According to Wikipedia, a Cache in computer engineering is a component that stores data so that future requests for that same data can be served faster. A web browser, for instance, might check its local cache to see if it has a copy of the contents of a web page at a particular URL. And if so, serve it rather than look for any updated version of the page. What’s at play is an effort to make your web surfing experience faster and, at times, the practice will take priority over presenting the most immediate version of a page.

We thought looking at how to clear your browser cache locally might be useful, so here is a video looking at how to do it in Chrome and then further below we added some text and images that look at Internet Explorer.

Chrome

Internet Explorer

On your browser, typically far right side, look for the small gear icon – and click it

From the drop down menu click Internet Options then scroll down To Browsing History and click the Delete button

Another popup box will show, Opt- in to the Temporary Internet Files, Cookies and Preserve Favorites & Website Data AND Click Delete

Close Out Internet Options, then go visit your page AND Refresh your browser!

Would you jump in shark infested waters without a protective cage? No you wouldn’t, so why go online every day in a virtual world filled with more nefarious activity & risk than there is in the physical world?

And while I apologize for the tough post title and for an unpleasant reference to sharks, most folks really do let their personal browsers go unmanaged. We want your attention on this because if your web browser is outdated it will likely impact your online life negatively, BOTH for the sites you visit and those you personally manage!!

Top Reasons To Upgrade Your Browser:

1. User Experience: The web is always evolving, but are you moving with it? Modern sites and new web applications often fail with your old browser. It’s common for site developers to ignore compatibility for older versions of your favorite browser. Have you ever seen slow page loads, jumbled or broken pages? While it could be a number of things, it very well may be the old browser you’re using. Important: this may apply to both the sites you are viewing as a visitor and/ or actually managing as a business person!

2. General Security: You should be concerned about stolen passwords, malicious software snuck onto your computer, phishing and malware if you fail to upgrade your browser. Rarely updated with the latest security fixes, old browsers are particularly vulnerable to attacks!

3. Web Advancement: Benefiting from higher speeds, better tab experience and useful feature plugins is NOT likely with your old browser!

Latest Browser Versions:

1. Microsoft
   8.0 // Windows XP SP2 and up; Microsoft often updates Internet Explorer for Windows without changing the version number
2. Apple
   Safari 4.1.3 // OS X 10.4
   Safari 5.0.3 // Windows XP/Vista, OS X 10.5, OS X 10.6.
3. Google
   Chrome 4
4. Mozilla
   Mozilla Camino 2.0.6 (OS X);
   Mozilla Firefox 3.5.15 and 3.6.12
5. AOL
   AOL 9 SE // Windows
6. Opera
   Opera 10.63 // Windows, OS X
   Opera 10.10 // Other platforms

Useful Browser Information:

• Newer browsers offer the latest in specifications for HTML and CSS coding. It provides designers & developers with tools for both aesthetic features and functionality, and with a lot less overhead.
• Your new browser can be configured to prevent security issues. IE, for example, allows you to turn features off, but know that doing it can compromise you with some web pages & applications.
• Security risks can be created with add-ons & plugins, so resist the hype and be careful about what you add-on and plugin.
• Microsoft ended all support of Windows 98, 98SE, and ME in Jul 2006; will end support for Internet Explorer 5 early in 2010; should upgrade Internet Explorer to version IE8.
• You should MUST always check for updates to your browser!

So folks please, upgrade those browsers

Pre- National Association of Realtors Conference, I was able to attend REBarCamp New Orleans! Here are some lasting impressions from what is quickly becoming the real estate industry’s insider event [series]:

Allan Dalton! Currently Co-Founder & President, Top 5 in Real Estate Network /Allan.Dalton@Top5inRealEstate.com. I’ve said it before, but when Allan’s speaking people stop in their tracks. He set the tone for an impassioned and incredibly informative REBarCamp New Orleans event. Always willing to share his incredible experience and passion for the Real Estate industry, Allan reminds me of a great basketball coach. He’s always breaking you down, only with the intention to build you back up in the most productive manner possible.  Allan gets the true value in leveraging social media and he genuinely wants the average real estate agent to recognize their role and opportunity as a professional. His message, “Embrace your status as a Pro! Use the social media advertising medium to share current relevant information; to answer questions; to educate… and you will win the business you deserve!” What’s more, he recently published ‘Leveraging Your Links’. I’m hearing it’s a ‘get it all out on the table and face the facts kind of a read’ …for folks who really want to get ahead in real estate!

There were mixed messages in the Twitter session, albeit useful. On the positive, there were savvy folks talking about using Twitter to hook up with like minded people locally AND for sincere reasons. Their message was on point: if you can attract folks with similar passions, you might easily develop genuine relationships and justify referrals. Makes sense. One person argued we should all get a dog. He felt tweeting about your dog would attract lots and lots of followers who you could then convert as referral sources. Frankly, the message came off as slightly ingenuine… I’m a dog lover, but would I get a dog solely to become a more effective tweeter?  My view: citizen journalism and the democratization of information probably isn’t about fooling people and / or ulterior motives. In fact, anything but genuine behavior and [fair warning] you’re likely to be outed for it! I also asked about measurement and whether or not the effort to tweet so often is justified. No one in the group was measuring their activity, but some folks felt, in lieu of any measurement process, they were having more success than they had with traditional advertising investments.

As always Patrick Healy, leading industry consultant and founder Telivant, was sharing relevant knowledge of productive social media tools and tactics. His focus Thursday was to help folks make sense of the most useful tools Google offers for Free. Thanks to Patrick, I’ll be checking out Google Voice, which provides incredibly convenient solutions for phone management.

Agents ready to go on their own and earn all the commission, but not necessarily ready to go get a broker’s license should check out at Real Estate Advocates. West Chester NY Attorney and Real Estate Broker, Scott Forcino is forming the premiere national network!  

Getting more and more excited about digital business cards. This is going to be big! Follr.com is the leader and, in my view, the only choice!

And as always, great to see so many good friends!

On Any Given Day 21% Of American Adults Research Products & Services Online – Wow!!!

As a business person, there should be no bigger hint to get visible online than knowing every single day 1 in 5 American adults are actually researching the products & services they want or need online.

PEW adds that 58% of all American adults have researched products and services online at one time; whereas, only 15% had in 2007. 

They go on to say that 24% have also commented about or posted a review of the products & services they buy, suggesting there’s a good chance [if you've done well by them] they may even become a marketing resource!

Folks, if you are in the skeptical crowd about being visible online it’s time to wake up and start planing your online success story!

Related Posts:

Older Users Outpace Young Adults For Social Media Growth!

As for the solution, it’s easy to use. You register, get a friend to register, let the system identify your cam and microphone and off you go. One caution, Skype seems to delay the sound some if you are using a speaker device … apologize there  Another is that we’re always concerned about free, so fair warning! Wetoku is in beta, looks to be just a year old, so don’t risk content you can’t do without yet.

Have fun!

Related Posts:

• Video TV Blogging in Los Angeles!
• Wetoku: Intro video on YouTube
• Great Marketing Resource: YesLulu Releases ‘Lulu Handsfree’

To assist we have released the new and improved BUSINESS BLOGGER’S BIBLE. Ultimately this document is meant to give beginners a very practical window into how their blog platform and content will drive traffic, leads & new business! For those who don’t consider themselves ‘a beginner’, we only hope the bible serves as a great refresher. Maybe, even, it’s a grounded look versus so much hype & confusion thrown around out there these days.

The Business Blogger’s Bible, version 1.1, is broken down into 9 straight forward sections including:

1. Ideas For Getting Started
2. Have A Good Blog Platform
3. Careful With The Shortcuts
4. Business Blogging Discipline
5. Determine Your Target Market
6. Use Of Best Blogging Practices
7. Blog Networking Strategy
8. Direct Subscription Strategy
9. Tracking Return On Investment

So please, grab a copy of the Business Blogger’s Bible here. And please understand we’d like something simple for the effort. In exchange, we simply ask you share accurate information and that you register for our periodic news, tips and instruction.

1. Let me jump right in, using the search phrase ’Olive Oil Health’  – Click Show Options
2. Scroll down the left hand side Navigation until you see Wonder Wheel – Click Wonder Wheel
3. You’ll get a Wonder Wheel visual of the top related search phrases – Click a phrase
4. You’ll get a secondary level search phrase Wonder Wheel – Look left
   
5. You’ll see lots of options for more specific search history on that particular phrase.
   
6. Wow!!

Related Posts:
‘Google Insights’ For Successful Real Estate Business Blogging!

“Stop paying us!” is the marketing slogan used by YesLulu with their new system ‘LuluHandsfree‘. Obviously, the average small to medium sized business marketing budget is tightening so we want to point out complimentary & cost effective resources… that we’d use ourselves.

‘LuluHandsfree‘ looks to be just that kind of resource, allowing a business ‘marketing material flexibility’ without additional cost.

Having designed internationally respected company brands [in real estate, commercial development, restaurant, hotel, city council and non-profit] for 20 years, YESLULU means to change the way marketing materials are updated, changed or even created. Their software makes adjustment super simple and, believe it or not, they don’t want you to pay the typical hourly graphic design fees for text or image changes.

‘Lulu Handsfree’ is ideal for folks who’d like to make frequent changes or who may have modifications in mind for their next marketing campaign. The system consists of two easily navigated areas and is based on a highlighted roll over. Double clicking on the text or pictures you wish to change is all it really takes to update – see the video here.

When you’re finished you get a low-resolution and a high-resolution PDF, which can be created instantly. If you want to make prints or copies Lulu Printing Center is the spot.

And it’s web-based, so accessing it from any computer is simple. Update, create and then print & save with ‘Lulu Handsfree’ - pretty cool!

• Where SEO is Going - SEO Book
• The First Social Media Real Estate is Your Blog – Chris Brogan
• What is Social Media? - Sellsius
• Search is More Powerful Than Social Networks – SEOmoz
• 100 Useful Articles on Blogging [ ...we had a few ] - Next Level Blogger

• Do Good Blogs Bring Good Leads?
• Local Business Brand is Driven By Your Blog
• Generating Targeted Traffic
• Looking at Traffic Analytics

Nielsen’s Social Media Data, May 2009, suggests people are spending more time on blog sites than ever before! There’s also good info on social network usage, such as Facebook & Twitter.

The study shows total minutes on blog sites and social networks increasing at an 82 percent clip, since last year. The data also shows average time per person has increased 67 percent year-over-year.

Consumers can search, subscribe and find the answers they want, whenever they wish to find them. In an environment where the consumer has this power, traditional advertising is less & less impactful. Clearly, there is no consumer prejudice against blogs or social network content.

If you can see how advertising has changed, one no longer has imits in time or space with their advertorial content. Barriers to creation and distribution have been disintermediated. Differentiating oneself versus the competition with Advertorial business blogs make this simple and inexpensive: advertorial business blogs build business brands!

Related Posts:

Can My Blog Posts be Auto-Blasted Into the Various Social Networks?

Is Blogging SEO?