Yes, but don’t take my word for it. So what’s new? Here is a run down of the new features of Blog Rush 2.0.

The dashboard

There is a slick new dashboard available in blog Rush. John Reese has added some very nice features to the admin section. I love the new graphics representing traffic in your network.

The Buzz meter is very cool. This will help me improve my blog titles (headlines) and my CTR. Basically it will tell me real time what people want to read, based on my title.

Reports

You can run custom reports based on a date range. Very nice!

My Blog

This section allows you to add, delete and modify your blogs. I updated my widget “flavor” today.

Filters

The new filtering system gives you more control of what type of content shows up on your site and also controls what you want to syndicate out to the network.

These are all very good features. John has an extensive video on all the new features. Check it out for more information.

Technorati Tags: Blog Rush 2.0, John Reese, CTR, widget

The Google Punishment has been handed out
Some people got slammed, while others stood still. Many of the top bloggers had their PR devalued 2,3, and 4 points!!!! The consensus is due to selling text links! Google gave the punishment in the form of a hand edit.

Some went from PR 6

To PR 4

What does the blogging community think?
Many blog headlines proclaimed, “PR is dead!” Others shrugged off the PR adjustment and told us to focus on the traffic volume. In other words do not worry about PR, worry about how much traffic is going to your site. Did this update effect the amount of traffic Google is sending? If not, don’t worry about it.

What’s my take?
It was known months ago Google would take action against sites selling links. Therefore, I guess this should not come as a surprise to the offending sites. I have stated for years that PR means nothing in relation to rankings in the SERPs.

I have repeated, like a broken record, people should not worry about PR and PR updates and focus on creating quality content and getting more links.

The Broken Record
Once again, stop thinking so much about PR values!! It ‘s just a time waster and will not help you move your business forward, period!

Moving forward.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a diverse traffic sources for your site. If your business is dependent on traffic from any of the major search engines, exclusively, you really need to rethink your business model. You are at risk!

Just like investing, you need to diversify your traffic sources. So when Google updates their algo and you traffic disappears over night, you are not out of business. It’s like having a six legged table. If you kick out one leg the table will still stand because there are 5 more pillars to hold it upright.

Time to focus and grow your Business
Focus on building pillars and not the antiquated Google Page Rank.

Technorati Tags: bloggers, PR, text links, Google, traffic volume, SERPs, quality content, search engines, Google Page Rank

I mentioned in recent posts my switch from the Flock browser to Firefox. Well, today I got a nice little SEO surprise. I was reading a post on SEOBook.com and found a wonderful plugin for SEO information returned in your search results.

I tried the plugin, both for Google and Yahoo SERPS. The results are great!!!

Check out the screen shot.

Feature Standouts

• Traffic estimator - (I really like this feature.)
• PR of indexed page
• How many links in Yahoo and MSN, including .edu break out
• Directory listings
• Whois – on click away.

Go here to get the Firefox plugin.

Technorati Tags: SEO, SEOBook.com, plugin, Google, Yahoo, SERPS, Firefox

As you know from my post last week, Flock and I broke up. Read more here. Anyway, I heard version 1.0 of flock is now available, congratulations on the upgrade. I told you I had no hard feelings. On the contrary, I read a very favorable write up on Mashable.com, who in the past have not been so kind to Flock Browser.

I truly hope flock will return to it’s old glory some time in the future and if so, I would be more than happy to give it a tray.

I don’t think I will try the upgrade version. I made a successful transfer to FireFox with the Google Reader. So far I am very happy.

Technorati Tags: Mashable.com, Flock Browser, FireFox, Google Reader

Flock has Changed
The Flock browser has been my default browser for a year and a half. I was using version .7, until yesterday. They (Flock) suggested an upgrade to .9, so I did. The Flock I loved was no longer the same Flock. The upgrade to .9 killed the great feed reader GUI, the very reason I switch from FireFox!

To add insult to injury, the new Flock browser froze my machine so bad I had to do a hard shut down to get back control of my computer.

The Break Up
I used the new Flock browse for two days but it just didn’t work out. It’s like breaking up with a girlfriend I really liked and I am sad. My sadness lasted about 20 minutes because I know there are other options out there. Time to play the field!

Solution
I imported my feeds into Google Reader and downloaded the latest version of FireFox and I am back to loving the internet.

Looking Back and Then Forward
Sorry Flock I really enjoyed our time together, but you changed too much and I no longer know you. No hard feelings but it’s time to part ways. You will be fine and I will be fine. It happens. I wish you the best.

Later!

Technorati Tags: Flock browser, version .7, feed reader, GUI, FireFox, girlfriend, play the field, Google Reader