For those of you who do not know what a googlebomb is, it is the practice of creating many links to 1 website with the same anchor text in an effort to cause that website to rise to the top of the serps for the given search term. That is the short definition. An extended definition is if the page being linked to is not relevant to the anchor text used to describe the link, then it is a googlebomb.

Google has made a recent announcement concerning difusing the googlebamb by making changes in their algorithym, and Matt cutts has discussed it at his blog.

Webproworld visitors are speculating that this can not be done automatically as it will nullify any benefit of being dug or promoted through any other form of online social networking sites. Some of the argument is if a buzz is created on the vast social networking web, than a large amounts of links could be created to the source in just a matter of a few days. Given the fact that a product or article was crafted well enough to warrant creating such a buzz, would it be fair for Google to kill the increase in percieved popularity.

What I think a lot of webmasters are missing is the word “relevancy”. If the anchor text pointing to a website about cars is “boats”, then the incoming links could potentially be ruled as irrelevant.

Another indicator of googlebombing is a quick massive increase in the number of inbound links with the same anchor text in the link. This brings another problem to the surface and that is the number of inbound links generated in 1 day back to popular GNU General Public License freeware type programs like PHPBB, Mambo, Joomla, RSStatic and the like. Currently, phpbb shows over 2 million incoming links. Joomla shows over 240,000. Mamboserver shows 65,000 links.

Granted, most of the links to these programs and the creators of these programs will be relevant to the context of the site, the sheer number of links generated in a single day could easily trip a new googlebomb filter.

How about website designers that provide free scripting or that create free templates for webmasters that can be downloaded from any free template website? These designers request that a link back to their website remain intact as a condition of use of the free template. The link back to the designer that provided the free template is not much different than putting a logo on a box. If someone wants more boxes, then they know where to go get them. It also serves as a vehicle to help drive additional sales for someone who may want more than a free template look and feel.

I can understand difusing the googlebomb, but please be careful and make sure a lot of innocent folks don’t get hurt in the process.

We are currently working on a development project for Imax Insurance and we are providing template design, content management, hosting, and template integration for a component provided by Ipipeline.

We initially quoted doing the development of the financial feeds they wanted, but Imax was convinced by a viscious sales person at Ipipeline that they were the only ones who could provide the content they needed.

We modified our quotation accordingly to just take the services provided by Ipipeline, wrap templates around it, and we would not be responsible for its (ipipeline)Â function or modifications.

The product is called AnnuityPipe Suite and cost Imax $1,295.00 for the license, and an additional $275 per month.

The sales person promised Tom Thomas (Imax) the moon and that this Anuitypipe suite could and would perform all of the functions he needed.

Quitely, in the background, we are putting together web templates, getting signed acceptance of the template design, and have uploaded our seo friendly content management system, and have done the integration necessary for the third party application.

Here is where the problem starts. Tom Thomas has discovered that the Annuitypipe will not display an annuity calculator, nor will it display the top 5 annuities in a feed on the website. Tom is now withholding payment untill we fix the flaw in the third party application that we had nothing to do with. We can not make him understand that we only quoted time to learn how to implement the system and not that we were going to make modifications or guarantee its performance.

What we have discovered is that the sales person that promised him the moon is no longer employed with IPipeline and Ipipeline will not honor the promises made by their long gone salesperson. Tom’s only recourse now is to try to beat us into submission so that we will fix his bad business decision.

Fortunately, our contract reads that all litigation will be handled in Hopkins County, so he will have to come here when we sue him for payment

I am currently turning down websites like this, and I would caution all developers to seriously scrutinize any potential projects that come together like this one.

CAD Website Design was chosen to develop and design a new website for a client out of California to host an online singing competition. The end result through a colaboration between us and our client is http://www.singingcoyote.com/

We will eventually add this to our website design portfolio, but in the meantime, we are trying to help spread the word.

Copy from the site reads as follows;

Here’s your chance to compete! We are the ultimate forum in which singers can be heard by viewers around the world. SingingCoyote.com is a web community for ALL people to showcase their talent for FREE in ANY language. We have competitions in 5 musical genres. The winner of each category will be awarded $2,000.00 in cash!

While the site is still very new, it has attracted the attention of ROB TRUJILLO (The base player for “METALLICA”)! They also have found a songwriter/producer that will be working with them named Bryan Bryant who worked with the Nashville Stars competition.

This looks to be a very exciting online singing competition and we are proud to be a part of its success :)Â

Job Description:
Seeking an experienced PHP / MySQL developer and Web 2.0 designer that can embrace our existing applications and take on full responsibility of technical and creative development. Ideal candidates have at least two years of professional development experience using PHP / MySQL along with solid HTML / CSS construction capabilities. You must be very organized, be able to work autonomously, honest and reliable. This is full-time position in a creative, upbeat work environment located in Madisonville, KY. This position is responsible for the maintenance and continued development of our suite of websites and interaction with our customers.

How to apply or learn more:
For Consideration, Email us or reply to this blog entry with your contact information.

Key responsibilities include:
-Developing, deploying and maintaining the web site infrastructures, including hardware, software, policies and procedures;
-Utilizing web authoring and publishing tools;
-Performing and coordinating site management to ensure high availability and consistency of site appearance and functionality; and
-Resolving system and software problems to ensure system integrity.
-Direct customer interaction.
-Effective eye catching design of customer applications/websites.
-Any and All other duties as assigned.

Basic Requirements:
-2+ years professional experience
-Languages: Strong working knowledge of PHP, MySQL, HTML/CSS, JavaScript
-Knowledge in Red Hat Linux, FreeBSD & Apache
-Experience in developing scalable web apps
-Life cycle development & change control
-Ability to determine & doc requirements
-Web page layout construction (CSS driven w/ template schemas)
-Security on web-based apps
-Positive work ethic absolutely required
-Must be willing to re-locate to Madisonville, KY.
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Desired Skills:
Flash, Branding, Marketing, Web 2.0

Non-Tech Skills:
Oral & Written Communication, Tech Documentation, Intrapersonal skills

Benefits:
Health Insurance, Paid Vacation, Company Sponsored Simple IRA

We have purchased a Horizon Houseboat from Green Turtle Bay Yacht Sales and are naming it “The Black Pearl” due to it’s color scheme.

It is a beauty of a boat at 16′ wide by 77′ long. It has twin 3.0 ltr mercruiser engines, stern thruster, power inverter, 12.5kw westerbeake gen set, and lots of other goodies that are going to make for great houseboating weekends on Lake Barkley in Western Kentucky.

The boat is white with a black party top and bimini top. All of the interior is done in black and tan.

We have made an offer that the current owner has accepted, secured financing, now we just need to get through the Marine Survey part and she will be ours.

We will be moving the boat to Prizer Point in March. I can hardly wait to get her out in a cove and spend the weekend with some friends. My wife’s father has said he would like to be on the dock to see my face when I try to put it in our slip for the first time. I have never driven a boat this big (my previous boat was a 33′ Cruisers Inc Ultra Vee) but feel that I am up to the challenge. With the help of the stern thruster, it should be something I can get the hang of after only a few minor bangs and dents.

My biggest problem now is that even though I was born in Owensboro Kentucky, and even though I now own a boat named The Black Pearl, my wife expects me to be as hot as Johnny Depp

Maybe I will make a deal with her like, if she can be as hot as Keira Knightley, I can pull off the Johnny Depp thing :)Â

Old Testament wrath-of-God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling. Fourty years of darkness. Earthquakes, volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria.

Well, it might not be as bad as it was for the Ghost Busters, but there are a lot of folks panacking about the loss of Page Rank.

PR for several prominent websites has dropped to 0 overnight and it has webmasters running for cover as blood seeps from walls. There is a lot of talk about it over at webmasterworld and Matt Cutts mentions a PR update himself over at his blog.

My site was one of the affected, but I am going to ride this out with cautious optimism.