Do what you do best.  It is classic advice, and in business parlance it is often referred to as sticking to the core competency of a business.  What is one to do if their core competency does not include advertising/copywriting skills?  The answer is that they need to outsource, at least temporarily.  Some copywriting skills can be learned, but some skills are particularly difficult to master.  For example, writing three line advertisements/calls to action that are even shorter than the notoriously minuscule offerings found in newspapers for generations.  For this, BoostCTR might be the place to turn to for outsourcing because this is BoostCTR’s core competency.

The One Potential Flaw

Well, it would be more accurate to say that writing three lines of effective copy is not necessarily BoostCTR’s core competency, but the core competency of their writers.  Those writers are freelancers, and that means that they are transitory by nature; if the economy is down, then it is very likely that BoostCTR will have an ample stable of very capable writers.  If the economy is up, then there might be fewer and/or less talented writers that will be less willing to compete for bargain basement assignments.  It is certainly not fair to hold a single company responsible for the economy, but it is worth pointing out that there may be very strong links between the two in this case.  Perhaps the net effect is very little, but it would be nice to have professional writers on salary to offset this potential risk.

How Does BoostCTR Work?

The big question most people have when first hearing about BoostCTR is simple: how does the service work?  The answer is a little more complex than the question itself, but it is still relatively easy to follow: BoostCTR requires access to one’s AdWords login credentials in order to access existing ad groups which will be used to generate contests.  These contests are not dissimilar to a sort of copywriting fight club (we don’t talk about copywriting fight club) in which the initial text(s) taken from AdWords will be given the position as the reigning champion.  As better texts are created and tested in a real world environment, the champion will (almost always) be dethroned by a contender.  How long can that contender hang on to the crown?  That all depends on the quality and that is one of the best aspects of BoostCTR: the ability to reject texts and try them in the wild ensures effective copy, meaning that there is almost no risk factor.

Keeping Writers On-Board

Cash prizes can also be added to further entice writers to provide excellent copy.  As previously mentioned, this might be necessary in certain situations that may be predicated primarily upon the economy.

Impressive Value

The only risk associated with BoostCTR is that of the payment system, and it truly is not that risky.  In fact, it would be safe to say that it is really only an opportunity cost, and one that is well spent.  Here is how it works: every advertisement group sent in for an upgrade is subject to a toll of 1 credit.  These credits can be purchased in lots of one, three, five, and ten.  The price per advertisement group revision depends on how many credits are purchased at any one time, with more purchased at one time being a better idea for those with a frugal mindset.  The price per ad group for a single credit purchase is $75, while the cost per ad group on a 10 credit purchase is only $50.  Given that the advertisements are already field-proven, even a fee of over $100 would seem quite reasonable.

Agencies Get Something Too

Agencies looking to outsource their highly-specialized three-line copy are in luck too!  BoostCTR has exactly what they need, and that can be good for a number of reasons.  Agencies can certainly increase their bottom line substantially by only receiving quality work for a fair price.  The same is certainly true for webmasters and business operators as well; sticking to what one does best is a great way to make money, but that only works if it is possible to find others who will do what they do best at a reasonable price.  BoostCTR offers top-notch talent at prices that seem very reasonable.

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Raven SEO tools claims to have a suite of powerful tools designed to help effectively manage, market, research, report, and even create content for blogs.  Raven SEO is far from alone in this field (or these fields depending on how one chooses to view such tools), which might cause those looking for a new or different approach to wonder if the dark bird has what it takes.  As with any set of tools, that all really depends on what one is looking for.  The good news is that Raven’s bevy of tools and options allows them to compete in several different areas, but that is both a blessing and a curse in some cases.

One Size Fits All?

If there was one thing that was potentially troubling us before we got our hands on Raven, it was that tools that try to do too much often prove to be deficient in several key areas.  Luckily, we Raven SEO is backed by a team of very talented developers, engineers, artists, SEO specialists, and other employees.  The result is that Raven SEO feels more like someone took a number of top-notch standalone tools, taught them to play nicely together, and managed to create a unified and professional looking user interface to tie them all together.  In short, this black bird is anything but a black sheep.

Keywords, Competitors, and Events…Oh My!

Keyword research is one of the cornerstones of developing content, and part of keyword research is knowing that other players in the industry are doing.  There are some keyword research tools that only handle keyword research without handling even the basics of competitor and/or event tracking.  These tools, while potentially excellent at what they do, lack key features that Raven SEO brings to the table.

A real world example of how the highly integrated tools offered by Raven SEO would probably be best illustrated by considering what an affiliate marketer trying to extol the virtues of a generic widget might face in the course of a campaign.  All good campaigns will have a research phase, but knowing which keywords work today does not necessarily mean that those same keywords and phrases will work well tomorrow.  Furthermore, it might be instructive to see which keywords are being used by the competition.  After all, a change in market conditions or a single news story could influence search patterns as can a great number of competitors joining the field but offering poor content.

The last few examples are all events, but there are other events that can be tracked as well. Virtually any event can be easily entered into the timeline tracking system, and that allows for easy tracking of exposure and/or rankings.  While the tools do not allow for the automated establishment of events based on tracking of news or industry events based on RSS feeds or other sources, the ability to manually enter such information is still possible.

Manage This, That, and the Other Thing

What is all of that research, tracking, and information worth without a way to act on it?  This is where Raven SEO really shines and in our opinion, becomes far more than an SEO tool.  In fact, we would go so far as to say that Raven SEO is more of a Raven SEO plus due to the fact that it integrates other features that just about anyone who has been undertaking keyword research and/or market analysis will want to do.

Searching and Socialization, and Reports for Everything

One of the nicest tools included with the suite is the ability to move right from research to making connections.  The integrated search tool allows for one to easily look at the competition for other purposes as well, especially those relating to socialization.  After all, sometimes the best way to promote a site is engage in a little friendly link sharing, guest-posting, or otherwise plugging into the social pipeline.  In integrated contact manager and link manager helps content managers keep on top of what everyone is doing and manage their responsibilities.  A blog-, persona-, and content-manager are also integrated into the package, each one is worthy of a review of their own.

It is also worth noting that a great number of reports and reporting options are available, including white labeling.  Analytics, campaign report, agency and in-house marketing, and more are all readily available, attractive, and easily modified.  The white labeled reports are very suave and professional, unlike some competitors we could mention.

Pricing

Raven SEO comes in three primary forms, but it is possible to modify some aspects of each plan for an additional fee.  The BASIC plan offers a single user the ability to manage up to three websites (additional site cost $5 each) for $19.  The PRO plan costs $99 for two users, but adds unlimited website support, white labeling and a sub-domain at raventools.com, as well as increases the number of reports and links that can be stored in the link manager.  There is an AGENCY plan costs $249 for up to eight users, but radically increases the number of keywords, links, and reports that can be conducted.  Finding the right plan is made simple with the custom plan finder offered by Raven SEO, and there is even a free trial to test.

The Verdict

A free trial, a list of tools so long that one could write a whole series of books on them, and a user interface that makes using those tools effectively a cinch, it is hard not to recommend Raven SEO. For reviews of it’s competitors check out our SEOMoz Review and Scribe SEO Review.

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Backpack markets itself as a one-stop organization solution for businesses and groups of all kinds, but how does it measure up to those claims?  Furthermore, how does Backpack justify the fact that it charges for its services when other companies offer a good deal of what Backpack has for free, even if they are simply in bits and pieces?  These are good questions that we are seeking to answer in our review of Backpack.

What Backpack Offers: Overview

Backpack can be thought of sort of as a custom cloud service that lets users quickly create, modify, and share pages that are packed with (hopefully) useful information.  This service is augmented by built-in tools that groups and organizations might find handy when it comes to keeping everything together, such as group calendars, to-do lists, reminders/ticklers, files of all kinds, message boards, and notes.  The fact that all of these things can be seamlessly and quickly integrated into a web page makes Backpack incredibly impressive from many different perspectives.

While Backpack probably won’t be winning any awards from an aesthetics standpoint, it is imminently useful.  Do not mistake this as an indictment on Backpack’s visuals, but rather consider it to be a non-too-subtle implication that Backpack’s looks are far more functional than they are visually appealing.  That can be great, especially if users are easily distracted…and let’s face it, we’ve all been at a point sometime when we would much rather let our minds drift than do our work.  At least once…maybe twice…and that could be an argument for a minimalist design.  On the other hand, it would be hard to be offended by the design of Backpack’s pages, so there may not be much of a downside to Backpack’s UI from a productivity standpoint.

To Share or Not to Share

When new pages are created, it is possible to share them immediately with others in one’s group.  This allows everyone to see what is going on, and that can be important from a productivity standpoint.  For example, instead of logging in to three or four different sites to create ticklers, calendar events, to-do items, and notes, it can all be done in far less time using Backpack.  The same is also true when it comes to sending e-mails whenever something happens as Backpack can handle that too.  The total time savings can be very substantial, and that lets people get back to doing what they do instead of wasting their time wrestling with different tools.

There may also be times when some files or pages should not be available to everyone.  This is something that Backpack handles intuitively with a simple interface that permits one to restrict who can access a page and/or edit the page.  Life can be a lot simpler with a tool like this, and it certainly helps that the user interface is very clean.

The Power of the Cloud

Another major appeal of Backpack is that it is a true cloud app.  This means that all of the data is stored online, and is accessible from anywhere in the world.  This is not something that can be said of all cloud-based solutions, some of which may require alternate DNS and/or VPN services when traveling abroad.  This is especially true of those planning to explore exotic locations in Asia and the Middle East, where certain services and IP ranges may be blocked.  While there is no guarantee that Backpack will be available without a DNS and/or VPN solution, at least one does not have to remember which service(s) have to be activated in order to access certain kinds of data.  This also brings up one of the best arguments for Backpack: one username and password for virtually all of one’s account information.

Why Backpack is Worthwhile

This is where it literally pays to discuss the core problem: nearly everything that Backpack has to offer can be found online elsewhere for less money or even for free.  Does that mean that Backpack is not worth investing in?  Absolutely not.  The ability to create functional pages in a snap is almost impossible to argue with, and the ability to decide who can see/change what is also important.  The updates are a nice touch as are the reminders, but all of these features come at a price that can be measured in dollars and cents.  The price can easily be offset by increased productivity and lowered stress levels, both of which can be worth a lot.  Who says that tranquility cannot be purchased?

The Price to be Paid for Organization

Nothing of any value is for free, and Backpack is no exception to this universal truth.  There are four plans, starting with the $24/month Basic plan and ending with the $149 per month Max plan.  Each of the four plans has a different number of users, storage capabilities, and pages, but even the Basic plan offers an ample 4 GB, 1000 pages, and 6 users.  It is also worth noting that there is a 30-day trial that can allows organizations to give Backpack an honest evaluation of their own.  With nothing to lose but more hours of productivity, the question is: why haven’t you checked out Backpack yet?

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BrandGoLive's Logo

BrandGoLive has an interesting idea to bring to the market: mass-automatic social network signups.  Of course, BrandGoLive does a little more than large scale social network registration, but that is their core competency.  Why would anyone want to be automatically signed up for hundreds of social networks?  That is an interesting question, and it actually has a very good answer: brand protection.

What’s In a Name?

There is little doubt that social networks are effective avenues of reaching potential and existing customers, both of which are obviously important to any venture.  The question becomes one of how can customers know which username(s) one uses on which social networking website(s)?  While it would be easy to establish a small list of different names on different social networking websites, that could be confusing.  Furthermore, the lack of name uniformity opens the door for imposters to create all kinds of mischief using similar names.  Add to this the fact that nobody knows which social networking site will become the next Twitter of Facebook, and the entire idea of signing up for only a few sites and hoping for the best seems foolish.

Rightly so, and that is why BrandGoLive has an interesting idea.  The only thing missing from BrandGoLive’s repertoire is the ability to do a social-networking-wide name check, which seems like something of a glaring omission considering their target audience.  On the other hand, BrandGoLive covers over 300 social media websites, and the chances of all these sites offering an API that handles name checking is fairly low.  Still, a social-networking-wide name check feature would be very welcome.  That being said, everything else that BrandGoLive has to offer seems to be quite good.

Having one’s brand name reserved on hundreds of social media networks helps eliminate confusion and ensures that someone does not start running amok with one’s hard-earned good name.  Image is a very difficult thing to restore, and for that reason alone even those organizations that do not have social networking plans in the immediate future should take the time to consider their long-term social media strategy.

Going The Extra Mile

Top social networks

BrandGoLive offers more than just social media network signups…a lot more.  The most obvious next step would be to include profiles.  Profiles are important for many reasons, but they may be less important on the hundred or two hundred sites that may never gain traction.  This is why BrandGoLive offers selective profile signups on the top sites that they feel are most worthwhile to a general audience.  The number of profiles that BrandGoLive will create will depend on the plan one purchases, and more on that in a minute.

While signing up and adding profiles are obvious steps, BrandGoLive still has more to offer.  BrandGoLive’s R&D staff has come up with a way to use links in a way that search engines seem to digest and rate highly.  BrandGoLive refers to this as LinkVantage, and can yield great results when paired with active bookmarking and local optimization.  Together, these are virtually guaranteed to impress, and what better way to be impressed than by using Google Analytics to see the results.  By the way, BrandGoLive helps anyone who purchases a plan from them to sign up for Google Analytics.

Before getting into the plans there is one last thing worth mentioning: a free article.  There are many sites that can connect site owners with content writers, but BrandGoLive offers a free article for all of their pay-for plans.

The Plans

On the subject of plans, it is worth noting that BrandGoLive offers a free plan that requires no investment of any kind.  This plan walks users through the process of establishing up to 50 profiles at no cost, but there are no additional frills to be had without paying.  The Silver plan is the most affordable plan (take that bronze!) and costs $97 for 50 profiles of a single website and also includes the Google Analytics and free article.  The Gold plan costs $197 and covers 125 profiles for 2 websites, includes search indexing, the top 5 active bookmarkings, local optimization, Google Analytics, and the free article  The Platinum plan costs $397 covers over 300 profiles for up to 4 websites, the top 10 active bookmarkings, the Google Analytics setup, and the free article.

A common thread in this review would be the fact that BrandGoLive consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty.  There is one more area in which this is undeniably true, and the company calls it a brand protection plan.  For $49 per month, BrandGoLive will register a customer for an additional 25 social networking sites.  How many of those sites will be worth it?  Who knows, but the one or two that do prove to be worth it are certainly worth considering assigning a value to in order to make a wise value call.

The Bottom Line

In the online world, a name is all one might have in the eyes of many potential customers.  BrandGoLive is a great tool for ensuring that one has the ultimate control over what is being said in their name, and it is almost impossible to put a price tag on that.

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SEO Moz offers a familiar promise to potential users: a suite of tools that will check a website for errors and possible search engine optimizations, as well as another set of keyword/phrase tools.  Many packages offer either error checking/content analysis or the keyword research tools, but few offer effective tools that handle both types of tasks.  Does SEO Moz deliver, or does it simply serve up too many promises to actually have any hope of meeting them?

Before Getting Started

Before we answer this question and delve into the features that SEO Moz does have to offer, it is worth noting that SEO Moz has a LOT to offer.  In fact, it can be a little intimidating to use at first because it actually includes a lot of tools.  This is a mixed blessing because there are a lot of tools to learn.  On the other side, SEO Moz’s individual tools are cleanly laid out and are fairly intuitive.  This makes SEO Moz easy to start using, but it would not be an understatement to say that it could take one a long time to become an SEO Moz guru.

The Tools of the SEO Trade

Without a doubt, SEO Moz has some very effective tools.  It does not really matter what one needs an SEO package to do, SEO Moz almost certainly has a tool to handle that need.    SEO Moz includes tools that not only handle the traditional keyword analysis/competitor tracking, but also a unique tool called the Keyword Difficulty Tool.  The Keyword Difficulty Tool is a unique idea that takes a lot of data and distills it into the answer of a single question: is this keyword/phrase worth trying to rank for?  This is an impressive tool in and of itself, but there are times when the data available on the Internet is misleading; in fact, many have made a lot of money with nothing but a little foresight required to arrive first on any particular keyword scene.

While the Keyword Difficulty Tool is certainly a unique and useful tool (most of the time), SEO Moz still has more to offer.  Once a site is up, it needs to have a sitemap and pages filled with meta-tags.  Anyone who has spent any amount of time studying SEO knows the value of meta-tags, and SEO Moz also knows the value and offers some tools that are not dissimilar from the competition.  Tools that evaluate meta-data and/or content are fairly common, so we will not cover them in detail other than to say that SEO Moz can automatically point out everything from glaring errors and omissions to providing useful hints and tips on a per page, whole site, or selected page basis.

SEO Moz also includes a full suite of tracking and reporting tools, most of which are incredibly flexible.  One of our first thoughts upon looking at the reporting aspect of SEO Moz was that it was obvious that people who like reports work at SEO Moz.  It would be impossible to create such concise yet elegant reports unless one were to have a fetish for reports and data.  While we are not sure just who it is over at SEO Moz that has a ‘thing’ for reports, we do appreciate their amazing attention to detail.

How Much Would You Buy Time For?

One of the most interesting aspects of SEO Moz is how much time it saves.  Want to see all of the page ranking information on a single page?  SEO Moz can do it, and that can save one time checking several different tools that individually manage Yahoo!, Google, Bing, and other search engines.  Examples such of this are found throughout SEO Moz’s user interface, and the entire package honestly feels as if it was written by people with a design doctrine that was equal parts engineering for efficiency and no-time-to-waste-Corporate-America.  That is not a bad thing, it means that the no-nonsense interface generate answers to questions in significantly less time than almost any other tool that we could name off the top of our heads.

This brings up a good question: how much is your time worth?  If you need to look at only one or two tools at a time, then SEO Moz might not have much value.  If you need to look at many different data sources in one legible format, then it is difficult to argue against the value of a package that puts everything in one place.

So, how much does SEO Moz cost?  There are three plans to choose from: PRO Basic, PRO Plus, and PRO Elite.  All plans include all of the tools, but are primarily differentiated by the number of Linkscape reports and tracked ranking.  For example, the PRO Basic plan offers 50 tracked rankings per month and 20 Linkscape reports for $79 versus the 100 tracked rankings and 50 Linkscape reports of the PRO Plus package that costs $129 per month.  The PRO Elite package costs $229 per month, but offers up a stunning 300 tracked rankings and 500 Liinkscape reports.  While some of these fees might seem a bit high, there is no substitute for SEO Moz’s ability to buy time with its incredible array of well-laid out tools.

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Looking for a way to make as much as possible with your website?  Of course you are, but the question is how.  One obvious answer and common piece of (often trite) advice is to keep the attention of readers on the content.  How this is done depends greatly on the site and its audience, but there is a good method that works with a large cross-section of the web-viewing public: themes.  One such theme is the Genesis Framework.

Subtle but Gorgeous

Some themes are about as subtle as some post-modern art.  This might be great if one is promoting the latest and loudest band, or discussing the most outlandish of ideas.  Genesis is probably on the far end of the spectrum from such visual needs, but it is easily adaptable by those with the technical know how.  Before covering that, it is worth covering what Genesis is in and of itself.

Genesis is, at its core, a three-columned WordPress theme that is decidedly subtle yet quite complex to those with an eye for fine details.  For example, the use of grays and gray/blues for borders and title backgrounds is visually striking.  A wide open area between items on the page creates a very open look and feel that can help content stand out.  It also makes it easier for viewers to focus on the content of the website instead of an overly busy design.

A subtle design is excellent for keeping attention on text, which is excellent for serious topics.  Even less serious topics or deadpan comedic styles can benefit from a subtle design such as Genesis.  Those who have visitors that have an eye for fine details will doubly appreciate what Genesis has to offer.  Only the integrated menu items stand out in their complexity, which somehow still remains subtle while looking slightly high-tech.  It is difficult to blend subtle with high-tech, but the menu in Genesis seems to pull it off quite well.

What is a Framework?

For those that do not know what a framework is, at least in the WordPress theme context, the answer is simple.  Frameworks are extensible tools that provide (typically) well-remarked code for those that want to change or tweak things in one way or another.  Not all WordPress themes are frameworks, which means that modifying them might require extensive amounts of time and knowledge in order to modify effectively.  Genesis is designed from the ground up to be easy to work with, and even comes with a handful of examples.

Flawless Compatibility

After torture testing Genesis with almost every single add-on we could lay our hands on, nothing seemed to phase it or cause it Genesis to create visual anomalies.  Of course, we only test with plugins that are known to work well with the latest versions of WordPress.  This might mean that plugins that have known issues will not be fixed by Genesis, but that is only reasonable and thus not something that we can fault Genesis for.

The Bottom Line

The framework approach to Genesis is one of the reasons why the package sells for $59.95, a price that might seem slightly high to some.  Even if one is not going to modify their stock Genesis theme, there are plenty of good reasons to buy Genesis.  The stock theme is very attractive and excellent at keeping attention on content.  Is Genesis worth buying?  If one is looking for a theme that will please those with an eye for details and/or plans on modifying the theme, then it certainly is worth a look.  Those looking for a ‘glam-rock’ or obnoxious theme that grabs attention without the need (or maybe in lieu of) quality content, Genesis can be modified but there might be better buys out there.  All things being equal, Genesis is likely to appeal to a lot of webmasters.

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This morning the Cuil Search Engine launched to LOTS of buzz. Two of my non-search friends emailed me about it this morning, which sounds like hype is spreading far and wide – and even outside the normal tech-related circles. Google trends even has “cuil stock” at #16 for hot searches – people are super excited.

Even Michael Arrington was excited enough to classify Cuil’s downtime this morning as “a rite of passage” rather than “unacceptable failure” for a company with $33M in funding.

As much as I want someone to challenge Google, I have little faith Cuil is anything more than a blip on the radar. And here’s why.

It’s Not About Size

For real and credible perspective you might want to read Search Engine Land’s take on Cuil. To me SEL always has the most sober perspective on anything search-related. Most media (like the New York Times) tend to regurgitate companies’ PR and focus on irrelevant angles (in this case the size of Cuil’s index).

Cuil can index 10 times as many scrapers or duplicate content pages as Google, but that doesn’t matter. Relevancy does. It’s as useless a metric as website hits – and just as outdated. But this won’t stop people from parroting that PR line.

The real impressive angle of Cuil is its policy on privacy:

We believe that analyzing the Web rather than our users is a more useful approach, so we don’t collect data about you and your habits, lest we are tempted to peek. With Cuil, your search history is always private.

This is one important area where Cuil has Google beat, but this doesn’t sound as interesting as “121 billion pages” in newspaper blurbs and will not get as much attention as it should.

Speed Kills

Downtime, poor navigational search, irrelevance – those are all issues that people have covered. One thing I haven’t seen discussed is page loading time. Google is super obsessed about speed, and for good reason – if you run a hundred searches a day, speed becomes an issue. Let’s just run a quick comparison, using firebug to monitor load time:

Search for “hard drives”:

Google: 0.584 seconds
Cuil: 3.49 seconds

Search for “grand central nyc”:

Google: 0.474 seconds
Cuil: 2.77 seconds

It seems like a small difference, but there’s a reason Google is so obsessed about loading time – over time, people notice and it DOES matter.

Cuil is Cool, but that’s about it

I do want someone to challenge Google, but I’ve seen so many “Google killers” come along in the last few years that I’ve become very skeptical.

Does anyone remember Cha cha, Powerset, Hakia, or Mahalo – at least beyond the first few hype filled days that followed their launches? Cuil has seemingly different buzz – “the pedigree of founders (former Googlers),” etc. – but I highly doubt it will made a dent in the Google’s growing search market share, much like nothing else has in the past few years.

The blogosphere will be abuzz about this for a few days, but focus will soon shift to something else – as it always does. (I’d hold off on that “cuil stock” if I was you).

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A few months ago I saw a bunch of Verizon trucks and human sized gophers digging up grass in my neighborhood, which meant only one thing – I would soon be able to get FiOS!

Fast forward to today and I’m finally able to order Verizon FiOS to my house (which I did this morning).

I signed up for both FiOS TV and Internet. The HDTV picture is supposed to be awesome which is something I actually care about ever since I got my Samsung 42″. The Internet is 10Mbps down, 2 Mbps – and that’s just on their basic plan. I might up it to 20/20 Mbps symmetrical later just for bragging rights.

I’ve been with Comcast for the last 2 years and have been itching at the chance to drop them like a bad habit.

In my old house I had to have a cable run into my house under the door since Comcast technicians never came out to the house to fix my cat5 issues, no matter how often I called them. I had to get Comcast Cable again in my current house since it was the fastest option available and I got the discount for bundling it with TV.

Coincidentally last night and this morning my Comcast internet connection has been going in and out (maybe it knows what’s up).

I don’t know how Comcast hopes to compete with all the horrible press they’ve gotten recently (that throttling mess, impending overage fees, hacking, etc.), not to mention that their coax technology won’t be able to handle anything near what Verizon’s fiber optics will be able to in the coming years.

I’ll try to do a more-in depth post once I get FiOS actually installed and have a chance to test it out, so check back in a few weeks. Pssst, subscribe to my RSS feed if you haven’t already.

Has anyone else upgraded to FiOS recently? Have any input on Verizon vs. Comcast? Leave a comment below.

Update: Here’s a good page on all the current and up to date FiOS deals.

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I’ve been sitting on this post for a while now, but since Amazon just bought Audible, I figured it was a good time to bring up my newfound love for audio books.

For years I’ve been meaning to read more books. Someone will mention a really great book and I put it on my imaginary wish list, but I never end up buying it. Worse yet, I’ll find myself at a bookstore and buy a book, which makes me feel good about myself but a year later the book is still sitting on the shelf (or has a bookmark through about a fifth of it).

Recently, though I’ve gotten hooked on audio books. I really wish there was a DRM-free service that let you download straight mp3′s to any device of your choosing, but except for some really old out of copyright books (and a few really obscure titles), there’s not much. Audible is pretty much the only option if you want popular titles. Now that Amazon has bought the service, I hope they will eventually convert these audio books to DRM-free MP3′s, but I don’t see that transition happening anytime soon.

Putting the DRM issue aside, getting an Audible account has to be one of the best investments I made in 2007. So far I’ve downloaded a handful of books including my favorite – the 4 Hour Workweek – and I’ve actually finished them, which I can’t say for any book on paper in the last few months.

I mostly listen to audio books in my car, around the house, and during flights. During my last trip to California I downloaded Seth Godin’s the Dip (which was just ok) and the Magic of Thinking Big (which I haven’t yet finished). I think I spent a total of about $23 for 3 audiobooks. For new accounts Audible gives you 1 book per month for $7.49 for each of the first 3 months.

If you decide to get into audio books, I suggest starting with the 4 Hour Workweek. There’s nothing better that listening (or relistening) a book that really inspires you. I often pop in the 4HWW on my way to work just to get my inspired again. It helps you get “hungry” again and again.

Has anyone else gotten addicted to audio books? Feel free to post some recommendations of your own.

I get a bonus if you click on this link: Audible’s $7.49 per month special, but whether you sign up through that or not – do yourself a favor and get Audible.

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Mozy Logo

A while back we had the opportunity to test Mozy, and since then the platform has only gotten better.  Initially we liked the entire concept, but wished for a few tweaks here and there.  Apparently Mozy heard our requests, took them to heart, and has continually improved their service accordingly.  It is rare when a company takes reviews to heart so quickly and without at least a minor amount of resentment, but all we can say is that we are completely impressed with Mozy.  Our review of Mozy has been updated to reflect the latest developments, but the bottom line is that it is difficult to find a company as eager to adapt to market and customer needs.

Where will Mozy be in a year?  Nobody knows, but certainly the company’s dedication to improvement has not changed.  If there is any weak link in the entire online backup arena, it would be that broadband performance is still not increasing as quickly as hard drive storage capacity continues to grow.  Hopefully, fiber optics will solve this problem in the near future.  When that happens, Mozy might be a standard feature on all new computers.

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