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If you read my earlier article describing modifications to a WordPress installation’s .htaccess file in order to enhance a website’s rendering speed, you know that many search engines use page loading speeds as one of the factors for result ranking. With this in mind, it becomes necessary to consider as many factors as possible in order to help our websites render as quickly as possible.

After my last article describing many of the code snippets that can be used in order to modify a website’s .htaccess file to help increase loading speed, I received several emails from readers who were intimidated by the procedure. Luckily, if your website is constructed using a WordPress framework, there is a very easy way to accomplish the same task for WordPress Optimization.

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Nearly everyone who writes articles for a weblog has read about the importance of establishing an email subscription list. Readers who stumble upon articles through search services might find a ‘blog or specific article interesting but may lose a site’s URL or the ability to find the information again. They don’t become repeat visitors or frequent readers. Implementing a subscription list, however, ensures that one’s future articles find their way to the email inboxes of interested readers. Regular readers who are interested in an author’s articles are more likely to leave comments, interact, and share content. Increased visitation and sharing helps search engine optimization (SEO) and, in turn, search ranking which ultimately results in even more readers.

Finding the perfect solution for emailing post content and managing subscribers, however, can be quite difficult. I have tried several options but nearly all of them have had a serious detriment that has resulted in further searching for alternatives.

Read more about the solutions I have found by clicking the button below:

Establishing the retail value of artwork is one of the most confusing tasks a beginning artist can undertake. There are many possible approaches to this problem and I plan to discuss a couple of the most basic within the text of this article. The methods outlined below have their foundation in substantive factors and leave emotional attachment out. Pricing artwork based upon how “good” an artist thinks it is leads to a very sloppy and inconsistent approach that can leave collectors confused.

Whether one is a seasoned professional or a rank amateur, it is often pertinent to survey the current marketplace to discover what similar artists are using as a pricing model. If your peers are selling their work for much less than what you are expecting to receive, you might think about adjusting your prices appropriately. If, however, you seem to price your artwork lower than pieces of equal quality, your prices may need a slight increase. Bear in mind, however, that the price of art can often be affected by an artist’s reputation in the marketplace. Just because you create work that is perceived to be as good or better than a given medium’s master, doesn't mean your paintings will sell for millions of dollars.

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I haven't been around Fine Art America or painting much lately because I have been completing a major website overhaul. I started completely from scratch and went with a Wordpress based site to simplify my life and make adding new paintings, etc... easier. I have written an in-depth blog post that explains my decision to use this format, etc... For now, check out the new site at http://powersfineart.com/! I may still do a little tweaking here and there and need to add my links page but it is looking good so far!

If you are interested in reading the article, here is a link http://Powersfineart.com/

This is a time-lapse video I created which shows the progression from drawing to finished piece for my watercolor painting of Foxglove/Digitalis entitled, "Snoqualmie Dew." This painting is the second one I have done which utilizes the newly reformulated Sennelier watercolor paints. This new formula is amazing to work with and is incredibly vibrant. I highly recommend this paint.

This is a time-lapse video depicting the creation of my latest watercolor painting, “Sennelier Tulips.” When I can remember to take photos of a painting during the creative process, I try to produce a video to help others see how the painting is built from start to finish. This one began as a simple sketch and many layers of watercolor paint were glazed in order to produce the complexity and depth. This painting is of particular interest because it is my first usage of the newly reformulated Sennelier paints that I received in the mail a few days ago. They are heavily pigmented, bold, vibrant, creamy under the brush, and have a great glow to them. I am impressed!

I have been having great success with the sales of my book, "The Art of Social-Network Marketing." However, I owe its success to the amazingly supportive online community to which I belong. Therefore, in order to say "Thank you for your support," I have decided to release one section of my book in an online text format on its website every week until the entire text is available for FREE! The online version won't have the fancy graphics, illustrations, and charts but the entire text and all its information will be there to aid all who are interested in marketing their artwork, crafts, sculpture, and assorted products. The Print, PDF, Nook, iBook, and Kindle versions will still be available for those who want to have all the bells and whistles but the meat and potatoes will be online for all to view for FREE. I sincerely hope the information aids those who are looking to find their way in this confusing Internet-based marketing arena! Check the site often, and by the way, "Thank you for your support!"

http://www.artofsocialnetworkmarketing.com/

Sunday, May 13th 2012 marks the end of the 8th season of ABC Studio's hit television series "Desperate Housewives." It also brings an end to the series itself. To commemorate the event and what could very well be your last chance to see my painting "Feathery Flower" in the series, I am offering a very limited time promotion on 11"x14" canvas prints of the piece seen in seasons 7 and 8 of the show. Click HERE to visit the promotional page.

Click HERE for information about where to see the piece in the show.

Here is what the painting looks like if you are hunting for it in Seasons 7 and 8:

For those who are unaware, ABC studios purchased a print of my painting Feathery Flower along with a license to allow its use on the set of their hit series Desperate Housewives. The purchase occurred during the summer of 2010 before the shooting began for season 7 and the painting ended up being placed to the left of the entrance of main character Bree Van de Kamp's home above a hall table and on a green wall. Here is a link to an image depicting the painting's location: Location Map. The painting's prominent placement at 4354 Wisteria Lane allows it to be seen from the character's living room, kitchen, and staircase and has enabled it to appear in many commercials and episodes of the show. However, its glory is finally coming to an end.

ABC has officially revealed the end date for the series finale of Desperate Housewives. If you are a fan of the show, you also realize that this means there are only a couple episodes left before the two hour final episode. With the Sunday, May 13th 2012 date quickly approaching, the opportunities to see my watercolor painting on the set of the show are becoming fewer and fewer. If you miss the painting during the course of the normal season, your only other options are to wait for syndication or to purchase seasons 7 and 8 on DVD.

Or........you can see it at the :12 second mark in this promo someone posted for Season 8 Episode 8 on YouTube: Season 8 Episode 8 Promo Video

If you are looking for a more recent episode in which to view my painting on ABC Studio's "Desperate Housewives," it is in the episode that aired on 4/29/2012 entitled "Lost My Power." The painting is shown during a conversation with Bree Van de Kamp's attorney in her living room. It starts at about 29 minutes into the show and is on the wall to the left of the character's front door above a hall table and lamp. This video may only be view-able to people in the USA but I am not sure.

Here is a link to the episode: Desperate Housewives Episode - Lost My Power

The Art of Social-Network Marketing Website

Over the last few years, I have been receiving virtually daily e-mails from fellow artists who are having difficulties selling their work online. The subjects of these letters range from simple requests for technical assistance to inquiries about my approach to the online marketing of my paintings. Those who have requested my assistance know that I am always ready to lend a helping hand if it is within my range of expertise. Having an extensive computer science background, I am fully aware of the complications modern websites and social-networks can create. These complications always seem to become exponential when a person is attempting to finally present and sell their lovingly created artwork to the world for the first time. Whenever I can lend a helpful tip to a frustrated correspondant, I do. Because of the number of emails I receive pertaining to these types of subjects, it made me realize that there are very few books available that clearly and concisely present an uncomplicated method for marketing artwork, products, and services online.


Because of the confusing nature and general lack of availability of this type of information, I began the long arduous task of writing a book that presents a clear non-intrusive philosophy for marketing artwork and other products through the Internet. I have always felt that the most effective use of social-networks for marketing revolves around driving traffic from these services to a central storefront where products and artwork can be directly purchased. I decided to make the book's primary focus a basic road-map for developing followers in various social-media services and how to utilize cross-promotional techniques. By aiding other artists in the visibility and marketing of their artwork or products, in turn one increases the visiblity of their own work. Within this established network, everyone gets to benefit from increased visibility, and therefore, increased purchasing potential. The added bonus is that one gets to view great new artwork and products from a close group of friends on a daily basis!


I am pleased to announce that the book is finally finished. It is 147 pages and I self-published it through Lulu.com. It will soon be available in Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and various other book resellers in print form. I decided to call it The Art of Social-Network Marketing because of its main focus. It can currently be purchased in print or as a PDF document through Lulu.com and also in e-reader formats through the iBookstore, Amazon for Kindle store, and the Barnes & Noble Nook store.


If you are interested, more information can be found at the following website:

The Art of Social-Network Marketing Website