Blog Power and Social Media Handbook (Volume 2) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm the first to admit that I've come late to the social media party but I don't to have to wade through chapters and chapters of info just to figure out what I *need* to know about blogging, Facebook, and Twitter. Gallagher's book is simple, straightforward, and practical, and helped me write more effective blog posts, and more re-Tweetable content on Twitter. Today everyone in business needs to know how to use social media effectively (even if you don't really care about it) and this book spells it out even for techno-phobes. I'll be relying on her easy-to-read and easy-to-implement advice in the future.

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Blogs are here to stay. There are over 100 million of them in use. Social networking and social media have transformed communication today. "Blog Power andSocial Media Handbook" helps you learn where it began, what it does, and the steps you need to get on-board.

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Share Your Story: Blogging with MSN® Spaces Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been blogging since long before the practice became known as "blog," and I've tried many different blog servers. By far I like the new MSN Spaces the most because it really is colorful and easy to use, and gives you lots of storage. This book is a good book to introduce people unfamiliar with blogs to creating their own blogs. It has lots of cool examples. Next to my first edition of "eBay for dummies," this is another really useful book even for an Internet veteran like myself.

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What's your story? Get creative and tell the world with MSN Spaces! This fun and colorful book guides you through the basics of creating your own personal blog in no time. Whether tales from a recent adventure, your life history, views on hot topics, or anything else you want to share-learn how to make the Web your space.

Learn how to:

Set up your own space in 10 minutes or less
Write and publish your blog-no HTML required!
Share favorite photos in albums and slide shows
Create any list you can dream up-books, movies, rants, raves
Add instant messaging, music, and video to your space
Syndicate your space and build and build an enthusiastic following
Get tips for creating great content and design

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Gatewatching (Digital Formations) Review

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(More customer reviews)Bruns 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.

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Gatewatching: 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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I'm in a Job Search--Now What???: Using LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter as Part of Your Job Search Strategy Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Kristen Jacoway included information that I haven't found in any other job search books. Includes helpful checklist, web-sites and other books to read. Good book for students just graduating or someone that hasn't had to do a job search in a while.

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In the book, 'I'm in a Job Search--Now What???' you will have a step-by-step guide for the job searching process. The book not only covers job searching strategies, but additionally gives information on how to be in a continuous process of career management. No longer are people climbing ladders in employment. Instead, they are on a ramp and need to constantly make strides to progress and maintain their position.
The book provides 100+ resources and tips to guide you through the job searching process to help you stand apart from your competition. Included in the book:
Goal Setting
Personal Branding
Five strategies for building visibility on Google to accelerate your job search since recruiters, employers, and companies Google potential candidates prior to contacting them for an interview.
Using Social Media platforms (i.e. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) in the job search process
Interview with Erin Blaskie on how to develop compelling content and capture quality videos for the new, emerging platform for video biographies, Google visibility, etc.
Interview with Jeff Lipschultz, Principal at A-List Solutions and a recruiter, on tips for working with recruiters, getting your resume' to the top of the pile, etc.
Developing a targeted list of companies where to work
Research tools to help in interviewing
Interview strategies, including the questions you want to research BEFORE an interview to stand out in the interview process
Networking
Tips on how to customize your resume' for different positions to demonstrate to the employer why YOU are the best fit for the position
and much, much more!

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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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(More customer reviews)
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!

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As 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

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This 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.

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Written 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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Blogging in a Snap (Sams Teach Yourself) Review

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(More customer reviews)Blogging in a Snap
By Julie C. Meloni
SAMS Publishing
ISBN 0-672-32843-7
270 pages
Price: US $24.99, CAN $34.99 £17.99
If you've been thinking about starting your own blog but haven't figured out how and where to begin, Blogger.com is a very popular place to check out. Its simple user interface can get you up and blogging in no time.
Though the set up instructions for Blogger.com is are relatively easy, Julie Meloni's Blogging in a Snap explains the obvious and not so obvious ins and outs of blogging on Blogger.com. She takes you through the process of setting up your account, selecting a template, configuring your comments settings, creating your blogging profile, naming your blog, writing and publishing your first posts, and bringing potential readers to your site.
If you've already begun a blogging on Blogger.com and you want to expand your use, Meloni explains how to modify your template using HTML and CSS codes, how use third-party tools, and how to create a moblog, a type of blogging done with your cell phone. I was surprised that she doesn't explain how to edit the link list, which is an essential part of every Blogger template. Unlike other blogger platforms, Blogger requires that you manually add links in the template itself using HTML code.
I've visited many Blogger.com websites and noticed a number of new bloggers who seemingly don't know how to modify their site, such as the elements in the sidebar. They haven't learned how to add links or change the names of the subheadings. Perhaps the reason for this is because they have to open up and modify the blogsite's template. Users with little or no knowledge of HTML code might even wonder why they have access to this coded template. What on earth do you do with language that looks like this:
Meloni tries to demystify the template code and show you ways to customize your Blogger site. Like other SAMS Teach Yourself books, Melon's step-by-step instructions include numerous screen shots that reflect and expand on what she explains in her textual instructions.
She includes the template code for one of Blogger.com's basic templates and identifies and explains its major elements, like the header, sidebar items, the comments-related area, and the metadata. Her best instructions are when she takes you step by step through a particular template modification, like including images in your blog posts, adding tables, displaying recent comments and adding a blogroll on your main page. However, some of her other perhaps more advance HTML and CSS modification strategies are too brief and could use more explaining or a second book for intermediate and advance users.
Learning and using HTML and CSS code can be daunting for many users. Working through this book gave me the idea to print out a copy of my Blogger template and peruse it using Meloni's guidelines. There's little risks making modifications to your template if you back-up a copy of it and use the preview button before saving your changes. I also magnify my template on my computer screen (using Command-+) so I can better read and modify selected code. The template window also includes a button to clear the edits you make in it.
Meloni goes to explain how to use many other and newer tools found on the Internet. For example, how to use your Flickr account to insert images and messages in your Blogger site. And setting up a Google ads and affiliation links if you're interested in making a few bucks with your blog.
A useful Appendix further explaining HTML and CSS fundamentals is included, but a list of additional resources might have been valuable for intermediate bloggers.
Overall, Blogging in a Snap is a good introduction if you want to set up an account with Blogger.com (other platforms are not covered.) The instructions are clear and concise, and Meloni has set up a Blogger site to promote and make updates to her book.
MyMac.com Rating: 4 out 5

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The World Wide Web is a big place, and it is hard to find your way through it, much less make an impact on it. Blogs have revolutionized the idea of each person having a voice on the web and Sams Teach Yourself Blogging In a Snap is your guide to making your mark on the Internet world. This comprehensive guide to blogging focuses on using Blogger, the blogging tool hosted by Google. Blogger is a user-friendly blogging tool, but documentation on how to maximize your blogging experience using it is limited. This book bridges that gap, and provides you with everything you need to know to create and maintain your blog, from setting up a Blogger account to creative blogging tricks and techniques to blogging etiquette. You'll learn how to customize your blog, comment on other people's blogs, and share photos through your blog. Even if you already know what blogging is and are just looking for a few tips on how to make your blog bigger and better, the book's modular, task-based format will allow you to jump in anywhere and be on your way. Join the blogging craze with the help of Sams Teach Yourself Blogging In a Snap.

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

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This 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.

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

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Holtz 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.


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While 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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Read This First: The Executive's Guide to New Media-from Blogs to Social Networks Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ron came to our PR agency over a year ago to help us as we struggled to get our clients to understand and implement social media. After Ron was kind enough to let me read the manuscript of "Read This First," confusion reigned no more for me. Social media -- how it came about and why every business needs to do it -- became crystal clear.
Read This First is written in a very conversational tone (much like the good blogger that Ron is) that will reach anybody with a few hours and an open mind. The ideas are exciting and accessible to anyone who wants to grow their business in today's connected world. Ron provides a brief history of how we came to this new era of incredible potential and promise, and how executives should best approach the opportunities in front of them for their organizations.
Because so many people have so much trouble getting their heads around the mind-boggling changes that social media represents, I tell everyone to not just read this first, read this TWICE.

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What is your Company's Online Reputation?
If you want proof that business communication has changed forever, just type your company's name into a search engine like Google or Yahoo and behold its online reputation. The results are frequently jarring because instead of finding brand messages carefully crafted by those on your payroll, most executives find a mishmash of content created by those who aren't--new influencers who are using New Media technologies to share their thoughts about your products and services. If you want to learn how to monitor and manage your online reputation, if you'd like to know how to properly influence these new influencers, if you'd like to hire employees who are well equipped to work in our new online world, you need to Read This First.
You will learn:
*Why you can no longer control your brand and why you shouldn't try.
*Low cost, low risk, step-by-step methods to bring New Media into your organization. *How to use free, web-based tools to increase employee productivity while enhancing your company's online reputation.
*How New Media is the most measurable medium in the history of corporate communications.
*Case studies of real companies, big and small, using Social Media.

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

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(More customer reviews)Real 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...

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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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Writing Online Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Writing Online, by Sean Platt, is a must-read guide for anyone wanting to know what it takes to become a legitimate online writer. From starting a blog to writing, publishing, and selling your own creations, Sean not only tells us about many different ways to make it as a writer, he also tells us HOW to do it. Sean's transparent account of his personal struggles and successes on his online writing journey are weaved throughout the book and serve to provide inspiration, encouragement, and wisdom to those just getting started.
Writing Online will also prove to be a valuable reference to aspiring online writers. Each chapter stands on its own by providing specific, valuable information that can be revisited at anytime, no matter what stage of the game you're in. Sean also provides a very useful "tools" guide that will show the writer how to save time and work smarter.
Perhaps the best feature of Writing Online is it's straight forward, tell-it-like-it-is delivery. Rather than false promises of easy riches with no effort, you'll learn that being a writer requires actual work, time investment, and diligent effort. Sean explains that, although making a living online can be very difficult, it also delivers greater rewards that make the challenges worthwhile.

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Writing Online is more than a writing book. It's a road map to show you how to make a great living from writing.Writing Online teaches you not only how to write copy that sells, but also marketing, blogging, social media, SEO, list building, and how to build a strong reader or fan base. This is the book I wish I'd read when I first started writing for a living. A book that would have saved me lots of wasted time and money and made me realize my dreams a bit earlier.I want to help you realize your dreams without stumbling as I did.Chapters
The Truth About Being A Writer
Ways to Make Money Writing
Blogging
Guest Blogging
Headlines
Social Media
Social Media Usage & Measurement
SEO
Voice
Editing
Work Habits
Common Mistakes
Marketing
Building Assets
Building Your List
Tools
My Best Advice
How To Keep Your Dream From Dying

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Working the Crowd: Social Media Marketing for Business Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Eileen completely rounds out and defines the personal and virutal world of socializing for business in the era of social media marketing. I had a hard time putting down this book unless it was to jot down some notes and action items. Worth the read, more than once.

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Engaging with social media such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter is now a key part of global business communications. Blogs, microblogs, social networking and social news sites have become the new tools for effective marketing and sales. This book is an excellent resource for anyone planning a social media strategy or individual campaign. It includes: specific sites for various types of networking and engagement; blogs and microblogs; online presence and creating a social media brand; brand perception and reputation; legal issues; connecting to a global audience; job recruitment via social media; how different age groups interact online; viral marketing; creating brand advocates and how they can broadcast the message; future predictions.

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Promoting Your Podcast: The Ultimate Guide to Building an Audience of Raving Fans Review

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(More customer reviews)...on his website, shownotes, and podcasts. He practices what he preaches, and his own podcasts are a model for quality audio, intelligent and unobtrusive use of music, clear structure, and being enticing, yet informative. His online material on getting started in podcasting puts a lot of useful material in one place, just what the doctor ordered to do the most important thing: diving in and turning out a quality product from the word go.
His forté is promotion, to make yourself known, for developing niche credibility, product recognition, etc. and doing so using internet technology and information based services/products. As such, the name of the game is proper presentation of that most critical information: who you are and what you have to offer. Jason Van Orden models how to do so professionally, compellingly without being annoying. No overuse of exclamation points and superlatives, here.
I've been using his information to get my own personal and professional fledgling podcasts off the ground. Cannot recommend his work enough.

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Podcasting allows anyone with a computer and an Internet connection the chance to become a DJ or talk show host with a potentially vast audience. But with corporate media giants like Disney, NPR, and CBS muscling into the market, how can Jane and Joe Podcast attract an audience? This essential guide, based on the author's extensive experience in Internet marketing and podcasting, outlines proven strategies for driving traffic to a podcast website and turning one-time visitors into long-term subscribers. The book covers pertinent topics such as how to get the best results from podcast directories; choosing an eye-catching title; writing an effective description; search engine tips that ensure top-of-the-list visibility; updates and automatic notifications; offline promotion including free advertising and press exposure; and a wealth of effective grassroots marketing techniques, all free or low cost, that keep listeners coming back again and again.

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

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Since 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...

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In 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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Videoblogging For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) Review

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(More customer reviews)Videoblogging 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.

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Have 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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Sams Teach Yourself WordPress in 10 Minutes (Sams Teach Yourself -- Minutes) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have not one but two disclosures to start with. The first, for the FTC: Pearson Education sent me a review copy of this book, and a second copy to give away at the East Bay WordPress Meetup with the request that the winner also review it on Amazon. The second, for the reader: I've known Chuck Tomasi since the 2006 Podcast and Portable Media Expo, when we both gave presentations on similar topics, so I was predisposed to like Teach Yourself WordPress in 10 Minutes. That doesn't mean I'll pull any punches, though.
First, about the name. Naturally, you can't learn all of WordPress in 10 minutes. The idea behind the series (and don't ask me why it's "Sams" and not "Sam's") is that each lesson will take you ten minutes to complete. This is a bit of an exaggeration, since it will take you about that long to read it, and probably that long again to go back and do it. And I would recommend that you read each lesson through before applying it, unless you already have some familiarity with WordPress. And even then, you know, it really can be better to RTFM.
Chuck's LinkedIn profile states that he wrote this book (or his part of it, anyway) in 60 days. With software that changes as rapidly as WordPress, book publishers are at a huge disadvantage, because their books can become obsolete during the normal 18-month turnaround time traditional publishers have for nonfiction. Sams Teach Yourself WordPress in 10 Minutes shows remarkably few signs of haste. I only found three errors that appeared to be the result of hasty editing or last-minute changes.
The book's compact size is both a drawback and an advantage. It's easy to carry around and won't break your wrists, but the screenshots would be hard to read when inserted into portrait layout pages even if the image reproduction weren't so bad. (And the image reproduction is terrible, both faint and grainy; you notice it immediately with the authors' photos and it doesn't improve from there.)
The book covers all the basics without confusing detail. You won't find answers to obscure questions or a breakdown of the code that makes WordPress work here. You will learn how to set up an account (and a blog) at [...] and how to install and work with a self-hosted WordPress blog. There's a whole lesson devoted to "Blogging on the Go" with remote tools like the WordPress iPhone app, Flickr, Posterous, and Scribefire (though no mention of my personal favorite, Windows Live Writer, or its Mac equivalent, Ecto).
I have one small quibble and one comment that applies equally to this book and to WordPress in Depth.
The quibble is with the statement on p. 136 that WordPress is "platform-agnostic" and you can get any kind of hosting you want. Yes, it's possible to install WordPress on either a Mac or a PC for development and testing by using XAMPP or MAMP. But installing WordPress on a Windows shared hosting environment is another animal entirely. Windows server experts have given up on making it work the way it's supposed to. Unless you're a masochist, get Linux hosting for your WordPress site.
The comment has to do with security. As I write this, there's a nasty Google cloaking exploit making the rounds. The problem is not a flaw in WordPress itself, but rather in file permissions on the server, generally in shared hosting environments, frequently as the result of one-click installation scripts. There are a number of articles out there about keeping WordPress secure, and a few plugins to help you with it, but the books I've read have mostly focused on using strong passwords and updating regularly. That's good as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough.
I know Chuck and Kreg had to take material out of this book to keep it down to size. I hope they'll cover security in their companion podcast. So far there's just one episode, a teaser intro, but the first real episode is in the can and scheduled for delivery within a day or two.
If you're already an experienced user, you won't get much new from this book, but if you want a quick, effective introduction to WordPress, Sams Teach Yourself WordPress in 10 Minutes is a good choice.


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Sams Teach Yourself WordPress in 10 MinutesChuck Tomasi Kreg SteppeSams Teach Yourself WordPress in 10 Minutes gives you straightforward, practical answers when you need fast results. By working through its 10-minute lessons, you'll learn everything you need to build great blogs with WordPress and WordPress.org, and reach any audience by web browser, RSS, or cell phone!Tips point out shortcuts and solutionsCautions help you avoid common pitfallsNotes provide additional informationPlain English definitions explain new terms10 minutes is all you need to learn how to… Quickly build blogs for free with WordPress.comCustomize your blog to fit your messageCreate powerful text, audio, and video contentModerate comments and build communitiesSet up RSS feedsHost your own blog with WordPress.org softwareDeliver content via iPhone and BlackBerryStreamline publishing with third-party toolsRegister your book at informit.com/register for convenient access to updates and corrections as they become available.Category: InternetCovers: WordPressUser Level: Beginning

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