The estimated reading time for this post is 3 minutes
Welcome to Tech-Knowledgy where your questions are answered!
Q. What’s up with this +1 stuff? I saw one of the comments talk about it, I see it on a lot of sites now and there’s a new +1 button on your blog. I noticed that your blog looks different. Does that have something to do with the +1 button?
A. Good question. The +1 button is a new feature called the Google +1 and has nothing to do with the new look of The Wonder of Tech. Google recently introduced the +1 button so that anyone with a Google account can click on the +1 button at sites they find useful. The +1 button is different from the Facebook Like button, it’s more like a Favorites button. Google keeps track of your +1 clicks so you can go on your Google account later and see which sites you have clicked on (www.google.com=> your name=> view profile => +1) This can be a handy way to refer back to sites you liked without having to add them to your bookmarks. Plus you can access your +1 list from any computer.
Here is a video from Google explaining the +1 Button:
Clicking the +1 button on a site not only helps you keep track of the site, it also helps the site as it shows other readers whether a site is well-liked.
If you would like to learn more about the +1 button, check out this helpful blog post by a Wonder of Tech reader, Sire: Which Is Of More Value A Tweet Or Google’s +1.
This week The Wonder of Tech updated the theme to a new one called Modern Blogger. The old theme, Spectrum, was not supported by the developer any more so was becoming obsolete. I hope you like the new look of The Wonder of Tech!
Q. We’re having a heat wave where we live and I hate going into restaurants or movie theaters where they crank up the AC so it’s freezing. Why can’t someone develop a remote control that would override thermostat settings and make the temperature inside buildings for people, not polar bears? I don’t want to carry a sweater everwhere I go but I don’t want to freeze inside either. Any suggestions?
A. I actually get this question a lot and while I’m not aware of any tech solutions, I do have a non-tech suggestion: a handy wrap called Chilly Jilly. This is a wrap you can keep in your purse and throw over your shoulders when you go inside a cold air conditioned space. The wrap folds up into a tiny pouch so you can keep it with you wherever you go. What’s amazing is that when you pull the wrap out of the tiny pouch, it isn’t wrinkled!
When you go inside a cold restuarant, office, store, etc. pull the wrap out of your purse and throw it over your shoulders. When you head back outside, put it back in its pouch and throw it back in your purse. Very handy!
You can find these amazing wraps in a variety of colors at www.chillyjilly.com. Make sure to check out Retail Me Not which has a 15% coupon good until June 20. (See, Retail Me Not: Another Shopping Buddy You Will Love! for more on Retail Me Not).
Q. Do you have any tech tips to take my business to the top?
A. Yes, indeed I do! Please check out my article at Search Engine People where I am a guest author today. My article can be found here: 10 Tool & Tech Tips to Take Your Business to the Top! The article gives useful suggestions for ways you can use tech to help your business grow.
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Have you used Google +1? Do you have other tech tips for businesses? Let us know in the Comments section below!
Enjoy the weekend!
I haven’t seen the +1 button yet; but I do have commentluv. I can appreciate the air conditioning problem. It’s sort of warm here wit the sunshine, but an icy breeze. I have my door open looking at blue skies and thinking of taking advantage of the light for photos and my fingers are cold! I got good photos yesterday evening but it was raining and not very good light. The weather is very changeable. We have the technology to control temperatures but it is never used very well except in incubators! I used to work on heating and people are either too warm or too cold. I had an electric blanket with a controller like on an incubator; it was great. The electronic one works differently and isn’t so good.
Hi Mike, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech. I look forward to seeing your pictures on your blog! You will begin to see the Google +1 button more frequently on web sites. There is one at the bottom of the posts on this blog. But you need a Google account to use the +1 button. Is it worth getting a Google account for the +1 button? Probably not, but if you have one already, you might enjoy using the Google +1 buttons.
Your story of heating reminded me that when we moved to England in January one year, the house was very cold. When we complained, they said it would take a while for the house to warm up. After a year, we finally got someone out to the house who informed us that the heater had been turned off. The control for the heater was behind a wall board in the back of a closet. They said we must have turned off the heater, but I tried to assure them that we had no idea where the controls to the heater were. I really don’t like being cold.
Thanks for your visit and your comment!
The KnowEm pointer is a priceless timesaver. I also enjoyed reading your 10 Tool & Tech tips article. Can you say more about your experience/impressions of the site that this guest post appears? Thanks for another great blog post, Carolyn.
Hi Nanette, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! I’m glad you enjoyed this post. I have high regard for Search Engine People and the articles they publish on the site. I was very honored when they contacted me and asked me to submit an article for them.
I have two basic criteria for articles: do I learn and am I entertained? An article doesn’t have to do both, one or the other will do. With the articles on Search Engine People I find both criteria are usually fulfilled which makes it a valuable site in my mind.
The editor who was my contact was easy to work with and very helpful. My overall experience in having an article published there was very positive.
Thanks for your visit and your comment!
Thanks so much for the link love Carolyn, I’m so glad you liked the post enough to do that, it’s really appreciated.
Naturally I use it on my blog, and as you well know I click the +1 on those blogs that feel deserve it 🙂
Hey Peter
Just taken a look at your fountain video – that is some fountain.
More like a fireworks display.
I agree, Keith, the Bellagio video is amazing. The fountains seem to be a blend of dance and fireworks.
Cut it out guys, you’re going to give me a swelled head, says Sire as he twists sideways so he can fit through the doorway. LOL
Sire, it’s always a pleasure when you visit here! 🙂
Hi Sire, You’re welcome for the link and thank you for linking to The Wonder of Tech in your Bellagio article. Your pictures in that article are stunning and I’m quite pleased to have had a small part in enhancing your artistry.
Thanks for your visit, comment and +1! 🙂
Thanks Carolyn, always glad to scratch a fellow bloggers back 😉
Likewise, Sire. 🙂
There you are Carolyn, just hit your +1 button – you now have 3 +1’s.
Question is, when you use twitter you tweet so when you +1 what do you do?
Do you Greet? LOL
Cheers Carolyn
Hi Keith, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! Great question, how is +1 going to be turned into a verb? You tweet, email, text, Facebook people. How do you +1 people? Hmmm…intereststing tech question. If +1 truly catches on, I predict the Twitterverse will let us know.
Thanks for your visit, comment and +1! 🙂
Great tips, Carolyn. I like your new blog design, by the way.
Yes, I’ve been reading a lot about the new Google button. I haven’t used it yet, but am considering it. Thanks for the additional insight about this button.
I think I’ll read the article on “Which is of More Value A Tweet or Google’s +1” next from your guest reader. It’ll be interesting to know.
Hi Allyson, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! I’m so glad you like the new blog design.
You might want to give the Google +1 button a try to see if you like it. You can always delete it later. I hope you find the article helpful, I know I did.
Thanks for your visit and your comment!
This is my first visit to your Tech-Knowledgey series and I love the concept, Carolyn! I sure did learn tons from your answers to this post.
What are your thoughts on the importance of the +1 button to Google ranking? I’ve read some opinion pieces about how +1 clicks may be implemented into algorithms!
I am loving your Chilly Jilly recommendation! =) No wonder your blog is WAY MORE than just a tech blog. =) Will be looking into this as a Christmas present for family members! =)
Congrats on your guest post, btw! =) It was stellar!! =)
Hi Samantha, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! I’m glad you like Tech-Knowledgy. Each Friday I answer questions I’ve received at The Wonder of Tech so readers can learn more about handy tips and other tech questions that don’t really warrant an entire blog post. If you want to search Tech-Knowledgy, you might enjoy reading some other Q & A columns.
Chilly Jilly would make a great Christmas present, especially for folks like you who are in the Southern Hemisphere who have Christmas in the Summer. 🙂
Thank you for your kind words about my guest post. I really enjoyed working with SE People. I have been asked to do more articles in the future for SE People so stay tuned!
As far as Google +1, I do suspect Google will be using the +1 information for their analytics but I haven’t seen any information verifying this from Google. But +1 helps them both market their services and identify their users so how could they not use +1 in this way?
Thanks so much for your support here and on my guest post at SE People! Much appreciated. :-)D
Hi Carolyn,
I was waiting to see what was happening with the +1 feature, because I was a little sceptical after Google launched buzz (I thought that feature sucked big time). But now, I see that all the top bloggers I follow have implemented it, and I felt I had to do it too 🙂
I have no idea if this +1 feature have had any effect on my blog (even though quite a few people have clicked on it). But I guess it’s better to install it than not.
Jens
Hi Jens, Yes, it’s interesting because today Google updated its Page Rank, so I’m wondering if that had anything to do with the Google +1 button? The Wonder of Tech went from a zero to a three Google Page Rank, so I’m very happy.
I don’t think it can hurt to install the Google +1 and it might help quite a bit. I’m headed over to your blog to check out and +1 your latest article!
Thanks for your visit and comment!
I can see what they are going here and understand how the +1 might encourage people to click through to a site o the search results if they are seeing lots of +1, especially if they know that some of these came from their friends, however, if this was going to have any bearing on the search engine results surely it would be easy to game and people would take advantage in waves.
Do you think?
Hi Danika, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Great question. I think Google fancies itself an expert at catching those who try to manipulate the system with tricks and false ways of boosting their ratings. I haven’t found anyone who agrees with me yet, but the change in Google Page rank so soon after the Google +1 system was implemented seems more than coincidental to me. Time will tell.
Thanks so much for your visit and your comment!
I am loving your Chilly Jilly recommendation! I sure did learn tons from your answers to this post.