Decisions

Archive for July, 2009

Ever wonder where a lot of those minisites that proliferate the internet get their content articles. Yes , No , Who cares. Regardless of that, My Australian Article site is now live using a great script and offers a selection of great articles on wide range of subjects. My existing info based Article Site is still running, but will soon be upgraded to the same Script. It may not enable me to Become rich ,but who knows?
I have also creating a Template display/demo site to showcase my new templates (Url coming when ready to release , I so hate ‘Under Construction pages’
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While on the subject of scripts , I really need to get my script directory up and running.

I note with some amusement that Yahoo has given up the search engine market , Microsoft’s BING.com search is now being used . That is exactly why yahoo has lost credibility in the SEO field . Anyway who would use the words ” I BINGed it” when “I googled it” is so endemic in conversation already. I note however that in Australia
Yahoo7.com.au is still using the old search engine (decisions.net.au is currently 2nd Place for search term “Decisions”)

Recently I needed to get a really great looking Joomla! template for a client. I of course thought of the various Joomla! Template clubs and commercial template suppliers. I chose a flash looking RED Template from a MAJOR website the URL which shall remain anonymous to protect the guilty. After downloading and having to create an install .ZIPFILE that SHOULD have been done by the designer (it only takes minutes, but will frustrate some web-users). I installed the new template.
Then comes the interesting part. No parameter file, OK I can handle that. Next only 3 module positions, Ok I can add more. Continuing down the terrible template tour, I realise that NO valid CSS for the TopMenu . OK I can handle that, Change CSS is easy in most templates. NO not on this little template from the Monster Mansion. CSS files supplied are the most frustrating I have seen, and boy have I seen some nightmares.

Contacted support to see if maybe it was a dud download or an unfinished template that had been supplied in error. No Support not only said it was the correct one, but implied it was the best available on the planet. But they did have a premium service that would add the missing bits for expensive fee (more than triple the original price). I asked for my Money back, after all it was unusable. Support offered to check that there was no problems, if I gave them logon details. After checking and confirming the template was OK (their point of view, not mine). Was told that no refunds were given, but I could have a 50% on my next purchase. AS IF I would ever buy from them again.

So let’s do a little headcount.

1. NO Install File supplied.
2. Minimalist approach to Module positions.
3. CSS problems
4. Arrogant and insulting support service.
5. Blatant exploitation requiring essential changes to be paid for as additions.
6. Lost my client , they Lost an Affiliate (Yes I advertised their products),
7. Inspired me to start designing templates. I decided to get a copy of ARTISTEER Trial to try it.

Simply TERRIFIC. Brilliant. I can now CREATE Joomla, Wordpress, Drupal and HTML templates with a few clicks.

Part 2 of this saga

I now have purchased 3 licensed copies, 1 for each computer. Bloody brilliant software.

INTERNATIONAL REMOVALS
In my last post I gave several reasons why immigration to Australia had advantages for online commerce site owners being hassled by various authorities for their activities. since then I have had some of my overseas friends contacting me and saying that they are seriously considering the option. I decided to investigate for them the procedures needed to facilitate the shift.

Issues like passports, visas, work permits, housing are easily handled by most people via official Government sites,the only issue that isn’t is the international removals process. The hassles start with decisions about what belongings should be left behind, sold off, or given away. After deciding the amount of belongings being taken to your new home in a different country, then comes the hassles associated with international removals. International removals involves more than just a couple dozen cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and some duct tape. There often is a need for a shipping container or several wooden crates for the big items like furniture and white goods. Then there is also the problem ensuring adequate padding and coverings for the various items. Another problem is sealing against vermin during the journey. Custom declarations and insurance valuations for some items often require several days to arrange.

The usage of companies specialising in international removals in a professional manner will make all these and any other problems disappear. The ease of shifting using these companies makes what would be a total hassle into a pleasant business transaction. Hopefully the information provided by me to my overseas friends will see several making the big jump to becoming an Australian resident. In the past International removals ensured enough hassles that would have seen me not recommending it to anyone. Now with the use of professional international removals companies, I would recommend it to anyone thinking of shifting from one country to another.

North Carolina is the latest US State that has placed restrictions on online eCommerce sites doing trade.
Amazon.com has notified several of my US friends that their affiliate accounts have been closed until further notice.
The following was my reply to one of them.

Apply for immigration to AUSTRALIA
It has multiple advantages

1. No STUPID State Sales TAXES (Australian Constitution Prohibits the Separate Aust. states from having state taxation)
2. Wonderful Climate, beaches and Outback.
3. We LOVE eCommerce, Gambling and Other types of Online Sites. We have the highest per capita rate of eBAY and Paypal usage in the world.
4. Great People that speak US English (50 years of watching USA TV has done that. Doh!).
5. NO IDIOT Governors , our Governors are appointed not ELECTED. They tend to be academics or respected professionals, not recycled snake-oil merchants or actors.
6. HIGH rate of internet usage and recognition.
7. High Standard of living. Universal Health Insurance and Social Welfare.
8. Lots of Koalas,Kangaroos and Crocodiles.
9. Environmentally Aware Government.
10. No Dead Politicians on our Currency. We have pictures of people that have made a real contribution to our country, not some loser politician.

I mentioned previously about shifting some of my sites from my previous Canadian Host. Due to delays and difficulties I have deferred that decision until next month. In the meantime I been investigating a replacement hosting for my little sites and subdomains. Looking through the vast array of available hosting companies I chose a company that is promoting a July only promotion. I thought great ,get a years worth of hosting for a reasonable price. After several hassles regarding the payment using Paypal eCheque (it was not a PayPal problem) and a couple phone calls to UK (Their promoted Aussie Support is NON-Existent) I now have the hosting up and running.

It just reinforced my previous concerns about eCommerce sites, especially hosting companies and their usage of paypal. I get totally frustrated by supposed Hi-tech sites that don’t offer paypal or have only limited usage. Come on guys, Lift your game. Web-Users love paypal. We don’t want a online site that only expects Credit Cards. Or that un-named site I visited recently that only offers Direct Deposits for payments. That site sells (probably not many) pre-made eCommerce sites that feature Paypal payments, but they don’t accept Paypal.

In my last post I stated I would post at 2 posts a month and here I am running late with my first post.

Several deciding factors were responsible for this.
Firstly, after much deliberations, I have finally decided to shift all the remaining sites and clients from my old Hosting. The Costs and Hassles associated with the old Canadian Host was not worth it. For the same price per month I have over 5 times the space and 10 times the bandwidth.

Secondly, With the winter months and the prevalance of sniffles and coughs, I have not been doing as much website work as usual.

Thirdly, I have been trying to change the entire focus of BareFootTech. In the last five years it has changed from having only 1 Blogger blog (SpamCity, It was YUK ) and a site (Mega yuk) hosted on the 5mb Hosting provided by my old ISP neither listed by google and other search engines. It now has achieved a little success with several high traffic sites and several blogs. Over the next 5 years I hope to make some money as well as the recognition I so deserve.