, conversion, traffic

Real Simple Syndication (RSS) allows users to subscribe to information articles (like blog posts, news reports and reviews) and peruse posts in a separate environment. More detailed definitions and usages can be found in my previous post: Should I Offer RSS Feeds?

Most RSS news readers are free and available in the form of desktop applications, web-based apps and mobile apps. Using them is fairly simple: You enter a feed url or click a link on a specific site to subscribe.

How Will They Help Me?

Save time by subscribing to RSS feeds and scanning headlines and summary to determine importance.

If you’re like I used to be, then you find yourself navigating dozens of web sites daily, seeking information that applies to you or your business. Perhaps you use bookmarks to make the daily trek, or maybe you start at a single site that provides useful links. Either way, having to navigate across the web increases the possibility of being distracted by other articles, videos and images, even if they have nothing to do with your needs.

By using an RSS reader, you eliminate the clutter and focus on what matters most – news and information that benefits you. The result? Less time wasted, as well as decreasing the likelihood of overlooking other important information.

My morning ritual is simple. I use the NewsRoom app on my Palm Pre Plus to swipe through headlines and introductory text across nearly 30 web sites. On some mornings there may be well over 100 articles being fed, but it takes just a few minutes to scan them and “favorite” the ones I need to read. Then, over breakfast, I read flagged articles and then opt to keep them flagged (to further research) or ditch them. I’ve successfully cut about 2 hours of daily reading down to less than 45 minutes total.

What RSS Newsreader Tool(s) Should I Use?

This depends on how you work. Since I use my smartphone, I can email myself stories to read on the desktop, but primarily my Palm device does everything I need. You also may prefer to work in the cloud so you can access your feeds and bookmarks from anywhere.

Here’s a few places to get started:

• Google Reader – If you’re a Google fan, then this reader provides all the basics, including the ability to star items for later use. iGoogle, by the way, only links to articles on sites – it does not pull articles into the Google environment.
• My Yahoo! – Yahoo! sports a basic environment for reading feeds, without any bells and whistles.
• Microsoft Outlook – Yes, you can subscribe to feeds and read them right within your email client.
• Thunderbird – Articles will look like emails (unfortunately, the formatting is not foolproof) and you can easily view read/unread and even save article links just as you would messages.
• Desktop Software – You’ll find a slew of desktop apps with basic descriptions at RSS Specifications. As with all software, I recommend you read user reviews.
• Smartphone Apps – RSS readers are available for most platforms, so check app catalogs and read reviews and ratings, and, if available, watch video demonstrations. On smartphones reader functionality can vary from app to app.

To Which Feeds Should I Subscribe?

Subscribing to any RSS feed is based on your need for the information the site provides. However, don’t expect every post or article from a given site to apply solely to you. I subscribe to several tech RSS feeds and routinely ignore more articles than I read. It’s a trade off of combing through unnecessary information (like Playstation and XBox articles, because I use neither) in order to be educated on the “goods”.

Your best bet is to subscribe to feeds on sites you frequently visit (and trust), as well as search for feeds in your line of work. Remember, you can always unsubscribe from a feed, and since no email address or full name is required to subscribe, it’s not like they can call you out.

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2010/08/04.
| Permalink | 6 comments
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags: Cost-Cutting, rss, smartphone, Technology

Are your tweets being edited, removing the most important information?

Earlier this month I focused on 10 tips for using Twitter, and #2 on that list deserves more attention. That is, tweet with re-tweeting in mind.

Consider this fictional tweet, which is quite representative of the tweets I see every day, by a fake username of blahblah9898:

Get a $10 Gift Card to CoffeeShop! To enter, signup for the blah blah newletter then tell all your friends – RT this! http://xxx.xx/xXxx67

When tweets are retweeted, the original tweeter’s username counts toward the 140 characters – in fact, everything in the tweet (except for your username) counts.

In this case, the username blahblah9898 is 12 characters.

The tweet itself is 139 characters.

Without editing, the re-tweet is:

RT @blahblah9898: Get a $10 Gift Card to CoffeeShop! To enter, signup for the blah blah newsletter then tell all your friends – RT this! http://xxx.xx/xXxx67

This is 157 characters, so it can’t be successfully posted.

Let’s take a closer look:

To re-tweet, one needs to enter RT(space) then the @symbol and the username, so that’s 4 characters added to the 12 characters of the username.

Following the username, by default, is a space), which is 2 characters.

12 + 4 + 2 = 18

139 + 18 = 157

Do you see where this is going?

Now, one of two things needs to happen for this tweet to be successfully re-tweeted, because the tweet itself – which is EVERYTHING following your username – can only be 140 characters.

The re-tweeting user can edit the tweet, and this is most often done by removing certain words or abbreviating terms. This practice, however, is frustrating, especially for newbies.

But some programs will auto truncate tweets to meet the 140 character limit. This could result in a truncation of the URL:

RT @blahblahblah: Get a $10 Gift Card to CoffeeShop! To enter, signup for the blah blah newsletter then tell all your friends – RT this! htt

When this happens, the only way for others to see what that URL should be is to click the @blahblah9898 username and find the original tweet. Of course, that’s only if the other users know to do this, or even want to take the time.

Ideally, you should be using simple math to determine the proper character count for a tweet that’s designed to be re-tweeted:

140 – (username character count +6) = A tweet ready to be re-tweeted

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2010/05/29.
| Permalink | 2 comments
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags: marketing, Mistakes That Kill, social media, twitter

(more…)

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2010/05/19.
| Permalink | Be the first to Comment!
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags: blogging, branding, Ecommerce, marketing

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2010/05/12.
| Permalink | Be the first to Comment!
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags: bandwidth, Cost-Cutting, marketing, PDF

Read My Answer at Practical eCommerce

© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2010/05/11.
| Permalink | Be the first to Comment!
|Add to del.icio.us|
Post tags: Ecommerce, fraud