A Simple Workaround to Display AdSense Ads in Drupal Views

11 January, 2014 | Drupal Development | 21 seen

Google AdSense is a popular platform for publishers to monetize their websites by displaying ads to their visitors. If you have a Drupal website and want to display Google AdSense ads in your views, there is a simple workaround that can help you achieve this goal.

In this article, we'll guide you through the steps to display Google AdSense ads in your Drupal views. 

The first step in displaying Google AdSense ads in your Drupal views is to install and configure the AdSense module. This module is available for free in the Drupal module repository, and it allows you to add AdSense ads to your Drupal website in a few simple steps.

Once you've installed and configured the AdSense module, the next step is to create a view in Drupal. This can be done by navigating to the Views section of your Drupal administration dashboard and clicking the "Add new view" button.

After you've created your view, you can add an AdSense block to it by clicking the "Add" button in the "Blocks" section of your view's configuration page. This will open a…

Record numbers of visitors visit Georgia - hoax or true?

9 January, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 7 seen

Today and yesterday I was reading some articles, claiming that record number of foreigners have visited Georgia in 2013. 

According to Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia - 5 365 356 foreigners crossed Georgian border in 2013.

Why I dont like this data?

Well in 2013, I have crossed Georgian border for some 6 times I guess. 3 times leaving and 3 times entering. So one me accounts for at least 3 times, right? It depends how to count.

Ok, lets dig deeper:

Georgian side have canceled VISA regime for Russian citizens, by knowing fact that many, I will not name the number, Georgians live in Russia, and obtains Russian passport, and since Mikheil Saakashvili is no more in office, are visiting their homeland country. By the way, Russian citizens entering Georgia, have the 4th highest rate. Turkey, Armenia, and Azarbaijan, ranking 1st. 

About Turkey side I have more questions, Sarpi - the Turkey/Georgia border some 18 km of Batumi - many Georgians do some smaller trade by entering Turkey, purchasing some goods and returning to Georgia. How many times they have been counted, and maybe as Turkish citizens…

GEL continues to be weak against USD - is it time to start get worried?

7 January, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 6 seen

At the end of December I made post about that Georgian lari continues to be weak agains USD. Today I decided to see what exchange rates are for today (07.01.2014)

And for my surprise GEL CONTINUES to be weak against USD, so much, that for me it seems like hidden devaluation of national currency of Georgia - Lari.  

In last 14 days - Georgian lari has lost 0.0299 from it's value.

Here is the screenshot from National bank of Georgia for exchange rates for GEL to USD (23.12.13-07.01.2014)

So, is it time to start get worried?

Browser wars - Google Chome 55%, IE 3%

6 January, 2014 | Blogging | 7 seen

Remember the Mosaic, early days of Netscape browser? I actually don't, but have heard of them a lot.

For many years my default choice has been Google Chrome browser - I even sometimes was so lazy, that didn't the cross-browser testing for smaller web projects I'm working with - who needs cross-browser testing - everyone uses Chrome, right? Right!

Browser Wars / Screen Resolutions 2019

I will not dig deeper in the overall use of browsers - searching the internet - you may find various data, some claim Internet Explorer still rules, but the majority will tell you that Google Chrome dominates. Hard to tell for others, but today looking into Google Analytics for one of the web projects I maintain - I found a scene like this:

Pretty impressive, right? So let's take a closer look on January 4th. As you can see from the picture above - in total there were 714 visits, of them:

• Chrome:393
• Firefox:71
• Opera:35
• Internet Explorer:23
• Other: 192

Let's convert this to percents. If 714 visits are 100%, then

• Chrome: 55%
• Firefox: 9.94%…

Blog statistics December 2013

2 January, 2014 | Blogging | 5 seen

December was quite a busy month  - I managed to post everyday, but my enthusiasm has gone away.

Top 10 blog posts according to Google Analytics:

• Christmas Charity Fair In Tbilisi
• Drupal views taxonomy map
• Ukraine vs Poland by GDP 1990-2012
• Best spent $ 5 this year
• Estonia to catch up Scandinavia in next 10-15 years
• Baltic's vs Caucasus by GDP 2012
• Fast way to acquire new fans to your Facebook fan page
• Image hover effects - how to change background on mouse over
• Transnistria - the western outpost of Russia
• CIS, Baltics and Georgia GDP 2018

Latvia Joins the Euro Zone (2014): A New Era Begins

1 January, 2014 | Macroeconomics | 6 seen

Latvia is set to become the latest member of the Eurozone when it joins on January 1st, 2014. This will make the 17-nation currency bloc one country bigger, following the lead of two other former Soviet states, Estonia and Slovakia. The small eastern European country, with a population of just 2 million, became a member of the European Union free market in 2004, and finally got the green light to join the single currency zone in June of 2013.

From Wednesday, Latvians will be able to exchange their lats for euros free of charge at a fixed rate of 0.7 to 1 euro. There will be a two-week period in which both currencies will be in circulation before the lat is no longer a legal tender on January 15th.

Latvia's integration into the Eurozone will solidify its position as part of Europe and the Western world, following its membership in NATO, the United Nations, and the EU after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite being poorer than many Western European countries, with a 2012 GDP per capita of $21,905, which was only two-thirds of the EU average, Latvia's economy is expected to expand by 4% this year, while the Eurozone economy is forecast to contract by 0.6%.…

The End of an Exciting Year 2013

31 December, 2013 | Blogging | 13 seen

As the end of the year approaches, it's a time for reflection and looking back at what has been achieved. In 2013, I embarked on a personal challenge to blog every single day for 365 days straight, and I am proud to say that I have accomplished this goal.

One aspect of my blogging journey that stands out, in particular, is the role that Facebook advertising played in the growth of my Facebook page. I started the year with a modest number of 1287 fans, and I am now looking ahead to the future with the goal of increasing that number to at least 6000 by the end of 2014.

While the number may seem small, I view it as a modest start, and I am eager to see what the future holds. The world of social media and online advertising is constantly evolving, and I am excited to see how my Facebook page will grow and change over the next year.

As I look back on my 2013 blogging, I am grateful for the journey and all that I have learned. Whether you are a blogger, a business owner, or simply someone looking to make a positive impact on the world, I hope that my story inspires you to set your own goals and work toward them with determination and passion.

Get Insights into Your Site Visitors' Engagement with the Click Heat Map for Drupal

30 December, 2013 | Drupal Development | 10 seen

Have you ever wondered where your website visitors are clicking on your pages? Knowing this information can help you make important design decisions, such as where to place ads for maximum impact. That's where the Click Heat Map for Drupal comes in!

To get started, you'll need to download both the ClickHeat module and library. Simply extract the module to the sites/all/modules directory and the library to the sites/all/libraries directory.

Next, follow the simple installation instructions:

And that's it! With the Click Heat Map for Drupal, you'll have a better…

Discovering Tbilisi by Bike - A Timeless Journey Amidst New Year's Celebrations

29 December, 2013 | Living in Georgia | 9 seen

An updated take on an article originally published in December 2013, with a note that unfortunately, most of the pictures from the original piece have been lost. However, new photos have been added to showcase the beauty of Tbilisi.

Experience the charm of Tbilisi on a leisurely bike ride, with perfect weather conditions of sunny and warm.

With only a couple of days left until the New Year's festivities, the picturesque scenes captured on this journey will transport you to a timeless world, seemingly untouched by the approaching celebrations.

Experimenting with Facebook Scheduling Posts for Increased Traffic (2014)

28 December, 2013 | Blogging | 4 seen

As a webmaster, it's important to constantly explore new ways to drive traffic to your website. While search engine optimization (SEO) is a key component in boosting your website's visibility, there are other ways to drive traffic and engagement as well. One such way is through social media, particularly Facebook.

There has been a lot of speculation about the relationship between Facebook and SEO, with some people believing that there is a direct impact, while others think it's more indirect. However, the truth is that there is a connection between the two, albeit a subtle one.

The likes, shares, and comments that you receive on your Facebook posts can contribute to your website's visibility, especially if the content is high quality and relevant. Additionally, if someone shares a post from your Facebook page on their own profile, it can further increase your website's exposure to new audiences.

So, in an effort to explore the relationship between Facebook and SEO further, I decided to conduct an experiment. My goal was to see if posting links to my Facebook fan page would help drive traffic to my website. I would like to share with you…

Bakuriani: Your Next Winter Sports Destination in Georgia

27 December, 2013 | Living in Georgia | 11 seen

Bakuriani is a popular winter resort located in the heart of the Georgian mountains. Known for its scenic beauty, serene environment, and world-class skiing facilities, Bakuriani has become a popular tourist destination for winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world.

Despite its popularity, Bakuriani remains relatively unknown to the wider world.

However, the resort once applied to host the 2014 Winter Olympics and is considered by many to be an ideal location for the games.

Bakuriani is situated at an altitude of over 1,800 meters and is surrounded by majestic mountain peaks. The resort boasts of some of the best ski slopes in the region, with a variety of runs for skiers of all levels of experience. From challenging black runs to gentler slopes for beginners, Bakuriani has something for everyone.

The resort is also known for its well-maintained ski infrastructure, with state-of-the-art ski lifts, snowmaking facilities, and ski rental services. Moreover, Bakuriani has a well-equipped medical center to handle any skiing-related injuries, ensuring the safety of all visitors.

In addition to skiing, Bakuriani offers a wide range of…

Can Facebook Boosted Posts Drive Profitable Traffic through Google AdSense?

26 December, 2013 | Blogging | 3 seen

Lately, I've been pondering over the question of whether it's possible to monetize traffic driven from Facebook Boosted Posts.

I recently conducted an experiment where I used the Facebook Boosted Posts feature for the first time and was impressed with the results. The traffic generated was so promising that I decided to test the potential for monetization through Google AdSense.

In January 2014, I planned to use Facebook Boosted Posts multiple times, each time spending $5, with the goal of driving at least 500 visitors to the website. I added Google AdSense ad units on the landing pages, hoping to see if the ads could earn me a profit.

The plan was to use Facebook Boosted Posts twice or maybe even three times a month and see if Google AdSense could pay off some of the expenses.

It is important to note that this experiment may not be in line with Google AdSense terms of service.

Facebook Boosted Posts - A Cost-Effective Way to Drive Traffic to Your Website

25 December, 2013 | Blogging | 7 seen

In today's world, social media plays a crucial role in promoting a business, increasing its visibility, and reaching a wider audience. One of the most popular and widely used social media platforms is Facebook, with over 2.8 billion active users. It is a great platform for business owners and marketers to showcase their products, services, and ideas to a massive audience.

However, with so many users and pages, it can be difficult to get your content noticed and attract visitors to your site. That's where Facebook Boosted Posts come in.

Facebook Boosted Posts are a paid advertising option that allows you to promote your posts to a wider audience than your page's followers. By using Boosted Posts, you can reach a large number of people who are interested in your products or services and drive traffic to your site. The best part about Boosted Posts is that it's incredibly affordable, starting from just $5.

With just a small investment, you can get a significant amount of exposure for your content and reach your target audience.

To boost a post on Facebook, you need to create a post on your page and select the…

Exploring Tbilisi on Two Wheels: A Journey Through the City's Streets with a Mountain Bike (2013)

24 December, 2013 | Living in Georgia | 21 seen

I recently went on my first mountain biking excursion of the year on December 23rd.

Although it wasn't a true mountain biking experience, I rode my bike along the streets of Tbilisi, crossing over the Mtkvari river on the Queen Tamar Mephe bridge and back.

Here are some candid photos from my ride that showcase the city's streets and scenery.

Apartment blocks in Tbilisi

New skyscrapers been built in Tbilisi

Traffic jam in Tbilisi

​

Tbilisi, December 23rd

Does it look like a Christmas?

My newly acquired mountain bike

I bought this bike at Kidobani market

Mtkvari river in Tbilisi

USD Value Increases Against GEL in 2013: Is It Worth the Panic?

23 December, 2013 | Living in Georgia | 14 seen

If you're keeping an eye on the exchange rates, you might have noticed that the US dollar has been steadily gaining strength and by December 2013, it reached its peak. The exchange rate for 1 Georgian Lari on December 23, 2013 was set to 1.7168 according to the National Bank of Georgia, and in Tbilisi's money exchange points, the value went even higher to 1.7300 (SELL) and 1.7200 (BUY).

I've created a handy chart that shows the exchange rates for GEL from January 1, 2013 to December 23, 2013, so you can see the changes for yourself.

Now, some people might think that these fluctuations are artificially made, but who knows for sure, right? I'm just a regular person, not a millionaire, so I don't really feel the effects of these changes on a daily basis.

If you're curious, though, on January 1, $1000 was worth 1656.2 GEL, but on December 23, $1000 was worth 1716.8 GEL, which means there was a difference of 60.6 GEL compared to the start of the year. That's an increase of the value of the US dollar against the GEL by 3.5% in 2013. Is it worth panicking over? I don't think so, but maybe just a little bit. My personal forecast is that by spring, the…