Adding a Tweet This link to your Blogger blog posts - SEO post

Twitter - everyone from Stephen Fry to local radio's been on about this social networking platform called Twitter, where users 'Tweet' each other (or to anyone 'following' them in a 140 characters or less.

If your in business, then it's a great tool for getting out there and making new contacts and keeping customers up to date with all your doing.

I've had some success myself and been involved in online conversations with Jonathan Ross and more recently Philip Schofield (post to come).

However, in this post, I want to share with you how to add that little 'Tweet This' button and link to the footer of each individual Blogger blog post.

You'll find the various snippets of code and where to place them in your Blogger template here at Blogger Buster

Some blogger templates might differ and indeed, there is one glitch in Blogger Busters code which I and judging by the comments one or two others suffered from but you'll find my comments and other helpful in fixing this.

Before making any changes to your Blogger template, make sure you download a back up of your blog first (don't forget to expand the widgets - tick box - before downloading). That way if things go wrong, you can revert to the saved downloaded version.

Remember with Blogger Buster's code, you'll only see the 'Tweet this' link and button when you click on an individual post. This is necessary to generate the URL that twitter will link to so that clicks go to the actual post rather than to just your blog in general.

So in a few simple steps, you too could be encouraging others to share your posts on their Twitter accounts to their followers.

Don't forget you can also add your own button / link for visitors to click on and visit your profile on Twitter. If they like what they read, you might get a few more followers. I'll be posting my own thoughts on best practice on Twitter in a few days time.

Until then - keep Twittering.

You can follow Fabulous Photo Gifts on Twitter - http://twitter.com/fabphotogifts

New Look for Fabulous Photo Gifts Blog

Like the new look Fabulous Photo Gifts Blog?

We've updated the complete look of our popular personalised gifts blog to fall in line with the recent changes over at our photo gift website - Fabulous Photo Gifts.

We hope you enjoy the new look as much as we enjoyed creating it. If you feel moved to writing, we'd love to receive your comments on our new look below.

Dust off those London Marathon pictures

The London marathon - whoever or whatever you ran for, well done for just taking part. Hopefully you've loads of pictures to remember your marathon day by but where are those pictures now? Hiding away on a hard drive, shut inside a photo album?

So why not dig those old photographs out and bring them to life to enjoy all over again by adding one to our range of fabulous photo gifts?

You'll have a great time recalling when the photograph was taken and the recipient will love their personalised one of a kind gift.

With our extended range of personalised gift ideas, it doesn't have to be a picture either. You can choose a date - special to you or the person the gift's intended for and you can all share in the magic of recounting the events on that 'special' day, over and over again.

Right now, our 1000 piece photo jigsaw is proving a very popular gift choice and we've enjoyed seeing your photo's and preparing them for printing - so many special times and so many memories.

Go on! Dust off those memory cards and take photography back to its grass roots - as a medium for sharing any occasion between friends, family or colleagues. Visit Fabulous Photo Gifts today and get personal with your photograph collection.

photo credit: alexlomas

Help! My window has a broken hinge, lock or handle - Home owner information

When one of our double glazed windows at home broke one of it's hinges, quite frankly we were stumped as to what to do or where to go to find a replacement. That was a few years ago. Then, we lived with it until we moved house.

Nowadays, with even more window companies tempting us with new upvc and wooden frame designs etc, I came across this clever article that at least points out what to look for to help you identify the type of lock, hinge or handle fitted to your double glazed windows, doors, patio and french as well as conservatories, if you need to replace a locking mechanism or hinge.

Here's what they had to say....

"Everything has a lifespan – and double glazing is no exception. Last year, several larger window installers reported that they had begun replacing more first generation uPVC units than timber or aluminum windows, and that trend looks set to continue into 2009 and beyond.

One of the more common reasons for replacing double glazing units is that the old units have begun to fail – this could be anything from chipped sills to misting up glass, but also something as simple as broken handles, locks and mechanisms can often bring about the end of otherwise perfectly sound window units.

This is partly because there is a truly staggering variety of different locking mechanisms currently in circulation. Aside from individual lock and handle choices at the time of fitting, different extrusion and frame manufacturers use different preferred hardware suppliers, leading to a overwhelming array of options and variations.

So how can you go about finding the one you need for your faulty mechanism?..."

To read the rest of their article, please visit www.home-improvement-blog.co.uk.

Now you can share your favourite posts on Twitter

You can now share your favourite Fabulous Photo Gifts Blog posts on Twitter – it’s an easy and fast to share what you're reading with your Twitter followers. Just in case, however, you’re not sure what Twitter is or how you can get started, here’s our guide to all things Twitter:

Twitter is an online short messaging service, posting a “tweet” is like sending a text message to the whole world. It's a great way to keep in touch with your own friends (or colleagues), and reach out to potential new ones. At Fabulous Photo Gifts we use Twitter to keep you informed of what we're up to, and we've just introduced a new instant 'Tweet this story' function to all our blog posts.

The New 'Share this on Twitter' logo and link at the foot of each individual post with other social bookmarking links like Digg etc.

Signing up to Twitter is free, instant and easy – you simply go to twitter.com, choose a username and password and get started straight away.

Following is how you decide whose tweets you want to see. You can follow others and keep track of what they’re saying – others can follow you and see what you are saying.

Replying to others is simply a case of writing their twitter username proceeded by ‘@’ – so to send a message to Fabulous Photo Gifts, you’d send a tweet which included ‘@fabphotofgifts’.

Private Messages can be sent to people who follow you – these are not shared with anyone other than the recipient.

As we said earlier, we've introduced a new function in the footer (bottom) of every individual blog post which will take the posts headline, and turn it into a 'short url' before posting it directly into your Twitter account for you to 'tweet'. It really is that simple to share, discuss and forward what you're reading to others.

We look forward to welcoming you as a 'follower' and keeping you up to date with everything at Fabulous Photo Gifts.

Work from home - run your own community magazine.

Are you looking for a work from home opportunity that you can fit around the kids, schools, and even other employment?

Fabulous Photo Gifts was recently introduced to Tania who runs Mags 2 Riches - a company dedicated to getting you up and running as your own boss, producing your very own community magazine.


Tania - Mags2Riches Founder.

As her website says, Tania's been there herself and learnt a lot of important lessons along the way.

We were very impressed with the amount of information available on her website and would like to wish her all the best. Through the completely redesigned website, she and her team can share that knowledge with you and help you make your dream of running your own business a reality.

Said Tania "it doesn't matter whether you've been made redundant, fancy a career change or you're a mum at home with the kids and looking to provide some extra home income - we can help you realise your dream of being your own boss".

If you'd like to find out more, please visit Tania's Mags 2 Riches website and take a look for yourself.

Choose your iPhone music and videos carefully

Last week found us on a little shopping survey in anticipation of middle Daughter's birthday in May.

As we were near the local PC World, we called in to view a small television she was interested in for her bedroom. This particular model has a dock for iTouch and iPhones etc - she's keen to play her music on.

Of course, they had one in on display - we asked the very helpful assistant about its features etc and he suggested she plug in her iTouch and try it out.

Of course, she didn't have it on her but I had my iPhone and offered it to the assistant.

"it works like this" he said - and the store was filled with Abba music. When Mandy's daughter winced visibly, he said, desperate to stop the music "it also plays videos"... and burst forth a james bond movie i'd copied onto my phone.

Sometimes you just can't win!

What my kids have been up to on holiday with their grandparents.

This Sunday gone, I drove my two children down to a little village just outside Cambridge to stay with their grandparents for the week. I'll be making the 2 hour drive via the M1 (J26 - off at J19), A14 to Huntingdon, then A14 / M11 to Duxford and then along the A505 towards Royston this Friday to pick them up and bring them home on the Saturday morning.

Here's just a selection of what they've been up to:

Helping Mamma deliver church leaflets around the village.
Delivering a 'get well card' to someone who was in hospital, but out and back home when they called with the card.
Playing on the 'Wooden Park' - an adventure playground in the village recreation ground whilst Mamma tidied up the village hall.
A nature walk around Fowlmere nature park - lots of birds, ducks with ducklings (two) and baby rabbits as they left.
Walk to the Animal Shelter in the next village on Wednesday - the little charity shop is open and Georgie wanted to buy something for her kitten, plus lots of fussing the cats and dogs homed at the shelter.
The obligatory trip to the local town's toy shop to be treated.
Swimming at the local swimming pool.

Plus loads of cuddles with Sadie - my parents highland terrier.

So they've had a good week and it's not over yet. Even the sun has shone so far.

Can't wait to see them Friday - they'll be allowed to stay up late for my arrival - and catch up with their excited news.

Mandy's taken her girls to visit her parents on Anglesey - staying in a nearby caravan - and travelled yesterday. I'll be catching up with their exploits via mobile phone (if she can get a mobile signal - it's not very good there). Just checked out the beach webcam and it looks pleasant enough though so fingers crossed for good weather the rest of the week.

What did you get up to on your last holiday?

Technical Update - Fabulous Photo Gifts

Dear Customers.

12.10pm (GMT)

Our web hosting provider in London has confirmed a problem with their hardware infrastructure and are working to resolve the situation and restore the Fabulous Photo Gifts website as soon as possible.

We're sorry for any inconvenience caused.

The Fabulous Photo Gifts technical crew.

"You're always on Holiday"

The more eagle eyed visitors to Fabulous Photo Gifts today will have noticed a small 'we're on holiday' announcement at the top of each page.

Yes we're on holiday - literally taking a few post-Easter days with the children to visit their grandparents on Anglesey. It's our first 'break' from photo gift making this year (and our first break outside the 'factory fortnight' since we started two years ago) - our normal 'factory fortnight' is in the School Summer holidays.

So for the next three days, we're not available to 'take your calls', however, we're hoping to be able to monitor emails and respond during the evenings so if you do contact us by email, please accept our apologies for not replying straight away.

If you place an order for a personalised photo gift between now and Saturday, please remember to add three extra days to the published delivery times shown.

We'll be pulling out all the stops to catch up as quickly as possible upon our return. Thank you for your understanding and you continued custom.

Don't forget, your own Easter holiday photographs will make some great personalised photo gifts and we've added even more personalised gift ideas to our website over the last few weeks. Why not take a look at some of our new gift ideas now?

Back to the packing - now where did I put those waterproofs....

Kensington iphone car mount review - update.

Kensington iphone car mount review - update.

Regular readers and those who read my initial review of the Kensington car mount for the iPhone will remember that although I was impressed withe overall build quality and the incredible suction cup device it uses (it still hasn't fallen off my car windscreen once despite traveling along some very bumpy back country roads), i wasn't too keen on the amount of 'judder' produced by the springy arm.

I thought it was worth posting a quick update now that I've been using the car mount for a few months.

On the plus side:
It's never fallen off the windscreen! Not once. Also, the pressure grip sides feel really secure and I feel confident that my iPhone isn't going to go crashing to the floor or worse, fly out of the side window as we head into summer and lots of window down, arm out cruising.

I positioned it in the bottom RH corner of the car windscreen so that i can steady my arm on the side door trim to press the 'call' button. The iPhone doesn't support voice dialing (yet) and this was my only reservation about buying the iPhone in the first place. The kensington car mount kit makes button pressing an effortless task - the action of pressing a button not enough to move the sprung arm / holder.

TIP: When I first get in the car, i always select the favourites page of phone numbers (as very often, if i'm going to be calling anybody on a journey - they'll be in my top ten) so all I have to do is press the standby button and the call I wish to make.

On the minus side:
Depending on the direction of the sun, you can get an annoying glare off the surface of the phone whilst driving. That same 'tight-holding' sprung arm makes it difficult to simply 'swing' the phone out of the glare. Perhaps a more central position on the windscreen would fix this?

The side pressure grips - after just a few months, they seem to be a bit hit and miss when pressing the release button to remove the phone. Sometimes they jump back with quite a force, others, you literally have to peel them apart to remove your iPhone. It's a small complaint but one to note nonetheless.

That judder! OK My biggest problem with the Kensington iPhone car mount is the shake and judder transmitted via the car to the phone cradle. It's very off-putting and doesn't make for an easy phone use experience on anything less than a good surface.

The springiness of the arm from the windscreen suction cup to the phone holder, is too stiff (or not stiff enough?) either way, the result is the arm is unable to dampen any judders or shocks and transmits all of the cars movement to the phone. When I first used it, I was worried the vibration would have a negative non-warranty covered effect on the iPhone but it seems made of sturdier stuff than that.

Conclusion:
I like the car mount - it suits my usage perfectly - apart from the vibration and constant movement (imagine a nodding dog on caffeine) and I wish I'd read more reviews on this subject before I'd bought it as I would have probably explored a ventilation grill mounting holder first.

If you can put up with the vibration (as I now have too), then the Kensington iPhone car mount kit is an excellent choice. If you can't put up with the constant movement, then it's not for you.

P.S: I've even tried 'lodging' the arm into the dash more to restrict the amount of free space the arm has to bounce around in to no effect (apart from a shiny patch on my dash where the arm rubbed).

Review written by Jonathan Crouch - Technical Partner at Fabulous Photo Gifts

Daily Mirror Front Page - date personalised mugs, t-shirts and framed prints

Our newest personalised gift idea - a Daily Mirror newspaper front page printed onto your choice of mug, t-shirt or framed print from the date of your choice (years 1900 to 2008).

The white 'performance cotton' t-shirts come in a range of sizes from XS to XXL, the mugs are dishwasher safe and the framed front pages come in a choice of black, silver or oak frame finishes.

These Daily Mirror Front Page gifts make a great gift idea - and it doesn't have to be a birthday. Why not choose an anniversary date, graduation day date or even passing a driving test date? Perhaps a historic event - a great idea for Father's Day.

Simple visit Fabulous Photo Gifts - Daily Mirror newspaper front page gifts page and choose your gift, personalise it with your choice of date - don't forget to select t-shirt size or frame finish etc and we'll personalise your 'Mirror' gift in around 10 days.

Daily Mirror Front Page date personalised gifts - another great new gift idea from Fabulous Photo Gifts. Bringing you quality personalised gift ideas for everybody and all occasions.

Big Ben strikes 3 times at 2am thanks to repair crew

Big Ben struck 3 times at 2am this morning after maintenance crews (pictured) forgot to add the 'extra hour' following work to install a fifth face pointing upwards as a time check for the International Space Station, when it passes overhead.



Gotcha - April Fools Day.

Thanks for joining in the fun everyone who followed links to this post.