Alex Pooley's Blog

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Over a year ago I started a web site to collect e-mail leads. The site was really just an experiment, but over time it started showing some promise. I’ve since re-launched the site and turned it in to a Wordpress powered blog. The blog has the usual news section, but with original content re-purposed from other news sources - all manually powered. The blog also has a static content section that I update with content recycled from posts made to the blog section. This has enabled me to leverage my time/efforts while still producing something of value.

It’s been interesting watching the transition from Google Analytics. The site has started making an ascent which starts pretty much at the time of swapping from a one page lead generating site to a dynamic and “content packed” blog. The first week of going live produced the most hits on the site so far, with roughly twice as many hits as typical.
 

New Blog Graph. Click For Full Size.

As can be seen from the graph, the numbers themselves are barely worth writing about. However, there is a clear break in pattern which is intriguing. Hopefully this trend continues and my new approach of slow and steady content generation proves successful. I’ll keep you updated.

I should note that the combination of a static “education” section combined with a current news section so far appears quite powerful. If you are familiar with TechCrunch, then this arrangement is a little like what CrunchBase is to TechCrunch.

Perth Ruby On Rails Oceania meet, on Thursday 18 September, Fibber McGees, Leederville, 5pm(ish) until whenever! The official announcement is on the RoRO website.

My office is just over the road at 220 Carr Place, Leederville in case ya’ll want to drop by a bit early and say hi to myself and the rest of the twotwenty web development gang.

Marketing always fascinates me. I think it’s the melding of business, psychology, and hackery, that mystifies and amazes. Every so often I come across a strange marketing campaign. Kind of like those TV adverts that force you to turn to the person sitting next to you and say, “Someone got paid for coming up with that”.

On the right is a marketing campaign that gave me a giggle. The Mortein “energy ball” is actually just a ball bearing in the can, so when you shake the can it sounds like a can of spray paint. It’s incredible how far marketing can take a lowly can of bug spray. I wonder if their sales actually improved because of this…