The Propeller – August 6, 2023 – I Wrote This Just For you…

This advice pertains mainly to individuals with personal or business websites, but it carries significant importance as it aids search engines in discovering and boosting your site’s visibility. Despite being a minute concern, its impact can be substantial.

For example, a client I work with paid a huge sum of money to another firm to have their entire web presence rebuilt and redesigned. 

This firm made the mistake of naming all the website files (Photos, PDFs, etc) using underscores instead of hyphens as word separators, which is a “coder” thing, but not a web thing.

All of their search engine rankings plummeted, and because of the scope of the project, they had to spend tens of thousands more to fix the problem. 

Bing, Google, and all other search engines see a hyphen as a space, but they see an underscore as a nonsense character.

So an image named Best-Barbecue-in-Columbus looks like 4 words, but Best_Barbecue_in_Columbus looks like one long word that means absolutely nothing to search engine algorithms. It’s a simple mistake that can cost thousands to millions.

Be careful who works on your website.  Most web designers don’t understand these small details.  If you need help, be sure to reach out to me.

Peter Lynch
“Everyone has the brainpower to follow the stock market. If you made it through fifth grade math, you can do it”

John Templeton
“If you buy the same securities everyone else is buying, you will have the same results as everyone else”

Warren Buffett
“Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down”

Philip Fisher
“When a stock rises to, say, 50 or 60 or 70, per cent, the urge to sell and take a profit now that the stock is ‘high’ becomes irresistible to many people. Giving in to this urge can be very costly”

John Bogle
“Over the long-term, the miracle of compounding returns is overwhelmed by the tyranny of compounding cost”

Benjamin Graham
“If you are shopping for common stocks, choose them the way you would buy groceries, not the way you would buy perfume”

Carl Icahn
“When most investors, including the pros, all agree on something, they’re usually wrong.”

Joel Greenblatt
“Choosing individual stocks without any idea of what you’re looking for is like running through a dynamite factory with a burning match. You may live, but you’re still an idiot.”

Howard Marks
“The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”

Terry Smith
“If you are a long-term investor, buying shares in a good business is more important than valuation. If you are not a long-term investor, what are you doing investing in the stock market?”

My goal of reading one book a week in 2023 is still underway.  I am on book number 30 this week!

What I read Last week:

 

Around the World on 50 Bucks by Christopher Schacht is a remarkable and inspiring travel memoir that takes readers on an unforgettable journey across the globe. Schacht’s audacious quest to travel the world with just $50 in his pocket is a testament to the power of determination and the boundless possibilities that lie beyond one’s comfort zone.

Throughout the book, Schacht shares a wealth of life lessons that he learns along his adventurous path. One of the most significant lessons I learned from Christopher is the value of human connection. As he navigates through different cultures and countries, he discovers the beauty of genuine interactions with locals. These encounters not only enrich his travels but also highlight the shared humanity that unites people from diverse backgrounds.

Another powerful lesson he imparts is the appreciation for simplicity. With limited resources, he finds contentment in the small joys of life, proving that material possessions do not define happiness. This profound realization resonates deeply with me, and reminds readers to embrace simplicity and find fulfillment in the little things.

Moreover, Around the World on 50 Bucks emphasizes the importance of resilience and resourcefulness. Schacht’s encounters with challenges and setbacks showcase his ability to adapt and find creative solutions. This resilience serves as a valuable reminder that life’s obstacles can be overcome with perseverance and an open mind.

Furthermore, the book encourages readers to pursue their dreams fearlessly. Schacht’s audacious decision to embark on this extraordinary adventure demonstrates that dreams can become reality with determination and courage. His journey serves as an inspiration for others to chase their aspirations, no matter how daunting they may seem.

In conclusion, Around the World on 50 Bucks is an enthralling and eye-opening memoir that not only captivates with its travel escapades but also leaves readers with profound life lessons. Christopher Schacht’s experiences teach us the significance of human connections, the beauty of simplicity, the power of resilience, and the importance of pursuing our dreams. This book is a must-read for all adventurers, wanderers, and seekers of wisdom.

Picking up your copy of the print or audiobook here:  https://amzn.to/471eiY5

What I am reading this week:
 

For those of you that have been following the list of books I have read this year, you will notice most of them are non-fiction.   This week I change it up for what should be a very funny and entertaining fiction book – Microserfs by Douglas Coupland.

From the Amazon descriptions: 

“They are Microserfs – six code-crunching computer whizzes who spend upward of 16 hours a day “coding” and eating “flat” foods (food which, like Kraft singles, can be passed underneath closed doors) as they fearfully scan company e-mail to learn whether the great Bill is going to “flame” one of them. 

But now there’s a chance to become innovators instead of cogs in the gargantuan Microsoft machine. The intrepid Microserfs are striking out on their own-living together in a shared digital flophouse as they desperately try to cultivate well-rounded lives and find love amid the dislocated, subhuman whir and buzz of their computer-driven world.”

You can pick up your copy of the Print, Ebook, or audiobook here:   https://amzn.to/3Kq4Dk3  (I’m actually doing the Ebook this time!)

Congrats on reading this whole email!

This is re-published from the weekly email sent by Leonard Mack entitled The Propeller. To subscribe, visit https://www.LeonardMack.com/subscribe and read it every Sunday evening.

This intellectual nourishment is intended for informational purposes only. One should not construe anything herein as being legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

My rule is this – I have no advice to give, only experience to share. I have no interest in being a guru or telling people what they should do. Rather, I share my own experience because there is no right or wrong. Your mileage may vary.