Welcome!


Hi Garrett, welcome to MyWikiBiz. We're happy that you've taken the steps to become a member of our site. MyWikiBiz is a directory where any person, any company, any product, or any thing can author their own legacy. We seek to provide the space for 265 million entities. Our registered editors like you have generated over 60,000 pages so far -- help keep that number growing with an article about yourself, your business, your industry, your favorite product, hobby, or organization. Since 2008, MyWikiBiz.com has served up over 1 million page views. Get started authoring your legacy today!

Helpful tips

Here are some tips on how to create a Directory listing and take advantage of the semantic web features we have in place:

  • You may write as an opinionated advocate in the Directory -- neutral view is not required. You can sell products, promote videos, upload documents, even host your own Google AdSense ads. This auto-fill form will guide you through creating a very basic directory listing right now.
  • Because MyWikiBiz supports Semantic Web technology, search engine results are highly optimized. Internal searches can also be performed that wouldn't be possible on Google, MySpace, or Wikipedia.

A few favorite pages that might help acquaint a new user with the possibilities are found among the Demonstration links, or in these articles written by independent reviewers.

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<sharethis /> --MyWikiBiz 21:14, 26 January 2007 (PST)

Surfing

Awesome. Btw, if you include the tag below (delete/modify as needed) at your user page, you'll be cross-referenced as an aficionado the next time the Surfing page is updated.

{{Infobox_Personal
| physical   = [[Person_Race:=White]] [[Person_Gender:=Male]], [[Person_Height:=74]] inches, [[Person_Weight:=200]] pounds, [[Person_Hair:=Blonde]] Hair, [[Person_Eyes:=Blue]] Eyes
| friends     = [[Friend_Of::Directory:Centiare|Centiare]], [[Friend_Of::Directory:Gregory J. Kohs|Greg Kohs]], [[Friend_Of::Directory:Karl D. Nagel|Karl Nagel]], [[Friend_Of::User:OmniMediaGroup|OmniMediaGroup]]
| interests   = [[Personal_Interest::Surfing]], [[Personal_Interest::Skiing]]
}}

In fact, you can edit/save without changing anything - the query just needs to read the updated database listing. (You can read up on how ASK queries work here.) For more tricks & tips, check out my user page @ Snerfling 06:44, 30 January 2007 (PST)

Comments

You've go some comments posted at your Directory talk page. Snerfling 06:07, 1 February 2007 (PST)

I'd like to hear what you think about this in response to this. Snerfling 16:32, 1 February 2007 (PST)

Main Page Interest Sections

Let me know what you think about this: Boxing. Is this how you envisioned creating an interest group for any particular subject/interest? Snerfling 05:31, 2 February 2007 (PST)

Please take a look at this comment regarding Chip Tricks. Is this the way you guys envisioned building out a community without (a) screwing up the Main page; and (b) enabling people to see your other interests & article contributions? (Contributions within Directory/User space can be commercially marketed.) Snerfling 09:04, 2 February 2007 (PST)
Check out Cooking - you need any help with Boxing? Snerfling 16:50, 2 February 2007 (PST)

Directory Policy & Content

Garrett, first I want to say that Karl and I have both been very impressed and our inspiration renewed, seeing how aggressively you're taking this Centiare bull by the horns. I just want to apologize that I haven't been spending more time "within" Centiare because of my workload, a death in the extended family, and the fact that I'm going to be on vacation and attending a conference next week. So, that said... I can't wait (probably in about 10 days time) to get in touch with you personally about how we can improve Centiare.

So, I have to say, I'm not in agreement with your putting continents and sports within the Directory Space. Our rule of thumb is if the entity has standing in a court of law, it goes in the Directory. Since a city like "Houston" does have a city government (which can be sued), we decided that cities go in the Directory. Same could be said for counties, states, and even nations. However, I'm not seeing how or why something like "Africa" or "Baseball" should go into Directory Space. Neither of these entities have a governing body that is beholden to any court system. "Major League Baseball", of course, would go in the Directory. The "African Union" would also go to the Directory. But not "Baseball", and not "Africa". Agreed? If you have an amazing reason otherwise, I'm listening. Barring that, I think they should be "restored" to Main Space. --MyWikiBiz 20:31, 2 February 2007 (PST)

Sorry, Garrett, we should have been more clear regarding Directory Space policy. Still, like OMG, the idea of claiming Directory space until the real owners show up is sound. Who else are they going to use that is familiar with the MediaWiki program to manage their listings? Add in Semantic tagging and Web 3.0 transactions, and you can see the type of support entities will require.
Likewise, the concept of creating Main space stubs and linking them back to your Directory listing(s) via Aficianados is also a good idea. I can see we have a budding entrepreneur; we'll be happy to provide whatever guidance we can to ensure that you have a profitable experience. Snerfling 04:33, 3 February 2007 (PST)

Commercial Suggestions

OK, young grasshopper, here's an idea on how to take advantage of aficianados links from Main space entries to Directory listings. As you can see, while I deleted non-legal entries from the Directory, countries remain. That means you 'own' them until the real owners show up ie the respective governments. (However, see our No Parking rule.)

Like OmniMediaGroup, you & your pals could create stub information in the Main space for N. America, Europe, etc, create afficianados links to your Directory listings, and from there provide relevant/useful travel information. You're smart - you know what happens next (semantic tags-> Web 3.0->transactions = riches & fame).

You could be like a spider in the middle of a web, controlling all the action. Word of advice: don't try & do it alone. This is where networking leverage comes into play. A good place to check would be those poor saps over at Wikitravel who are laboring under some illusion that they may profit from all their hard work. LOL Snerfling 05:37, 3 February 2007 (PST)

Garrett, it looks like you're taking to semantic tags like a duck in water - nice job on money. The concept is incredibly straightforward once you get the hang of it. And once a few relationships are in place, chaining relationships over different systems is the way computers will actually share data over the Web.
Speaking of which, we believe a wiki like Centiare is where semantic tags will be perfected. For those that learn the basics, we have a great platform in place that businesses will want to use. Just wait until we get the transaction components working to complete the order processing cycle. I think you have the right idea figuring this stuff out and selling your expertise to companies that want to enable Web3.0 functionality. Snerfling 18:03, 3 February 2007 (PST)

Custom Tags

Garrett, I'd like to help you develop the right set of attributes/relations for your biz directory. At first glance, I think we can handle things a little differently with existing tags. What we're trying to do is avoid repeating the out-of-control category system over at WP. Please send me an email at snerfling at yahoo dot com so that our dialog can move a little faster. Snerfling 12:24, 4 February 2007 (PST)

OK, I've figured out what you're trying to do. Very nice, I think you'll do very well. My first impression is that we're going to need to clean up the multiple directory listings by consolidating them under one listing. I will show you how to create the other sub-category listings using semantic tags.
I also went ahead and deleted the two NAICS relations you had created - we can get the same results using a technique we've already standardized with existing tags. Until we 'talk', please take some time reviewing Directory:KJ Kitchens. You will see how separate sub-categories can be summarized in an ASK query using categories as a filter.
After I get done with you, you're gonna be the smartest semantic wiki dude around. Snerfling 13:03, 4 February 2007 (PST)

Business Directory

Garrett, I went ahead and deleted the directory entries you had made for the various Houston related businesses. The reasons are two-fold:

  • Everything you were trying to do can be accomplished using ASK queries that address both industry (NAICS) and location (city/state/region). Centiare has attributes & relations that record & track this relevant information, so all one has to do is run a search using those criteria to get the respective results they're seeking.
  • Directory listings need to be actual business names e.g., "Garrett's Business Directory". To generate results within this listing, all you'd have to do is run a query to assemble the respective businesses by type/city.

I think I know what you're trying to do & I think it's very clever. Here's a suggestion of what you might wish to focus on: be the guy who knows how Centiare & the semantic web works, and leverage your efforts by managing others in a scaled up operation.

There's probably hundreds (thousands?) of like-minded, ambitious kids out there who you could help you pull together a pretty cool business directory. No need to limit yourself to Houston - it could be the entire US. All you'd need to do is get businesses to list, track their tags, and assemble the listings within your Directory.

Really, this is no different than what Directory:KJ Kitchens is doing with their cookbooks - just replace recipes with businesses. Note that other business listings shouldn't be Subpages under your directory entry - they are not your property. However, the beauty of tags is that it doesn't matter where they are located to run a summary report.

Please touch base with either me or Greg so that we can provide you some pointers. Snerfling 08:59, 5 February 2007 (PST)

Japan

Hi Garrett, Japan looks very interesting. Please take a look at how we created community-regional-state-national roll-ups for the US - specifically Directory:California - before you get a little deeper.

If you drill down into Directory:California counties, cities & communities, you'll see how we used different roll-up tags. Please use existing tags, or if you need to name something specific, please follow the roll-up convention. (Speaking of attributes, please copy state_code to prefecture_code while you're at it.)

When you done with Hokkaidō & Japan, it should look almost identical to the US & California, except for cases where there are naming differences. The add'l attributes you've created for area, density, etc are fine - we may even add them to the US.

One last note - you can count the number of districts & municipalities via an ASK query, so if you entered them all, you wouldn't have to hard code a result. On second thought, perhaps it might be better to hard code at this time (LOL).

Again, drop me a line if you have any questions. It's critical that we have a standardized approach, otherwise ASK queries will be stranded within counties (ie dependent on different naming conventions). Snerfling 17:10, 6 February 2007 (PST)

Vuser

Garrett, you might have noticed that I temporarily made you a validated user (vuser). That's why you are able to edit other Directory listings like Texas. Please use these rights sparingly - do not change the core information, Google ads, etc. of the original owner.

While vusers can help out on other user pages, they can't take possession - it's more like a super-editor. Vuser was set up for users who anticipate providing services to other listed entities. Snerfling 18:39, 6 February 2007 (PST)

Countries

Garrett, you should probably create directory listings for the official country names & redirect what you have to those names. (I'd use a UN resource to get the official names.) For example, right now the United States redirects to United States of America, Mexico redirects to the United States of Mexico, etc.

Also, recall that we have a no parking rule. I'd love to see you become famous for pulling together an Int'l team of Wikipedians & MySpacers (?) to build out Web 3.0 country/business directories. However, remember that we need content - we can't let you just scarf up territory if there isn't any value-added content.

Also, be aware that there is some risk down the line that official governments will want to take possession of their directory listings. You may want to keep something in reserve like Fodor's, etc. that is a separate brand from the countries they cover. Snerfling 17:36, 8 February 2007 (PST)

Adsense Channels

Hey Garrett, nice to ?meet? you and great to have you around Centiare. It's probably not the best way to handle channels in Adsense, but, I've got ads at several domains (I consider them my retirement fund) so I've just found it easier to use the "URL Channel" set up rather than embed a url channel into each ad. I can use the same ad formats on any page and Google sorts my reports by domain. Hope this screen shot explains.--OmniMediaGroup 08:54, 9 February 2007 (PST)