Riquochet’s Hosted Tools

Welcome. You’re joining us Live for The Heart Kids Blogathon
Post #9; 6pm (BST); 1pm (EDT)

Affiliate Link Cloaker
Protect your links and commissions.

ROR sitemap generator
This tool will crawl your website and generate a ROR Sitemap with up to 1,000 URLs for ALL search engines, not just Google.
ROR is a rapidly growing XML format for describing any object on a website (sitemaps, products, services, menus, images, reviews, contact info, business info, etc), so any search engines can better understand its content.

Flash Navigation Bar Generator
Easily generate a flash navigation bar with a few mouse clicks.

And if you haven't already, check out Riquochet's newly designed homepage!

…And last, but certainly not least, I just came across a superb new search engine…

Oskope

Enter a term and choose whether to search ebay, Amazon, flickr or YouTube. You’ll be impressed by the results. Note the ‘slider’ bar to the right, use it to increase or decrease the image size. Very Cool.


Well, that’s the end of our mini blogathon. Thankyou to everyone who’s visited us, commented and donated to The Heart Kids. Thanks also to my fellow bloggers, for their support and 'Twitterings' throughout the afternoon.

It’s been quite a task preparing and researching all the tools and resources – but very worthwhile.

I hope to see you again soon at The Smart Marketer’s Blog. If you want to be notified when the next tools are posted, there’s subscription options on the right.

And don’t forget, Dr Mani’s 24 hour blogathon is still going on, if you’ve not dropped in on him yet, he’ll be very pleased to see you.

Thanks again,
Steph White.

Support The Heart Kids Blogathon – Leave a Comment
Make a Donation

Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

Six Online Collaboration Tools

Welcome. You’re joining us Live for The Heart Kids Blogathon
Post #8; 5.30pm (BST); 12.30pm (EDT)

Draw Anywhere
Draw Anywhere is a web application with the look and feel of a desktop utility. Diagrams, charts, flow charts and plans are easy to draw and share. It’s real functional software – but don’t be put off by the poorly designed homepage, you’ll see what I mean when you get inside!

Google Docs
Create documents and spreadsheets. Collaborate, share, sync and export.

TaDa List
Create and share To Do Lists, or just keep them to yourself! Subscribe to your own lists via email or RSS feed.

WriteBoard
‘Write, Share, Revise, Compare’
Write letters, webcopy, blog posts, memos or just about anything text based on your writeboards and access from any computer. Send an invitation to anyone, simply by entering their email address, to collaborate on any project. Once they receive your assigned password they can view and add to your writeboard. Send the contents of your writeboard to yourself by email

WriteMaps
Create, edit and share sitemaps online. You and your team can build and access your sitemaps from anywhere – without having to rely on static files.
*Currently in beta and only supports firefox, support for other browsers is underway.

Calendar Hub
Create multiple personal or group calendars you can access from any computer. Keep it private, share with others or publish on the web. Find local events, get reminders by email or sms, invite others, subscribe to RSS, import and export data.

Support The Heart Kids Blogathon – Leave a Comment
Make a Donation

Next post: 6pm (BST); am (EDT)
Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

Eight Blogging Tools

Welcome. You’re joining us Live for The Heart Kids Blogathon
Post #7; 5pm (BST); 12pm (EDT)

Feedburner
Publicize your blog and make it easy for anyone to subscribe, either by Rss Feed or by email (delivered, once a day by Feedburner, when you post new content). Optimize content for major directories, analyze your traffic and make money by participating in Feedburner’s Ad network. Great Tool.

MyBlogLog
Blog community building tool. Also doubles up as a tool to measure stats and outclicks and encourages traffic to your blog.

Big List of Blog Search Engines
Great blog. This post lists around 40 places to submit your blogs and Rss feeds.

BlogRolling
One-Stop linklist manager for your blog. Just register free, add a snippet of code to your blog and the blogrolling 1-click link to your browser – and click it whenever you come across a site you want to add to your linklist.

Blogarithm
Keep track of all the blogs and websites you follow. An email is sent, once a day when any new content appears on sites you specify. Personally I prefer to track blogs RSS feeds in a feed reader, such as bloglines, but some may find a daily email useful.

GeoLoc
GeoLoc is a stat counter, that shows the location of your visitors. Green Dots show who is on your site right now, and red dots mark locations of previous visitors.

Email Scramble
Email Scramble is just one of several blog tools on offer at BlogFlux. Insert your email address and link text and this tool scrambles your email (funnily enough:) and pops out a snippet of javascript which, when inserted on a webpage, hides your address from spam harvesters.

BlogRush
This is brand new today! I've only discovered it a couple of hours ago. Add a snippet of code to your blog and show feeds from other blogs. Hmm, what's so good about that? Well, it means YOUR feeds are showing up on other blogs, all over the bloggesphere! Join for Free.

Support The Heart Kids Blogathon – Leave a Comment
Make a Donation

Next post: 5.30pm (BST); 12.30pm (EDT)
Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

Four Web Analysis Tools

Welcome. You’re joining us Live for The Heart Kids Blogathon
Post #6; 4.30pm (BST); 11.30am (EDT)

WebCeo
Webceo is a complete, free software package, comprising twelve SEO Tools in a powerful management suite. On site and off site optimisation, search engine submission and tracking, pinpointing errors and monitoring tools available on your desktop.

AWstats
Monitor advanced web, streaming, ftp or mail server statistics and view via a graphical interface. Distributed under the GNU General Public Licence, from Sourceforge.

StatCounter
Register an account, create a project, insert a line of code into your website or blog. Comprehensive data analysis in real time, free lifetime account. Offers ‘drilling down’ options for 500 most recent pageloads, keyword analysis, visitor paths, visit lengths, returning visits, visitor’s country, state, ISP and much more.

Crazy Egg
Using ‘heat map’ technology, you can actually visualize what your visitors click on, telling you which part of your page is hottest for placing advertising, and where there’s room for improvement. Several account levels are available, though the free account will probably suffice most people.

Support The Heart Kids Blogathon – Leave a Comment
Make a Donation

Next post: 5pm (BST); am (EDT)
Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

Four Data and Accounting Tools

Welcome. You’re joining us Live for The Heart Kids Blogathon
Post #5; 4pm (BST); 11am (EDT)

Startup Business School
Secure business planning tools, articles, lessons, video lessons, networking events calendar and opportunities to connect with other entrepreneurs are all included in a free account at the startup business school.

Invoice Genie
Invoice Genie saves you time, energy and money. Manage contacts, expenses,
schedules, memos, collaboration and create personalzed invoices.

SantexQ
“Effective time reporting, project management and billing all in one powerful tool.” Completely free to use. secure, customisable with sharing capabilities. If you find ‘The Q’ isn’t for you, you’re data is easily exportable to xml. You’ll find a quick start guide on your dashboard, faqs and if you’ve still got questions, there’s a knowledgable team waiting to support you.

Vebio
Vebio is an online invoicing service for small businesses. Invoicing may be automated and tracked. A free account is available, is somewhat limited, but may be useful in establishing the type of functionality you need to keep track of your accounts.

Support The Heart Kids Blogathon – Leave a Comment
Make a Donation

Next post: 4.30pm (BST); 11.30am (EDT)

Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

Six Auction Tools

Welcome. You’re joining us Live for The Heart Kids Blogathon

Post #4; 3.30pm (BST); 10.30am (EDT)

Template-O-Matic
Create free eBay templates and post professional looking auction listings with Template-O-Matic’s automated template generator. There's nothing to download and no registration required. Simply fill in the blanks and ‘view template’.

AuctionInc
Tons of low-cost tools and resources for auctions, but there’s also a free shipping calculator.

Auction User Name
Free tool requiring no registration. Search for available ebay usernames.

Ebay Sales Reports
Available free on ebay, sales reports and sales reports plus help you measure performance, determine areas for improvement and refine your strategies to ensure success.

Auctiva
Image hosting. templates. and scheduling. Online auction software. Storefront and scrolling gallery… and it’s all free.

Listing Ticker
Insert your ebay ID, generate code and paste into your website or blog to show your current ebay listings.

Support The Heart Kids Blogathon – Leave a Comment
Make a Donation


Next post: 4pm (BST); 11am (EDT)

Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

Twelve Rss Feed Tools

Welcome. You’re joining us Live for The Heart Kids Blogathon

Post #3; 3pm (BST); 10am (EDT)

Rss Feed Readers

Both Google Reader and Bloglines are excellent web-based services. I use Bloglines, but it’s really down to personal preference, and there are others, but these are the two 'biggies'.

Feed Validator – Validate your Rss feeds, learn how to fix problems and add a ‘Validated’ badge to your blog.

Blogdigger – Get your Rss feed listed on Blogdigger


Free Rss Suite – Create Rss Feeds, Update existing feeds, rss hosting, rss validation, rss formatting, rss conversion with this free suite of tools.

Odiogo – Automaticallly convert your site's RSS feeds, text articles and blog posts to iPod-ready audio files ready to download and play anywhere, anytime, on any device.

FeedYes - Automatically generate feeds for any page on the web

Feed Icon - Introduce a feed icon linked to a feed description page to your website instantly with an automatically generated "copy-and-paste-ready" html codes.

Pinging Services

ipings



Kingping





Brainbliss




Ping-o-Matic


*Please take care when you're pinging – some ping destinations are duplicated in various services - don’t allow yourself to be accused of spamming

Support The Heart Kids Blogathon – Leave a Comment
Make a Donation

Next post: 3.30pm (BST); 10.30am (EDT)

Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

Four Web Enhancement Tools

Welcome. You’re joining us Live for The Heart Kids Blogathon

Post #2; 2.30pm (BST); 9.30am(EDT)

Amberjack
Create a tour of your website. Free and using the ‘tour wizard’, it’s an absolute breeze. A magnificent example of an open-source project.
Click on ‘demo’ on amberjack’s homepage for a quick introduction.

Flash Village
Free flash templates and logo templates to wow your visitors. Free registration required to download.

Kaosweaver
Free extensions for Macromedia’s Dreamweaver, including Breadcrumbs, Live Clock and Quick Gallery. Donations for downloads are appreciated, but payment is not required – if you use an addon and find it useful, go back and thank kaosweaver with a small donation. Sound fair enough?

Plogger
Plogger is an open-source gallery system, to show off your images on your website or blog. Free download, full documentation and implementation instructions are available on the site.

Support The Heart Kids Blogathon – Leave a Comment
Make a Donation


Next post: 3pm (BST); 10am (EDT)

Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

Five Communication Tools

Welcome. You’re joining us Live for The Heart Kids Blogathon
Post #1; 2pm (BST); 9am (EDT)

Barablu
Barablu is a free piece of software, for your mobile, sent to you by SMS, that enables you to talk for free, to anyone in the world, if you’re phone is wi-fi enabled. You can also Instant Message for free to your barablu, skype and google contacts, via GPRS. Barablu can also be installed on your PC for free calling. Plus there’s free voicemail, file-sharing, and conference calling and 1cent calls to worldwide landlines.

Blobber
Blobber allows your website visitors to see how many people are looking at your site, right now, and lets them chat to each other – and you, the webmaster, of course! Currently blobber is in beta, and free, and it states on the site that in all probability there will always be a free service, with options to upgrade for more features.

Call The Future
This is very cool! Call the future will call a specified number at any time in the future. Input text to be spoken and even a name to be shown on caller ID. Great for giving yourself a reminder, or a prompt for appointments – or even have an emergency reason to leave a meeting!
As a totally free service, with no registration necessary, there are no guarantees the service won’t be ‘maxed out’ when you want to use it and you’re limited to three calls in any twenty-four hour period.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for the UK – our phone no.s are too long :( If you have any success with it, leave a comment, I’d love to hear.

Chinswing
Chinswing is a global voice message board, much like a traditional forum except you record your message instead of typing. Share your personal interests or hobbies, debate hot issues or find answers to questions.
Not only is this a cool niche research resource, but how about if you’re lacking confidence when it comes to microphones and all that techy stuff? Practice here, you can review and even re-record your message, before saving.
There’s an option to subscribe to rss feeds, or have feeds sent straight to itunes.

ConvinceMe
Convinceme is a debating website (and another hot opportunity for niche research, see what the burning questions of the day are). Create challenges, compete in debates, compete for votes, a winning records and points. it’s your chance to convince the world that you’re right!

Support The Heart Kids Blogathon – Leave a Comment
Make a Donation

Next post: 2.30pm (BST); 9.30am (EDT)

Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

It's Almost Blogathon Time!

It's almost time for The Smart Marketer’s Mini-blogathon.

We Kick-Off at 2.00pm BST, that’s 9.00am EDT, Saturday.

Nine posts in Four Hours.

I’ve a fantastic selection of tools to tell you about – over 50 in all.

I’m just finalizing the line-up, but can’t keep awake much longer after a 16 hour day at my keyboard!

Just show up here tommorrow and prepare to be amazed.

But please spare a thought, and make a donation if you can, to the ‘stars of the show’, The kids born with congenital heart defects who so desperately need funding for surgeons like Dr Mani, to save their lives.

Steph.

Five Free Audio Tools…

…But before you dive in I’ve some important news.

On Saturday September 15th ’07, I’m taking part in a ‘mini-blogathon’, in aid of Congenital Heart Defects (you’ve probably seen the chd logo at www.Riquochet.co.uk). Let me explain…

My friend Dr.Mani is a heart surgeon who innovatively uses Internet marketing to help kids born with heart defects.

On September 9th, in a very special event called the Heart Kids Blogathon, he is blogging non-stop for 24 hours to raise funds for his 'heart kids'.

And this year, he's setting his sights high. Dr.Mani plans to raise $75,000 in a day to fund lifesaving heart surgery for 25 children.

To raise awareness further, the Doc has asked me (and lots of other marketers), to support the cause in a mini version of his blogathon.

On the 15th I’ll be posting tools and resources, like the ones below, to The Smart Marketer’s Blog, every 30 minutes, over a four hour period. Now that might sound like a breeze - and it is compared to Dr Mani's 24 hour stint, but I'll bring you nine quality posts and promise to put as much thought and effort into each one as any other post. So, I'd really appreciate your support and comments.

Enter YOU, my loyal subscriber! Please support us by dropping by the blog on the 15th – I’m scheduled to start around 11am (BST), but the finer details will come together nearer the time. AND, if you can spare a couple of bucks, visit The Heart Kids Blog and make a donation :)

Thankyou.

Now, on with today’s tools…

itunes - free download for PC and Mac
Listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks and interviews, watch movies and music videos with apple’s very cool itunes. Once installed, check out the itunes store for tons of free podcasts. Subscribe to any podcast and it’ll automatically be updated with new episodes, whenever itunes is running on your computer.

BlogTalkRadio
Rather Listen than Read? Rather Talk than Type?
BlogTalkRadio is a kind of extended blogging platform. Anyone can host a live blogshow online. The service is free to all users, whether you host a blogshow or listen in. Plus hosts earn half of all revenue generated by their blogshow and Host Channel page. Even if you don’t want to host a show, there’s a great selection of shows to listen to. The best way to keep track of your favorite shows is by subscribing with itunes.

Gcast
Record messages over the phone or upload Mp3 files to create a podcast. Gcast will publish and host your files free and automatically generate an RSS feed, so your listeners can subscribe. Use ‘playlist manager’ to organize and mix media from various sources, with a few mouse clicks. Embed the Gcast player into your blog or webpage and choose whether or not to play automatically.

IJigg
What’s the hottest topic in social networking? Music! At iJigg you can rate, share and submit music. Discover new music, add artists as friends. It’s very simple, but I just love it!


Sonific
Generate widgets to embed sound tracks on your blog or website. NB: Terms & Conditions state: not for use on wholly commercial sites, or to promote products.


Don’t forget to drop by on Saturday 15th September ’07! You can help save a child's life.

Bookmark The Smart Marketer's Blog using your favorite service

Five Free Imaging Tools

Ok, so I've talked about nothing else but the thirty day challenge lately. Well, it has kept me pretty busy, but now for something completely different... I’ve recently recieved a few emails about using images on webpages and in blogs, so here are a few of the free tools I use to store, organize, buy, sell, resize images and even one to make movies…

Resizr - A quick and easy way to resize images.
Upload an image, either from one of your local drives, or by entering a URL. Set the required width for your resized image and click. The image can then be saved to your hard disk, by right-clicking and selecting ‘save target as’. There’s also a plugin available, if you’re a firefox user.

Toufee – Create Instant Multimedia Mashups.

Combine text, images, videos and audio into flash movies. There’s nothing to download, install or plugin. Create slideshows, albums, journals, tutorials, flash banners, e-cards, advertisements, presentations and much more. It’s really easy… Here’s one I made earlier!

Fotolia – Buy and sell royalty free stock images. Buying starts at $1, but why not upload some of your own photos and make some extra cash?

Canvas Painter
A blank canvas to create your own masterpiece. Different brush sizes and shapes to choose from. Ok, it’s a bit like Microsoft paint, but with the advantage of not having to have yet another application paging your harddrive!

Flickr
I couldn’t mention images without mentioning flickr. “Flickr is the WD-40 that makes it easy to get photos from one person to another in whatever way they want.” – I just love that! Upload, organize and share your photos, quickly and easily. Flickr is a Yahoo! company, so if you already have a Yahoo! account, you can register with the same id.

Hope you have as much fun with them as I have!

Bye for now,
Steph.