04.30.06
what build blog credibility?
Darren Rowse says Experience build Blog Credibility. Since he says he’s making six figures a year as a blogger, I’ll trust what he says.
comment spam (updated)
ProBlogger talks about The Cost of Comment Spam in a recent post. Since this is something that’s been plaguing me lately, it made sense to me.
It would be all very nice of me to attack bloggers who give up on comment spam and no propose solutions. My main piece of advice for bloggers is to use up to date blogging software and to use the built in spamming solutions that many of them have built in or available with plugins.
While spam killing plugins don’t stop everything they do help.
What does slip through the filters and plugins needs to be diligently monitored and checked manually either before or after they go live on your blog. There is no other way to ensure blogs are spam free than to have someone monitor it. If you’re not willing or able to do this then you might also like to consider the option of either switching off comments on your blog or disabling them after a certain period of time.
Maybe I’ll give that a try. In the meantime, I’ll keep the moderation on.
UPDATE: Did you know that even Scobelizer started moderating comments? He’s not doing it because of spamming, but he’s still doing it.
04.19.06
the MySpace economy
The MySpace Economy
– reported by Wired News
[snip]
Another subset of sites has cashed in on MySpace’s popularity by creating and selling software designed to automate tasks within the network, such as inviting and confirming friends, posting messages and sending bulletins.
Some versions of this software allow MySpace users with thousands of friends—such as companies that have created profiles—to contact groups of friends by age, ZIP code and other demographic information. Without the tools, users would need to complete transactions one click at a time, but the software effectively allows them to conduct a highly targeted direct-mail campaign.
[snip]
04.18.06
meet the new domain extension: .tel
A new domain in the works? Do ‘.tel’
Proposal might help consumers manage an array of contact details
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
[snip]
To help people manage all their contact information online, the Internet’s key oversight agency is considering a “.tel” domain name. If approved, the domain could be available this year.
As proposed, individuals could use a “.tel” Web site to provide the latest contact information and perhaps even let friends initiate calls or send text messages directly from the site. Businesses could use a “.tel” site to determine customers’ locations and route them automatically to the correct call center.
Its proponents also envision “.tel” as a place from which the various people-finding services on the Internet could pull the latest contact information as individuals move about. Now, data typically come from third-party sources such as phone listings, which may be old or incomplete, particularly if an entire household is listed under one name.
And telephony applications and devices yet to be built could one day make use of such data, especially as wireless and wireline networks converge, according to London-based Telnic, which proposed and would run the domain if it is approved.
There’s nothing inherent in “.tel” that would enable these features; rather, its aim is to create a place to which people would know to go to find contact information.
[snip]
IRS to obtain info from PayPal
IRS to seek data from PayPal
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
The Internal Revenue Service won approval from a federal court to ask PayPal to turn over information about people who might be evading taxes by hiding income in other countries, officials said today.
A federal court in San Jose, Calif., gave the IRS permission to ask PayPal — a company that enables online money transfers — for account information for American taxpayers who have bank accounts, credit cards or debit cards issued by financial institutions in more than 30 countries reputed to be tax havens.
[snip]
04.17.06
backup sources of online income
Do you have an online site that actually makes you money? ProBlogger Darren Rowse recommends you find secondary sources of income: “Diversify Your Blogging Income with Secondary Money Earners.”
I still am largely dependent upon two income sources these days from my blogs but know that because they are spread out over a number of blogs and because I have a number of secondary income sources supplementing them that if AdSense and Chitika fell over for one reason or another that I’d have enough coming in to survive.
Keep in mind that different blogs and blogging styles are suited to different money making approaches. The above is my income mix but other Pro Bloggers will have a completely different one. What income streams do you focus upon? Do you concentrate predominantly upon one or have you diversified?
04.13.06
what is MySpace, as written by a teen
I made it through this entire article thinking, “wow, this writer actually gets it,” only to find out at then end that it was written by a teenager:
Leland Earls is a senior at Big Sky High School.
Missoula teenagers make connections on Net with MySpace
– reported by Missoulian.com
[snip]
MySpace allows any current user to send personal messages to other users, giving members the opportunity to meet new people as well as the chance to socialize with already established friends.
In addition to unmonitored messaging, many use the program for blogging. Blogging is a relatively new word meaning “online journal.” Members can post “blogs” about anything and everything.
[snip]
The average user gets dozens of “hits” per day, giving every account holder the opportunity to share their opinions, their experiences and their lives with anyone who cares to visit.
Others take advantage of MySpace’s heavy online traffic by posting their bands, films and other personal projects in order to promote media in an easy-to-use Web page format.
MySpace began as a method of promotion for up-and-coming bands, and eventually turned into a personal networking site. Now bands that never had the opportunity to broaden their listening audience can spread their music to every corner of the Earth without ever signing onto a label.
[snip]
The recent murder of a 14-year-old girl was traced back to MySpace, causing many to be skeptical of the so-called “detached” nature of Internet relations that draws so many Americans to blogging sites like MySpace.
Crawford has been using MySpace for months to stay in touch with friends.
“You are the one that controls the safety, not the site,” she said. “Since it is a site where a lot of people of ranging ages can communicate, I think it is as safe as it can be.”
[snip]
Whether messaging a new friend, writing a blog or posting your band’s next hit single, MySpace caters to everyone who wants to say something to the world. With 60 million members and counting, MySpace is the most popular and fastest growing site on the Net.
04.12.06
blogs are for parents too
Web log helps parents share rules on raising teens in Davis
– reported by The Davis Enterprise
What is your teen’s curfew? It’s the question of the week on a new blog created by Holmes Junior High School parent Maria Tebbutt.
Several weeks ago, Tebbutt got a brainstorm. Asking friends their opinions on dating, R-rated movies, curfews and other hot topics, she concluded that many more parents than just her circle of friends were probably asking the same things.
But, how to share the information?
After speaking to various parents and school administrators, Tebbutt decided to ditch a traditional survey and go for something a little more high-tech — a Web log, otherwise known as a “blog.” Think of it as a community forum where the public can collect and share information.
Called “Clean Up Your Room,” the blog will cover topics as old as the hills, like curfews and dating. Others will be altogether new for today’s generation of teens, like the Internet and cell phones.
Parents can log onto www.cleanupyourroom.blogspot.com to read what others have to say, as well as post their own comments.
[snip]
04.11.06
how-to videos online
Austin company launches online how-to site
– reported by the Austin Business Journal
Pagewise Inc., an Austin online media company, knows about technique.
The company launched its newest online product: ExpertVillage.com, a Web site that provides access to 1,300 short-format how-to videos featuring experts that demonstrate everything from kickboxing to cooking techniques.
Offering a mix of text and video content, ExpertVillage.com features more than 12,000 how-to articles and answers based on interviews with experts in six categories: home and gardening, health and beauty, money and finance, sports, hobbies, and travel.
ExpertVillage.com plans to add more than 200 new videos each month.
[snip]
Houston’s NetSquared meeting
The Houston NetSquared Meetup Group
This will be the second Meetup for The Houston NetSquared group!
We’ll use this meeting time to get to know each other, discuss current online technology trends and the future of non-profit technology adoption.
This month we’ll dive into some local programs that have helped Houston residents connect with online technologies, in the hopes of advancing education, job searches and quality of life initiatives.
Jim Forrest, of the Technology for All organization, will be joining our non profit technology conversation as he discusses various Houston technology outreach programs and the potential for technological growth in the non profit sector.
From low-income community wireless Internet access projects to Community Technology Centers across the city (and in the Astrodome for hurricane evacuees), TFA has long been an active advocate of closing the digital divide for all members of society.
This will be a great meeting to dive into some of the work that has already been started in the Houston area – and a great time to brainstorm for new ideas and projects. Look forward to seeing you there!
When:
Tuesday, April 11, 2006, 7:00 PM
This is United NetSquared Meetup Day2006-04-11 07:00:00
Where:
Stag’s Head Pub
2128 Portsmouth St.
Houston , TX 77098
(713) 533-1199More information:
http://www.netsquared.org/Notes:
The Stag’s Head Pub (www.stagsheadpub.com) will be a great meeting place for us with a nice back area for us to chat, great food and drink and, most importantly, WIFI!!So feel free to bring your laptop - visualization is good!