Issue #3 of the bi-annual Ostomyland email newsletter has just been sent out. It automatically gets sent out to all message board members who have visited the forums in the last 6 months. However, if you have not received a copy, never fear, you can still read the online version of it right here:

http://www.ostomyland.com/newsletter/3.html

This content has been Digiproved © 2011 Ostomyland

Google +1 functionality has arrived at Ostomyland.

“Wow… really…. thats great…. um, what that mean exactly?”

Hey, I’m so glad you asked! Google +1 is basically Google’s equivalent to the Facebook “like” button, and is a major part of the Google Plus program which in turn is Google’s version/evolution of the Facebook. It’s currently undergoing closed beta testing with people who have received invitations from either Google themselves, or from their friends whom were lucky enough to get one.

Every news post and article page on Ostomyland now features the Google +1 button – check at the bottom of this post and you’ll see it next to the Facebook “like” button. As an added bonus I’ve also re-introduced the Tweet option, and included Stumble Upon too which is gaining in popularity every day too.

Clicking this Google +1 button not only shows that you “like” that specific post/page’s content, but crucially it helps us get better result rankings on Google’s search engine, which is great. So, if enough people clicked the buttons then it could really boost our search engine rankings for that particular post/page, and thus the number of new visitors we get to the site, most of whom will be looking for Ostomy support, which in turn will help our community grow.

So, if you “Facebook-Like” a post, then please consider giving it a Google +1 too! Heh, did you see what I did there… Google +1 too… 1… 2…. heh. OK, its early and I need some caffeine, so the jokes are a bit lame at the moment.

As always thanks for your continuing support of the site – you guys are great and help make Ostomyland what is it today!

External Links:
For more information on the Google Plus and Google +1 features, please visit: http://plus.google.com and http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=1140194

This content has been Digiproved © 2011 Ostomyland

On March 4th the Ostomyland Community Forums registered it’s 3000th member account! It’s an awesome achievement, and one we can all be very proud about, as this is YOUR community, you help make it what it is, and it just wouldnt be the same without you. Yes, I mean YOU!

Thanks to everyone for your continued support of Ostomyland. This awesome achievement manages to please me, to make me sad, and to humble me – all at once. It pleases me for obvious reasons. It makes me sad though that 3000 ostomates have felt the need to come online in need of support or to reach out and make contact with other ostomates & their carers or families. This is support the medical world should be providing, either at the point of surgery, or at home before and after the operation. Most of all though, the fact that they have trusted Ostomyland with the chance to fill that void, and given us a chance to provide the support they are looking for, is very, very humbling to me.

Congratulations everyone and thank you once again for your continued support of Ostomyland.

If you want to join the Ostomyland Community Forums, please visit this page:
http://www.ostomyland.org/ostomyboardipb/

This content has been Digiproved © 2011 Ostomyland

Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to 2011!

I hope you all have a great day, and that 2011 brings you everything you can wish for, including better health or a continuation of your improved health* (delete as appropriate hehe)

I’d also like to take this opportunity to repeat what I said in the Christmas greeting, and thank you once again for your continued support of Ostomyland during 2010. In three weeks time, on January 21st, we will be celebrating the site’s 13th birthday, and be entering our 14th year online. What will the year ahead bring for Ostomyland? I’ve no idea, although I do have some plans for it. Whatever it may bring I do hope you’ll join us for the ride, because you know what, it just wouldn’t be the same without you!

Happy New Year to you, from everyone at Ostomyland!

This content has been Digiproved © 2011 Ostomyland

On behalf of Ostomyland, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers, members and team members a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. Whichever way you choose to celebrate, I hope that you have an extra special time, and that 2011 brings you everything you wish for.

Jason

This content has been Digiproved © 2010 Ostomyland