I came across this article recently about Microsoft’s next version of Internet Explorer. Apparently it might have a feature that, while protecting users privacy, may make it impossible for third party vendors to track your actions and habits as you peruse the web. Either Microsoft will cave from the pressure of ad vendors to remove this feature, or the vendors will find a way around it.

What I find interesting is that the ability to block ads and tracking code has been around for years… if you use Mozilla’s Firefox . A handy little plug-in called AdBlock Plus can block all types of ads: banner, flash or text. The plug-in prevents the content from downloading, and therefore from rendering on your screen, speeding up your browsing experience considerably.

As many know, there’s a whole industry based on tracking your actions on the internet. Google Analytics [...] Continue Reading

“I am so popular, everyone loves me so much at this school on Twitter”

For companies who are curious about this whole social media thing and how something like a Twitter page might allow them to engage with current or potential customers, it follows that the more followers the better, right? Not necessarily.

Looking to capitalize on the hype, many marketers have released free e-books, downloads and written about a gazillion posts on how to have success on Twitter, and many focus on building followers. Some are now offering paid solutions, like It’s Remarkable PR, who promise on SitePoint Marketplace, for the bargain price of $299, to create a new twitter account with a custom profile, get 500 followers related to your niche and 60 tweets (2 a day) 1 general, 1 promotional in order to:

Rabidness aside, what is concerning about this approach is something that Sarah Evans over at Mashable, has coined Continue Reading