Tag: blog

Character Count and Word Count Script With Character Countdown

Copy and Paste Character and Word Counter
Copy/Paste Character and Word Counter
I often have a need for a character count script to tell me how many characters something contains. I also often find a need for a word count script. Since I never seem to find such a dual-purpose script handy for calculating characters and words all at once, my quickest response is often to open up my Microsoft Word. I wait for the cumbersome software to load, then copy and paste it and wait for Word to think for a while. It stinks, and I finally got really tired of it. There is no need to hog system resources and more screen space by opening Word or a similar software. I nearly always already have a browser window open, so it would be a lot easier to just open a new tab and then copy and paste the content into a quick and easy javascript character counter and word counter.

I have been a web guy for a very long time. I have often found that when I need a script or an application, it is best to just sit down and create it myself. Over the years, I have written a squillion web applications of all kinds. Strangely enough, I often find that the simplest tools to create are also the ones I have a hard time finding the moment to just do it. Once I get around to it, I have often found that there were a lot of others who felt the same way. For example, there are thousands of people every month who use my very basic and aged screen resolution test. I wrote it because at the time I saw a need for it in my daily routine. The same thing happened here.

Simple Javascript Character Counter and Word Counter

I finally got tired of the character count and word count dilemma, and I decided to just write my own handy javascript character count plus word count script. I decided that it should provide live counting when content is typed or pasted into the form, and be quick and painless to load. It started out like this:

Extended Javascript Character Counter, Word Counter, and Etcetera

Since I was already on the task of creating a character counter and word counter, I decided to throw in a couple of extra pieces to create an an all-in-one character countdown script. Since there are so many social networks where characters matter, I thought some of you may find it useful as well. I did not add many just yet, but if there is a countdown you would like me to add, just add your comment here on my blog. I will add it right away.

Add a Character Count to Your Website

If you think this is useful, of course I welcome you to bookmark this page and keep coming back. Feel free to copy and paste either of the snippets below and add them to your site.
Simple Javascript Character Counter and Word Counter

Extended Javascript Character Counter, Word Counter, and Etcetera

SEO Tip: WordPress Category Descriptions Matter

WordPress Categories Matter
WordPress Categories Matter


SEO: It is the art and science of getting your website listed in search engine results for more search terms and listed higher than all the others. This is a pretty important factor to website success … and business success. So, it would seem tragic if you had done almost all the right things, but then you just forgot some of the basics.

Nobody is perfect. We all forget things. I want to give you a reminder of something that I frequently find overlooked by WordPress blog owners when they set up a new blog, and as the blog grows. The basic principle can apply to any website, really. The little things really do add up, and this is a quick SEO tip that you can use to improve your SEO so fast that you may wonder why you ever neglected it.

WordPress Category Descriptions

Sure, you have set up your categories, and you may add to them now and then. Blogs change over time, and so their focus changes. Categorizing your content is important, and so you probably did not forget that part. What I find that a lot of people do forget is to optimize WordPress category descriptions to match their content.

WordPress categories are a way to make it easier for people to find more information on the same topic. They also help search engines to better index your blog. It only makes good sense to have your category descriptions reflect the content of that category correctly, and keep it up to date.

The category description is where WordPress gets the page description for category pages to include in the meta description. If you do not have a description, or it is an old description that does not reflect changes to your blog and to the state of that category, your blog is missing an important element.

Using “Noindex, Follow” in WordPress Category Pages

You may say, “but I have a noindex, follow meta tag in my categories.” This is good, and I do, too. I use “All in One SEO Pack“, and I recommend it to others. It allows easy management of meta indexing directives.

I do not want search engines to index my categories, but I want them to know exactly what the categories are about and then follow the category page links to my article pages. It makes sense that I should give them a good meta description.

It may seem trivial, but when you consider it, many of the things we do to optimize our websites for search engine ranking really are just little pieces. Those little pieces add up to be one big picture, and until you get them all together, the puzzle is still not complete.

Managing WordPress Category Descriptions

Just to be sure I did not give you a great idea and motivate you to take action, but not follow through with a “how to”, I will tell you a couple of tips on where to go and do this, and also what to include.

First, for anybody unfamiliar with where to edit WordPress categories. Depending on the version of WordPress you are using, you will find it in your blog administration either under “Posts” and then “Categories” or under “Manage” and then “Categories”. From there, you will see all of your categories listed. Simply click on a category name and add or modify the description. I would not suggest changing the “slug”, because it would change the URL and upset your internal link structure and search engines would have to learn it all over again.

Editing Word Press Categories is Simple
Editing Word Press Categories is Simple

Now that you are ready to edit your blog categories, try to create a description that reflects the emphasis of the category, and how it relates to the overall content of the site. As an example, my “Internet Marketing” category description reads as follows:

“Internet marketing has many sub-categories and this information focuses on marketing content creation, SEO, and social media marketing.”.

As you can see here, it reflects the blog category, but it also reflects how it relates to the overall subject of the blog.

I hope you have found this to be useful. It is sometimes easy to forget the little steps, but they all matter.

For more useful WordPress-specific tips and tricks, I recommend my friend, Ruhani Rabin‘s blog. Here is a link directly to his WordPress category where he has a lot of useful articles about tweaking WordPress blogs.

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aWebGuy.com Podcast: Get It How You Like It!

Announcing aWebGuy.com Podcast
Announcing aWebGuy.com Podcast

Check one, check two … check check. Can you hear me? Hey, we have sound!

I am a writer. I write like I speak … no, not hoarse from all the late nights and cigarettes. I mean fast, frequently, and often at length. Editors have sometimes said that I can write faster than they can read. Since I often write long articles, I have decided to offer another option to take in the information here at aWebGuy.com … a podcast.

It seems funny to me that this comes directly on the heels of an article I wrote only yesterday about the power of written words. Fortunately, I love to talk, too. Just get me on the phone sometime and see how easily a couple minutes can turn into a couple hours.

I have considered providing a video version of the aWebGuy.com blog, which I may still do, but an audio podcast has other advantages. Not the least of the advantages is that I can look dreadful and you will never know it unless I tell you. Besides, if you really want to see my face, it is spread liberally across the Internet anyway. It will not be too hard to find.

My podcast will probably not have a whole lot of fancy mixing and sound effects. I do not plan to re-record it over and over to get it just right. If I slurp coffee or choke on a cigarette, I will just leave it there. I am very accustomed to being live on video. I have produced a nine day live webcast from a car, I have webcasted at 170 miles per hour (270 KPH), I have a weekly live social webcast, and even chased down tornadoes on live video. I should be able to hold it together for a tiny little podcast without embarrassing myself too greatly, right?

I invite you to check out the podcast. I plan to record one to cover each blog article. I hope you will enjoy the flexibility and I welcome your input.

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The Power of Written Words on Day 3,479

The Murnahans of Day 2912
The Murnahans of Day 2912
I thought for a moment that this article belongs on another of my blogs, but then I realized how it fits here as well. This is a bit different from my typical marketing article. It is a piece that I posted on Facebook in November of 2008 addressing the power of written words. It is not specifically marketing oriented, but it does involve something that bloggers and marketers deal with, which is that of having the right words, and the importance of written words. In this case, it addresses the power of a love letter, but it has a good message that can be applied to many other relationships in your life.

I will note that today is number 3,479. It is also my eighth wedding anniversary, which gives me even more reason to honor the day with something meaningful. This story is about day 2,912. I hope that you will enjoy this inspiration. Here you go:

How Do You Remember Day Number 2,912?

As I witness friends with troubles in their marriages, I am reminded of many whom have come to me or to my wife for advice and counseling. I got to thinking about why we are so popular in this area, but it should be no surprise. We have a great marriage. We communicate our feelings, and let down our pride when it is necessary. We show our love every day, and we do not take the other for granted.

We always try to help our friends when they come to us with marital struggles, and sometimes we are really helpful, but I thought a proactive approach would be even better.

I guess I am trying to lead by example, in hopes that others may start to think of their relationships, and how they can be even better. I wish to inspire others to share their love with their spouses and loved ones, and never wait for a better time.

Put it in writing. It is far too easy to let another day slip by without putting it in writing. Our days together come and go, and the opportunities to put feelings into words diminish with each moment, and with each heartbeat.

The written word cannot be taken away. When you put it in writing, it is a promise … a contract of how you were feeling at the moment it was written. There is no substitute for the written word. We say “I love you” so much that the meaning is often not taken. A love letter is timeless, and it may be just what you need.

It does not have to be complicated. Hiring a pilot to write it in the sky does not show that you care more, and the big gestures like that are often far less frequent than what he or she deserves. Just a quick compliment or something romantic on a Post-It Note can do the trick, if you do it with feeling. It is even better if you do it often.

Let it get your heart pumping. Let it get your tears flowing. Don’t be ashamed to feel, and never be afraid that it will not be taken right. Just the act of thinking about them and putting it in writing can be great for both of you.

There is not a perfect love letter. If I ever thought there was a perfect love letter, I would just make copies and give it to my wife each day. Keep practicing. You will get better at it, and you will love the way it makes you and the special recipient feel.

Say it with meaning, and be very personal. Don’t re-write it a bunch of times to get it just right. Write it, deliver it, and repeat. Here is a quick and simple example:

Dearest Peggy,

I am writing this to you today as a profession of my love. Today is not an anniversary, or a date that would immediately spark a memory. Today is another date in the calendar of our marriage that may one day be just a blur along with the other 2,912 days we have spent together. Today represents another thread in the tapestry that makes up our lifetime together.

Why should I choose to write this today? It is because I love you. I love you every day. I love you with all my heart. Day number 2,913 may not be our greatest. Our days are numbered, and we may not yet know how truly meaningful day number 2,912 is to us.

On day number 2,912 I am reminded of day 556. Day 556 was the day I promised to love, honor, and keep you for all the days of my life. I am reminded of our great pride 2,210 days ago when our son was born, and two days later when we brought him home and wondered “what do we do with him now?” Then just 223 days later, we were wondering how to postpone his walking just a little longer, because “they just aren’t supposed to do that yet”. I am reminded of day 1580 when we rushed to the delivery of our baby girl, and how you were so strong as you pushed through the labor, and how pleased you looked when I introduced you to her for the first time. It is hard to believe that was 1,332 days ago, or that it was 55 days ago when we heard our new baby’s heartbeat and that we will do it all again in the vicinity of day 3,062.

I am reminded of these days, along with the many days of sadness for the death of loved ones, successes and failures, good times and bad times. Best of all, I remember those little moments in between. I remember days at the park, holding hands, stomping around in puddles, cooking a great meal, cuddling on the couch. I remember knowing that you were there each of these 2,912 days, receiving my love with an open heart.

Today is a great day to love you. I look forward with great joy to spending day number 2,913 with you.

All my love,

Mark Aaron

This was a while back, and now we have another member in the family, Jack Walden Murnahan. Things have changed, but one thing that does not change is the power of written words. Use them, practice them, and never forget their importance!