After help from numerous resources online (scroll to the bottom of Busted by Google to see some of the sites that helped me track down my hacked files), and combing through jillions (it feels like) files, I find this morning that my google search engine results are restored to normal. That was REALLY fast. Though [...]

Recovering from hacks Sigh. I love Google. I have had great luck over the years with DIY SEO and have always found Google’s resources to be extremely helpful. Inexplicably, I seem to be in trouble with Google and have spent about 48 hours trying to figure out the issue, if there is one. Sadly, I [...]

Taryn Merrick, a colleague and web designer (whose work I admire a lot) and I have been discussing the trend of taking an old web site, built with an html editor, say, and converting it into a WordPress site, which can function as a combination static site and blog. She and I have both tackled [...]

Ever ponder the interconnectedness of blogging and social networking? Just as new music forms and styles influence and change older ones, it’s safe to say that online connection methods evolve in response to new variations as they are introduced. If you recall and have communicated online via “bulletin boards,” I’m guessing you are over thirty, [...]

TV, radio, and blogs often feature weekly roundups. Loosely Speaking is trying it out today. Logging a lot of hours on the road over the past few months, I’ve got a lot of new knitted projects to show off, but am woefully behind on reading my favorite blogs. So, today, I’m thinking about success and [...]

As you blog, have you ever wanted to step out from behind the curtain so you could actually SEE your readers? Asked readers to step from the shadows to identify/describe themselves to you somehow? I am a fan of CSI (the original) set in Vegas. I have never seen a new episode, just reruns out [...]

Before you think Loosely Speaking has lost it completely, remember: I build websites for a living. That means code. Sometimes you have to strip out the code. In fact, on April 9, 2008, for the third year in a row, WordPress users everywhere are invited to “Go Naked” on CSS Naked Day. Those participating will [...]

WordPress is Loosely Speaking’s platform of choice, but in recent discussions with some peers who are considering getting started with blogging, I found it difficult to convey why I love WP so much.My colleague Mary Motz, at ProVirtual Solutions has written a nice treatment of this subject. …and, providing the direct link to the article [...]

The Virtual Assistant community has been discussing many bloggy matters in recent days. For those who are on the fence about the present and future value of blogging, I invite you to join the discussion. Some of the questions we’ve been exploring are: 1. Does your business have to have a blog? 2. You may [...]

Imagine if you could actually observe a famous author at work. Say, Toni Morrison on her sofa, in her bathrobe, with pencil in hand and legal pad on her lap. Just sitting there, churning out a bestseller. In 1996, Jill Krementz assembled 53 of her favorite black and white photos into The Writer’s Desk. In [...]