VENTRINO TRAFFIC EXCHANGE SCRIPTS
TURNING WEB VISITORS INTO BUYERS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS SINCE 1994
A new business model for the Internet
Published April 10, 2010 | 
I’m not sure how many times I have heard those words. As someone involved in Internet startups on two sides of the investment fence they send a chill down my spine. Usually voiced by someone who thinks they have found the next eBay or Amazon killer application. Do you see many sites threatening their dominance? Its like suggesting Bing is the new way to Google.
Occasionally some old fashioned hogwash is regurgitated and described as “the new new Internet business model” or words similar to that. A couple of weeks ago newspapers announced they were going to start charging for access to read articles on their website. It makes you wonder who makes these decisions, surely no one who actually surfs the net could possibly think their material will be worth squat if it cannot be shared by Internet users such as bloggers and twitter publishers. Who will ever know they wrote anything behind their paywall?
They tried this before too. One of the papers announcing this new move is one of the papers that failed in 1999! What short memories they have or are they not mentioning because of the bad karma it would bring? Who knows. The only thing we know for sure is this won’t work. Why? Well if they hide their text behind a paywall Google won’t index it. If Google don’t index it then no one will know they wrote it. If they allow just Google through like the idiots at Expert Exchange then all you need to do is click the Google Cached link beside the link and you have the full story for free. End of.
If they could provide a compelling reason for people to pay up and read, en masse, they may have found a new business model, but honestly, the only reason I read papers online is I don’t like ink on my fingers.
Do not send your ducks to eagle school
Published February 26, 2010 | An open letter from Jake to Albert.
Dear Albert,
I decided not to respond to your sarcasm and threats for these reasons:
- It is not one of ours. Check the top of the invoice, it has a different company name
- Calling me a cupid stunt does not incentivise me (Edited for family readers)
- I am sorry “file permissions are incorrect” does not make any sense to you. There is no need to let me know if you find a better way to say it
- I do not like you.
I was going to leave 4 out as its getting personal, but it is in direct response to your question why I do not respond to your messages instantly. Perhaps if you were Kimberly Stewart asking me on a date you’d have better luck.
[flashvideo file=/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/do-not-waste-my-time-HQ.mp4 width=450 height=285 /]
If you are truly tired of living in Jerk City, If you don’t want every day to be a walk down Asshole Avenue, then learn to be civilized, learn to be reasonable. Or don’t as there is no point sending ducks to eagle school.
Regards,
Jake
Elevated Traffic – The Promo Video
Published February 24, 2010 | Beth, Owner of Elevated Traffic receives the last free promo video. It has been great fun doing these and I want to thank everyone for their kind comments, and those not so kind as they too have been a great help!
[flashvideo file=/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/elevated-HQ.mp4 /]
You can also save the files to your disk by right-click save-as: elevated-HQ
See How to add a video to your site for instructions on how this can be added to your website.
Posted in Buzz, Exchange News, Video | 
internet marketing, traffic exchange, video | 
Leave a commentThe Data Center with Killer Support
Published February 17, 2010 | I have used Data Center’s ever since the concept of dedicated servers has existed. A good data center is the key to a successful shared hosting service, ultimately your reputation depends on their ability to respond to problems when they occur.
I have always wanted more from a data center than just good equipment and good service. Why could they not proactively respond to service alerts? It would make sense as the kind of support personnel you need are right there in their office 24/7.
Some data center’s offer better service for an additional fee but this is no real improvement when you consider that you still have to manage the service. Sure you get immediate phone access, sure they provide “personal” attention but you still need to spend time working with them to get the problem fixed.
Proactive Support
Proactive support is the business of monitoring the services provided by your server and resolving situations either before or as soon as possible without the need for customer intervention.
For example, if the load on a server begins to threaten a service a member of support is notified and then takes the necessary action to solve it. As a dedicated server customers this is all I need in a neat package.
And there is only one company that offers this kind of support: Liquidweb
If anyone knows any others then please tell me their story.
An example of Liquidweb’s proactive support received this morning:
Hello,
This is a Liquid Web Monitoring Notification only, and requires no response
from you. Sonar Server Health Statistics and Monitoring Services are fully
explained here: http://liquidweb.com/services/sonar.html. If you would like
more information, please reply requesting it. If you would prefer to stop
receiving these notifications, please reply with “Disable”.For information about this and other services on your server, visit the Liquid
Web Knowledge base: http://kb.liquidweb.com/Our monitoring service detected that named was unresponsive on your server. We
were able to log in to your server and get the service responsive again.The following actions were taken to prevent this from happening again:
named unresponsive due to servers load, found much of the load to be from
mysql and mysql was set to the default, blank, configuration. Added the
following configuration based upon the servers memory.[mysqld]
max_connections = 250
safe-show-database
skip-locking
key_buffer = 128M
max_allowed_packet = 1M
table_cache = 256
sort_buffer_size = 2M
read_buffer_size = 2M
read_rnd_buffer_size = 2M
myisam_sort_buffer_size = 64M
query_cache_size= 32M
max_heap_table_size = 48M
tmp_table_size = 48M
thread_cache_size = 8
wait_timeout = 30
interactive_timeout = 300[mysqldump]
quick
max_allowed_packet = 16M[mysql]
no-auto-rehash[isamchk]
key_buffer = 96M
sort_buffer_size = 64M
read_buffer = 2M
write_buffer = 2M[myisamchk]
key_buffer = 96M
sort_buffer_size = 64M
read_buffer = 2M
write_buffer = 2MRegards,
John VanBuskirk
Monitoring Team
Systems Administrator
Dangerous Comments from Twitter Support
Published February 10, 2010 | 
Today a forum member posted comments from twitter support after they refused his API application:
Hello,
We apologize for the inconvenience, but we do not allow personal branding of Applications with Traffic Exchange URLs. I should also inform you that all of our external links from tweets are tagged “nofollow,” as such, tweeting from that source will not improve your search index ranking. If you are using that webpage as a landing page while you build a separate application, I recommend changing your APP URL to one that describes your application or organization appropriately, if your application is legitimate we will reconsider your suspension.
Regards,
Brian
API Support
I find these comments somewhat curious, although I do not know what question was asked by the traffic exchange owner their reply is reminiscent of the Stormpay “autosurf” fiasco a few years ago where all traffic exchanges were demonised by association.
An esoteric group of authorities have now tainted an entire industry, a popular one that has existed for a long time, because they don’t like it or perhaps see it as a threat. Google, Twitter, Blogger and sadly even the SEC to name a few.
What is so different between twitter and traffic exchanges? They both encourage people to share ideas and websites, albeit in different ways. Traffic exchanges have not sprung up overnight to make twitters life difficult (not that they could) and have been serving a growing number of customers since the early 90′s. It begs the question why twitter believe they are a legitimate application and a traffic exchange is not?
What does “legitimate” mean, does this mean a traffic exchange is illegal or are they referring to what a traffic exchange maybe used for?
A user can add a link to illegal content in a traffic exchange, but they can do the same on twitter so what’s the difference?
There is one obvious difference, for every succesful traffic exchange their is a proud owner making a profit, something the two owners of twitter have yet to achieve. Each traffic exchange owner has an emotional connetion to their business and consequently does everything in their power to keep it legal. I bet the ratio of passionate owners to users is a lot healthier than twitters!
Looking forward to the Tablet not sure about an iPad though
Published January 28, 2010 | 
I have never been enthusiastic about Apple. I’m not sure if its an irrational dislike of them or some professional jealousy, probably a mixture of both. As a programmer since the late 70′s I watched in frustration as hardware and software companies took proprietary routes which held back progress for us all.
As soon as the IBM PC released it was clear that generic hardware and OS development would drive progress. So companies like Apple that greedily protected everything they did and kept their prices artificially high under some waspish excuse that they did things in more style could well be the reason for my dislike of them.
Their constant attack on everyone else probably another. I had always thought they were part of the Apple Music label and is probably why I bought my first (an Apple II), the public battle between them and the Beatles, which I think the Beatles lost, was astonishing news to me. But they continue to steal names from my memory for which I thought were other things. At the early launch of the net for example “iPhone” was a name given to an early VOIP application, and again I had mislead myself into believing that their new phone was going to be little more than that with a 3g connection. How far from the truth, but I am not an iPhone protagonist. Its the device that sets the standard for other manufacturers. Even a blind chicken finds corn sometimes.
But its not just product names they have taken, its design too. In the early 80′s I contracted to a hardware manufacturer based in Aberdeen. They created a PC which was identical to 
the iMac pedestal in every way except it had a plastic arm rather than a fancy chrome one. It could also be purchased in multiple colors rather than just white. When Apple released their version 20 years later and claimed it was “a world first” I confess it took me back. I contacted the founder of the PC manufacturer (a household name in the US and UK in its time) and asked him if he was aware of Apples claim and would he not be doing something about it? “Martyn..” he sighed “I’m retired at 67 with just enough to see me through, why should I care?”.
And honestly what does it matter? So Apple succeed again due to apathy and a cult following that live and breath everything they say.
Along comes yesterdays announcement of the iPad. I had resolved that I was going to overcome my irrational attitude towards Apple and investigate with a view to buy. I decided rather than go for the iPhone I would save the cash and investigate Apples Tablet PC (I assume they are not going to claim they innovated this idea too). But that name! Check out #itampon on twitter and you will see why I have become reluctant again.
I am going to find it hard to be proud of my purchase with a name like that (and I know just how irrational that sounds).
Incredible SSD Prices or Too Good To Be True?
Published January 26, 2010 | If you want to boost the performance of your PC or Laptop a high performance SSD such as the OCX Vertex Turbo Series SATA II 2.5″ is ideal (Search Yourtube for independent performance test examples and be prepared for a surprise). But they usually cost between £400 and £500.
When everywhere else still asks £400+ it suggests Amazon have made a mistake. Personally I hope not as I ordered two this morning! If you search Amazon you might see their old advert which shows it still at the old price of £436.59, but click this link
UPDATE Jan 27th, 2010
Well it doesn’t look like it took them long to figure out the problem but they have so far not cancelled my order (too damn right). Below is a copy of the original offer (for posterity’s sake). Click for full size.
Am I a Racist? Virgin employee thinks so
Published September 3, 2009 | I never thought of myself as a racist. With so many different definitions just being white probably means I am to some, but I try not to let culture interfere with my decisions.
Today I struggled to understand what the guy from Virgin was trying to tell me. They have a special offer and it meets with my budget. At least I thought it did. The guy began to explain the “extras” that I am “obligated to pay”. His poor English coupled with thick Indian accent meant I could not understand what he was saying.
After 5 minutes of this I felt like ending the call but I really am interested in Virgins 50mb broadband offer so I politely asked if there was anyone else I could speak to.
Although he didn’t call me a racist I could make out from his remarks that he was a “supervisor” and that anything I wished to say could be said to him. So I explained it had nothing to do with his performance per se, I needed someone who could speak to me in clear English and without an accent, that’s all.
With emotion swelling in his response I could tell I was not going to be passed on and while I can’t say that he said anything wrong I judge from his tone I was not going to join his long list of satisfied callers (I think that’s what he was claiming).
So with a sigh I thanked him for his time and said I would consider his generous offer. The truth is the opposite of course. If virgin sales staff struggle with English then how good are their support staff going to be?
Twitter Power: How to dominate your market one tweet at a time
Published July 7, 2009 | Back in May I made a decision to investigate Twitter for internet marketing as my preferred social media promotion resource. I did not intent to exclude any of the others but when there are so many to choose from it makes sense to pick one and focus on it. Twitter had obvious advantages for a software development company. An easy and transparent API with a fun bunch of people behind it demonstrating an interest in developing a service rather than screwing as much cash from it’s membership as possible. No banner ads, no fancy flash ads, heck not even a cookie is required to operate Twitter.
The first book I read dealt with the API which was great if you like that kind of thing. What I needed was something that dealt with the use of Twitter from an end user perspective. I needed to know what twitter was like from a business user point of view. What was twitter’s attraction? How can it be used by business? What advantages does it offer over other social media resources? How could it be used to leverage sales? Could it be used for customer support? A list of pros and cons for business use.
Amazon offered two books that cover the subject I was looking for. Amazon reviews offer a balanced view and are useful but with the two books I shortlised it looked like the authors had employed cheerleaders for their books, and nay-sayers for their competitors (I’m sure that’s not what happened but check them out for yourself and you will see what I mean).
As I had heard of Joel Comm I took a closer look and with an endorsement from Anthony Robbins felt compelled to give it a try. I must add had I known Mark Joyner had given an endorsement I would not have given the book a second look.
Some critics of Joels book say he treats the subject too elementary. He assumes nothing and if you are new to the Internet you will find this useful. It’s not correct to say that this is a waste of time for long term Internet users. Amid the explanations you will find Joels take on how something should be done and why. This is invaluable for any Internet user, especially the experienced as it is so easy to forget the most fundemental tasks sometimes. For example one reviewer criticised Joel for explaining how to upload your background image to twitter. This is perhaps elementary stuff that 99% of twitter users could do without being told, but the reviewer omitted to mention Joel explains the value of that image and how to best make it work for you. The real message was lost to some reviewers and it will be reflected in their timelines.
Not everything in Twitter Power will be a revelation to you, many of the tasks you are familiar with will be enhanced by Joels thinking. Think of Twitter Power as a game plan to the knowledge you need to build your business. You will find out how to avoid disaster and how to maximise opportunity and that makes the book a useful tool for any online business.
Joels book is about understanding Twitter and making the most of it. He writes (or is it Ken Burge) in a casual style that is focused on the task. He wastes no time trying to be clever or complex. His formula for success is straight forward and can be read by anyone without needing a PHD. My rating therefore is five stars. He delivers his message in a quiet and uncomplicated way, if you believe twitter can help you in business and your social life then this book is for you.
Ventrino Traffic Exchange Community
I also added the Community link which allows the Ventrino community to share information, photos, videos, create groups and friend one another in a similar fashion to Facebook. Twitter can be integrated and in time Google Plus too.
The website is built with open source and free to use code as well as commercial Joomla components. These include: