Spy Review

What does this tool do: Provides cross platform, up to the second updates on news from various social media.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Do you monitor the news?

Info Page: http://spy.appspot.com/find/%23iran?latest=25

Comments:

This is the second time I have referred readers to Spy, the first being during the Mumbai massacre. Does it have anything to do with ranking your site? Not really. Does it have something to do with life on the “outside”?  Yes.  Use the pound sign to follow a specific subject and be continually updated. (#Iran).

Wowzio Review

What does this tool do: Provides free and useful widgets for your blog.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Got a blog? You can use Wowzio.

Info Page: http://www.wowzio.com/docs/faq

Comments:

(The Wowzio site is no longer operational. But I left it here for you to investigate.)  If you look to the left sidebar in Webzoom.biz, you will find a useful and informative “widget” that was easy to insert and has been taking residence, on trial there, for several months. Like what you see? Visit the above link.

spellr.us Review 

What does this tool do:  Corrects your site’s spelling. 

Cost: Free

Who Needs It:  You, Doofus. (Dufus? Doofuss? Dummy?)

Info Page:   http://spellr.us/

Comments:  

Too easy to explain. Checks your site’s spelling and is meciless when it comes to correcting you. (HT Len Charnoff at www.timesavingtutorials.com)

Market Samurai Review 

What does this tool do: Keeps you from wasting time by entering a too-competitive market.

Cost: It doesn’t matter what it is this week. Buy it.

Who Needs It:  E-commerce Marketers

Info Page:  http://www.noblesamurai.com/

Comments:  

You hit on the right page. This is probably the most valuable tool I own for choosing a competitive E-market. It will tell you the key phrases or key words that are highly searched plus show you those terms that have low competition. Then it will show you a graphic display of Google competitors to let you know if you should attack your area of interest. Such a time saver, lack of this software is what kept me away from the E-commerce market for years. I was not interested in doing the tedious analysis required of weighing good markets. I have never not listed a price before, with good reason. What ever it is, pay it and shut up. 14 day trial for free. 

Cligs Review

What does this tool do: Shortens your long URLs (like TinyUrl), but also keeps track of how many click-throughs you receive via that link. That is the huge benefit of Cligs.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Are you wasting your time sending out links to others? Find out.

Info Page: http://cli.gs/

Comments:

Oh this is nice.  A free tool (with registration) that keeps track of hits on any individual link you may embed on your site or send to others. Would you like to know if the links you send via email are ignored or visited? Would you like to keep track of hits on specific links of your site? Would you like to trace the traffic patterns of links that you publicize through Twitter? This fine tool will do it for you. Embedded Twitter URLs (in your Tweets) are often condensed for space purposes. You can simultaneously condense those links and trace the hits to your distributed links, all via Cligs.

PowerDirector 7 Review

What does this tool do: Gives you the power to edit and post video to your webblog.

Cost: As low as $52.00 with an online coupon

Who Needs It: Do you want to use video, one of the most powerful marketing tools on the internet?

Info Page: http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/main_4_en_US.html

Comments:

In 1987 I started a small video production studio on Whidbey Island in Washington State that employed five full-time people. The expense of producing corporate and commercial video with old analog equipoment was astounding. The process was complicated, time consuming and temperamental. Digital or desktop editing in the professional arena became available in the early 1990s. I was quick to move toward this new technology…even though we would struggle through its early difficulties. My first digital editing system cost $25,000, not including the necessary computing and video recording hardware. PowerDirector 7 does many things that system could not. And it costs $59.00 at Amazon. The availability of systems like the (greatly improved) PowerDirector 7 and Pinnacle Studio editing software have opened huge opportunities for creative entrepreneurs to use video in their online marketing. Check this one out on a 30 day trail.

SUMo Review 

What does this tool do: Identifies outdated software on your computer and provides links to upgrade.  

Cost: Free

Who Needs It:  Do you use many different software applications?

Info Page:   http://www.kcsoftwares.com/index.php?sumo

Comments:  

An unassuming program (doesn’t even have a logo) for identifying outdated software. While some software vendors (like iTunes and QuickTime) will incessantly tap on your Windows, reminding you to update, many do not.  SUMo will scan your installed programs and let you know which if any versions are outdated. Then, with a single click you can upgrade.

Pollcode Review 

What does this tool do:  Provides an easy freebie polling form your Weblog guests.

Cost: No cost

Who Needs It: Too valuable to ignore as a blog tool.

Info Page:   http://pollcode.com/

Comments: 

Such a deal. Engaging your guests is a key to building your audeince. Pollcode provides a simple, format for creating a poll within your blog entries.  Create the poll format, grab the code and embed within your blog.  Cool Tool.  

Dabbleboard Review 

What does this tool do: Fills a significant need for an intuitive computer drawing application.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Ever try to draw a diagram with a typical computer paint program?  What a joke it has been until now.  Dabbleboard now makes it incredibly easy.

Info Page:   http://www.dabbleboard.com/main

Comments: 

While this is an application for occasional use, it is a certifiably cool tool. Ever want to diagram the route to your house, scratch out a handwritten message, outline a process, get your kid interested in a computer, draw a simple picture? This is your lucky day. You can easily share your scribbles or collaborate with others. And the program is so intutitive that it will translate your irregular scribbles into perfectly formed shapes. 

Hat Tip: www.timesavingtutorials.com/wordpress  

Cool RGB Review 

What does this tool do:  Will help you create a logo, header or buttons for your site with a minimum of effort and no expense.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Those with minimal artistic ability and no time to learn Photoshop.

Info Page:   http://89.38.215.220/Pages/Logos.aspx

Comments: 

This is an online application that leads you through simple steps to generate a header or other simple graphics for your blog. When finished, simply download the file and then upload it to your blog.