Internet Research - Illustrated (Illustrated (Thompson Learning)) Review

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Internet Research - Illustrated (Illustrated (Thompson Learning)) ReviewThe book is very low on information.
If you've used a computer for at least 2 years this will teach you absolutely nothing.
$20 for a paperback book that is thinner than a quarter.
Bought this for a class,
Be better off mooching off someone else or maybe just winging to topicInternet Research - Illustrated (Illustrated (Thompson Learning)) OverviewWith both conceptual and step-by-step lessons, this book teaches learners the strategies and skills required to use the Internet as a valuable research tool. Updated for currency, this title includes information about search toolbars and the latest advances in intelligent search agents, as well as finding, evaluating, and citing online sources.

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Videoblogging For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) Review

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Videoblogging For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) ReviewVideoblogging is one way for people to record their thoughts, advertise a service or product, and/or get their message across to Internet viewers without spending a lot of time and money with recording studios and the like. Stephanie Bryant who clearly has quite a bit of experience with videoblogging has done a great job in explaining how the average person can become a "videoblogger." Using a casual writing style (I love chapter titles like "I Vant to Vatch Your Vlog), she breaks down the steps involved in getting a successful videoblog off the ground and onto a web site.
She starts off with an overview of what videoblogs are, why you'd want to watch and/or make your own videoblog, and the various kinds of people who are videoblogging. Subsequent chapters detail items like the tools needed to do a successful videoblog (they're not as expensive as you might think), the physical "process" involved in shooting a videoblog and then converting it to a format your computer can understand. Part II of the book details the "behind the scenes activities," things like figuring out who your audience is, getting comfortable behind a video camera, and scripting the show you want to present. Having done some TV work in college many years ago, I discovered some of the same concepts apply here as well as doing a TV production.
Stephanie in Part 3 details the "physical production aspects" of videoblogging: actually shooting it, editing it, adding sound, and saving it to the 'Net. And finally, there's the task of hosting your files online, syndicating them, adding to them, and of course publicizing them. The book's Part of Tens include "Ten Core Vlogs to Watch," which give you ideas on how successful videoblogs are put together.
Stephanie has done a wonderful job in demystifying the world of videoblogging.Videoblogging For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) OverviewHave you ever felt the urge to share the entertaining and insightful things that happen in your everyday world? Got a message you'd like to get across to others? A cause you want people to support? A videoblog allows you to share whatever you choose in a colorful, interesting way that gets attention—and furthermore, videoblogging is fun!
Grab Videoblogging For Dummies and put your videoblog on the fast track. You'll see how to
Gather and use videoblogging tools
Decide what you want your videoblog to do
Plan content and edit your footage
Set up a video hosting account and post your videoblog
Create a complete "show"
Videoblog safely, without compromising your security or others' privacy

Of course, a great way to get an idea of what you want to do with your videoblog (or vlog, as you'll be calling it when you're an insider) is to check out other people's vlogs. You'll find information about that in Videoblogging For Dummies too, including where to find videoblogs and how to set up RSS feeds. And you'll see how vlogs can affect public opinion, offer fresh viewpoints, and be terrifically entertaining.
Written by a true videoblogging pioneer —Stephanie Cottrell Bryant launched her first vlog in 2005, and now presents seminars on videoblogging topics—Videoblogging For Dummies gives you the scoop on
Choosing hardware and software you need to get started, plus an idea of what it's going to cost
Adding the extra bells and whistles and professional touches that will get your vlog noticed
Deciding whether to script your vlog or make it "reality TV", dealing with "vid fright", and making other people comfortable before your camera
Finding out who your audience is, getting feedback, and fine-tuning your vlog
Giving your vlog a clear identity
Becoming a citizen journalist, an advocate, or a small-screen movie producer
Editing, adding soundtracks, working with file formats, and publicizing your vlog

Videoblogging lets you showcase your art, keep in touch with friends and family, make new friends, or do your part to help solve the world's problems. Videoblogging For Dummies is the fun and easy way to get started!

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The Rough Guide to the Internet 13 (Rough Guide Reference) Review

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The Rough Guide to the Internet 13 (Rough Guide Reference) ReviewI came to Amazon today to order this book after borrowing the 2006 edition from the library. If this book doesn't answer your questions and help expand the Web's utility for you, you're either dead or a black belt geek.The Rough Guide to the Internet 13 (Rough Guide Reference) Overview
This multi-million-selling Internet book is still the ultimate handbook for novices and experts alike. Written in plain English, it covers everything from getting online for the first time to newsfeeds, Internet telephony and advanced tips and tricks guaranteed to turn casual surfers into Net gurus. This fully revised guide covers all the latest sites and crazes, including Skype, blogging, myspace and other social networks and online video. Whether you've never sent an email or you just want to keep up with the latest developments, this is the book for you.


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What No One Ever Tells You About Blogging and Podcasting: Real-Life Advice from 101 People Who Successfully Leverage the Power of the Blogosphere Review

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What No One Ever Tells You About Blogging and Podcasting: Real-Life Advice from 101 People Who Successfully Leverage the Power of the Blogosphere Review
Yesterday I read Blogging for Business (ISBN: 1419536451) also written by Mr. Demopoulos. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to read the instant book being reviewed that he just had published. Let me tell you, I wasn't disappointed to read two books in two days by the same author on the same subject. I highly recommend both to people who run their own small consulting practices and are comfortable using Internet tools to help market their practices. If you use article writing, book writing, seminar/workshop presentations, public speaking, and Web sites to promote yourself, then do yourself a favor and get these two books to help you incorporate blogs and blogging into your marketing repertoire.
Between the two books I actually liked the instant book being reviewed better. Both books seemed to cover the same material, but from a different perspective. I regularly tell my clients to read three books on any subject they want to become expert on. Usually that means they need to get three books on writing business plans, but if someone wants to become an expert on blogs and blogging for business these two books will fit two-thirds of the reading requirement.
The "blog entries" in this book are grouped into 8 topics:
1. The basics
2. Some business uses of blogs & podcasts
3. Planning your blog
4. Making money
5. Promoting your blog & tracking statistics
6. Podcast specific topics
7. Other blog & podcast considerations
8. The future
My favorite topics were 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8. I especially loved Topic 3 regarding how to plan your blog or blogs. It's very difficult to just throw together a blog and expect it to help your business get and retain paying clients. You have to write content for your blog that your clients and prospects will like and value. If you do, then those people are more likely to seek your services that you sell for a fee. If you don't, then chances are your blog won't benefit you financially. Of course, it takes planning to be able to hit your targets with your blog(s).
I was happy to not see a topic on building a blog in this book. I would have liked this book more if it had included more stories on how bloggers get their content AND THE INS AND OUTS OF WRITING THEIR BLOGS. Just think, if this author were to write a book just on that subject, then I could recommend THREE books on blogging for someone to read who wants to become an expert on blogging. Writing three great books on the same subject would be quite a feat. 5 stars!What No One Ever Tells You About Blogging and Podcasting: Real-Life Advice from 101 People Who Successfully Leverage the Power of the Blogosphere OverviewAs all these people become publishers – and even more become blog readers – the nature of the material being produced has moved into the realms of politics, professions and consumerism. For example, "Engadget" is one of the more popular blogs, a daily review of newfangled and exciting gadgets. Blogs and Blogging in business are relatively new, so new that there simply are no rules. If there were rules, they would be changing and evolving too rapidly to codify. The best anyone can say is "here is some advice based on what is working today, combined with a good dollop of common sense." As a result, this topic fits the What No One Ever Tells You series format perfectly!Despite their "newness," blogs have rapidly proven themselves in business. They serve several functions valiantly, including: communicating with customers, potential customers, and other stakeholders, as a research tool to help uncover what is being said about you, your company, your competitors, and your industry, and even as a type of broadcast medium as some are making significant money by monetizing blog traffic through advertising and other means. Instead of offering our advice on blogs and blogging in business, in this book we offer advice from 101 people who are successfully harnessing the power of blogging.

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WordPress 2.7 Complete Review

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WordPress 2.7 Complete ReviewThis book helped me figure out how to convert an existing site to a WordPress theme, an especially challenging project since my existing html page design didn't have any clear header, middle, footer arrangement. I was able to figure out where I wanted to take things with my own theme development mostly from reading Chapter 6. (Getting under the engine with the WP template tags is far more empowering than following a tutorial that has you start out by fiddling around with an image in Photoshop.) Well written, too.WordPress 2.7 Complete OverviewWritten in a clear, easy-to-read style, the book takes you through the essential tasks required to create a feature-rich blog as quickly as possible. From initial setup to customizing modules, each task is explained in a clear, practical way using an example blog developed through the book. This book is a guide to WordPress for both beginners and those who are slightly more advanced. It's for people who are new to blogging and want to create their own blogs in a simple and straightforward manner, and it's also for people who want to learn how to customize and expand the capabilities of a WordPress web site. It does not require any detailed knowledge of programming or web development, and any IT-confident user will be able to use the book to produce an impressive blog.

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WordPress MU 2.8: Beginner's Guide Review

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WordPress MU 2.8: Beginner's Guide ReviewWordPress MU, especially with the BuddyPress set of plug-ins, is a powerful and flexible framework that power a company blog or social networking site. WordPress MU 2.8: Beginner's Guide overall is a good introduction to these tools, and even for an experienced WordPress person I found some useful tips and valuable additions to my WordPress `tool belt'. But the book is also not without its flaws.
Where the author gets technical, with step-by-step instructions, it suffers. In part because plug-ins or features describes are not quite correct, or things have changed. In part because the focus on the technical is at the expense of an overall viewpoint -- classic forest vs. trees types of views. For instance in the second chapter she details how to get your WordPress MU installation set up in a locally run web server utilizing WAMP server. But most local web servers installed on a personal computer don't play well with the subdomain-style blog naming she recommends. To her defense if you follow her instructions to the letter it works as she describes, but if you choose to add blogs or alter the names she uses you'll get lost fast.
The chapters that really shine are later in the book, where she gives an overview of a subject -- security, increasing traffic, making it 'sticky', and monetizing it -- walks through the issue, and then provides a couple of sample methods or plug-ins. If this book is truly for the beginner, this type of overview with not just hows, but whys, is really what is needed. A real beginner needs to understand how to plan and use the site -- technical details such as editing their .htaccess file seems like more than they need to know. That kind of stuff can easily be found on-line - or maybe on wiki tied to the book that allows reader contributions and supplemental material.
I am happy I read the book, and it will be a valued resource on my bookshelf. If you have been running your own WordPress site, or are an experienced web developer looking to explorer the many exciting possibilities that WordPress MU/BuddyPress has to offer, this is a good resource to start with. If you are really a beginner, you might want to start smaller, or find an experienced friend to help you get started.WordPress MU 2.8: Beginner's Guide OverviewPacked with easy-to-follow examples and screenshots, this book is designed to be followed from beginning to end, although those with existing WordPress MU sites will be able to jump in at the later chapters and pick out the things that are important to them. The author's expertise with creating a wide variety of WordPress sites enables her to share insights on using WordPress effectively, in a clear and friendly way. Those interested in digging further will be given the chance to customize their site further. Throughout the book, you will build up a blog network for Vampire Slayers - SlayerCafe.com, as an example. If you wish to manage multiple blogs and build a blog network, then this book is for you. You are not expected to be experienced with PHP coding. Some knowledge of HTML, and some experience with the blogging and social networking world will be helpful, but not essential.

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Blogs. Wikipedia. Second Life. and Beyond (Digital Formations) Review

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Blogs. Wikipedia. Second Life. and Beyond (Digital Formations) ReviewI read this book as part of my graduate studies in communication at the University of Utah. I stumbled upon the author, but when I read this book, I knew I was on to something.
Bruns covers a lot of ground in this book, providing a good overview of the current state of online information production. The book focuses on collaborative information production and how this is disrupting "industrial" forms of content creation. Anyone familiar with Bruns' previous book, "Gatewatching," will find this book to be an excellent extension of that work.
Bruns' key discussion in "Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond" is how the audience has moved from users to "produsers," a term he coined. Scholars and general observers alike will find his analysis helpful and well written. Most of the book is composed of insightful case studies. It's definitely worth a look.Blogs. Wikipedia. Second Life. and Beyond (Digital Formations) OverviewWe—the users turned creators and distributors of content—are TIMEÂ's Person of theYear 2006, and AdAgeÂ's Advertising Agency of the Year 2007. We form a new Generation C. We have MySpace, YouTube, and OurMedia; we run social software, and drive the development of Web 2.0. But beyond the hype, whatÂ's really going on? In this groundbreaking exploration of our developing participatory online culture, Axel Bruns establishes the core principles which drive the rise of collaborative content creation in environments, from open source through blogs and Wikipedia to Second Life. This book shows that whatÂ's emerging here is no longer just a new form of content production, but a new process for the continuous creation and extension of knowledge and art by collaborative communities: produsage. The implications of the gradual shift from production to produsage are profound, and will affect the very core of our culture, economy, society, and democracy. Building on an analysis of key sites including Wikipedia, Flickr, YouTube, and Second Life, it explores the intellectual, technological, and social implications of produsage, as well as the legal and economic models employed by produsage projects. In doing so, the book highlights the implications of produsage for our culture, democracy, and society.

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Marketing Is A Contact Sport: Make Contact Through Blogs, Seo (Search Engine Optimization), Search And Social Marketing Review

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Marketing Is A Contact Sport: Make Contact Through Blogs, Seo (Search Engine Optimization), Search And Social Marketing ReviewThis book provided an overview of the importance of blogging for SEO purposes, but offered no real detail in the methods to get it done. The author spent to much time promoting his web site and creating bloat in an already small book. It could have offered much more detail on subjects such as social media sites and keyword research tools.Marketing Is A Contact Sport: Make Contact Through Blogs, Seo (Search Engine Optimization), Search And Social Marketing OverviewBlogs & Social Marketing are key In tough Economic times like now, It's even more important to save money with Do-it-your-self SEO, use blogging and Social networking for Internet Marketing.Blogs are at the heart of Internet Marketing, and they can help you promote your business.You will learn the secrets of Blogs, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), Search Marketing, and Social Marketing to grow you business. The book brings in strategies to help win friends and influence people, a key trait in the world of Social and Business networking.It shows new paradigm of Internet marketing, and easy to use SEO, how to write blogs, and join social networks to promote your business.There are many topics on Blogs and how to write compelling content to increase your internet marketing effectiveness, so that the Search Engines find your blogs through the method of SEO.This book could quite possibly be the best investment you make in marketing your business, especially Internet Marketing.

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Social Networking for Business: Choosing the Right Tools and Resources to Fit Your Needs Review

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Social Networking for Business: Choosing the Right Tools and Resources to Fit Your Needs ReviewRawn Shah's book, Social Networks for Business, is a top down technical view on implementing social media. He provides a view of social networking that will appeal to IT professionals as it is based on a premise that social networking is a technology that should be structured and controlled at the center like other technologies. While this is possible, the advice Shah offers is based on the fundamentals that if you build it right, manage it right, then they will come.
That logic is simple but it assumes that business professionals are users of the technology rather than creators of the solutions that operate on a social network. That last piece is important as those following the advice in this book bear a high probability of simply recreating existing low value low activity intranet portals and knowledge bases in new social networking clothing.
A warning that this is a rather lengthy review in order to explain why I see the book as technically correct but not enough to address the issues fully. Shah is not wrong, its rather he is narrow in the ability to his advice to work beyond his experience and he is looking at the issue with an established techno-management lens that does not capture the potential of these new technologies. Perhaps no book can capture it all, in which case this becomes part of a social media library and body of study.
That has been my observation at more than two dozen companies I have met all of whom have the same question "We, meaning IT, have built a social network with all the bells and whistles but no one wants to use it." The reason behind the low use is in the question itself. Social networks are not built and provided by one party for others to use. Social networks are not software in the traditional sense, but generative technologies that require engaging the business in their creation of the applications that matter.
My intent in this review is not to degrade Shah's work. The book is first rate, complete, well written and very thoughtful. Its just that Shah's application of traditional heavy weight IT management principles do not consider the idea that the business, not IT builds the solutions. This is understandable as the author comes from IBM and the advice he provides reflects their unique sales/engineering culture that looks for structure and unfortunately is unique to Big Blue. There is nothing wrong with IBM, the same way that there is nothing wrong with the advice in this book.
Readers need to be aware that this book treats social networking as a management and technical issue. A view that I have observed is incomplete at best and detrimental to the enterprise efforts to gain the collaboration, knowledge sharing and flexibility needed to compete in this environment.
Shah recognizes this issue, devoting five of the ten chapters to issues related to the social system. Unfortunately here he takes a technical management view defining the roles, governance and structures required to set up a central management of the network. The work is good and complete down to salary ranges for community managers and their assigned work tasks. I can see this working in a highly structured culture where people look for the right way to contribute before making a contribution. The issue with gaining value from social networking is not that they do not have enough management; it is more like they do not have enough emphasis on the social systems. In this regard I like Seth Godin's notion of mavens as a lightweight structure to make the social systems work.
Strengths:
*Comprehensive in addressing the management and technical issues involved in implementing social networks in a modern top down corporation
*Strong focus on defining terms and laying out the taxonomy of social networking
*Chapter 10 the last chapter's first few pages summarizes a strong definition of social media and networking. It should have appeared in the first chapter as it sets a good context for the book
*Proves technical and operational management best practices for those technologies
*Clearly written and focused as it delivers a significant amount of information in 162 pages.
Challenges
*The absence of examples is regrettable, as we need to see how these practices work in reality rather than being described in the abstract. Changing social relationships is always contextually heavy and some examples would have gone a long way to addressing the points mentioned earlier.
*The book does not address business issues that can be addressed by social networking. The focus of the social networking solutions implied by the book is in terms of people using wiki's, blogs and the like rather tan what the business uses the tools to accomplish.
*The view of social networking as fundamentally a technical and central management issue. This is despite the fact that Shah offers models that are not based on central control like the starfish model. Unfortunately as he goes to illustrate potential applications the management structure turns out to be centralized more often than not (Chapter 5).
*The book outlines solutions that are dependent on the authors experience within IBM and that colors the recommendations and views. IBM is mentioned sporadically throughout the book and while they have accomplished a lot using social networking, the book is a little too IBM centric to be viewed as an entirely independent analysis of what works in the market place. This does not make what Shah writes wrong - it just makes it narrow in is potential application.
*Social behavior is assumed to come from management structures rather than the motivation and interest of people. This gives the reader the feeling that a top down approach, driven by sponsors can tacitly coerce collaboration out of a corporation.
Shah's book brings a technical set of practices that compliment McAfee's business-social definitions in his book Enterprise 2.0. This is a good thing and readers will find value. However they must recognize the limitations and implied mental models found in the book.
I need structure for social networking and this book does a good job of describing structure. However, you need the right social systems first as no amount of structure will overcome weak social dynamics and create value.Social Networking for Business: Choosing the Right Tools and Resources to Fit Your Needs OverviewThe First Best-Practice Guide to Executing Any Type of Social Computing ProjectOrganizations today aren't just participating in social networking, collaborative computing, and online communities--they are depending on those communities to play crucially important roles in their business. But these collaborative environments don't just manage themselves: To succeed, they must be guided and nurtured carefully, actively, and intelligently.In Social Networking for Business, Rawn Shah brings together patterns and best practices drawn from his extensive experience managing worldwide online communities at IBM and participating in social networking on the Internet. Drawing on multiple real-world examples, Shah identifies key success factors associated with launching social networking projects to meet business objectives and guides you through managing the crucial "micro-challenges" you'll face in keeping them vibrant.• From mega-trends to micro-issues Mastering both high-level strategy and day-to-day, ground-level management• Defining the social experience you want to provide to your community Clarifying how members can join together and collaborate on collective tasks• Focusing on the crucial human factors Building a culture of engagement in deeper collaborative relationships• Promoting effective leadership and governance Setting ground rules that work appropriately for the situation, without "oppression"• Building the skills to manage and measure your collaborative project Discovering the skills necessary to effectively lead computing projects

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Realty Blogging: Build Your Brand and Out-Smart Your Competition Review

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Realty Blogging: Build Your Brand and Out-Smart Your Competition ReviewReal estate agents certainly have a much harder job today than they did in the pre-Internet days. I often wonder how so many of them continue to make a living when there are a variety of online solutions for buying and selling a house. How do they justify their commission? Stand out in the crowd?
One way to become better known as the local real estate expert, and a very good one, I might add, is to consider getting into the blogosphere. Become the well-known real estate expert in your community. Offer all sorts of great insight on how to prep your house for sale or what to look for in your next home purchase.
If you're in the real estate business or know someone who is, Realty Blogging is a "must read." The authors do a fantastic job of putting everything you need to know about blogging in general, but aimed at the real estate market, in a book that's less than 200 pages long. Much of their advice can also be applied outside of blogging (e.g., positioning yourself as the expert and exploiting niches). Another nice touch is that they not only offer coverage of the more popular blogging platforms, they also set up their own, where readers can start a blog in an environment that's very realtor-friendly.
The best real estate agents also seem to be outstanding at personal networking. Blogging is a natural networking extension, but with the added benefits of being much broader and offering 24/7 access. I know a lot of the real estate agents out there are "old school" and all, but I think any agent without a blog is really missing a huge opportunity. If you're the new real estate agent in the area, what better way to build brand recognition and a following than starting a blog to share your real estate wisdom and advice?
I also like the form factor of this one (small trim size, less than 200 pages, inexpensively priced) and wonder what other vertical segments might be right for a blogging book like this...Realty Blogging: Build Your Brand and Out-Smart Your Competition Overview
Unleash the power of blogging in your real estate business

Are you blogging for your real estate business? Realty Blogging shows you how to fully utilize this powerful, direct-communication marketing tool, giving you all the know-how you need to capture the interest and business of local homeowners, buyers, and sellers.

Drawing upon their extensive experience in blogging, real estate, and online marketing, authors Richard Nacht and Paul Chaney reveal how to:

Develop an effective Internet marketing strategy
Generate leads consistently at almost no cost
Define yourself as an expert in a particular area
Serve your market niche
Establish long-term relationships with your customers
Create content that attracts major search engines
Create buzz about your blog in the media

Plus, you receive a FREE blogging platform and instructional sessions to get you blogging right away!


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Gatewatching (Digital Formations) Review

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Gatewatching (Digital Formations) ReviewBruns analyses the rise of a means of news gathering and dissemination. Where people who are not full time media professionals (or even part time) can contribute comments and other content, like pictures and video, towards a hot topic.
The book is certainly aware of the pitfalls. Like how true or accurate are these observations? Do those commenting have any bias? Actually, perhaps the biggest problem is that much of the spontaneous reporting is simply badly written and thus not that interesting to read.
Even so, the immediacy and breadth of the observations makes this a useful complement to traditional news. The events that occurred after the book was printed - the London subway bombings and Hurrican Katrina, show that a mass audience does exist for this new type of reporting.Gatewatching (Digital Formations) OverviewGatewatching: Collaborative Online News Production is the first comprehensive study of the latest wave of online news publications. The book investigates the collaborative publishing models of key news Websites, ranging from the worldwide Indymedia network to the massively successful technology news site Slashdot, and further to the multitude of Weblogs that have emerged in recent years. Building on collaborative approaches borrowed from the open source software development community, this book illustrates how gatewatching provides an alternative to gatekeeping and other traditional journalistic models of reporting, and has enabled millions of users around the world to participate in the online news publishing process.

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The Social Factor: Innovate, Ignite, and Win through Mass Collaboration and Social Networking Review

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The Social Factor: Innovate, Ignite, and Win through Mass Collaboration and Social Networking ReviewFour signs that you are seriously behind the Internet-driven times: 1) You type "www" in front of Web addresses, 2) You think "geek" is a term of derision, 3) You subscribe to TV Guide and 4) You have a landline. If these descriptions fit you, then you will find Maria Azua's book eye-opening. She describes online developments such as wikis, cloud computing, crowdsourcing, widgets, social bookmarking, folksonomies, avatars and all the rest - and explains what they can do for your business. However, if you are already an experienced social networker, Azua's guide will be a review of familiar information. getAbstract recommends this book to businesspeople who are feeling mystified by the Internet - that is, anyone who needs to update his or her Web skills. Online, it's a new world. Azua's book provides a good map.The Social Factor: Innovate, Ignite, and Win through Mass Collaboration and Social Networking OverviewHarness the Power of Social Networking to Promote Innovation and Drive GrowthA treasure trove of strategic and tactical insights for the business leader

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RSS for Educators: Blogs, Newsfeeds, Podcasts, and Wikis in the Classroom Review

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RSS for Educators: Blogs, Newsfeeds, Podcasts, and Wikis in the Classroom ReviewWhatever happened to Web 1.0? Readers of John Hendron's (2008) book, RSS for Educators, will quickly realize the speed at which web technology has evolved. From its humble Web 1.0 beginnings of one-way, read-only applications on the information highway, we now have two-way, read-write RSS (Really Simple Syndication) apps and tools in a new revolutionary freeway of innovations of computer commuters networked by information using blogs, podcasts, newsfeeds, and wikis. This can be about everything, be from anywhere, happen everywhere, and on all kinds of devices (Wesch, 2008)
For someone who has an older one-way computer background, John Hendron's book is an eye-opener not only for techies, but also especially for educators who must merge into the new-era of Web 2.0 information travels. The new features of this highway are succinctly defined with helpful diagrams picturing Client/Server/Local User paradigms to help us understand where we are located in this interactive information highway called the Internet. For someone who had little background on Web 2.0, this book was very readable with new technologies clearly explained. Much of the author's discussion of blogs, wikis, etc. seamlessly interact with his classroom experience as a teacher and liaison to district administrators and parents, in bringing them together to experience and benefit from the slew of technologies available to help them communicate and better education.
The strength of the book is in its balance of presenting Web 2.0 technologies in a readable but also very technical fashion. Teachers can quickly make progress by using the recommended websites to start blog accounts, wikis, etc. A brief range of the most popular and powerful technologies are presented for the consumer to choose from depending on his/her situation. Whether it is blogs, wikis, podcasts, VoIP, or newsfeeds, the author usually surveys the most effective tools, always giving attention to both platforms, whether it is PC or Macintosh. His only weakness is his unhidden bias for Macs. However, the detail of his interaction with the technology is fair. His treatment of these is up-to-date and current.
In relation to Wikis, John gives helpful examples of using wikis for department meetings, notes, minutes, and even curriculum development. Here is where the "Ah Haa" moments echo where he provides specific uses of wikis from his own educational experience. The technology of Web 2.0 is not confined to the classroom, but transcended by things like videoconferencing, and also usable in teacher business as well as district business. The two-way roads of technology are expanding to the many facets of education.
When it comes to blogging, the author adequately surveys the popular blog resources available to begin web 2.0 applications. Again, both PC and Macintosh platforms are represented. The section does seem overly technical for educators, but as an educator with computer background, I found it very helpful. What I appreciate about Hendron's treatment is the balance of adequate technical help with the creativity of the Web 2.0 applications. Especially eye-opening were the classroom lesson plans using blogging technology to accomplish educational objectives. What administrator would not drop his/her jaw to see this kind of technology used in the classroom to engage and bring much needed collaboration to the classroom using technology? The lessons were replete with collaborative ideas using engaging technology. The only criticism is that the lesson plans did not include a single math lesson. This reviewer is a secondary math teacher.
In the final analysis, the esoteric technical title of the book is actually a rich and readable ride into the revolutionary Web 2.0 technology of not the future, but the present. It's explained clearly across both platforms and surveyed across the most popular tools. This is an excellent primer on information travel for Web 2.0.
RSS for Educators: Blogs, Newsfeeds, Podcasts, and Wikis in the Classroom OverviewA powerful technology, but a simple concept, RSS ('Really Simple Syndication') makes it possible to easily access frequently updated content on the Internet. RSS allows you to 'subscribe' to content and have updates automatically delivered to your computer. Many Web 2.0 tools, including blogs, podcasts, and wikis, have been made even more useful with the advent of RSS technology.
Let expert John Hendron show you how to use a news aggregator to harness the power of RSS for a variety of purposes, including classroom projects, professional development, and keeping students and parents informed.
* Learn how to use free and inexpensive software such as Garage Band and Audacity to manipulate audio files and create podcasts.
* Explore the pros and cons of various blogging platforms.
* Have your students blog, and use RSS to deliver their assignments to you automatically.
With RSS and the Read/Write Web, the possibilities are endless.
A glossary and an extensive list of online resources round out this essential guide to the power of Web syndication.
Topics include:
-Web 2.0-technology integration-curriculum design-curriculum design-blogs-wikis-newsfeeds-podcasts-professional development
Also available:
Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools - ISBN 1564842347 Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education - ISBN 1564842479
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy and leadership for innovation. ISTE is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in PK-12 and teacher education. Home of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), the Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), and ISTE's annual conference (formerly known as the National Educational Computing Conference, or NECC), ISTE represents more than 100,000 professionals worldwide. We support our members with information, networking opportunities, and guidance as they face the challenge of transforming education.
Some of the areas in which we publish are: -Web. 2.0 in the classroom-RSS, podcasts, and more-National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) -Professional development for educators and administrators-Integrating technology into the classroom and curriculum-Safe practices for the Internet and technology-Educational technology for parents

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Clear Blogging: How People Blogging Are Changing the World and How You Can Join Them Review

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Clear Blogging: How People Blogging Are Changing the World and How You Can Join Them ReviewAt my place of employment, I'm getting more and more questions about blogging. What exactly is it, how do you do it, what do I need to know, and can I blog within the company? If I had my way, I'd buy about 25 copies of Clear Blogging: How People Blogging Are Changing the World and How You Can Join Them by Bob Walsh and start handing them out. This is a perfect mix of details, concepts, and guidelines, all packaged up in a very readable (and enjoyable) format. I even picked up a few gems myself...
Content:
Part 1 - Revolution in Progress - Please Make Noise!: Why Blog?; Hooking into the Blogosphere; Getting Started
Part 2 - Building Your Blog: What Do Good Blogs Share?; Building Your Personal Blog; Professionally Blogging, Blogging Professionally; Building Your Company Blog
Part 3 - Secrets of Influential Bloggers: Power Tools for Bloggers; Successful Blogging; The New Fourth Estate; Adding Podcasting to Your Blog; Monetizing Your Blog for Fun and Profit; Building Readership
Part 4 - Blogging Towards the Future: Blogging from the New Front Lines; Welcome to Your Future;
Index
From the technical perspective, he covers how to start a blog in a few of the mainstream offerings... Blogger, Windows Live Spaces, and TypePad. Keeping in mind that these packages can change on a weekly basis, he is clear and concise on how to create the blog and post content. Even if things change, the concepts are pretty much the same, and you can follow along. But fortunately, he doesn't spend a lot of time on the "follow the menus" material. It's the other stuff that is so elusive to explain to newcomers. What makes a good blog? Who's going to read it? What do I write about? And of course, can I make lots of money at this? :) Parts 1 and 2 are the foundations for just about every question I've been asked lately, and Walsh covers it all with a flair. If you could convince rookie bloggers to read and understand things such as voice, audience, and consistency, the long-term success rate of their blogging would rise dramatically. I've made a number of the mistakes that Walsh cautions against, and it would have saved me a few hairs had I known this all three years ago. And if you're not a newbie blogger? Part 3 goes into what I call "power blogger" mode, and discusses more advanced topics like how a blog can generate income, and how you can add podcasts to your blogging repertoire. You don't *have* to do all these things, but they are directions that are worth considering. Again, reading this first before diving in could mean the difference between stepping up to the next level and alienating your audience.
There were a few things that drew me to this book. One is the writing style. I enjoy conversational writing that isn't afraid to have fun and be a little edgy. He definitely fits that criteria, and he's not afraid to offer up his own opinions alongside the facts. The second thing involves the interviews. There are a number of question/answer sessions with big name bloggers, those who have defined the field and who are leading the pack. Learning from them what works and what doesn't is invaluable towards improving your own writing. And finally, each chapter ends with a "Your Action Task" section. It's the "call to action" to actually take the next steps to apply the chapter's material and do it yourself. That focus on practicality and "do it now" drives the reader along and should make for some successful blogging efforts.
If you've been getting the blogging questions coming your way because people know you do that blogging thing, point them towards this book. Between your explanations and the material here, there shouldn't be much left over that your questioner doesn't understand. And I'll venture to guess they'll even have fun getting there...Clear Blogging: How People Blogging Are Changing the World and How You Can Join Them Overview
Almost overnight, blogging has become a social, political, and business force to be reckoned with. Your fellow students, workers, and competitors are joining the blogosphereand making money, influencing elections, getting hired, growing market share, and having fun-to the tune of 8,000 new bloggers a day.

Clear Blogging sets out to answer in non-technical terms what blogging has to offer, and why and how you should blog. If you've never read a blog, but you keep hearing that term on the news, Clear Blogging will show you why blogging has shaken up mainstream media, and how a blogger can end up on CNN. If you're just starting to read blogs, Clear Blogging is your native guide to the blogosphere, covering how to get the best, most interesting information with the least amount of time and effort. The main course of Clear Blogging shows what you stand to gain from blogging, and how you can go from your first post to being welcomed aboard the blogospheres A-list.

Whether you're already blogging or you're considering it, you'll want to get a copy of this book because it

Covers how blogging can improve your job prospects, professional practice, business revenue, company reputation, and the world you live in
Includes over 50 interviews with successful bloggers who are influencing products, policy makers, potential employers, and millions of the general publicall while earning an online reputation and real profits
Shows you how to apply the best practices of news gathering to build your blogs reputation and brand
Is heavy on the specific benefits of blogging and light on the technological aspects


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Buzz Marketing with Blogs For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) Review

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Buzz Marketing with Blogs For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) ReviewSince I've been blogging (http://www.twduff.com) for quite awhile, this is almost like reading a book to see if you're doing anything wrong. Still, Susannah Gardner does a good job with Buzz Marketing with Blogs For Dummies (Wiley).
Chapter List:
Part 1 - Getting Started with Business Blogs: Checking Out Business Blogs; Discovering the Buzz about Buzz Marketing; Building a Business Blog
Part 2 - Setting Up a Business Blog: Picking a Blog Solution; Setting Up a Hosted Blog; Taking Control with Independent Blog Software
Part 3 - Minding Blog Etiquette and Culture: Understanding Your Audience; Joining the Blogosphere; Avoiding Business No-Nos
Part 4 - Positioning Your Blog: Finding a Voice; Promoting Your Blog; Staying on the Right Side of the Law
Part 5 - Making the Most of Your Blog: Adding Value to a Blog; Making Money with a Blog; Going Beyond Blogs
Part 6 - The Part of Tens: Ten Dry-Spell-Breaking Ideas; Ten Traits of a Good Blogger; Ten Blogs You Should Know
Part 7 - Appendixes: Glossary; Using the Book Blog; Hosted and Independent Blog Solutions; How URLs Work; Case Studies; Index
Based on the title of this book, you'd probably assume that this is geared more for the business use of blogs. And in a significant sense, it is. But that's not to say that the serious personal blogger won't learn a number of things here. Gardner does a good job of taking the reader from "what is a blog" through the reasons they can be very important, and finally ends with the things you need to know to keep your blog fresh and inviting. You'd probably figure out many of these rules on your own, but the blogging world can be unforgiving. Make a mistake involving deception, and you may never get your audience back. Have your blog be nothing more than press releases, and no one will show up.
She also does a good job of bridging the theory and the practical. In addition to all the knowledge you need to understand blogging, she also takes you through some potential blogging software choices and shows how you'd use them to set up a blog. Granted, it's not a comprehensive instruction manual on how to install and configure any one blogging package, but the reader will get an idea of what it takes.
I also mentioned it's a good book for the serious personal blogger. I use my blog to share information with various audiences, but it's also a personal marketing tool. Therefore, many of the same "rules of the road" that she covers apply to me. I'm concerned about finding my voice and style, how to attract readers, and knowing whether or not my audience is getting value from my writings. While I've learned much of what she writes about on my own, I'd have come much further much faster if I had this book a couple years ago.
Good stuff, and highly practical. A very good selection to give to your boss if s/he wants to investigate the subject. Just make sure you explain that "For Dummies" isn't personal...Buzz Marketing with Blogs For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) OverviewIn this instant-communication world, buzz means business! And one of the greatest ways to get customers and potential customers buzzing about your business is with a Web log, commonly called a blog. Blogs can help you:
Introduce the people behind your business
Discuss relevant issues
Provide a clearinghouse for information and expertise
Show your business as a good corporate citizen
Support an exchange of ideas
Get honest feedback from your customers
Affect public opinion

If you're new to blogging, or if you know the mechanics of a blog but want some help refining and targeting yours, Buzz Marketing With Blogs For Dummies will get you going right away. An expert blogger shows you the ins and outs of putting together a professional-looking blog, walks you through the jargon, helps you decide what your blog should do, and even explains various software solutions. You'll find out how to:
Set up and maintain a blog, write in blogging style, and observe blogging etiquette
Define your audience and target your blog to reach them
Involve your customers, earn their trust, educate the public, and build community
Avoid possible legal pitfalls while keeping your blog interesting
Encourage contributions and links to your blog
Use images and design an eye-catching format
Optimize your blog for top search engine ratings, track your results, and measure your success

Written by Susannah Gardner, who has taught online journalism, directed multimedia efforts, and provided custom Web solutions to clients, Buzz Marketing With Blogs For Dummies even shares tips from the experts who establish and maintain some of the top-rated business blogs. You'll discover the secrets of success, how to spot and solve problems, what software can enhance your blogging life, and a whole lot more. It like having a staff of experts on call!

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The Digital Diet: Today's Digital Tools in Small Bytes Review

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The Digital Diet: Today's Digital Tools in Small Bytes ReviewIn their book, The Digital Diet- Today's Digital Tools in Small Bytes, authors Churches, Crockett, and Jukes have empowered everyone from the most naïve of digital immigrants (like myself) to veteran "techies" (like most of my student teachers) for effectively using technology to foster productive learning in the classroom. In pragmatic, down-to-earth, 1-2-3 directions they have garnered the essence of major technological tools and presented them to learners (students and teachers) in an efficient, graduated way. They offer the latest strategies to help engage students in their own learning through various tools readily available and easily accessible on the internet.
The book's blueprint is excellent - provide the essential vocabulary, explain through both graphics and words in a common sense manner, deliver a well-thought-out rubric aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy, and provide resources for further study. Each chapter ends with follow-up questions, which can be used for individual reflection or group discussion.
Their guiding principles for what it means to be a responsible, ethical digital user should be required knowledge for every member of the internet society! This book is deceptively simple in its design and monumental in its impact. I've spend the entire week-end following up on their suggestions and can honestly say, "I'm hooked!!"
As someone who works with teachers and administrators on a daily basis, I can wholeheartedly assure both novice and veteran educators that this book is worth your time and money. It simplifies the mysteries of teaching to the digital learner and challenges us to view students as partners in their own learning! It is empowering, informative, and most of all -- useful!
--Debbie Silver, Ed.D. (teacher, author, consultant, speaker)The Digital Diet: Today's Digital Tools in Small Bytes OverviewUnderstanding today's online world and relating to the digital generation can be a daunting process for the newcomer. Readers are invited to feast on a tantalizing buffet of the various kinds of digital fare such as blogs, wikis, social networking and podcasting."The Digital Diet" supplies an entertaining commentary on the basics of understanding many of the most popular online programs in use today. In addition, it gives in-depth guidance for more advanced users, and also demonstrates how these versatile and user-friendly applications can be utilized in today's classroom to foster enjoyable and productive learning.

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Head First WordPress: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Creating Your Own Custom WordPress Blog Review

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Head First WordPress: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Creating Your Own Custom WordPress Blog ReviewI absolutely love the Head First Series of books and, while they are not the most in depth and complex books on a subject, I consider them the most user friendly way to quickly and easily learn a challenging and difficult topic. So when I learned they were coming out with a book on Wordpress I quickly preordered it and then waited, and waited, and waited until...now. At last the book arrived and I'm not disappointed. For the average user (and let's face it, even the above average user) this is everything you need to know about how to install and use Wordpress for all but the most advanced website tasks.
While most people will choose to install Wordpress using the "one click" installation service offered by their hosting provider, the Headfirst book starts with a detailed description of how to download and install it the old fashioned way...manually. Even if you were to choose not to use the "one click" method (which I would advise against), reviewing this section gives you a good idea of the nuts and bolts of your Wordpress installation.
Next they cover the basics of posting and using images in your posts, including basic problems, troubleshooting and even covering file permissions. When it comes to changing your blogs appearance they do a very good job of describing templates, including third party templates, and also provide a solid overviews of HTML, PHP and CSS and how you can use it to modify your sight. Widgets are covered in depth as well.
The aspect of Wordpress I was most interested in learning more about was how to use it as a Content Management System (CMS) and the book covers the subject well, including a very good discussion on how to structure your website, how to modify your permalinks, set up the navigation bar and to use the visual editor.
There is an entire chapter devoted to embedding and handling video on the site which I felt was very important. Again, they covered not just how to embed video, but how to keep the video on your site organized and well structured, as well as various plugins that can be used to add extra functionality to the site. One part I didn't expect was the information on how to podcast, which I thought was interesting. This was covered in conjunction with advice on setting up syndication and using Feedburner. I personally have never done any podcasting, but it's nice to know that the information is there if I need it. I did appreciate the discussion on syndication however and thought it made getting set up on Feedburner easier and less confusing I remember it being.
There is a chapter devoted to Wordpress security which, having suffered from malware and virus attacks on my Wordpress blogs in the past, I thought was a good idea. One can never be too secure when it comes to the Internet and the advice in this chapter is solid.
If your new to Wordpress this is a excellent book to get you started. I highly recommend it. I found this more user friendly and readable than any other Wordpress book I have read or reviewed. If you use Wordpress but want to understand it and get more out of it I highly recommend this book as well, especially if you want to learn how to go into the code to modify the appearance of your site. IF you want to use Wordpress to it's full functionality get this book.Head First WordPress: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Creating Your Own Custom WordPress Blog Overview
Whether you're promoting your business or writing about your travel adventures, Head First WordPress will teach you not only how to make your blog look unique and attention-grabbing, but also how to dig into the more complex features of WordPress 3.0 to make your website work well, too.

You'll learn how to move beyond the standard WordPress look and feel by customizing your blog with your own URL, templates, plugin functionality, and more. As you learn, you'll be working with real WordPress files: The book's website provides pre-fab WordPress themes to download and work with as you follow along with the text.

Gain immediate experience with WordPress 3.0, the June 2010 release of the software
Get your site up and running by setting up a MySQL database and creating configuration files
Work with the Wordpress platform to create posts and pages, learn the difference between tags and categories, edit content, moderate comments, and manage spam
Explore how to extend Wordpress with plugins and templates
Convert custom designs (in HTML and CSS) into functional themes and use them in WordPress

We think your time is too valuable to waste struggling with new concepts. Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First WordPress uses a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.


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Join the Conversation: How to Engage Marketing-Weary Consumers with the Power of Community, Dialogue, and Partnership Review

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Join the Conversation: How to Engage Marketing-Weary Consumers with the Power of Community, Dialogue, and Partnership ReviewI started reading Join the Conversation by Joseph Jaffe in December. It's now March and I've completed it. I usually pour through a book within a week or two, but this book was different. And not different in a good way. The book has good information, but it's hidden in between sophomoric humor, euphemism crammed sentences and a self-congratulatory tone. My advice - if you plan on reading this book start at chapter 18 (page 246). That's where the real information begins.Join the Conversation: How to Engage Marketing-Weary Consumers with the Power of Community, Dialogue, and Partnership OverviewWith the continued fragmentation of the media and proliferation of media options, the balance of power has shifted from the marketer to the individual. In Join the Conversation, Jaffe discusses the changing role of the consumer and how marketers must adapt by joining the rich, deep and meaningful conversation already in progress. This book reveals what marketers must do to become a welcome and invited part of the dialogue, and how to leverage and integrate the resulting partnership in ways that provide win-win situations for businesses, brands and lives.

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How to Do Everything with Your Web 2.0 Blog Review

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How to Do Everything with Your Web 2.0 Blog ReviewDo yourself a favor: don't judge this book by its (awful) cover. I've had this book by my side every step of the way while setting up my very first blog, and I have to say it has been a huge help. Stauffer's style is direct and engaging, not cutesy. He tells you what you need to know to get started, without a lot of fluff.
I wanted to write a review here because I think this books deserves a big audience, and because the Amazon listing tells you little about what's covered. So here's what's inside:
"Web 2.0 Blog" covers four different blogging platforms: Blogger, TypePad, WordPress, and Expression Engine. So if you're interested in one of these four, you'll find the book very helpful. If you are trying to decide which of the four to go with, the book is even more helpful, as you can compare them feature by feature. For instance, you'll see that while Expression Engine seems quite powerful and flexible, it's obviously more complicated than the other three. Stauffer does a good job of helping you weigh the pros and cons of each.
The book covers quite a lot in a 450 pages, and it does it very well. There's even a basic introduction to XHTML and CSS, giving you a peak at how each blogging platform works under the hood. Other topics covered in depth are:
- RSS feeds
- Photoblogs, podcasting, audioblogging, and adding video
- Working with social bookmarking sites such as Digg and Technorati
- using wikis to collaborate with readers
- adding a forum to open the discussion beyond comments
- community and group blogs
- sending e-newsletters to your subscribers
- getting traffic and monetizing your blog
Highly recommended.
How to Do Everything with Your Web 2.0 Blog Overview
Incorporate the hottest new Web technologies into your blog! How to Do Everything with Your Web 2.0 Blog makes it easy to choose the blogging tools that are best for you and master the basics of blog design and template manipulation. You'll learn how to add different Web 2.0 services to your blog, including images, video, audio, forums, tags, wikis, and even money-making features. It's time to take your blog to the next level and get more hits, more fans, more friends,and more customers.

Learn about different blogging tools, including Blogger, TypePad, WordPress, and ExpressionEngine

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Tactical Transparency: How Leaders Can Leverage Social Media to Maximize Value and Build their Brand (J-B International Association of Business Communicators) Review

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Tactical Transparency: How Leaders Can Leverage Social Media to Maximize Value and Build their Brand (J-B International Association of Business Communicators) ReviewHoltz and Havens put together the business book I've been hoping for. The premise of this groundbreaking business-strategy book is that companies need to be more forthcoming with information about the internal workings of their business. There are three "publics" that a business deals with, according to this book: external (the public), internal (employees) and investors.
From Enron to AIG, opacity in how executives make decisions has cost investors, employees and investors dearly, and the government is stepping up regulations to force companies to be more transparent. Holtz and Havens show that companies that have been transparent all along--with liberal employee-blog policies, social marketing policies and releasing what was once sensitive information (financials, research, opinions, and the handling of corporate mistakes and blunders)--have always fared better and retained the loyalty of their publics even in bad times.
There are concerns to being transparent. Some information is not for competitors' eyes, and some information cannot be legally exposed, especially in publicly traded companies. But the argument for releasing as much information as possible is put forth quite admirably.
By being transparent, a company becomes motivated by honesty, not greed. The employees have a better understanding if the bottom line, and investors feel more confident about the management decisions. A two-way conversation with the public means that a company is better positioned to compete.
The most important points that Holtz and Havens make are that corporate transparency is a legal, moral and competitive requirement, and that transparency among businesses is inevitable, that opacity is not only futile, but self-destructive.
I strongly recommend this book, with a rating of A+. Not only was I inspired by what Holtz and Havens wrote, I am moved to incorporate their ideas into the Flying Pen Press way of business.
Tactical Transparency: How Leaders Can Leverage Social Media to Maximize Value and Build their Brand (J-B International Association of Business Communicators) OverviewWhile exposing the risks inherent in maintaining a nontransparent relationship with customers, Tactical Transparency provides a methodology that will help your organization create its unique plan to bring greater authenticity to your company and your brands. Drawn largely from interviews with leaders in companies that have achieved measurable success in this arena, authors Shel Holtz and John C. Havens provide step-by-step details on how executives and professional communicators can create a transparency strategy that will keep their organization competitive in the twenty-first century. The authors show how organizations can evaluate their readiness for transparency, what they need to do to get ready, and how to effectively communicate their transparency strategy to their customers and employees. They also identify aspects of blog/new media "netiquette" an important but often misunderstood part of engaging in transparency.

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