Broadsides

O, that OS - Your Personal Robot

2011-06-11T18:55:00.000-04:00

OS = Operating System.

This is not the browser. This confused even Mother Geek back in 1995 (I was not born a geek, after all. I had to learn geekiness.)

The operating system, which comes preloaded on any computer you purchase, controls the memory needed for the processor (the computer's brain) to function. It manages disk space, controls all those devices you attach to your computer and allows communication between you and the computer. It is your personal robot.

With an OS, your computer is useless.

The most common operating systems for a personal computer are Apple Mac OS X, Linux, and Microsoft Windows.

You don't need to know much more about this, but if you are fascinated, read "What is an Operating System?" at GFCLearnFree.org/

What is a computer?

2011-06-11T18:46:00.000-04:00

Computers are electronic devices that store, retrieve, process, and generally manipulate data (information).

Computers have 2 basic parts: hardware and software.

Hardware is the physical structure: your keyboard, monitor (the TV-like screen), and the actual computer itself, which is the brain (the processor) and the guts (everything that is not the brain). The guts are shown in the photo below. The brain is the Motherboard (Mother Geek loves this!). The Motherboard is the foundation of all the elements in the computer.

For more on this subject, read "What's Inside my Computer?" at HowStuff Works or "What does the inside of a computer look like?" at Computer Hope.

Charged for your 411 calls? Try Goog411.

2010-01-09T15:11:00.001-05:00

If you are charged for your 411 search calls, check out Google's 411 service. Lots of functions -- and free.

http://www.google.com/goog411/

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

What Is A Browser? | Penn Olson

2009-10-10T13:08:00.001-04:00

Sarah Chong asks this question over on Penn Olson. See the "on the street" interviews conducted by Google a while ago, as well as a recent video by Google explaining (to those in Rio Linda and the rest of us) what a browser is and is not.

And enjoy the link to What Browser? to see what browser you are using and why you might switch.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Twitter - Public or Private?

2009-08-16T20:02:00.001-04:00

Lately I am getting more and more people following me on Twitter, who, I discover when looking to see who they are, have protected their page. We cannot follow you back without more work on our part: asking your permission to let us in. While I am flattered to be followed, this controlling one’s privacy brought to mind a recent business discussion as to why people keep their social networking connections private.

In that conversation, most people in the room favored public access. Everyone agreed that getting the most contacts is not conducive to good business -- or even to selling a product or service. It is certainly less tedious to be able to directly ask someone to network than to ask me to connect you -- and the back and forth that should entail if you are practicing good business networking habits.

If you do ask me for a connection, I do take the time to see who you are, what you do, and whether my making a connection that may get a negative response from the person I am connecting. I would not want to forward a bogus or "just collecting names" request. I would usually take the time to ask the 3rd party if they would like to make the connection. All this does take time. Sometimes it is worth it. Sometimes, as recently happened to me, the requestor had the wrong person. I did not forward the request.

And I do spend a lot more time looking at a connection request when lists are private. You can tell if you have opted for public or private by looking at your preferences.

I suspect most of us don't take a second look at our preferences once we get past the initial setup. This is not, imo, a good practice. Updating your personal information on your social sites at least yearly makes you a more valuable business contact. It has the added advantage, especially to those of us early adapters or those who are a bit timid about all that the socnet age has to offer, of allowing you to correct what may have been an unintentional consequence. You may not have understood what public and private meant when first registering, or you may want to be public, now that you’ve become comfortable with the Internet and the 21st century way of talking.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Email Comes in 2 Flavors

2009-08-16T19:42:00.001-04:00

Email comes in 2 flavors: POP and IMAP.

Post Office Protocal (POP), which is less efficient, has its place. If you are the only one working on your computer, if you do not need to share your work and communications, if you have limited storage space on your email server, and/or you have a slow Internet connection, POP may be your best choice.

On the other hand, if you are want to be efficient and manage your time well, Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is the better choice. IMAP lets you access your email, including previously read email, from many electronic devices and from wherever you are in the world. IMAP provides two-way communication between your mail server and your electronic devices, saving you from duplicating messages, storing them in various places, and generally improving your filing and management systems, saving you time.

Unlike POP, IMAP easily synchronizes messages from different computers, automatically mirrors file folders created on the server or computer, and even stores your sent messages on the server (if you elect to do this). Mail programs that support IMAP even can move messages between folders on the server; between the server and a local mail folder; and even between different IMAP mailboxes on different servers.

IMAP makes handling email simpler and efficient.

While POP can be set to store messages on the server and save emails sent from the server. It is good practice to store messages for a few days at least, just in case some are deleted from your computer hard drive. IMAP will store messages on your hard drive with the proper settings and folders. The one disadvantage to IMAP is the amount of storage space your ISP provides. While you can always rent more storage space, it is a good idea to monitor this.

IMAP makes deleting messages safer. When a message is marked for deletion, it disappears from the inbox or folder, but it is still on the server -- and can easily be undeleted if needed. This is especially useful when sharing emails. One person reads and deletes a message, but another can still read it and retrieve it.

Emails are permanently deleted with a purge command. For more on how email works, read How Stuff Works article on email.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Social Media Won't Work if You Aren't Social | Marketing Profs Daily Fix Blog

2009-08-02T17:39:00.001-04:00

What I'm noticing, and surprisingly this comes from the so-called 'experts' as well, is that many people can be decidedly anti-social in the way they use social media. I've seen company representatives get snippy and angry if they are challenged even mildly in blog comments. People on Twitter that speak in statements, that actually discourages interaction. Of course there's always no shortage of people that promote themselves and their companies, but never anyone else.

I guess the lesson here is, the best hammer in the world won't make you a better carpenter, if you don't know how to use it.

via mpdailyfix.com

Mack's tip on how to interact sometimes with everyone is spot on. And do note he spends time at this social thing. It does take time. Plan accordingly.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Your Pipeline to Social Networking - and Making Connections

2009-08-01T17:05:00.001-04:00

Opening a social network pipeline for your business is essential these days. As with the early web days, it is not just enough to join the popular socnet (social network) groups and wait. Consistent participation and, as always, effective, efficient and regular marketing are keys to successful online networking for business.

Your profile

Before joining any social network, read the rules! Once you find a neighborhood whose rules you respect and that respect you and that make sense to how you’ll participate, join the group. This usually requires creating a username and password (login data), then filling out a profile.

Your profile is your main pipeline to the group. Without a full, complete profile, that you update periodically, clients and customers may not discover your business. If you already have a profile, consider a profile makeover. Here is a great example from Guy Kawasaki, currently managing director at Garage Technology and co-founder of Alltop, an online magazine rack. Guy is a former evangelist at Apple, Inc. Add him to your twitter account and your reading list.

Explore the Neighborhood

Now that you are part of a network, take a look around. Who is here? Are there groups and fan pages where your potential clients are hanging? When you find a place you are comfortable, join in. I’d forego making my own group page as it requires maintenance. However, do provide links to your website, which is Web 2.0 and dynamic, of course.

Knock on doors - start connecting

Comments are a good way to make contact, to get known. Asking questions is another. Questions are also a good test marketing tool. Don’t forget to respond and thank those who help you by responding to your questions. Join your neighborhoods together with the use of microblogging tools such as posterous or Facebook’s notes page. It is not enough to have a well-designed page. You need to work it.

Regular entries (I do mine every other week), reviews of articles you’ve read, sharing resources, creating an account at Alltop, are all part and parcel of making strong connections.

Add this to your routine. Make an appointment with yourself. Put it on your calendar, much as you do for the beauty parlor or barber or for your fitness routine. Don’t reschedule your social networking time, unless you get an invitation to the White House for beer or gardening -- or maybe not even then.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Building an online community

2009-08-01T17:03:00.001-04:00

Not since moveable type* was popularized, leading to the Renaissance and eventually the Industrial Revolution, have we had such a vast global communication connection as has been brought by Web 2.0 and beyond (social connecting, social media and social networking and interaction). The 1960’s slogan, “think globally, act locally” is coming to fruition with instantaneous news, the blogosphere and soundbites.

How to build community for your business out of all this? There are basic steps in successful online community building. It is a lot of hard work, but worth the effort if done well.

1. Define your purpose and audience. In other words, PLAN.

This is no different than any marketing and outreach undertaking. Without definition, it is difficult to proceed or to attract and keep members.

At CommunitySpark.com, Martin Reed has a great PDF whitepaper with questions for you to consider before building your community.

2. Choose the right technology tools.

This is important, but not a place to get sidetracked. Find a community building application (Google, Yahoo, LinkedIn, Groupsite, Facebook are the more used ones). If you specialize, look for those, such as photographers at flickr, writers might join Seth Godin’s Squidoo or Network Solutions’ “My Solution Spot” or Google’s knoll. Speakers should look at online speaking bureaus as well as the Yearbook of Experts.

Features to look for when deciding on which tech tools include discussion threads, tagging, search, RSS feeds, file downloading, and the ability to link to and display just about any type of standard web based interface to a wide variety of systems, data stores, and presentation media. Don’t add features just for the sake of having the most toys. Grow the community first, then add tools as the community needs demand.

Spending a lot of time on developing the technology misses the point. Look at Richard Millington’s “Online Community Manifesto” to get you thinking in another direction.

3. Brand and promote your community.

Branding is critical to growing your community. Define your community clearly and unequivocally. This is no place for cute and clever. Demonstrate a consciousness of kind, build traditions, and celebrate successes and history through stories that strengthen your brand. Then promote it everywhere. Once you know what your brand stands for, your users will find you. And then you need to keep them. Do this with good content and your active participation in the community.

4. Content is still king - and a weapon.

Organizations invest in a web site’s architecture and understand the need for great user interaction, yet the ROI is often missing because the content is insufficient, does not support the goal of the site or the actions to be taken by the visitor, making the value worthless. A wireframe is no good and cannot be launched without developing and implementing a content strategy plan (and content), at the same time and with the same care taken to build our perfect site.

Content strategy helps you and your team know what needs to be written for publication and why, as well as what to omit. Publishing is complex. Content is being developed for multiple uses: syndication, collaboration, community, social media, user-generated content -- and then there are the technologies used to push all this content.

Use content as a weapon to improve the community experience. Improved experience is the key to grassroots, word-of-mouth referrals, which builds on itself, sending more customers, which drive the social web.

Content strategy is even more critical when building a community as collaboration needs to stay focused.

5. Collaboration is key -- make it easy for the community to contribute.

Make it easy, but remember that content needs to be appropriate and on point. Make sure someone is daily managing the collaborators. Reject posts that are not appropriate to your brand and the community message. Make it simple to login to a user forum. Provide various means for users to access the forum and information in the community. Evolve the best practices and solutions into an FAQ and manuals. Integrate the community into your business web site. As with all things web, don’t just leave your community out there alone.

The key to successful collaboration, therefore community, is sharing.

Sharing requires tools that create a central repository. Documents, emails, messages, resources are all in one place. Collaborators can follow the entire conversation, and see the latest versions of documents, without missing an undelivered email or attachment.

Basecamp is an excellent, free such application. Tadalist is another such tool, with a different focus (shorter for to do lists, rather than for longer collaborations). Online communities naturally share through comments and vetted authors.

6. Recruit active members as collaborators -- and give them recognition

This sounds simple, but might get complex, especially as the community grows. A lot of successful communities create awards. Some don’t publish the exact criteria for being a top contributor to prevent gaming the system. Others, like LinkedIn, offer those getting responses to their questions a means to spotlight a particular answer.

Recognition should be timely, simple and sincere, specific (tell what the recognition is for exactly) and personal. This last means taking time to know the people you are recognizing. Make the recognition fit the person. I often take the time to review their web site, read their other collaborative efforts, and their biographies so when I do promote them in our community,

Especially, recognition should make the recipient know s/he is a valued member of the community. How to do this?

Does a member mention an event or important date? Ask them about it afterward.

Engage in a dialogue with your members. Answer their questions and pose some follow up ones of your own.

Be available to members. If there is trouble, they need to know you are around for support.

Support the uniqueness of each member. Allow them to custom color their member areas, upload an avatar, and/or give badges for those who deserve them.

Use email and personal online outreach, but don’t forget a hand-written note for successes or personal bad news is still the most meaningful gesture.

7. Listen and Improve

Listen to your community. Take the opportunities offered and the advice so kindly, and freely, given. Build relationships and your community will thrive.

* For more on the transformation from handwriting to print, see this web site <http://www.designhistory.org/handwriting.html>

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Small Business on the Move - Good Consumerism

2009-08-01T10:05:00.001-04:00

Small business owners need to stay in touch as they vacation and travel. Here are some devices to assist.

BlueAnt Sunvisor Car Kit - a bluetooth car kit, hands free, even plays music. Connect 2 phones. Voice isolation blocks ambient noise, wind and echo cancellation.

BodyGuardz - a clear film (transparent skin) that covers the body of a device providing scratch protection from outside elements.

Chargepod - a 6-way charging device that allows you to charge multiple cell phones, PDAs, headsets, and most other mobile electronics with a single power cord. Compatible with 120/240 volt adapters.

Verizon Intelligent Mobile Hotspot - The Intelligent Mobile Hotspot provides access to up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices, including notebooks, netbooks, MP3 players, smartphones, cameras, PDAs, portable gaming systems and more. Just over 2 ounces, so it’s ultra-portable.

There are other devices I am sure you are using. Do share them. And be a good consumer. Comparison shop, read real time reviews, and more at consumer site. My favorite consumer site is Retrevo.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Around the Web - Gadgets, Ideas to Business, Whacky

2009-08-01T08:57:00.001-04:00

Surfing the web this month finds mobile solutions, entrepreneurs taking wing, bucket list sites, ways to save energy and even unclaimed baggage.

Mr. Gadget reports that Europe is finally getting a universal cell-phone charger (scheduled for January 2010).

Throx is the cure for those missing socks that the dryer eats. Inventor Edwin Heaven is a successful screenplay writer and has the distinction of naming the San Francisco Giants' mascot Lou Seal.

Something Store. Send $10 and they'll lsend you something. Free shipping.

Barefoot List. Another bucket list site. You have to log in to play. Another, with a slightly different bent, is 43 Things. Don't miss Solve Your Problem if you need motivating or are just looking for some DIY personal growth. Joe, of Joe's Goals, has a chart for you.

A different kind of list for you DIY web designer wannabees is the long-playing A List Apart. If you don't know this site, you should. Finally, there is this great list of 100 productivity tools. Send yours along to me and we'll start our own toolbox.

Did you miss Cellphone Courtesy month this year? In 2002, etiquette expret Jacqueline Whitmore declared July National Cellphone Courtesy Month. Read her cellphone etiquette tips here. My favorite is using the vibrate ring. I am also learning, finally, to text message quickly. How are you doing with cellphone courtesy?

Untangle Your Earbud Cord with the earbud yo-yo. Entrepreneur Julie Johnson Barkley expects to be in the black this year with this company that celebrates its first anniversary this month (August 2009). All because she loves her iPod, hates tangled cords. She has a simple story about starting and marketing business, successfully.

Are you a treasurer hunter? Unclaimed Baggage, located in Scottsboro, Alabama, buys unclaimed baggage and cargo and sells it to you!

Until next time....

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Top 8 Social Media Tracking Tools from Alyson Kapin

2009-07-20T10:27:00.001-04:00

Social media! I seriously think it’s "the" buzz word of 2009. According to Omniture, over 200 million searches are conducted every single day and 78% of people trust recommendations by peers. But how should nonprofits track their social media? What tools should they use?

Understand What You Want to Track.

via frogloop.com

Great and practical/useful list Alyson has put together. It is so true that before using any tools and social aps and networks, one should figure out the purpose and goal.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

3+ Ways to Measure the Impact of Social Media on Search - by Ian Orekondy

2009-07-19T17:33:00.001-04:00

07/04/2009

(How to Measure the Impact of Social Content (blog posts, Tweets, etc.) on Search Within Social Media and Social Networking Sites)

In this post, we'll focus on how to measure the impact of Twitter, which reached about 22 million people in May.

1. #Hashtag research = keyword research
Just as people had to learn how to search using traditional search engines like Google and Yahoo, people are learning how to better search social media sites like Twitter. Increasingly, they are using hashtags. A hashtag is simply including the # symbol in front of a keyword. For example #diabetes . People can subscribe to follow hashtags or they can search for them, allowing them to stay current on specific topics, and recently Twitter began hyperlinking hashtags within tweets allowing people to go diretly the search results for that hashtag instantly.

You can find out which hashtags are most popular or trending by reviewing http://www.hashtags.com/
2. # of followers you have
The more followers you have, the more likely the content you post will be seen (found).
Your number of followers measures your immediate audience on Twitter. It's a way to measure the opportunity each of your tweets has to reach and engage your audience.
Additionally, Twitter directories like Social Brand Index or Technobabble, list Twitter profiles and usually rank by number of followers. Since we're focusing on measurement, we will not discuss why focusing purely on your follower count ignores some of the core principles of social media (e.g. listening, engaging in conversation, adding value, etc.)
3. # of clicks on the links you post on Twitter
Linking to relevant content within your tweets adds value to other users, and by utilizing URL shorteners with tools like Tweetburner you can measure how engaged people are with your tweets by tracking the number of clicks on the links you post.

Sites like Tweetburner rank top URLs within Twitter and post lists of the top-clicked links. Appearing on these lists is similar to getting your content voted up on Digg; though the traffic impact is not as substantial...yet.

Similarly, posting pictures to your tweets adds value, and using a service like TwitPic allows you to measure how many people are viewing the pics you post.

4. Search for People Who Are Sharing Your Site or Blog Post on Twitter

You can now track when other people post links to your content on Twitter using tools like backtweets .

This is similar to Google's Webmaster Tools, but specific to Twitter. It's different from tracking when people click on the links you post. Backtweets actually shows you when people post links to your content organically. Without checking a tool like backtweets, you would only be seeing a portion of how the community is engaging with your content. It's also a great way to find new people who are interested in your content. Follow them, and they'll likely follow you back, if they aren't already.
I encourage you to explore these tools.
There are others, so please let me know which you find most useful. You can find me on Twitter @iano1000

Are you already using the tools above or others? Please leave a comment with a link to your blog and I'll be sure to stop by!

via socialmediatoday.com

A bit more on understanding hashtags, as well as some great twitter tools. Another day for the discussion, as Mr. Orekondy notes, on following for following's sake.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Thirty Second Digital Camera Buying Guide

2009-07-19T16:11:00.001-04:00

Thirty Second Digital Camera Buying Guide

July 7, 2009 2:05 PM (Tuesday) Author: andrew

Here's a brief buying guide for digital camera

Overview

Film cameras are fading fast. High resolution digital cameras come in all shapes and sizes. The latest features like face technology make it difficult to take a bad picture. Affordable digital photo frames and color inkjet printers make handling and displaying digital images easy and inexpensive. The only hitch is that decent cameras are starting to show up in cell phones and camcorders but that’s okay because many cameras now take videos. Here are the essentials for selecting a digital camera to match your needs. Check out Retrevo’s brand new catalogs for detailed buying advice on all popular electronics categories.

via retrevo.com

Make your wish list and then go shopping. In addition to being a marketplace for electronics, Retrevo is the best place for downloading owner manuals for all those appliances and gadgets you can't figure how to work -- and you can't find the manual.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Today's Next Big Idea - Shopping Carts and Horns

2009-06-23T15:52:00.001-04:00

I'm shopping at Target (I could be at any store with a large parking lot and drivers in a hurry). I push my overflowing shopping cart toward my car, while more than one car squeezes out of a too-small for today's cars parking space, and more are waiting to get in, while others maneuver around looking for the next space.

Where is my horn? I am almost run over dozens of times. An air horn would be nice. If you are in the shopping cart business, this is the next big idea for your bottom line. I'll be the first to buy one (wouldn't that be nice: a shopping cart I can put in my car to get my belongings into my home).

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Web Sites That Work - Epicurious.com

2009-06-23T15:18:00.001-04:00

Today’s email asks, “To what extent does the impact (visual/navigation/user-friendly) of a web site affect the general public's assessment of the quality of the services being offered?”

The basic best practices are still relevant. Clear, unambiguous navigation, good content, fast loading, and keeping me interested from the first click (my click to your entry page), is critical. Adding usability features (adjustable type sizes, print only pages, proper coding for screen readers and the rest of us, etc.) are also critical.

Current content at the top, avoiding linkrot, and removing outdated content (easy to do with some scripting) is part of the recipe for success also. Color is also critical depending on your target audience (you do have that accounted for in your design, don't you?). If your audience is European, white means something very different than if your audience is Asian.

Just because we've gotten used to mediocrity is no reason to perpetuate it. Web Pages That Suck is still a good resource for what works and what may not. I prefer to discuss Web Sites That Work.

One such is epicurious.com - this is Conde Nast’s web site for its cooking magazines. It has evolved with the technology, using interactivity in a positive and simple way. I can access recipes, menus with linked recipes, check in with other cooks, save my recipes online and print them in several formats (depending on what size recipe card I use). I can rate the recipe, add suggestions and right up front, I see how others liked the recipe. The ingredients are also right there.

More importantly, there is a font size adjuster, and I can quickly search. The site looks busy when at the home page, but is not difficult to navigate. There are several ways for me to get updates from the site (email, newsletters, mobile, rss, and even a tastebook where I can get my favorite recipes published in a hard cover book).

The belts and suspenders method of design: having as a basic principle the ultimate satisfaction of every customer’s needs separately accounted for in the design. Some wear belts, some wear suspenders, some wear neither and some wear both. Use this as basic principle of design and your social interaction will benefit.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Ecommerce: Coupons and Discounts

2009-06-10T15:24:00.001-04:00

When shopping online, you often see a place to put a coupon or referral number. And you probably don’t have one.

Don’t despair. Just do a search for that coupon and you’ll find dozens of web sites where you can get a coupon. Just this month, I registered for web hosting for only a penny with a coupon I found online.

Never let those boxes go empty again.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Using the Web to Define the Moment

2009-06-07T16:48:00.001-04:00

Interesting time this past few months as I bring to a close a 2-1/2 year home renovation project, get to know my neighborhood and meet new people, and begin to redefine myself a second time around as I start an Internet radio show on Womens Radio.

All these involve using the web for research, to prove a point or win an argument (if only in my head to prove I am correct in my outlook and thinking), and to learn a new skill.

The renovation research is obvious as I discovered where to purchase chandelier parts, to find an under the counter freezer/refrigerator/icemaker that fit into the space created for it (as the one ordered did not fit the space when all was said and done), and myriad other discoveries and serendipitous moments.

The new skill set should also be obvious as I learn which is the best phone to use for recording an interview and learning the programs underlying the station broadcast.

The argument is often a bar bet I have with myself. I am a bit direct and to the point. I don’t see the need for a lot of subtlety in life, which sometimes gets me strange or even hostile reactions. The latest case in point is being asked a personal question about a health issue by another woman who had the same health problem. Her take on it is that she is a survivor as she survived the treatments and followup and is here and alive to talk about it.

My take is I am not a survivor. I had a health issue over 27 years ago and certainly have not lived my life since thinking of myself as a victim nor a survivor. I see surviving as just hanging on, and letting others know you survived, reinforcing a self-image that is not very joyful.

So, to the online dictionaries and wordsmiths. I discover that survivor (the noun) is derived from the verb to survive. The verb means to remain in existence, to carry on despite hardships and trauma, to cope. All of these are not how I see myself nor how I’ve lived my life. One entry included the words, to prosper, which is at least positive. Another defines the noun, survivor, as a person regarded as resilient or courageous enough to be able to overcome hardship and misfortune. This is probably positive, but those of us who live our lives fully, to the fullest extent our jobs, upbringing and training allow, probably don’t think of ourselves as courageous. We act in the moment. We face the adversity without thinking as our training kicks in. We may reflect on this later, but it does not define who we are. First responders and those on the front lines of battle or life, just do it, don’t we?

And yet, my new friend, who had the same diagnosis as I, said if one goes through the treatment, then one is a survivor. What a different perspective than mine. And she is right. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. I think I won my bar bet with myself. And I also learned something. I will be nicer to those who want to be recognized as survivors in the future. I hope they will understand my reluctance to be defined by their definition.**

---------------------------------------------

** We are talking cancer here, although it could be anything. My research brought me to medterms.com where I discovered the phrase, cancer survivor, was coined on July 25, 1985, in an essay in the New England Journal of Medicine, by Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan, in his essay, “The Seasons of survival: Reflections of a physician with cancer.” In 1975, Dr. Mullan was diagnosed with a deadly malignancy. He recorded his journal as his seasons of survival. Although there are 3 schools of thought on those of us who do get through it, those who say they are cured, those who put it behind them, and those who say being called a cancer survivor stigmatizes them, to date no term has been more accepted, so survivor it is for now.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Who Owns Your Domain Name, Actually?

2009-06-04T16:37:00.001-04:00

Those of us in the peace and love generation entered the technology revolution and gold rush with a bit of the haze still surrounding us. Early adapters that we were, we trusted those more tech-savvy among us when they said they’d purchase our domain name for us, register it, and it would be ours forever.

Over time, of course, our eyes were opened, mostly because of the hours spent fixing something that was only broken because of the need of some scurrilous fellow travelers to control the kingdom. We came to understand we do not own our domain names, they are leased. Safety controls prevented domain hijacking. Those who thought they had the keys were thrown from the castle into the moat (they returned in other forms, but that is a later story).

Today, that question, “you mean, I don’t OWN my domain?” is again being asked by those who trusted the honest gatekeepers to take care of them.

I’ve spent two working days this week working with a client whose domain name is up for renewal (the client needs to re-register the domain if he wishes to keep it). A few years ago, this client wanted to go it alone. Not one to quibble, I tried to divorce myself from any access to their domain. The process, for various reasons, failed. Now, no longer being in the same business, I am trying again to separate my name, identifying Internet numbers (NIC handle) and personal data from this client account. It may or may not work, so it is time to revisit this simple question:

Who Owns Your Domain Name?

First, be aware that you do not own any of your domain names. You lease them. If you don’t protect your lease and these pieces of intellectual property, you could lose them. It’s not easy to lose them (it used to be), but it is possible.

The basic process is you think of a domain name to represent you and your business. You check in the Whois (who is) database of some domain registry such as Network Solutions. You discover your name is available and you pay the registry to provide you with that name. You probably pay for a year as you don’t see why you should pay more.

PAY MORE!

Pay for at least 5 years, if not 10. Time passes quickly, more quickly than you’d like, especially if you are growing a business. Who has time to fuss with renewal every year? Besides, it’s cheaper the more years you register.

What does it mean to register a domain name?

When a domain name is registered, it is checked against the Internet domain name system (DNS). This is a directory of all the Internet domain names and corresponding computers, each of which has a unique address called an IP (Internet Protocol) address and which is actually a number.

How do I register a domain name?

As I said above, domain names can be registered through many different competing companies ("registrars"), with whom you contract. The registrar sets the terms for accepting your registration (including pricing and levels of privacy), as well as maintaining same.

The registrar asks you to provide various contact and technical information needed to fulfill their licensing agreement with ICANN. The registrar keeps records of the contact information and submits the technical information to a central directory known as the "registry." This registry provides other computers on the Internet the information necessary to send you e-mail or to find your web site.

ICANN and Accredited Registrars

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is an internationally organized, non-profit corporation, responsible for Internet Protocol (IP) address space allocation, protocol identifier assignment, generic (gTLD) and country code (ccTLD) Top-Level Domain name system management, and root server system management functions.

Originally, these services were carried out under U.S. Government contract by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and other entities. ICANN now performs the IANA function.

Currently, ICANN is the foremost example of collaboration (that is what this is all about, remember?) by the various constituents of the Internet community. These include businesses, organizations, governments and individuals, all of whom are involved in building and maintaining a stable, but growing, Internet.

ICANN is the organization accrediting registrars through an accreditation agreement.. This includes identifying and setting minimum registration standards. If you choose to use a non-accredited registrar, well, buyer beware.

Now What?

This may be a bit techy, but I’d guess you understood most or all of it. Now what to do with this information?

First.    Check that you or your company are either the account owner or at least are listed as administrative or technical contacts. If you are not listed, get listed, immediately, now, today, This is a process, and requires some attention, but it is not difficult. Among other things, you’ll have to have a unique login and password for each contact. Don’t share the master login and password. As the account holder, you have total access. Everyone else has limited access.

Second.    Ensure you are the billing contact, not your web firm.

Third.    When changing contractors or employees, change contact information and passwords to the registry.

Fourth.    As with checking accounts, provide access to the domain registry with more than one reliable business partner or staff, just in case.

Fifth.    If your domain is registered one place and your web site hosted at another, look at consolidating these accounts. It will likely save you money.

Sixth. Lock the domain to protect from unauthorized switching or hijacking by other domain registrars.

Seventh. Consider the “make this information private” option, especially if you are concerned about privacy. If you are a business, this information is already out there. It probably is if you are just an individual also. Be aware that choosing privacy may result in some difficulty in claiming your domain if a registrar decides to be ornery. Private registry gives the registrar more control and is probably unnecessary and does cost.

If you’d like to read more about all this, there are plenty of resources you’ll find by using your favorite search engine.

The bottom line is that your domain name is a major business asset. Protect it.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

User Manual, users guide, operation instruction

2009-06-02T11:29:00.001-04:00

UsersManualGuide.com

User Manual and User Guide for many equipments like mobile phones, photo cameras, monther board, monitors, software, tv, dvd, and othes..

via usersmanualguide.com

Find of today: users manuals. If this site doesn't work for you, there is also retrevo.com, which I found less helpful for older equipment, and which requires a login (free). Still, both are excellent resources.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Soaps Gone Buy - make your own laundry soap...

2009-05-13T16:16:00.001-04:00

To keep the liquid detergent stirred up, put a few marbles in the storage jug. The marbles will help mix everything and keep it mixed.

soapsgonebuy.com

Great web site, environmentally tops, tips on cleaning and using one of my favorite soaps, Fels Naptha. Great site to find those products you remember from your childhood -- and they still work wonders.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Anti-glare Filters - Today's healthy computing tip

2009-05-13T15:37:00.001-04:00

Look for an anti-glare filter that has the following features:

healthycomputing.com

Today's research not only got me to the correct vocabulary, but a lot of tips for both how and what to look for in a sun filter for a computer monitor, but how to deal with eyestrain when reflecting on monitor reflections. One tip is to make sure light sources come from sides of monitor, not back or front.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

#twitter tags

2009-05-04T19:04:00.001-04:00

Using the pound (or hash) symbol (#) when tweeting (posting to Twitter) is a simple way to follow a Twitter conversation or locate groups and people with your same interests – or to reach your target audience.

If Twitter is not part of your company’s social media optimization plan, it should be. Building influence by tweeting your expertise, promoting events, intelligence gathering are all direct business benefits of adding Twitter to your technology toolbox.

Hashtags (#) make Twitter searches – and outreach – simpler and organized:

#firstnight could promote gallery openings or community art walk fundraisers
#facecreamoffer would open a conversation about your beauty product and giveaway
#newhomes lets a realtor show what just came on the market

As with any tag, whether it’s on flickr, twitter, your blog or in your bookmarks, tags are community-driven, defining the context of your tweets – and their value to the community. You can make a tag for any group, subject, event, survey, anything.

HOW TO FOLLOW THIS YELLOW BRICK ROAD

Start your use of hashtags by logging in to your Twitter account, doing a search for @hashtags and following them. They follow back automatically, allowing your hashtags to be tracked. With Twitter’s recent addition of an improved search function, it is not necessary to follow @hashtags to benefit from their use. You can visit hashtags.org or twittgroups.com to see what conversations are occurring, even if you are not a Twitter user, which is a good thing. The business value is in the numbers, however. So do a bit of research first to see what is already out there.

Once you’ve decided which word in your tweet to tag, just type # before that word and you are off to see the #wizard.

Now track those conversations of value to you and your fellow travelers on the #yellowbrickroad. See how simple it is?

You can even subscribe to the RSS feed for a particular tag. If you are a NASCAR fan, #nascar is the feed for you to follow. Any new #nascar-tagged updates will be sent to your favorite news reader. You can then use the feed in a myriad of ways, including customizing it by combining with other feeds and adding a blog entry or email post of value to your clients and customers interested in automobiles or car racing.

Hashtags are great for networking, research, building a community around your area of expertise (whether it is business or a hobby). By tagging your tweets, you contribute to the public, searchable archive. And that is what this social networking is all about: community.

FREE BUSINESS BONUS

Duct Tape Marketing has put together a free, downloadable, 9-page beginner’s guide to using Twitter for business.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

How to make a viral video -- the right way

2009-05-04T11:56:00.001-04:00

I spoke with http://rhettandlink.com">Rhett and Link before their performance at our BlogWell event about how to create a viral video - with no money, no crew, and no agency. Listen good, because they've got 20 million views on YouTube and enough corporate sponsors to live their dream.

via damniwish.com

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Fitness Fridays

2009-05-04T11:53:00.001-04:00

Fitness Fridays - 1st Edition - May 1, 2009

Welcome to the first edition of Fitness Fridays! I hope you will participate by sharing through your own blog or in the comments section.

via pursuingyahweh.net

Great blog and great goals for everyone to share their get and stay fit successes.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

EMAIL SPAM – STILL OUT THERE

2009-04-28T21:34:00.001-04:00

I was recently asked by a small town client how to prevent spam in the email. There are lots of ways to prevent spam – and if you have a good email company, you should have a lot of what you’ll read here in place already. If you are running your own server, some of these may be ideas for you to institute if you have not done so.

Spam is generated very simply by distributing your email address. The most common ways to distribute your email are
•    in the signature at the bottom of an email address,
•    in the From:, To: and Cc: lines of email messages,
•    on business cards,
•    in online forums, message boards, and lists (which is often against the policies of the forum/board/listserv),
•    at tradeshows, conferences and networking events.

There are several solutions, some more effective than others, some more burdensome on the sender, and some that require you to do a bit of thinking before distributing your email address. Bots (robots or spiders) recognize email address two ways: using the "@" symbol and through use of widely used email domains, such as hotmail and gmail (and dozens others). Two of the more common preventative steps are:

1.    Instead of writing your email address in a proper way like example@gmail.com, convert it to example|a|gmail [dot] com. Then explain it to others so they understand what you mean, like "Please convert |a| to @ and [dot] to ".". Email addresses can be converted to anything you think is readable by humans, but not bots.

2.    Encoding your email address into special values called character entities, which represent each character, is one method. Programs exist that will convert an email address to its encoded value, for use on a web site or anywhere you use the mailto HTML coding. For example, this is an encoded link for a webmaster email account (extra line breaks have been placed in the code so the width of the page is not broken - make sure the encoded parts you use are all on one line in your web page):

<a href="mailto:webmast
er@ohlone
.cc.ca.us">
webmaster@
ohlone.cc.
ca.us</a>

There is no guarantee that encoding your email address will prevent spam. Robots are created that are smart enough to decode the encoded address. It’s a game, of sorts, to spammers and coders.

Often, communities who maintain their own servers need to invest in these practices to save time for those running the server and email systems.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?

Don’t forward an email from someone you don’t know to a list of people. Those"forward this email to 20 of your friends” messages are perfect for harvesting email addresses. These types of sign-and-forward emails often appear in the form of a petition.

Avoid CC (carbon copy) for group emails you send out. If you send an email that might be forwarded on and on, it can easily be found by bots, who you can be sure will add the nice collection addresses to their spam address database. Instead use BCC (blind carbon copy). This means the recipients do not see the list of email addresses that your message has gone to – and prevents that “reply all” from getting to everyone, which is also good for email reading sanity. Encourage others to use BCC for groups instead of CC. Or ask to be removed from their email lists and announcements if they won’t do that.

Don’t use your home or business email address when you register on a Web site or in a group. If you must sign up for services, want to receive more info, register for newspapers or domains; use a free email address from a site like Yahoo or Hotmail to create an address especially for that purpose. This also goes for posting to the Web, on a list, newsgroup, on a contact page for a Web site, or on a resume that is posted on the Web. If you begin to get spam from that source, you can delete that account and open another.

Make sure your profile privacy settings are set so you don't receive marketing from other sites.

Never use your email address as your screen name in chat rooms.

Create alias email addresses. Certain services allow you to generate multiple, anonymous email addresses that forward to your real email account. You can even reply to forwarded messages through your email account and have it appear as though you are replying through the generated one. This puts a level of anonymity between you and potential spammers. A good idea is to create a new email address for every website that you disclose your address to. If you start to get spam through that address, you know where the spam is coming from and you can delete the address and eliminate the spam.

WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE?

1.    Disguise email addresses on your web site.

As mentioned above, we could strip out periods and "@" symbols. For example, "YOURNAME AT YAHOO DOT COM." We can also make the "@" an image, which will prevent crawlers from identifying it. You can do this in your signature file as well, in case your recipients forward your email.

2.    Use a complicated email address.

The more complicated the email address is, the less likely it is to be generated for targeting by a spammer's software. Bots will look for the easy and obvious addresses first, such as those with identifiable names "alan@hotmail.com" as opposed to m0g33k@townofsomerset.

3.    Use methodology that requires the sender to do a bit of work to manually correct the email address before their message can be sent. Examples of this include:

•    username @ yourdomain.com (before the message is sent, " @ " must be changed to "@"; i.e., no spaces surrounding @)
•    username AT yourdomain.com (before the message is sent, " AT " must be changed to "@")
•    username AT yourdomain dot com (before the message is sent, " AT " and " dot " must be changed to "@" and ".")
•    username @ yourdomain dot com (before the message is sent, " @ " and " dot " must be changed to "@" and ".")
•    username@yourdomain dot com (before the message is sent, " dot " must be changed to ".")
•    username@NOSPAMyourdomain.com (before the message is sent, "NOSPAM" must be removed)

4.    Use images to represent email address.

Instead of using text, you can also use images to represent your email address.

5.    Use forms to prevent spam on your website

Forms can be used on your website for visitors to contact you. You can hide your email within the form code so email harvesting software cannot grab it from your web pages. Many companies do this now to keep control of their inboxes.

6.    Create one “Contact Us” page and link to that page from all your other pages. This often frustrates users.

7.    Change email servers periodically. This can be expensive and time consuming, but is similar to changing auditors.

8.    Change emails annually. This, too, can be expensive and time consuming.

9.    Use email as it is meant to be used, where there are less forwarders, and email is read and responded to from the server.

Let me know what you do to prevent this and how it works for you and your company.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Spreadtweet

2009-04-23T07:00:00.001-04:00

So, you work at a big corporate, huh?
And you're not allowed to use Twitter...
Wouldn't it be awesome if there were a Twitter tool
that looked just like Excel?

Welcome to Spreadtweet.

It's Twitter, disguised as a spreadsheet.

via elliottkember.com

Runs on Mac, Linux, Windows. Check out Elliott's other stuff also.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Journalism Online, LLC: the solution for online publishers?

2009-04-15T09:22:00.001-04:00

Today (April 14, 2009) media executives Steve Brill, Gordon Crovitz, and Leo Hindery, Jr. announced the foundation of their new company Journalism Online, LLC, which proposes to "quickly facilitate the ability of newspaper, magazine and online publishers to realize revenue from the digital distribution of the original journalism they produce." The company will work with all types of publishers--newspaper, magazine, online-only--to help make money with online news.

via editorsweblog.org

The premise is correct: that online work should receive fair market value. Determining that value, along with licensing and royalty fulfillment promises, will determine if this is a viable money model.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

The triumph of curves

2009-04-13T08:54:00.001-04:00

There's no ignoring it — women everywhere are finally saying goodbye to the skinny-thinny and celebrating the fuller figure

via women.timesonline.co.uk

and we hope the fashion industry is paying attention - read to the end, good advice on how to best show off a good and fuller you

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Finally, You Can Talk to Your Plant Via Twitter

2009-04-09T05:53:00.001-04:00

Botanicall’s Twitter hack answers the question: “How is your plant doing?” They posted their DIY project, which principal pieces of technology are a Blackberry and assorted bits of Arduino boards. The wires detect the moisture levels in the plant’s soil, and when it drops to a pre-determined level, it will fire off a tweet and let you know what’s going on with the soil moisture level.

via mashable.com

In case you missed this post last year, it's fun to repeat. And opened the door for other Twitter remote reminder ideas.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

10 Secrets of a Super Blogger - the claim your brand secret

2009-04-07T15:24:00.001-04:00

Get your own domain name early: there’s nothing worse than getting a blog that’s someone else’s property (i.e. Blogger or Wordpress). If you wait too long to move your blog to your own domain you’ll risk losing search engine ranking and traffic. Any blog can be linked to any URL, just ask your web person to help you out with this.

via myhandmaderegistry.com

Penny is so right about this. It cannot be said enough. Take control of your personal, business and every other kind of brand available to you. Doing a product launch? Claim the domain name before someone else does -- and just your domain name isn't enough anymore. Claim your name in twitter, facebook, linkedin, plurk, technorati, delicious and magnolia, squidoo, knol -- any place you might hang out, where your prospects and current customers are hanging out, and

well, the list could go on and on, so hopefully the message is clear:
take control now! immediately! Even if you never tweet or log in to any social network, take action to protect your unique space in the world wide web.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Lesson from Maryland women's basketball

2009-04-02T06:25:00.001-04:00

what they forgot is that sometimes, you don’t always get what you want because you think you should.

via fintelcom.com

and failure is not always failure, but hopefully a lesson learned.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

The Ginger - the Perfect Peel

2009-04-01T13:21:00.001-04:00

via youtube.com

Great find for today.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

US-CERT Cyber Security Tip: Using Caution with USB Drives

2009-03-30T10:34:00.001-04:00

Do not plug an unknown USB drive into your computer - If you find a USB drive, give it to the appropriate authorities (a location's security personnel, your organization's IT department, etc.). Do not plug it into your computer to view the contents or to try to identify the owner.

via us-cert.gov

As we face a possible conflicker computer virus attack on April 1, this snippet, and the rest of this short article, is a good reminder of exercising your right as a human firewall.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Social Media Optimization - the next gold rush? Caveat Emptor

2009-03-28T20:44:00.001-04:00

Social Media Optimization is like any other service. It is a skill and as a service it is performed to save the client time and money compared to doing it himself. The SME market right now is full of short cuts, quick solutions, one-size-fits-all and outright scams. Approach hiring such an expert with caution. More importantly, approach the process with curiosity and a willingness to explore this new facet of the internet. This phenomenon is here to stay, so an investment in learning about it has long term cost and competitive benefits.

via microgeist.com

Had a productive discussion with a newbie to social media optimization today. This may well be (and imo is) the next goldrush. Bring your shovels. And don't buy a pig in a poke.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Using Technology to Improve Your Business - Julie Kirk instructing

2009-03-28T15:10:00.001-04:00

Small and medium sized businesses almost always have to get more done with fewer resources. Unfortunately, many put off leveraging technology because of cost, believing it is only for the larger companies. In reality, there are many different types of technologies that are not only cost-effective for these businesses but can improve the bottom line through increased efficiencies. This course explores the different categories of technology that can help small or medium-size companies grow. We also teach business owners how to evaluate technologies and prioritize them based on their benefit to their specific business. Finally, we discuss the pros and cons of creating customized technology in-house and provide resources to identify the tools you need.

via nytimesknownow.com

It's not too late to register for this course that begins on March 30 at a most reasonable rate. I know Julie well and am sure you'll have a positive experience.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

After the Handshake - A Lynne Waymon Webinar you Can't Afford to Miss

2009-03-28T15:03:00.001-04:00

After The Handshake . . . A Webinar That Gives You Networking Strategies to Propel Your Business

“I shook a lot of hands at the event … but now what? How do I turn the business cards I collected into real business relationships?” Networking is a powerful way to convert suspects into prospects – if you do it correctly. Unfortunately, most professionals don’t. Instead, you have dozens of tongue-tied conversations at industry events worrying whether you’re saying the right thing or making a good impression. You go home with a massive collection of business cards to enter into Outlook. And then you spend your days making awkward follow-up calls to people who only vaguely remember meeting you.

In this webinar, you will learn:
• What to do and say at each of the 6 stages of relationship building
• How to ask good questions to make the right impression … and give you logical reasons to follow up
• Five goals of any follow-up conversation
• The 3C’s that make follow-up calls welcome and productive
• Techniques to design an agenda…before the networking event
• Innovative strategies for re-connecting, following-up, and staying in touch
To register and pay go to BusinessExpertWebinars.com and search on "After The Handshake" which will be offered 4/3/09, 6/3/09 and 11/13/09.

via linkedin.com

Lynne is recognized internationally as an expert in making your contacts count (get her book by this same name).

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

help create a free e-book

2009-03-28T14:11:00.001-04:00

Tell me what you'd like me to write about next ... I couldn't decide and need your help!

via mayraruiz.net

Here's your chance to get a book written just for you to increase your knowledge base.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Implementing Goals instead of Just Setting Them

2009-03-28T13:36:00.001-04:00

Two months ago, Business Her Way LinkedIn member Paula Pollock wrote about goal setting and implementing goals. See her blog post on this: http://paulapollock.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/goals-mindset/
via linkedin.com

How do you implement your goals and/or combine them to make them reachable and sustainable?

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Etiquette Tips For Hard Economic Times

2009-03-27T07:08:00.001-04:00

Forget dinner forks and thank-you notes, the slumping economy is giving way to a new kind of etiquette.

Watching co-workers, family members or neighbors lose their jobs has left many at a loss for words which is why many people are now trying to find the proper way to deal with the most delicate of recession scenarios.
via cbs4.com

Two successful business women, Nancy Mitchell and Cynthia Lett, both etiquette experts, discuss how to handle delicate situations when those around you are having financial difficulty. Watch the video here:
http://cbs4.com/local/Recession.Etiquette.Layoffs.2.966721.html

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Inkblot generated secure passwords

2009-03-18T17:59:00.001-04:00

Inkblots not only help users create a strong password, but people also seem to enjoy using them.

via research.microsoft.com

Security on your mind? Read this and scroll to bottom, take the inkblot test to create your own 20-letter secure password.

[Note: the study is from 2004 and I did not research newer data or outcomes.]

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Dusting, Gardening, 3 minutes of Now!

2009-03-18T15:12:00.001-04:00

I encourage you...I actually beg you...spend 3 minutes today in the now. Stop for a minute three times today (and maybe each day for a week), close your eyes, (set a timer if you want), take a long, slow breath in and let it out gradually and focus on NOW. If you want more on this subject, do read Eckard Tolle's book, The Power of Now. But if you just want the clif notes, do this for a week and then maybe increase your time to two minutes 3 x a day. I'm always happy to remind you of your great potential -- this is one way for you to do it for yourself.

via beth-cole.com
WEEKLY WISDOMS ARCHIVE -- Beth Cole & Associates, Small Business Advisor

Beth is so right. A landscaper told me she plants these amazing spaces for clients who don't find time to enjoy them. She suggests having your morning coffee or tea in, or looking at, your garden to start your day. This could be your 3 minutes. There will always be dusting, but that new bud in the garden won't be there tomorrow.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Newspapers going Online and out of print

2009-03-18T11:49:00.001-04:00

Newspapers need to become official in their mission to support the common man's awareness of what is important in his circumstances and not try to be anything else. This is why they came to be. They should support the proliferation of intelligent journalism in both the online and printed form. However this unfolds, I'm going to do everything I can to figure out new sustainable business models so that they can flourish in the age of the internet.

via greatmindsinteractive.com

Bravo, Wendy, for this stand. As the Seattle Post-Intelligence ended its print run this week, it becomes the largest American newspaper to be an Internet-only news source -- and we should all subscribe! Not only to support this move but to support a resurgance toward unbiased reporting (we can hope this is the direction newspapers are going).

We should be subscribing to newspapers in all parts of the country and world to get an all-round perspective for ourselves and to see the view from someone else's street.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

37 Tips for Optimizing Blogs and Feeds (RSS/SEO) - Online Marketing Blog

2009-03-18T11:39:00.001-04:00

Sally Falkow: How can RSS feeds ‘socialize’ your content?

If your content remains on your site it is static and gets seen by only your visitors. Once it is in a feed it is seen by bloggers, other sites, search engines, news and feed aggregators. These other websites all have their own visitors. They see your content on other sites and many of them will save and share your content into sites like digg, stumbleupon, twitter etc. This gives more visibility and builds more links.

Rebecca Lieb: I’m going to lob that question back to the readers. If you’ve got something to say, and you want it to be found online, why wouldn’t you incorporate blogs and feeds into an SEO strategy?

via toprankblog.com

RSS and SEO strategy. These are 2 of 4 bonus questions in this blog post interview (a teaser to SES New York next week). If you have not delved into RSS yet, take a tutorial and get going. As Rebecca Lieb says earlier in this interview, "RSS is like getting it [your content] out there on the bullet train."

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Talking about building a Social Marketing Plan

2009-03-18T11:14:00.001-04:00

Give to get, but mostly give.
If there is one truism in using any of the new word-of-mouth tools, it is that you must give to get – and give generously. On a group at Facebook, be the one who answers the question or provides the help and advice. Your generosity will earn you visibility in the group and give you credibility.

via greatmindsinteractive.com

GreatInsights blog entry is a good overview of planning for social marketing with important advice at the end, including the tip above. I'd add to your plan to get a public voice for your organization (do a search for Robert Scoble to see how he gave Microsoft a voice) and manage your time to include becoming the expert helper in your social groups. If you use the right tech tools, you could take an hour a week and accomplish this.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

World Sight Day 2009 focuses on gender & avoidable blindness

2009-03-16T19:42:00.001-04:00

The theme of World Sight Day 2009 (WSD09) recognises that:

1. Two-thirds of blind people worldwide are women & girls
2. In many countries, men's access to eye care is twice that of women
3. Effective strategies can and do successfully address this inequity

Two-thirds of blind people worldwide are women and girls.

via v2020.org

While World Sight Day is not until October, think about checking your eye health now. Eighty percent (80%) of blindness is avoidable. This includes cataract, low vision, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Red Nose Day 09 - Bring a tradition to this side of the pond

2009-03-13T07:24:00.001-04:00

Red Nose Day is, quite simply, a day like no other! We take some fantastic fundraising in schools, offices and homes across the land, mix it with the nation’s favourite celebrities getting up to all kinds of mischief, sprinkle a new Red Nose (or three!) across the entire UK and add a cracking night of comedy on BBC One to make Red Nose Day the phenomenon it is.

All this funny business unites the nation in trying to make a difference to the lives of thousands of people – and the best thing is - it works! Just click play to see for yourselves...

This year, to be part of Red Nose Day 2009, you just need to Do Something Funny for Money!

via rednoseday.com

A fun national day from our Brit friends. Do you have your red nose on?

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Podcasting 101: Step 1 - Plan and revise

2009-03-12T14:04:00.001-04:00

Plan
Outline a script. Make your podcast memorable.

Plans don't need full line by line scripts. If you are scripting a short marketing message, such as recording your telephone voice message, writing out your message will simplify the recording. Otherwise, create a template: a segmented format you use over and over. Consistency wins listeners.

Possible segments are:

Open/welcome
Tips or announcements
Reviews or News
In depth discussions/Interviews
Audience Feedback
Wrap up and promotion of the next podcast

Summarize your podcast with notes on your web site for those who have not listened yet. Notes drive search engine traffic and turn visitors to your site into listeners and subscribers.

Five Ways to Kill Your Podcast is a good example of writing a summary.

The 6 Keys

Who is it for?
What is it about?
Where will my target audience be listening?
When will I broadcast?
Why is my subject and knowledge important to anyone but me?
How will I know it is successful and meets my goals?

Revise

Refine your outline: I am listening to you, not reading what your wrote. Write for the ear, not the eye. This is an audio file. Use short sentences, little bytes and chunks of information. Add a bit of a cliffhanger.

TIP: Listen to old time radio shows to improve your command of your recorded message.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Healthcare for Less - Negotiate Your Way to a Smaller Bill

2009-03-12T13:45:00.001-04:00

Can one actually negotiate with a provider? Believe it or not, you may be able to negotiate 10% - 50% or more off your bill; in most cases, all you have to do is ask! Here are some tips to help you become a more effective healthcare negotiator:

via healthcareforless.blogspot.com

Michelle took a misfortune and turned it into a career. If you have been involved in the healthcare industry as a patient, especially one with little or no insurance, you might be interested in her 2 books and following her blog.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Cloud Computing and Security

2009-03-12T11:08:00.001-04:00

This blog is dedicated to Cloud Computing and Security.

Cloud Computing is a nebulous term covering an array of technologies and services including; Grid Computing, Utility Computing, Software as a Service (SaaS), Storage in the Cloud and Virtualization. There is no shortage of buzzwords and definitions differ depending on who you talk to.

The common theme is that computing takes place ‘in the cloud’, typically outside of your organisations network.

Semantics aside, there is a much bigger question: what does it all mean from an IT security perspective? What is Cloud Computing Security? What are the risks, threats and countermeasures? How do we ’secure the Cloud’. And when things go wrong - when threats become realised - how should we respond?

If you are curious about Cloud Computing Security or you are already grappling with these questions, this blog is for you.

via cloudsecurity.org

If you have an inquiring mind, Craig Balding's blog will intrigue you. Go through the looking glass into an interesting web topic -- and don't miss Craig's July 21, 2008 post on assessing benefits of cloud computing security.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

more on Gen Y and corporate culture- a "Hidden Gift"?

2009-03-02T10:37:00.001-05:00

While obviously not everyone in a generational cohort thinks or acts the same way, on average, Gen Y employees are known for being much more comfortable challenging authority and speaking their minds. Gen Y employees are also well known for not sticking around if they’re not happy.

While many managers and HR professionals tear their hair out over these tendencies, they miss out on the priceless information their Millennial employees are giving them because of these proclivities.

via ere.net

Following up to my earlier post on what Gen Y is bringing to the workplace, is this twist on interpreting, and using to advantage, what Gen Y brings to the workplace:

early warning about inefficient systems, managers
full involvement leading to greater profitability
feedback

and tips on how to use this information.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Gen Y in the Workplace - Changing Corporate Culture?

2009-03-02T10:26:00.001-05:00

What to Do When Your Workers Take Off and Go Surfing

Who, exactly, makes up Generation Y has not been definitively established, although the group is generally said to include people born between 1978 and 2000. Early in the arrival of these employees to the workforce, they earned a reputation among their older colleagues for expecting accolades for completing what most would call the basic requirements of the job.

As sociologists and market researchers investigated further, we learned that this was a misperception.

Gen Y employees can be and often are highly motivated and loyal. The challenge for managers from a different age group is to develop behaviors that support these positive qualities.
....
Gen Y employees are motivated more by meaningful work and by opportunities for advancement and growth than by money. So you should find a way to describe to your young workers why the task they perform, boring as it might be, is actually crucial to the organization. Help them to understand why they are important, and they will reward you with greater commitment.

from Lily Garcia article on 3/1/2009 washingtonpost.com

Ms. Garcia, in her March 1 "How to Deal" column adds clarity to a discussion held earlier this week based on an article for employers from a Gen Y employee point of view. The Gen Y author notes it is important for companies to tell Gen Y what the company will do for them, earning their loyalty and increased production.

Ms. Garcia's article turns this around a bit, noting that understanding how the organization will benefit from the employee's work is a good motivator for Gen Y.

How are you dealing with Gen Y and changing expectations?

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Adding your blog to Facebook - another simple means to expand your reach

2009-03-01T17:55:00.001-05:00

If you have not spent a few hours researching all the applications available to expand your reach from any of the social networking sites in which you participate (or to which you belong), you are missing a great opportunity.

Today, I added my blog to Facebook. Having followed others previously, I wondered why I could not add my blog -- only to discover I could, did, and immediately got an email or two asking how I did this. Here are the steps I took:

Log in to FB, click, at the bottom navigation bar, on applications.
Click on Find More in the box that opens. Here you'll find a wealth of applications, including the one I added today - NetworkedBlogs.
Once added to my applications, I opened it (click on "edit" in the application box, top right) and set the permissions and added my blog -- and web site URL, an added benefit.
Using the tabs at the top, click on profile and add your blog (if you are not a coder, you'll have to ask 9 people to confirm this is your blog).
Use the friends tab to support your friends and see what they are interested in reading.

You are done. Let me know what FB aps you find valuable in marketing your business.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Siteseeing: The Glass Hammer

2009-03-01T17:21:00.001-05:00

The Glass Hammer

The Glass Hammer is an online community designed for women executives in financial services, law and business. Visit us daily to discover issues that matter, share experiences, and plan networking, your career and your life. Get a new job right here!

via theglasshammer.com

This is a vital and important site for women executives (and executive wannabes) to share experiences and solutions to breaking barriers.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Earthquakes

2009-02-28T08:46:00.001-05:00

Now that one of my children has moved to Oakland, California, about 3 or 4 times a year, I check the earthquake map. While there have been no major quakes in a while in the USA, it is fascinating to see how many quakes there are around the globe and especially in the oceans. Keep your shoes under your bed and enjoy the map.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Podcast challenge: 1 minute how to do anything

2009-02-28T08:39:00.001-05:00

Podcaster George Smyth, One Minute How-To, challenges guests to explain, in 60 seconds, how to do something. The something can be anything the guest chooses. George has been on the air since 2006 with over 300 podcasts. If you'd like to take the challenge, visit the site and click on his "challenge" link. Then let us know what your 1-minute how to is so we can listen.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Fitting social networking into your "hire me" plan

2009-02-27T15:57:00.001-05:00

There was no doubt that most companies are now performing a social media job candidate search. But rather than coaching students to clean up their Facebook, MySpace, Second Life, YouTube and Flickr (etc) postings, the right coaching is to teach them how to manage these sources to create the positive image that potential employers are looking for. Make sure it includes accomplishments, trips to academic events, photos of awards and other positive things.

via linkedin.com

There is a lot of discussion on this subject right now as the corporate cultures are being changed by a generation breed with technology. What are you doing to use social sites to your best advantage? And if you are hiring, what suggestions do you have?

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

Power Tea in Montgomery County, Maryland

2009-02-27T15:19:00.001-05:00

Nancy Floreen is chair of Montgomery Women and invites anyone in the area on Sunday, Marcy 8, to join her at their annual Awards Reception and Power Tea.

Sunday, March 8, 3:00-5:00 in the afternoon at the Mansion at Strathmore

Nancy says, "As chair of this non-partisan organization, I can say with confidence that the tea is one of the county’s best networking opportunities for women. Our membership includes many of the county’s most influential women in business, education, civic affairs, government and politics. We bring together women from all cultural backgrounds to advance common interests and support outstanding women in their quest for positions of power and influence."

You are welcome to attend this event even if you are not a member for a cost of $25 at the door. Or consider joining Montgomery Women and take part in information briefings, leadership forums and networking events throughout the year.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

13 Odd Ways to Use Twitter | Social Media Trader

2009-02-27T14:32:00.001-05:00

There have been countless articles about Twitter and how you can use it for businesses purposes. Perhaps one of the best indications of how successful a particular technology is being adopted is to see the how it’s being used differently from how it was initially intended. Here are a list of 13 odd ways to use Twitter.

via socialmediatrader.com

Great twinks (twitter links), and don't miss the comments for more. Spend a rainy day on this project.

Posted from Broadside: Taking Aim at the Social Revolution

30 minutes to a Social Media YOU!

2008-12-01T21:46:00.001-05:00

Fear of flying rears its head again when business considers a social media presence. As with all things web, planning is important (incorporate your online endeavors into your business plan, target your audience and all those things you've heard before). Then jump in! I'm going to give you 5 basic and quick steps to take to create your space in the Web 2.0 world.

In 1995, when the WWW burst on the scene and computers became as common place as telephones, a lot of us were afraid to use the computer. We were nervous about connecting to the whole world, about pushing a keyboard button and deleting our lives (or the lives of those whose computer we were testing), and we were confused about how to do it (which computer, which software, which web hosting company and so on).

Now, in 2008, a lot of those fears are returning. But confusion is first and foremost the stumbling block to getting over the other fears. Here, in under 30 minutes, are the simple steps you need to take to end the confusion. Take these steps and you'll have a basic social media presence in no time. Then enjoy the flight.

1. Get a Gmail account. Lots of flexibility and built in options aimed at making social communicating simple.

2. Social Network Profile. Build a primary profile at Facebook, MySpace or LinkedIn. It doesn't matter which as long as you join some groups and add friends.

3. Open an online bookmarking account at del.icio.us. Use these bookmarks for content on your blog or in comments you make on other blogs.

4. Twitter. Open an account at this most popular microblog.

5. Video is the most participated in type of blogging. Get a YouTube account.

You are finished.

Posted by email from Broadside: Taking Aim for Business (posterous)

How to best spend an hour a day to connect online?

2008-12-01T21:38:00.001-05:00

This was asked recently on a list in which I participate. The question:

"I have recently awakened to the fact that I need to connect online. I'm struggling with how to best use the sliver of time I have available for this. I've searched social networking 101 and have come up with any number of articles, but nothing that really fits the bill. So...If I have an hour a day to be networkingly social, what is my best time spent?"

Responses:

spend your hour finding local events to attend
set a goal (x number of contacts per week) and work toward that goal
establish your online presence with profiles at one or more of the top social media sites

I agree with most of this. It is, and we all know it, important to keep a real human connection as well as virtual. Make these real connections work for your online profile by including your twitter, blog and LI or FB handle on your business card.

One way to track local events you might like to attend is to utilize the calendar/email function of your current email client. Read the help that comes with these systems to begin to use them efficiently and to streamline your approach to real time events.

Properly keyworded subject lines for blog postings will draw notice and readers.

Expand your network with thought leaders in your industry. These influencers will draw attention to you from others in your industry and perhaps in the rest of the world. Your target audience, however, may or may not be reading or even familiar with the top people in your industry. Hang out in LI and FB groups where your target audience is hanging out. Ditto for events you attend in person. Contribute, by commenting in blogs, in both worlds. Don't cold sell. Use your signature file in your comments to provide a link to you online.

Develop a presence wherever your target audience is hanging out. My technique is to have one truly robust profile (mine is at LinkedIn), then to join, with as minimal profile as required, any social networking group someone invites me to join. Those minimal profiles invite you to join me where I have chosen to spend most of my time. We can go nuts trying to keep up with all the social sites out there (have you seen Kadoo? or hi5? or a dozen others?). My method will curtail a bit of all that.

All said, videos are probably one of the best ways to spend your daily hour (or some time weekly). Video, according to the April 2008 McCann report <www.universalmccann.com>, video is the most viewed part of the social media. I'd suggest taking time to open a YouTube account and post videos there. You might consider converting some to powerpoint programs and posting those on slidesix.

Whatever you do, you should contribute as well as post. Best way to do this is by commenting or posting some white papers on knol and creating a squidoo page for your business expertise.

Let me know what works for you.

Posted by email from Broadside: Taking Aim for Business (posterous)

First Ladies - Laura Bush (on Meet the Press) is our stereotype

2008-11-30T11:50:00.001-05:00

And a positive one at that. First ladies of the political kind often come into our lens because of their relationship with ambitious men. Watching First Lady Laura Bush with the Afghanistan ambassador to the United States on television this morning, confirms the obvious. Women exude grace under pressure -- and exercise power differently than men.

Mrs. Bush spoke eloquently about the continuing plight of women and girls in Afghanistan. She has quietly (or not so quietly) used her years at the White House to bring attention to these types of political issues, as have other First Ladies before her (Jackie brought history through restoration; Lady Bird brought nature and concern for our environment; Betty Ford dispelled stigmas of certain health issues).

There has been a lot of talk about stereotypes over this election season. Stereotype is a word used to classify people, often negatively. First Ladies itself is a classification. There are political first ladies married to heads of countries. There are first ladies in industry, sports, media, space and every walk of life. Gloria Steinem was one of the first ladies of the modern feminist movement. Billie Jo King, first lady of tennis in her time, defeated a sports stereotype. Princess Diana brought our attention to land mines and the devastation caused, especially to children.

Women who quietly or not so quietly open themselves publicly to make a difference for those following after are positive role models, not negative stereotypes. We stereotype them nonetheless (look at how some of us approached Sarah Palin). As women in this new political season, let's have our own change. Let's support each other with our public statements and private thoughts. We don't need to agree with each other all the time -- or ever. We need to open the dialogue and do what women do: effect change through constructive sharing of our experiences -- all geared to bettering our small worlds. There is truth in that popular 1960's slogan, "think globally, act locally."

Remember who you are and what you represent -- and have that be your memorial. Laura Bush shared this morning how she sees her legacy. How do you see yours?

Posted by email from Broadside: Taking Aim at Business (posterous)

Questions from a Blog Panel Participant

2008-11-26T13:02:00.001-05:00

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/so-what-should-we-be-asking-bloggers
So what should we be asking bloggers?

I take a bit of a professional stand back and think approach to her fourth point, as professional is a professional does. Remember, you have no idea where your posts will end and who will be reading them. If you are in business, be business like, however you define that for your particular audience.

Posted by email from Broadside: Taking Aim at Business (posterous)

Does your Blog have Feet?

2008-11-26T12:52:00.001-05:00

Are you using your footer to best advantage:
http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/galleries/blog-footers/

Posted by email from Broadside: Taking Aim at Business (posterous)

Cultural Giving Survival Tips

2008-11-26T12:26:00.001-05:00

Since I joined the WWW (world wide web for those of you in RL land), I've studied various cultural differences to consider when designing a web site, including how the color blind, those with low vision, the blind see your site and how those with hearing issues and motor control use a site). Adding to this knowledge base are some tips for global giving this year.
http://jan.freedomblogging.com/2008/11/16/daily-tip-dos-and-donts-for-global-gift-giving/4090/

Posted by email from Broadside: Taking Aim at Business (posterous)

for list makers (and those who don't)

2008-11-22T16:16:00.001-05:00

Set up your list, meet your goals, watch others meet theirs.
http://www.43things.com
It's free, tagged and even allows crossing things off your list.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Minding Your Business before Blogging

2008-11-16T11:10:00.001-05:00

Introducing potential customers to your business is critical to success. If you are doing business online, a web site has been the traditional means to introduce your business to others -- and is still necessary.

As the Internet progresses from a static web to a more interactive web (Web 2.0/3.0 --> social media --> social networking), and more businesses jump into blogging, microblogging, building wikis and using social sites (LinkedIn is one such), it is more important than ever to remember your online presence is your identity -- and to take control of that identity and your brand.

As with other aspects of your business, incorporating Web 2.0 into your business plan takes traditional steps. Don't just jump in without consideration.

1. Planning

Plan the subject of your blog and how you will present it. Visually, the blog must be organised and not over complicated and continue your branding. To give yourself a greater chance of being noticed, narrow the focus of your blog to as specific a topic as you can.

2. Content

The more relevant and content you add to your blog the better. Add content consistently, on a regular schedule. Fresh content is more likely to be read and lucrative in terms of marketing, reaching your target customer, and showing your expertise. Make your content keyword rich.

3. Register a domain name

If you have not yet selected a domain, do so. Point your domain to your blog. This gives you more credibility. You will be Mothergeek.com as opposed to mothergeek.blog.com

4. Register your blog at Technorati.

Then...

5. Promote

Spend time getting reactions to your blog. This will increase your blog rank in search engines. Do this in part by cross-posting content at microblogging sites (such as Twitter), on your LinkedIn and Facebook and other social media pages. Direct readers to your blog in your ezine, your voice message and print materials. Don't forget your sigfile (signature file) in your emails and posts/comments on other blogs, including those of your competition.

A tip:

Once your blog is open for business, get a month or more of entries written and posted before promoting your blog to the world.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Obama's Chief Technology Officer

2008-11-15T15:51:00.001-05:00

Vote on the new administration's possible IT "top priorities" (over 500 and counting).
ObamaCTO.org

They are using a sophisticated voting system (right on the home page; great usable design) called
"weighted voting." You get 10 votes and you can give 1, 2, or 3 votes to a particular issue.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Big Brother or Transparent Society?

2008-11-12T11:45:00.001-05:00

Discussion today on one tech list about pipl.com/

A visitor to pipl says, "I am surprised to find the level of personal information displayed. What most concerns me is that it displays not only your birthdate, but that of all your close relatives. What a great tool for identity thieves. I wouldn't be surprised if our SSNs were out there somewhere too Should there not be some protections on the web? This is worse than those Big Brother safe speed cameras!"

Hm. cameras. I am all for a transparent society, but I don't think we'll get there soon (at least in the USA). Suggested reading: David Brin's A Transparent Society.

Pipl seems to be a database collection of the information one has already entered about themselves or linked to others or others who linked to you, such as the genealogy trees at geni.com as one example.

If you don't put the information out there, it cannot be gathered by pipl, supposedly.

If you want to see transparent society in progress, check out what Scotland is doing. The entire country is camera'd. There is an argument to be made that if everyone is watching everyone, then no one will watch. Similar to if everyone's social security number is available, then no one can be frauded. By a stretch, one can extrapolate to prohibition and the drug culture. Prohibit something and it becomes more desirable. Make it legal and not secret and you take away the challenge to try a forbidden fruit.

I am sure, if you search hard enough and have the right information, you can find anyone's SSN.

That leads to "are you the weakest link?" I penned an article about this a while ago:
http://e-spectator.blogspot.com/search?q=weakest+link

If you search for "divulge password for chocolate " in your favorite search engine, you'll find that more than 50% of men and women traded personal information for a chocolate bar in a test by a security firm. To be devil's advocate, do consider that people may also be giving fake information to get the candy reward.

My conclusion is to protect as much as you wish. Do remember technology is here to stay, is rapidly expanding and there is little control over who posts what. Controlling your personal and business brand is critical. It's important to establish a presence at every social networking site you learn about -- not just one SN site. This is a topic for another post on another day.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Billions and Billions

2008-11-12T08:28:00.001-05:00

According to Paul Harvey, the US presidential political campaigns spent just over $5 billion this campaign season. And Americans spent $6 billion for Halloween candy. I am not sure any of us have our priorities straight.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Are we communicating or talking?

2008-11-09T16:13:00.001-05:00

"I know that you believe

that you understood

what you think I said,

but I am not sure you realize

that what you heard is not

what I meant."

- Robert McCloskey

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Intellectual Property - Who Owns It In This Digital Age?

2008-11-09T07:38:00.001-05:00

Recently on another list, a question was posed:

Can anyone advise me as to how to save a HTML webpage into a word document? As a freelance journalist, I really need this because public links to my published work often go dead, or inaccessible, once they are archived. So saving in this way enables me to send the sample/piece as a word document.

Is this legal (the saving as a word document of someone else's work, whether web page or article, to send to others)? I don't believe so in the general case. It could be argued you are not saving the HTML code in the first instance if you actually strip out the HTML. A creative commons license should protect your rights to your content.

However, who does own what you have written? There is lots of information on the Web and elsewhere about this: intellectual property rights.

As a content creator, you need to know your rights before taking an assignment, before syndicating your work through RSS feeds, before signing contracts. These include ownership, rights to publish in other publications, and most importantly, rights to use published works as samples for other jobs.

If you do own your work, why not publish your articles on your own web site, with a notation of where they were published (i.e., The Local News, March 1990, page 2, section Home)? This allows someone wanting to verify your published works a way to search archives.

There are other ways of maintaining links without your own web page if you, not the publisher, own your works. One is to upload your writing to one or more of the dozens of web sites looking for content. Another is to find the archived link from the publication and use that link when you are referring people to your work.

What do you do to protect your intellectual property rights?

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

A business lesson: Patience is its own reward.

2008-11-09T07:23:00.001-05:00

Once I met this wino and he was eating some grapes, and I said, "Dude, you have to wait".

-- Mitch Hedburg, American comedian

Mr. Hedburg passed away in March 2005. His legacy of humor and our interpretations and reactions is, in a sense, what business is like: a legacy wherein we enthuse others around us with the same sense of pleasure we get in living our business, developing it, working the crowd until they "get it," and then delighting in their enjoyment.

Our clients are our audience. Our business philosophy is the one-liner. Our success is gauged by the laughter -- and is often more rewarding when it takes a few seconds for the audience to "get it" and their laughter to begin. Take a laugh break every day, then get back to work -- you'll enjoy it to the end.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Obama/Biden positions on women's issues and concerns

2008-11-08T09:54:00.001-05:00

Here’s a link to important information about what we may expect from the President Elect’s new administration regarding its position on women’s issues and concerns: http://www.change.gov/agenda/women/

A lot of what is written at at this link is important. It's good to know the incoming administration's stand is supportive of women's issues. It will be interesting to see how it works out in reality. Without continued diligence and watching and participation (remember, women in the USA have only had the right to vote for just over 1/3 of our country's history), a lot of this may just be talk. I hope you all, women and men, will continue to push for the important planks, however you personally define these, and not let language obscure real information.

Real issues include health care (including lung disease, which is not mentioned on this web page). If one reads carefully, some of these platforms may just be a way to take credit for some "issues" when there really are not problems. One plank promotes women in math and science. This is a good goal but can we force an interest in science and math on young women? This plank of states Obama/Biden "believe" women should have equal access to math and science and technology courses. Well, of course they should have equal access.

Nothing is said about how the new administration will do this nor why they believe equal access is not being offered. This is not the only plank written in this manner.

Our watch should be that these lesser (or even non-) issues not be used as press pieces for promoting progress, while the real issues do not move forward.

We won't all agree on what is critical in women's issues, but we should remain vigilant. We should not get caught in the rhetoric.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

do the eyes have it? how to blog for business successfully....

2008-11-02T16:17:00.001-05:00

"The eye you see is not an eye because you see it; it is an eye because it sees you."

I found this quotation the other day with no author attributed. It resonated with me as I am a devotee of a transparent society and figured this a good quote to lead into that discussion (big brother, cameras in public places, who is watching whom).

But...

...in a few weeks, I am discussing, at an event for women who own technology businesses, why and how to blog for business. A lot of advice for successful blogging includes focus on the reader who is your customer. Move away from talking about yourself (a business blog is not the personal diary that a lot of us think of as blogging -- it is your personal business voice!).

A successful blog is your personal business voice solving your customers' problems. You are building relationships with your customers. Be yourself. Be professional. But talk about your customer. Ask what your customer needs.

Ask a question. Ask your customer to comment and share her experiences. Create a dialogue. Your marketing materials, especially your online interactions, are designed to create long-term relationships -- they are no longer mere selling tools. Look at yourself and your message through your readers' eyes with the goal of converting your reader to your customer. When the eye sees you, you'll have a customer and a successful blog.

I look forward to hearing about your blog successes.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Seth Godin's sad thoughts

2008-10-25T18:23:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite authors, Seth Godin, comments on marketing shortcuts.

and I respond:

A bit of background (read more at his web site and/or Wikipedia). Mr. Godin is a recognized marketing guru, who was in the right place at the right time as the Internet exploded. He was first a marketing brand manager and then and now a writer. He uses his marketing experience well, even fleshing out the footnotes and signature files at the end of his blog posts.

While this is a sales pitch for squidoo (and if you have not tried squidoo, do check it out), it is well couched in benefit talk so the subliminal message (and a challenge: make money, work with my program) is just that: subliminal -- even appealing to your emotions (he feels sad...).

Mr. Godin is right on the money when he talks about which social media applications do you work with, where do you find the time, which will work for your target audience and business goals. This is similar to shopping around for TVs, computers, automobiles, linens, banks, almost any consumer product. Once a Ford driver, probably almost always a Ford driver. Brand loyalty has not yet caught up with social media. Seth Godin and hundreds of others are working toward this.

Branding: is this important? Does a company need to control and manage its social networking brand? Yes. Controlling your brand on the Internet is a bit difficult and takes time and planning and, in this time of everyone becoming a consultant and/or expert on social marketing, vigiliance and diligence. This is important for business branding, and critical for one's personal brand.

Marketing: do we reach our target audience everywhere? With the Internet, that is the expectation and a distinct possibility. Costs are low or free. It is only takes your time. My take on time is to spend 5 minutes a day marketing. Consistency and continuing presence will do more for your outreach and viral marketing, than, as Seth notes also, flitting from pillar to post (or from the latest gadget or tech tool to the next).

This said, it is, imo, critical to establish a presence wherever your target audience is. It is also important to remember your target audience is not necessarily actively online. Some industries have made this breakthrough (health, green, consumer report/research, appliances and automotive come to mind) where the target audience goes to the Internet for information and resources, as well as for pre-purchasing. If your target audience is not online 24/7 (and yes, those of us online 24/7 are still mostly tech-interested people talking to others who have discovered cyberspace), why make it difficult for them to find you somewhere in the Web 2.0 sphere? Go where they are when they are online.

Do your consumer research to find which Web 2.0 application works best for your goals, your work habits, your allotted time. Select one program and go with it. Do keep abreast of new opportunities. With the applications which are now your second and third choices, create a minimal presence. This protects your identity. Provide a link to your chosen application (LinkedIn, Facebook, Plaxo, whichever). When invited to join another network, politely explain your reasons for not joining, offering an opportunity to join your network at your primary location.

If you are regularly writing a newsletter or sales piece, do figure a way to post it simultaneously to several article sites. Again, this requires a bit of research to discover where your target audience is reading.

Finally, do spend some time on popular blogs in your subject. Make comments. Add a link to your web site or blog. Become a recognized expert and watch your traffic as well as press increase.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

how to get the most from the organizations to which you pay dues

2008-10-25T12:45:00.001-04:00

Just show up. Join a committee and participate as fully as you can -- sometimes this means just actively voting. There is little personal gain from just paying dues.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

time management with microblogging tools

2008-10-25T12:43:00.001-04:00

I asked this question, how do you find time to blog, in a few social networking groups and will share some answers from time to time.

One response I got was to set objectives and then follow up with a time management program.

While this is true: we should have objectives and time management, and we should identify goals, I am interested in how, once we set up our system/s, we assist clients in maintaining the pace for the long run. This is what I've been working toward for my clients. Microblogging tools, such as posterous, are the next logical step in time management and communication.

Email is still the most used communication tool. Microblogging expands email as a tool in one of the giant leaps in email since its inception.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Today's serendip: quotes from Andrew Grove

2008-10-25T12:35:00.001-04:00

What we now take for granted as linking and the spider web that is the World Wide Web used to be serendipity. Here is my today's serendipity: some quotes from Andrew Grove, the 3rd employee of Intel and past CEO and Chairman of the Board.

"When TV first came, people tried to look at it as a radio with pictures. We're at the stage now where the Internet is TV with poor connections."

No year was given for this quotation. I am guessing it was early on in the development of the Internet. Although some of us would say we still have poor connections.

"Just as you would not permit a fellow employee to steal a piece of office equipment, you shouldn't let anyone walk away with the time of his fellow managers."

This is a key that entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers (especially family managers) need to learn by heart. Time is valuable. We hear that a lot as we grow up. Often it takes an event to make this stick. Or, as with fine wine, it takes some aging. The event in my life and my age coincided. It is often difficult to learn to value your knowledge. It can be done with practice. And it is certainly worthwhile.

"Stressing output is the key to improving productivity, while looking to increase activity can result in just the opposite."
"Technology happens, it's not good, it's not bad. Is steel good or bad?"

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Leadership Lessons (thanks to Leadership Montgomery, MD)

2008-10-25T12:11:00.001-04:00

Learn from others about leadership:

http://tinyurl.com/6x2bag

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Managing your Social Web 2.0 Network

2008-10-19T09:53:00.001-04:00

I asked members of several groups in which I participate how they manage business blogging. Most of the responses were setting goals, objectives and hitting the target audience. A few were not to mix professional and personal blogging. One was to beware what one is sharing with the competition to which the response was to spread FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt).

While setting goals and knowing your audience are necessary for most successful endeavors, once the goals are identified and the systems set up, what tools do we use for maintaining the pace for the long run? I am using microblogging via email, such as Posterous. It is a major timesaver and is the next step forward in the tech revolution.

Your tools need to work for you. Try them out. Settle on those that enhance your work habits. Do keep abreast of new tools as refinements in these virtual tools will continue to increase your productivity.
--
--
mothergeek.com
businessherway.net

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Besides the obvious

2008-10-14T18:11:00.001-04:00

A client asks:

Besides the obvious --name, address and description --, what are the 3 most important things on a small business website today?

I suggest these:

Call to action - let the end user define the usage of the site. What is the action you want your site visitors to successfully complete?

Tone - is your site "me, me, me" or "you, you, you" Talk to me about the benefits to me of using your product. Don't tell me about you.

Unique perspective. Why should I use your service, purchase your product, spend time on your site? Make it simple. Use the belts and suspenders design.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Tools of the Trade: social browsers, microblogs

2008-09-13T09:19:00.001-04:00

Dear eSpectator:

I recently asked at some of my groups if IM'ing reduced workplace interruptions, adding to work efficiency or decreasing it, citing this study: http://tinyurl.com/59tk4h (2007).

One person responded, "it's not just ADHD people who lose focus with IM, texts and pings twirl or tweetdeck, but all of us suffer. A recent Wall Street Journal article on the topic shows it takes 30 minutes to get back on task after ANY interruption.

That said, IM is a valuable tool, used wisely can aid productivity and connectivity not hinder it.."

I so agree and have been testing this through the use of some microblogging tools, social browsers and even mailtags (see earlier post (8/19) on this).

/gayley

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Google Suggest now live

2008-08-27T16:08:00.001-04:00

Google Suggest is now live:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/at-loss-for-words.html

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Web Design Headache #25* - How to ask

2008-08-25T14:54:00.001-04:00

Request:

I am the manger of communications for a nonprofit organization, looking for a web designer who can help me create a new site.

I have some web design experience and have built a few sites but I'm looking for a professional who can help me set up a more complex site which I will maintain. I'd like to be able to go to them from time to time if I have any trouble with the site. It has to be someone who is easy to work with, reliable, and available during the work day. I'd also need someone who is patient with my somewhat limited understanding and ability.

It would also be a plus to find someone willing to offer me some limited amount of training/support, which we would pay for. Not a bunch, but if we work well together and it helps me with my daily updates of the site that
would be great (but not necessary).

I am hoping to find someone who is also willing to offer us a nonprofit rate since we do not have that big of a budget for this--though we do want to adequately pay you for your work.

If you or someone you know is interested, please send a resume, your rates, your availability.

Response:

One immediate question is does the nonprofit have its own server? In that case, maintenance might include working with/hiring a web design firm/person who can maintain the server (or the nonprofit may have that contracted already).

Training is another subject. You don't say for what you need training, which will refine your search and interview process a bit, as well as give those who respond, especially with, as you ask, a resume and rates, a better opportunity to tailor our responses to fit your needs and your budget.

You mention you have some design skills while at the same time stating you are limited in understanding and ability. Specifically mentioning the skills you lack (i.e., CSS, scripting) and the skills you need (graphic design or web coding), will get you to the right person quicker -- and save those firms who are considering your RFP time and energy if they can't meet your needs.

Budget is another subject altogether. If there is no budget created, do so immediately. The budget process will focus the nonprofit on its goals for the web site, as well as what is actually needed and what can be built/designed for the future.

As a communications manager, you know the necessity of well-written content, developed for the web. This may be another skill to add to your RFP. You also know the value of a good marketing plan (both on and off line). I don't see these mentioned in your request. It is critical to a good web site and the time and money spent on creating it, to know how to publicize it to the world -- as well as to understand its function and what action visitors are expected to take.

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

best practices for email: subject and sender lines

2008-08-19T16:27:00.001-04:00

Gaby - I would err on the side of convention this time. I suppose the sender line could say "thanks for joining XXX organization" and kill two stones with one bird.

There are reasons for conventions. Subject lines are threads of a conversation and should be changed when the topic changes.

Sender lines are good indicators of spam and unwanted emails (much as caller ID).

My guess is without a clear sender, auto spam filters will kick in on some or all emails without clear senders, to say nothing of "is the sender in my address book" preferences.

Filtering is not just for spam. It is also for sending emails to the proper folder for efficient filing and responding.

In this regard, for all mac users out there, if you have not played with MailTags, you should. What a boon to color coding and tagging emails.

/gayley

On Aug 19, 2008, at 4:17 PM, GG wrote:

> Do you know of any good resources to learn about best practices for
> emails? In addition to e-newsletters, my organization sends out
> auto-confirmation emails when people join, donate, sign up for
> something, etc., and someone recently raised the question of varying > or
> tailoring the sender (alias) so the inbox would show the sender as
> "Thanks for joining" instead of "Organization Name". To me, the > subject
> line is where you communicate that kind of sentiment. Is the sender
> something you play around with?

Posted by email from Broadside (posterous)

Do Your Part! Uncle Spam Wants You! Take Back Your Email Box!

2004-02-26T11:42:00.001-05:00

As of January 1, 2004, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 took effect. This law requires all commercial email communications must include a physical address, opt-out instructions, and prohibits deceptive subject lines and headers. While this law is aimed at unsolicited email, particularly from anonymous senders, it clearly defines commercial electronic mail messages as "any electronic mail message the primary purpose of which is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product or service (including content on an Internet website operated for a commercial purpose).

Transactional and relationship messages are particularly excluded in the above definition. A reference or link to a company or web site may also be excluded.

If your business sends email for marketing or other purposes, answer the questions below to see if you are inadvertently adding to the proliferation of spam.

Read more about the federal law at:
http://www.spamlaws.com

Consider taking the "Email Marketing Pledge" at: http://www.networkadvertising.org

Take the Spam Test

1. Are you importing a purchased list of ANY kind?

2. Are you sending to non-specific addresses such as: * sales@domain.com, business@domain.com,
webmaster@domain.com, info@domain.com, or other general addresses.

3. Are you sending to distribution lists or mailing lists which send indirectly to a variety of email addresses?

4. Are you mailing to anyone who has not explicitly agreed to join your mailing list?

5. Have you falsified your originating address or transmission path information?

6. Have you used a third party email address or domain name without their permission?

7. Does your email's subject line contain false or misleading information?

8. Does your email fail to provide a working link to unsubscribe?

If you have answered YES to ANY of the above questions you will likely be labeled a SPAMMER. For more information, proposed solutions, and resources, visit http://www.cauce.org (The Coalition Against Unsolicited Email).