Why is it that some of my posts will post double? So I post something and it repeats underneath an exact copy of what I wrote. Is this a glitch in my AdSense plugin MightyAdsense? I turned off ads on the first post because in general I find the ads distracting. Based on the numbers I’m not even sure it’s worth putting adsense on my blog at all.

Has anyone else had this problem? Also, when I go to edit a post none of the WYSIWYG buttons show up and all I get is the code.

Today at our impromptu LDSFriends meeting my business partners and I had a debate that I’ve had over and over. It’s about the home page design. Should we make it minimalist or do we use it to showcase all the incredible things we have for our visitors? We want people to come, and we want them to sign up. Those are our initial goals. Generally speaking programmers are more likely to want to show everything. They are concerned about the user.

One business partner wants a description of each feature and to showcase all of them. I’m arguing for a minimal approach highlighting a few main categories or features. We eventually came to a consensus. I’m purposefully not linking to LDSFriends when I speak of it because most of the design is still from 1996 and almost nothing we’ve done is live. But we’re building a social network for the LDS church.

In my experience, your home page should not be too distracting. You have a goal – like in our case – to entice people to sign up. If you offer too many things people often choose NONE of them. Most people throw up a lot of offers or information hoping you’ll act on at least one.

As an example of the minimalist approach, there is Google. Google could display ads or information for their other services on www.google.com but they don’t. A visit to their social network Orkut shows a very simple interface. In fact, Google properties are by nature minimalist. So are their blogs. Again, no advertising, not even for their own products. Well, except for a small one that says, “powered by Blogger.” This reflects Google’s bias towards information. However, they do advertise, and as we all know, are hugely profitable.

What is your take on this? Is it branding that Google and other’s have that defines their style. Or is it smart marketing?

Doba drop shipping CEO Jeremy Hanks announced they made $4,000 extra from Guy Kawasaki’s visit yesterday. He said he will donate the money to several people on Kiva – a site where you can loan money to entrepreneurs in developing countries. Thanks to Jeremy and Doba for bringing Guy to town. Doba’s gift fit perfectly.

Incidentally I wish I could’ve stayed around and met more of the crowd. If there was ever a whos-who in tech in Utah, this was it. All in one room. For example, I didn’t know it but I sat next to Paul Alstrom, a VC at Vspring. I met Brad Baldwin of Rocky Mountain Voices. Jeff Barson of Sendside (incredible idea – secure email system and also guts!) was there but I didn’t get a chance to say hello. I got to catch up with Pat Vaughn from First Fridays. Also Phil Windley (he said, hi Janet, on our first official meet). I met Marina Martin who has more apartments across the country than anyone I know. She’s an efficiency expert who I’m now following on Twitter. There were many others.

Utah really does have a vibrant geek culture. I wish we had more hubs or gathering places. I appreciate that we have brought speakers like Guy and Seth here. Who will be next? We really need an email list and a quarterly gathering like this. The other day I actually caught myself daydreaming about opening up a coffee shop (that sells hot chocolate too – for the benefit of my biz partner Paul Wilson) and outfitting it with all the things geeks need (wireless connection and set up so people could work the day there and perhaps a small gift shop with Guy’s recommended`books and some reference books, etc).

Most of us feel a bit isolated – that was a topic at lunch. We work alone or with one business partner. This is the biggest threat to me getting a full-time job again. I like interacting with people! Whenever we talk I realize how similar we all are. Even Guy was saying he just needs to get Truemors to make a million dollars in advertising every month and he and his business partners will be content. We can all relate to that.

I just got back from hearing Guy Kawasaki speak. It was essentially the same speech he gave the last time I heard him. It was fun to see friends. Plus when he asked if anyone in the audience Twitters, a good majority raised their hands.

The place was packed. It was annoying that no one could get a working microphone and it was obviously frustrating to Guy, though he kept a good sense of humor. He puts you instantly at ease. Also, I think Tahitian Noni was a co-sponsor based on how much he integrated noni juice into the talk.

I really wish I could’ve networked with the people in the room – probably 70% men. I’ll blog about his advice for them next – wait, Paul wrote about what Guy had to say about bloggers.

Here’s what I took away – Guy Kawasaki’s top 5 favorite books for entrepreneurs.

Christmas is coming (but why wait?).

1. If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland (substitute any word that describes what you want to do in life for the word write. So if you want to start a business, read it as: so you want to start a business).
   It’s written by a writing professor who taught at the University of Minnesota. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs because it talks about realizing goals. Guy said it changed his life.
2. Crossing the Chasm
   In marketing you have a product and service to sell. Initially it may do well because early adopters will try it. Then you get a false sense of success. You have to work beyond the wall you’ll hit and reach new customers.
3. The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail (Management of Innovation and Change Series)
   Many times entrepreneurs want to invent something and then spend time making the products better. The thing you need to do is keep innovating.
4. Uncommon Genius
   A book of interviews with people who are geniuses. John MacArthur formed the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the board of trustees created the MacArthur Prize, or “genius grant.” The award cannot be applied for, and it is not limited to any particular field of interest. Its purpose “is to promote those leaps of creative thinking that may occur when gifted people are left to their own devices.” For Uncommon Genius, Shekerjian interviewed forty MacArthur Prize winners about their creativity. It will inspire yours.
5. Influence: Science and Practice (4th Edition)
   Written by a social psychologist about how to influence people. Guy calls it the Marketing Bible.

Tip: whenever you do something for someone (like write about them on your blog) and they thank you for it, you must have a response. This is it: “I know you would’ve done the same for me.” Basically, I know you and I know that you owe me one (you must blog about them). Reciprocity is beautiful.

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