Exploring Wix: A Free, Fun Tool for Creating Websites, Widgets and More

Are you technically challenged and need help creating a stellar website? Then you might want to visit Wix.com for a fun and easy way to create an amazing website for free.

In just four easy steps, users can create and publish a website for free. First users should log in and then click Create. If you are new to Wix.com, sign up for an account first before you log in. Next, users can either choose one of the templates provided and click Edit or choose a Blank Website to launch the Wix editor. Then, users can customize their websites using Wix’s click/replace/edit and click/drag/drop features in its editor. Finally, users can publish their websites by clicking Publish, Website and True Size in the Wix editor. In a matter of minutes, users can create Flash-based websites that are search engine friendly.

“Did you say Flash-based websites that are search engine friendly? How can this be?” You ask, knowing that search engines love text-based websites. Well, Wix.com says, “behind every Wix creation there is HTML code that search engine crawlers use to read your content and rank your search engines. And you can manage your keywords, description and meta-tag information from Settings in the editor.”

Being the skeptical person that I am, I decided to test Wix.com’s claim by searching Google for Milla Camargo Handbags’ website – a website created using Wix.com. To my surprise, Google listed Milla Camargo Handbags’ website first in its organic search results as pictured below. Impressive, Wix.com. Very impressive.



Figure 1 - Organic Search Results for Milla Camargo Handbags' website on Google.com

For more information about this great tool, visit Wix.com. If you are like me and find that you need a little assistance creating your first Wix website, visit Wix.com’s Help Center. After viewing the Getting Started with Wix.com video tutorial and step-by-step guide, I was creating my first Wix website in minutes. You will, too.

Are Social Networking Sites Really Free?

According to a recent article in USA Today, some social networking users are finding that time offline is becoming more rewarding than time online. In fact, a few users have deleted one or more of their social networking accounts while others have fallen off the grid entirely thanks to the efforts of free software like Web 2.0 Suicide Machine and Seppukoo. These programs remove a user’s online existence in a matter of minutes and allow the user to reboot his/her offline existence. Other less ambitious users have gravitated to programs like Freedom that allow Apple computer users to go offline for up to eight hours at a time. If you ask me, I think that these programs give the users a little more control over their online existence, but what do you think?

Should social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter be concerned about this free software and new trend to go offline or should they see this trend as an opportunity to listen to the groundswell and improve their sites and experiences for their users? Apparently, Facebook sees this trend and the software as a threat while Twitter does not. In fact, Twitter is not concerned about user retention and believes that most users will return or new users will appear. While Facebook, on the other hand, is clearly running scared and has taken legal action against sites like Seppukoo to stop its efforts of confiscating its users.

With sites like Friendster and MySpace going the way of the walkman, Facebook should be concerned about losing its clout; however, bullish behavior will not help its case any. It seems to me that this kind of behavior may be seen as dictatorial and may cause some users to feel trapped thereby leading to an exodus of larger proportions than originally anticipated. If Facebook wants to stay on top, then it needs to worry more about providing a better product for its customers and less about a few disgruntled users that need to go offline anyway. If these users need a little more control over their online experiences in order to enjoy them, then companies like Facebook should allow their users these freedoms even if it may result in a temporary user loss. Take a cue from Twitter, Facebook, and give the people back their freedom. Who’s it hurting anyway? Everyone needs a vacation some time, so let him/her have it. You’ll be happy you did.