Because blogging is a popular Internet practice, it is fully open to public exposure unless the one creating the blog places specific limits on who can read it. There are at least several types of blogs a person can make, including the use of audio, video, and discussion boards. This is an ideal way for people of various ages to read, report, and/or make an analysis of news found in broadcasting media, share valuable information, write journal entries, or keep in touch with friends and loved ones located any distance away. At the same time, it cannot be assumed that the entire world population is computer literate, let alone knows how to use any Internet services, or that everyone is interested in communicating this way. But bloggers are likely to keep a list of contacts who can communicate in real time, whether they use chat services that may be available on blogging sites or just prefer old-fashioned methods.
Blogging is not meant primarily as a substitute for face-to-face interaction, but can certainly keep interesting conversations going without any apparent interruptions so the topic can be done justice. This way, there is unlimited flexibility for the participants to continue with their everyday lives and, in this process, think of possible contributions of their own to make to the forum while the topic is fresh in their minds. This is crucial to developing a sense of community beyond what each participant may be familiar with already. All users, by participating in the forum, can in time break down barriers easily caused by varying personality traits.
The blogger, by being too general in a discussion, may have problems reaching the desired audience to produce a desired response. For this reason, bloggers should use specific categories to make friends who have various interests, hopefully bringing them together by revealing what they might share in common. The blogs can be especially useful to anyone working on research projects, for which references need only be sought out and examined for credibility.
If there is any abuse taking place on the blogging site, taking the appropriate action is usually simple. It is the responsibility of all users to make sure that this abuse is prevented, especially in light of possible termination of employment. Blogging sites themselves may offer work-from-home employment opportunities. To make sure that the offers being made are legitimate, one should first be able to recognize scams immediately. Some of the most promising jobs may need bloggers to be proficient in skills used in the average workplace environment, such as navigating office programs and developing websites.
It is essential for bloggers to understand what safety procedures to follow in their use of blogs and how not to take undue advantage of anyone. From this point, they can turn the Internet into a productive resource wherever they may be. Knowing how to operate with more than one brand of computer software is also certain to work to their advantage. By staying up-to-date on the latest technology, they can continually improve their skills in serving the public cause.
By: Jesse Parsons
Edited By: Bruce A. Tucker
About the Author: Jesse Parsons is a Free Lance Writer seeking writing opportunities and wrote this article for http://www.Indocquent.com, an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to post their products and services for sale on over 20,000 blogs.
Jesse Parsons can be contacted at jd_parsons83@yahoo.com.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The value of webstats
It is important to monitor your webstat's. Not only will this provide you with tangible proof of your marketing endeavours,if used properly, webstats will also provide you with information on how to better promote yourself.
Personally, I use statscounter.com. There are both paid and free versions of this service. In the free version you can see who came, where they came from, how long they stayed and if they came from a search engine, you can even see what keywords brought them to your site.
Now, the use of that knowledge. If you noticed, Statscounter will give you the keywords which brought them to you. Well, say for example, your blog is about the risks of breast implants and you noticed alot of hits for porn related topics and very few on the health aspects. Yes you are getting traffic, however is it your target market? At that point, you may wish to consider the writing and keywords within your posts.
Many years ago, pre my blog whoring days, a writer friend who was teaching a series of courses on writing for the web, told me website content had different rules from regular paper style writing. Of course, this made instant sense as key words are important. At the time, I found the thought rather disheartening as it pointed out the weaknesses in the quality of content from search engines and how they could be manipulated. This then got me thinking and my security alarm website, is now on the first page for most security alarm related topics.
Personally, I use statscounter.com. There are both paid and free versions of this service. In the free version you can see who came, where they came from, how long they stayed and if they came from a search engine, you can even see what keywords brought them to your site.
Now, the use of that knowledge. If you noticed, Statscounter will give you the keywords which brought them to you. Well, say for example, your blog is about the risks of breast implants and you noticed alot of hits for porn related topics and very few on the health aspects. Yes you are getting traffic, however is it your target market? At that point, you may wish to consider the writing and keywords within your posts.
Many years ago, pre my blog whoring days, a writer friend who was teaching a series of courses on writing for the web, told me website content had different rules from regular paper style writing. Of course, this made instant sense as key words are important. At the time, I found the thought rather disheartening as it pointed out the weaknesses in the quality of content from search engines and how they could be manipulated. This then got me thinking and my security alarm website, is now on the first page for most security alarm related topics.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Promoting Your Website With Newsgroups
Did you know that there are over three-billion pages indexed by Google? Even more surprisingly, Google indexes do not even come close to encompassing the entire Internet. The bottom line here is that there is a lot of competition out there, so it’s wise to use a variety of methods to market your e-business. If you do, it is very possible to promote your website successfully. One of the techniques you can use is Newsgroups. Properly used, Newsgroups can represent an extremely powerful and important tool in your web-promotion armory.
What are Newsgroups?
Newsgroups are essentially Internet message boards where Newsgroup users come to discuss topics that are of mutual interest. Usually, each particular Newsgroup is dedicated to a single topic or subject matter. Content consists of messages posted by its participants. It is possible to find several active or ongoing discussions about a range of subjects within a single Newsgroup. These discussions are referred to as “Threads”. Any user can start a thread, post messages to an existing thread and comment or reply to the postings of others within the Newsgroup.
Newsgroups evolved by consolidating the old style electronic bulletin boards that existed on the internet when it first came into vogue. The resulting Newsgroups of today are simply a collection of these bulletin boards. Today, just those Usenet discussion forums or Newsgroups indexed by Google, comprise over 800 million messages. It is estimated that over ten-million people regularly participate in Newsgroups. Usually, Newsgroups are formed with a certain mission in mind, and its purpose is typically outlined in the Newsgroup’s Charter. Again, most Newsgroups focus upon a single subject. But, there can be many individual Newsgroups that share an independent focus upon the same topic. While some Newsgroups may be moderated, which means that somebody controls the postings, most are not.
Using Newsgroups to promote your website
There are many, many Newsgroups, so no matter what you’re promoting, you are very likely to find a Newsgroup that will be a good fit. Perform a search using a keyword related to your online business from the Newsgroup’s Search Page. The result will appear in inverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. As an online business, you can benefit from the effective use of Newsgroups in a number of ways. For example; you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and discuss your online business.
People tend to prefer doing business with someone they regard as an expert. Make postings in these relevant Newsgroups on the topic you choose, and answer to the questions posted. After awhile, you will find that many people begin to regard you as an expert. Always sign your posting, using your name, and include your URL. This will encourage participants to visit your website. Remember, you can represent yourself as an “expert” in any almost any subject you choose. But you will need to offer reasonable answers to questions you may be asked. Most importantly, have fun and make friends. Incidentally, friends would rather make purchases from friends.
The idea is to make valuable contribution to the Newsgroup and in doing so, promote your online business. Ask questions that you feel may be useful to others and post responses to messages that are informative and thought-provoking. After awhile, you could build credibility among your fellow Newsgroup members and start seeing a steady flow of loyal customers.
Another useful technique is to use Newsgroups to conduct surveys. And, Newsgroups can be a great way to exchange marketing information. By asking questions in relevant Newsgroups you can find a way to figure out what people think about your website and your products. This can result in new customers.
You can also find Newsgroups that are dedicated solely to announcements and promotions. Use these to increase visitor interest in your website that can result in new customers. Promote your website by discussing its interesting features, functionality, products or services.
Newsgroup dos and dont's
Exercise care in what you post to Newsgroups. Prior to making your first post, read through the Newsgroup’s posting rules and perhaps some of the postings too. Some Newsgroup users can be very protective of their group, so never post non-relevant messages. This will be considered Spamming. If you give the other users the impression that you are spamming their Newsgroup, you are likely to be promptly censured.
Here are some basic Newsgroup guidelines:
When posting a response, do not deviate from the original topic.
Don’t post commercials, advertisements or press releases unless the Newsgroup specifically allows them.
Do not post the same message in multiple relevant Newsgroups (cross-posting). This may be considered spamming!
Quote only the portion of the message you intend to respond to, not the entire message.
Before posting a message, double-check spelling and grammar.
Do not post non-relevant messages. This may be considered spamming!
While posting a message, be specific, concise and intelligent in your subject line.
Include your signature with each posting. This is one of the ways you promote YOUR website!
What are Newsgroups?
Newsgroups are essentially Internet message boards where Newsgroup users come to discuss topics that are of mutual interest. Usually, each particular Newsgroup is dedicated to a single topic or subject matter. Content consists of messages posted by its participants. It is possible to find several active or ongoing discussions about a range of subjects within a single Newsgroup. These discussions are referred to as “Threads”. Any user can start a thread, post messages to an existing thread and comment or reply to the postings of others within the Newsgroup.
Newsgroups evolved by consolidating the old style electronic bulletin boards that existed on the internet when it first came into vogue. The resulting Newsgroups of today are simply a collection of these bulletin boards. Today, just those Usenet discussion forums or Newsgroups indexed by Google, comprise over 800 million messages. It is estimated that over ten-million people regularly participate in Newsgroups. Usually, Newsgroups are formed with a certain mission in mind, and its purpose is typically outlined in the Newsgroup’s Charter. Again, most Newsgroups focus upon a single subject. But, there can be many individual Newsgroups that share an independent focus upon the same topic. While some Newsgroups may be moderated, which means that somebody controls the postings, most are not.
Using Newsgroups to promote your website
There are many, many Newsgroups, so no matter what you’re promoting, you are very likely to find a Newsgroup that will be a good fit. Perform a search using a keyword related to your online business from the Newsgroup’s Search Page. The result will appear in inverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. As an online business, you can benefit from the effective use of Newsgroups in a number of ways. For example; you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and discuss your online business.
People tend to prefer doing business with someone they regard as an expert. Make postings in these relevant Newsgroups on the topic you choose, and answer to the questions posted. After awhile, you will find that many people begin to regard you as an expert. Always sign your posting, using your name, and include your URL. This will encourage participants to visit your website. Remember, you can represent yourself as an “expert” in any almost any subject you choose. But you will need to offer reasonable answers to questions you may be asked. Most importantly, have fun and make friends. Incidentally, friends would rather make purchases from friends.
The idea is to make valuable contribution to the Newsgroup and in doing so, promote your online business. Ask questions that you feel may be useful to others and post responses to messages that are informative and thought-provoking. After awhile, you could build credibility among your fellow Newsgroup members and start seeing a steady flow of loyal customers.
Another useful technique is to use Newsgroups to conduct surveys. And, Newsgroups can be a great way to exchange marketing information. By asking questions in relevant Newsgroups you can find a way to figure out what people think about your website and your products. This can result in new customers.
You can also find Newsgroups that are dedicated solely to announcements and promotions. Use these to increase visitor interest in your website that can result in new customers. Promote your website by discussing its interesting features, functionality, products or services.
Newsgroup dos and dont's
Exercise care in what you post to Newsgroups. Prior to making your first post, read through the Newsgroup’s posting rules and perhaps some of the postings too. Some Newsgroup users can be very protective of their group, so never post non-relevant messages. This will be considered Spamming. If you give the other users the impression that you are spamming their Newsgroup, you are likely to be promptly censured.
Here are some basic Newsgroup guidelines:
When posting a response, do not deviate from the original topic.
Don’t post commercials, advertisements or press releases unless the Newsgroup specifically allows them.
Do not post the same message in multiple relevant Newsgroups (cross-posting). This may be considered spamming!
Quote only the portion of the message you intend to respond to, not the entire message.
Before posting a message, double-check spelling and grammar.
Do not post non-relevant messages. This may be considered spamming!
While posting a message, be specific, concise and intelligent in your subject line.
Include your signature with each posting. This is one of the ways you promote YOUR website!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Paid Blogging: Is This A Scam?
This is someone elses, it is always good to read another perspective
Paid Blogging: Is This A Scam?
By Daniel McGonagle
For those of you who are new, this is the time to start making money through blogging. Profiting from paid blogging is rewarding not only for bloggers, but for advertisers as well. The controversy with paid blogging is more of an issue of the trust a reader has in the blog they read. One of the great things about paid blogging is that the offers/opps give you some great writing prompts. Well there is no doubt in my mind that paid blogging is here to stay and it will definitely have the potential to create many future bloggers who are paid for their writing. Blogging has becoming a way for regular “Joes” to generate an income. Profiting from paid blogging is rewarding not only for bloggers, but for advertisers as well.
Blogging
A new form of online advertising has emerged in the form of paid blogging. The three most important websites associated with paid blogging are ReviewMe, PayPerPost and SponsoredReviews. Thus, while in the case of ReviewMe, advertisers select and contact bloggers, in case of PayPerPost, bloggers themselves make their offers to advertisers after selecting from the posted blogging opportunities on PayPerPost website. If they meet advertiser's conditions they are awarded blogging reviews. But if you're going to make a career outof blogging, you've got to earn money -- enough to live on -- doing it.
Here, paid blogging is a respected job and many rewrite 10-15 posts daily to make ends meet. Like it or not, paid blogging is here to stay.
Source: http:// ezinearticles.com/?Paid-Blogging:--Is-This-A-Scam?&id=574736
Paid Blogging: Is This A Scam?
By Daniel McGonagle
For those of you who are new, this is the time to start making money through blogging. Profiting from paid blogging is rewarding not only for bloggers, but for advertisers as well. The controversy with paid blogging is more of an issue of the trust a reader has in the blog they read. One of the great things about paid blogging is that the offers/opps give you some great writing prompts. Well there is no doubt in my mind that paid blogging is here to stay and it will definitely have the potential to create many future bloggers who are paid for their writing. Blogging has becoming a way for regular “Joes” to generate an income. Profiting from paid blogging is rewarding not only for bloggers, but for advertisers as well.
Blogging
A new form of online advertising has emerged in the form of paid blogging. The three most important websites associated with paid blogging are ReviewMe, PayPerPost and SponsoredReviews. Thus, while in the case of ReviewMe, advertisers select and contact bloggers, in case of PayPerPost, bloggers themselves make their offers to advertisers after selecting from the posted blogging opportunities on PayPerPost website. If they meet advertiser's conditions they are awarded blogging reviews. But if you're going to make a career outof blogging, you've got to earn money -- enough to live on -- doing it.
Here, paid blogging is a respected job and many rewrite 10-15 posts daily to make ends meet. Like it or not, paid blogging is here to stay.
Source: http:// ezinearticles.com/?Paid-Blogging:--Is-This-A-Scam?&id=574736
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Blogging in the news
Not exactly in the vain of "how-to" but I found this kind of interesting. Any comments?
future of blogging
From Knowledge@WhartonSpecial to CNET News.com
April 5, 2005, 10:00 AM PDT
Recently, blogs have been credited with everything from CBS News anchorman Dan Rather's departure, to unauthorized previews of the latest Apple Computer products, to new transparency in presidential campaigns. The big question is whether blogs, short for Web logs, have the staying power to become more than just online diaries.
Will bloggers upend the mainstream media? What legal protections should bloggers have? Is there a blogger business model? While no definitive answers exist just yet, experts at Wharton advise questioners to be patient. Blogging, they note, will be around for a long time.
Related contentNews.blogGet our reporters'take on all the latestblogging trends.
Wharton legal studies professor Dan Hunter puts blogging right up there with the printing press when it comes to sharing ideas and disseminating information. "This is not a fad," Hunter says. "It's the rise of amateur content, which is replacing the centralized, controlled content done by professionals."
The growth rate of blogs is impressive. Technorati, a search engine that monitors blogs, tracked more than 8 million online diaries as of March 21, up from 100,000 just two years ago. A new blog is created every 7.4 seconds. That adds up to 12,000 new blogs a day, 275,000 posts a day and 10,800 updates an hour.
"At its most basic level, it's a technology that is lowering the cost of publishing" and turning out to be "the next extension of the Web," says Wharton legal studies professor Kevin Werbach. "Blogging is still in its early days. It's analogous to where the Web was in 1995 and 1996. It's not clear how it will turn out."
What is clear is that opportunities for blogging abound. Companies can use bloggers to put a more human face on interactions between employees and customers; marketers can create buzz through blogs; and bloggers can act as fact checkers for the mainstream media.
There are dozens of applications for blogs, Werbach notes, and many that haven't even been conceived yet. To be sure, the concepts behind blogging aren't exactly new. Comment and feedback have been around as long as the Internet itself. What's new is the
Blogging with a camera phoneease with which people can publish their thoughts on any number of topics, whether it's the latest congressional hearings, the newest gadget or the hottest pair of shoes. "Blogging is really driven by interest and desires, not commercial activity," says Wharton marketing professor Peter Fader. "It's rare to see something take off like this when commercial prospects are so minimal. People just want to share ideas."
The amateur content movement was clearly enabled by the Internet, which made it relatively easy for anyone to start a Web site. Some of those early sites peddled Pez dispensers and antiques (eBay) while others were just directories pointing to other sites (Yahoo). From there, the concept of amateur content has ballooned. In South Korea, for example, a newspaper dubbed Ohmynews.com is written not by trained journalists, but by regular citizens who send in their reports to editors, who then pick the best ones for publication. Companies and individuals have created their own Internet sites offering original information and content. Other sites, like the technology news-oriented Slashdot, are populated by visitors posting items they have seen elsewhere.
Blogging takes those concepts to the next level, says Alex Brown, associate director of admissions at Wharton and a marketing professor at the University of Delaware. "It's really at a nascent stage," adds Brown, who uses blogs to disseminate information for Wharton applicants and keep up with developments at other universities. "It's a great tool. We use it for marketing and to drive people to our sites."
The blogosphere's RathergateBrown acknowledges that blogging is a promising yet undeveloped tool. For now, blogging is much like the Web sites of the mid-1990s--lots of drivel, some useful items and plenty of opinions on every topic.
Today's blogs are mostly associated with politics--not surprising given that former presidential candidate Howard Dean used blogs to rally supporters. Blogs detailing the documents that CBS used to question President Bush's National Guard service were picked apart by bloggers, who pointed out font differences in the documents and thus raised questions about their authenticity.
The scandal, known in the "blogosphere" as Rathergate, ultimately resulted in the anchorman's departure. On the other side of the political spectrum, bloggers detailed Sen. Trent Lott's glowing comments in 2002 about Strom Thurmond's presidential run in 1948 during which he supported segregation. A few apologies later, Lott gave up a bid to be the Senate majority leader.
Click for story
The danger of overtly political blogs is one of selective hearing, Hunter says. If there's a blog for every taste, readers will just flock to sites they agree with. Fader adds that the marketplace of ideas and readers will weed out bloggers who are on the fringe and peddle bad information; they just won't develop an audience. In the future, Fader says, a technology may be created to rate credible bloggers. The system, which would operate like eBay's buyer and seller ratings, could create a blogger pecking order based on readers' opinions.
In the meantime, the courts are trying to figure out whether the First Amendment's freedom of the press protections apply to bloggers. Are bloggers journalists? It's a tricky question, says Werbach. For instance, some bloggers are de facto journalists--because they do interviews, file news stories and provide opinions on current events--and others are just regular people writing about their most recent family vacations. The courts will ultimately have to develop a legal test to extend press privileges, if necessary. "A subset of bloggers performs the task of journalists," Brown adds. "But not all bloggers are journalists."
According to Hunter, determining what will shake out in the courts is anyone's guess. "It's hard to say where this will go legally," he notes, adding that courts will ultimately give press credentials to a select group of bloggers.
For now, the disputes over press protections continue. Apple Computer recently sued a site called Think Secret for publishing information about upcoming products. Apple alleges that by publishing the data, Think Secret divulged trade secrets. Should Think Secret be treated as a journalism site? The issue spawned a host of blog entries and even a blogger boycott of Apple.
The lesson: Apple can use the courts to try to stop product leaks, but the effort is likely to be futile, says Brown. Indeed, a Technorati search turned up a blog revealing mock-ups of an iPad, a tablet PC-like device. "Just because blogging isn't journalism doesn't mean the First Amendment goes away," says Werbach. Hunter agrees. "The difficulty will be developing a test for each case. One size won't fit all."
Related storyFAQ: Bloggingon the jobCNET News.com ex-plains the dos anddon'ts that could saveyou from getting fired.
The whole blogger-as-journalist issue also raises another key issue: Is the mainstream media about to be usurped by a bunch of amateurs? Yes and no. Hunter says the mainstream media worries about blogging just as they initially did about Matt Drudge, who created a tabloid-style news site that features a few stories penned by Drudge but mostly links to other media outlets.
Blogging has already adopted a similar role of chasing tips, rumors and other potential stories. "It's a threat to the mainstream media to the extent that it takes away central control of content and distribution," says Werbach. But "it's not a substitute for the resources and brands that media companies have developed." What's likely is that the mainstream media and blogosphere will share a happy coexistence, he adds. Indeed, bloggers often comment on, and provide links to, articles in The New York Times and other mainstream media.
Whether bloggers supplant the press will depend on their skillfulness, Hunter says, suggesting that for commentary, bloggers' opinions are just as good as commentary printed in newspapers. However, investigative journalism will still be the hallmark of the media. "First-hand reporting will be the distinction between blogging and journalism," Hunter adds. According to Brown, it's a good idea to read both blogs and mainstream news. "A blogger in Iraq can detail things on the ground that journalists often can't...Bloggers are viewed more as fact checkers to keep the media honest. The challenge for mainstream media is to keep up with bloggers' speed."
Overall, Hunter adds, media angst over blogs is misplaced. "The idea that blogging will kill media is as overblown as when they said that e-commerce would kill the retailing business."
The voice of Microsoft in SiberiaMedia navel gazing is one blogger preoccupation, but another development has been the use of Web logs by companies and organizations. Brown relies on blogging to gain market intelligence about what's going on at other business schools and also to update information for Wharton applicants. While Brown says the blog helps Wharton's brand, it's not as easy as it sounds.
The "danger" is that corporations might not "understand the culture of blogging" and produce content that contains carefully vetted material instead of spontaneous writings that appeal to blog fans. Indeed, corporations are allowing employees to keep blogs, and in many cases encouraging online diaries. Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, General Motors and Boeing are just some of the companies that use blogs to communicate with employees and outsiders.
Robert Scoble, a Microsoft employee who operates Scobleizer, a blog about Microsoft products and developments, maintains one of the more interesting blogs around. Scoble, whose official title is "technical evangelist," sounds like many employees at large companies. He has his share of gripes, but will also defend his employer. The key is that he is balanced, says Brown. "This Microsoft employee has to maintain credibility by remaining transparent. By being negative once in a while, it's more credible when he's positive."
Scoble is so credible as a Microsoft blogger that he is viewed as the voice of the company across the globe. When Ted Demopoulos, principal of Demopoulos Associates, an information technology consulting company, was traveling in Russia recently, he stopped in Surgut, Siberia, where he was surprised to find Scoble fans. "I'm out in the middle of nowhere and they ask me about Scoble," says Demopoulos. "To them, Scoble is the voice of Microsoft."
Is there a business model?While corporations can chalk up blogging as a marketing expense, the story is a little different for individuals. Can blogging pay the bills? If you are lucky, you can pay the hosting fees, but that's about it, say Wharton experts. Nevertheless, Werbach predicts that multiple business models will emerge. Individuals ages 18 through 25 are spending more of their time online, and marketers need to reach them. That means blogging could become a way to target the most coveted audience for media.
Now on News.com
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Bloggers currently can sell ads through a keyword system such as Google's Adsense. If an individual writes a blog about asbestos lawsuits, he or she is bound to get significant traffic from lawyers. And that could lead to subscription models. Some bloggers may become so successful that they can charge for their output. The rub with the subscription approach is that it's not clear if anyone will pay for content beyond financial news, data and pornography, says Fader. The other model is one that depends on being acquired, adds Demopoulos. Google bought Blogger.com, and media companies such as Gawker Media are buying and consolidating popular blogs.
What happens when bloggers try to make money off their sites? "It's not a matter of when bloggers want to be paid, but when do readers want to pay for content," says Fader. "The mainstream media hasn't had the guts or savvy to start charging. It will be difficult for bloggers."
While most agree that blogging will continue to be popular, its next steps are uncertain. Demopoulos suggests that blogging overexposure is on the horizon. "Right now, blogging is trendy," he says. "I see that lasting a few years, but it will slow down." Hunter contends that blogging is here to stay, as many sites start to incorporate blogging features, and some news sites become more blog-like. The blogosphere will also become known for topics other than technology and politics. Two things are certain: Blogging will remain disruptive to the traditional media, and new uses will surface. "You are going to see blogging move to video and instant messaging," says Werbach. "It's just the beginning."
All materials copyright © 2005 of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
future of blogging
From Knowledge@WhartonSpecial to CNET News.com
April 5, 2005, 10:00 AM PDT
Recently, blogs have been credited with everything from CBS News anchorman Dan Rather's departure, to unauthorized previews of the latest Apple Computer products, to new transparency in presidential campaigns. The big question is whether blogs, short for Web logs, have the staying power to become more than just online diaries.
Will bloggers upend the mainstream media? What legal protections should bloggers have? Is there a blogger business model? While no definitive answers exist just yet, experts at Wharton advise questioners to be patient. Blogging, they note, will be around for a long time.
Related contentNews.blogGet our reporters'take on all the latestblogging trends.
Wharton legal studies professor Dan Hunter puts blogging right up there with the printing press when it comes to sharing ideas and disseminating information. "This is not a fad," Hunter says. "It's the rise of amateur content, which is replacing the centralized, controlled content done by professionals."
The growth rate of blogs is impressive. Technorati, a search engine that monitors blogs, tracked more than 8 million online diaries as of March 21, up from 100,000 just two years ago. A new blog is created every 7.4 seconds. That adds up to 12,000 new blogs a day, 275,000 posts a day and 10,800 updates an hour.
"At its most basic level, it's a technology that is lowering the cost of publishing" and turning out to be "the next extension of the Web," says Wharton legal studies professor Kevin Werbach. "Blogging is still in its early days. It's analogous to where the Web was in 1995 and 1996. It's not clear how it will turn out."
What is clear is that opportunities for blogging abound. Companies can use bloggers to put a more human face on interactions between employees and customers; marketers can create buzz through blogs; and bloggers can act as fact checkers for the mainstream media.
There are dozens of applications for blogs, Werbach notes, and many that haven't even been conceived yet. To be sure, the concepts behind blogging aren't exactly new. Comment and feedback have been around as long as the Internet itself. What's new is the
Blogging with a camera phoneease with which people can publish their thoughts on any number of topics, whether it's the latest congressional hearings, the newest gadget or the hottest pair of shoes. "Blogging is really driven by interest and desires, not commercial activity," says Wharton marketing professor Peter Fader. "It's rare to see something take off like this when commercial prospects are so minimal. People just want to share ideas."
The amateur content movement was clearly enabled by the Internet, which made it relatively easy for anyone to start a Web site. Some of those early sites peddled Pez dispensers and antiques (eBay) while others were just directories pointing to other sites (Yahoo). From there, the concept of amateur content has ballooned. In South Korea, for example, a newspaper dubbed Ohmynews.com is written not by trained journalists, but by regular citizens who send in their reports to editors, who then pick the best ones for publication. Companies and individuals have created their own Internet sites offering original information and content. Other sites, like the technology news-oriented Slashdot, are populated by visitors posting items they have seen elsewhere.
Blogging takes those concepts to the next level, says Alex Brown, associate director of admissions at Wharton and a marketing professor at the University of Delaware. "It's really at a nascent stage," adds Brown, who uses blogs to disseminate information for Wharton applicants and keep up with developments at other universities. "It's a great tool. We use it for marketing and to drive people to our sites."
The blogosphere's RathergateBrown acknowledges that blogging is a promising yet undeveloped tool. For now, blogging is much like the Web sites of the mid-1990s--lots of drivel, some useful items and plenty of opinions on every topic.
Today's blogs are mostly associated with politics--not surprising given that former presidential candidate Howard Dean used blogs to rally supporters. Blogs detailing the documents that CBS used to question President Bush's National Guard service were picked apart by bloggers, who pointed out font differences in the documents and thus raised questions about their authenticity.
The scandal, known in the "blogosphere" as Rathergate, ultimately resulted in the anchorman's departure. On the other side of the political spectrum, bloggers detailed Sen. Trent Lott's glowing comments in 2002 about Strom Thurmond's presidential run in 1948 during which he supported segregation. A few apologies later, Lott gave up a bid to be the Senate majority leader.
Click for story
The danger of overtly political blogs is one of selective hearing, Hunter says. If there's a blog for every taste, readers will just flock to sites they agree with. Fader adds that the marketplace of ideas and readers will weed out bloggers who are on the fringe and peddle bad information; they just won't develop an audience. In the future, Fader says, a technology may be created to rate credible bloggers. The system, which would operate like eBay's buyer and seller ratings, could create a blogger pecking order based on readers' opinions.
In the meantime, the courts are trying to figure out whether the First Amendment's freedom of the press protections apply to bloggers. Are bloggers journalists? It's a tricky question, says Werbach. For instance, some bloggers are de facto journalists--because they do interviews, file news stories and provide opinions on current events--and others are just regular people writing about their most recent family vacations. The courts will ultimately have to develop a legal test to extend press privileges, if necessary. "A subset of bloggers performs the task of journalists," Brown adds. "But not all bloggers are journalists."
According to Hunter, determining what will shake out in the courts is anyone's guess. "It's hard to say where this will go legally," he notes, adding that courts will ultimately give press credentials to a select group of bloggers.
For now, the disputes over press protections continue. Apple Computer recently sued a site called Think Secret for publishing information about upcoming products. Apple alleges that by publishing the data, Think Secret divulged trade secrets. Should Think Secret be treated as a journalism site? The issue spawned a host of blog entries and even a blogger boycott of Apple.
The lesson: Apple can use the courts to try to stop product leaks, but the effort is likely to be futile, says Brown. Indeed, a Technorati search turned up a blog revealing mock-ups of an iPad, a tablet PC-like device. "Just because blogging isn't journalism doesn't mean the First Amendment goes away," says Werbach. Hunter agrees. "The difficulty will be developing a test for each case. One size won't fit all."
Related storyFAQ: Bloggingon the jobCNET News.com ex-plains the dos anddon'ts that could saveyou from getting fired.
The whole blogger-as-journalist issue also raises another key issue: Is the mainstream media about to be usurped by a bunch of amateurs? Yes and no. Hunter says the mainstream media worries about blogging just as they initially did about Matt Drudge, who created a tabloid-style news site that features a few stories penned by Drudge but mostly links to other media outlets.
Blogging has already adopted a similar role of chasing tips, rumors and other potential stories. "It's a threat to the mainstream media to the extent that it takes away central control of content and distribution," says Werbach. But "it's not a substitute for the resources and brands that media companies have developed." What's likely is that the mainstream media and blogosphere will share a happy coexistence, he adds. Indeed, bloggers often comment on, and provide links to, articles in The New York Times and other mainstream media.
Whether bloggers supplant the press will depend on their skillfulness, Hunter says, suggesting that for commentary, bloggers' opinions are just as good as commentary printed in newspapers. However, investigative journalism will still be the hallmark of the media. "First-hand reporting will be the distinction between blogging and journalism," Hunter adds. According to Brown, it's a good idea to read both blogs and mainstream news. "A blogger in Iraq can detail things on the ground that journalists often can't...Bloggers are viewed more as fact checkers to keep the media honest. The challenge for mainstream media is to keep up with bloggers' speed."
Overall, Hunter adds, media angst over blogs is misplaced. "The idea that blogging will kill media is as overblown as when they said that e-commerce would kill the retailing business."
The voice of Microsoft in SiberiaMedia navel gazing is one blogger preoccupation, but another development has been the use of Web logs by companies and organizations. Brown relies on blogging to gain market intelligence about what's going on at other business schools and also to update information for Wharton applicants. While Brown says the blog helps Wharton's brand, it's not as easy as it sounds.
The "danger" is that corporations might not "understand the culture of blogging" and produce content that contains carefully vetted material instead of spontaneous writings that appeal to blog fans. Indeed, corporations are allowing employees to keep blogs, and in many cases encouraging online diaries. Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, General Motors and Boeing are just some of the companies that use blogs to communicate with employees and outsiders.
Robert Scoble, a Microsoft employee who operates Scobleizer, a blog about Microsoft products and developments, maintains one of the more interesting blogs around. Scoble, whose official title is "technical evangelist," sounds like many employees at large companies. He has his share of gripes, but will also defend his employer. The key is that he is balanced, says Brown. "This Microsoft employee has to maintain credibility by remaining transparent. By being negative once in a while, it's more credible when he's positive."
Scoble is so credible as a Microsoft blogger that he is viewed as the voice of the company across the globe. When Ted Demopoulos, principal of Demopoulos Associates, an information technology consulting company, was traveling in Russia recently, he stopped in Surgut, Siberia, where he was surprised to find Scoble fans. "I'm out in the middle of nowhere and they ask me about Scoble," says Demopoulos. "To them, Scoble is the voice of Microsoft."
Is there a business model?While corporations can chalk up blogging as a marketing expense, the story is a little different for individuals. Can blogging pay the bills? If you are lucky, you can pay the hosting fees, but that's about it, say Wharton experts. Nevertheless, Werbach predicts that multiple business models will emerge. Individuals ages 18 through 25 are spending more of their time online, and marketers need to reach them. That means blogging could become a way to target the most coveted audience for media.
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Bloggers currently can sell ads through a keyword system such as Google's Adsense. If an individual writes a blog about asbestos lawsuits, he or she is bound to get significant traffic from lawyers. And that could lead to subscription models. Some bloggers may become so successful that they can charge for their output. The rub with the subscription approach is that it's not clear if anyone will pay for content beyond financial news, data and pornography, says Fader. The other model is one that depends on being acquired, adds Demopoulos. Google bought Blogger.com, and media companies such as Gawker Media are buying and consolidating popular blogs.
What happens when bloggers try to make money off their sites? "It's not a matter of when bloggers want to be paid, but when do readers want to pay for content," says Fader. "The mainstream media hasn't had the guts or savvy to start charging. It will be difficult for bloggers."
While most agree that blogging will continue to be popular, its next steps are uncertain. Demopoulos suggests that blogging overexposure is on the horizon. "Right now, blogging is trendy," he says. "I see that lasting a few years, but it will slow down." Hunter contends that blogging is here to stay, as many sites start to incorporate blogging features, and some news sites become more blog-like. The blogosphere will also become known for topics other than technology and politics. Two things are certain: Blogging will remain disruptive to the traditional media, and new uses will surface. "You are going to see blogging move to video and instant messaging," says Werbach. "It's just the beginning."
All materials copyright © 2005 of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Promoting your Blog
OK, you found this blog in the tangled web we call the internet. Keep tuned over the next few days and this space will be filled up with valuable information on how to promote your blog. These website promotion techniques are also transferable to regular websites. Anything you want anyone to find on the internet.
Sure there are books on the topic, but they cost money, this is free. If you want to save a step, check out this book Search Engine Marketing a deal at twice the price, I spend more for the same thing in a local bookstore. Another great book is Search Engine Optimization For Dummies
Here are some links for search engine submissions:
Google: http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=/addurl
Yahoo: https://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/submit
DMOZ: http://www.dmoz.org/add.html
MSN: http://search.live.com/docs/submit.aspx?FORM=SUNO
Sure there are books on the topic, but they cost money, this is free. If you want to save a step, check out this book Search Engine Marketing a deal at twice the price, I spend more for the same thing in a local bookstore. Another great book is Search Engine Optimization For Dummies
Here are some links for search engine submissions:
Google: http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=/addurl
Yahoo: https://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/submit
DMOZ: http://www.dmoz.org/add.html
MSN: http://search.live.com/docs/submit.aspx?FORM=SUNO
Affiliate programs
Affiliate marketing can be a very profitable area of blogging. That being said, the blogger needs to pick the right affiliate program and products. Some things to keep in mind when picking the appropriate money making affiliate program for your blog site are:
Payout frequency: How often does the affiliate program pay the blogger. Some affiliate programs require a minimum payout before they actually send you the money. Some will even cancel your account if it is dormant without income if you do not provide them with any links for a set period of time.
Commission: Look at the selling price of the affiliates products and compare that to your commission. It is hardly worth the space on your page if you are getting pennies for a product that will not sell.
Sellability: Aside from the reputation of the affiliate program, this is the most important aspect of choosing appropriate money making affiliate programs for your blog. Regardless of the payout, if you are posting an ad on your blog which will never sell, you are wasting valuable blog floor space.
Relation to your Blog topic: This works had in had with sellability. Consider the topic of your blog and what the blog viewers might be looking for. For example, you will be hardpressed to sell Viagra on a Lesbian interest site. Vibrators and sex toys are more likely.
In order to get paid by most Affiliate programs you will need a Paypal Account. Click here to set one up.
For more information on affiliate marketing check out this handy book
If you prefer, Amazon also has a great book available Pay-Per-Click Search Engine Marketing
Payout frequency: How often does the affiliate program pay the blogger. Some affiliate programs require a minimum payout before they actually send you the money. Some will even cancel your account if it is dormant without income if you do not provide them with any links for a set period of time.
Commission: Look at the selling price of the affiliates products and compare that to your commission. It is hardly worth the space on your page if you are getting pennies for a product that will not sell.
Sellability: Aside from the reputation of the affiliate program, this is the most important aspect of choosing appropriate money making affiliate programs for your blog. Regardless of the payout, if you are posting an ad on your blog which will never sell, you are wasting valuable blog floor space.
Relation to your Blog topic: This works had in had with sellability. Consider the topic of your blog and what the blog viewers might be looking for. For example, you will be hardpressed to sell Viagra on a Lesbian interest site. Vibrators and sex toys are more likely.
In order to get paid by most Affiliate programs you will need a Paypal Account. Click here to set one up.
For more information on affiliate marketing check out this handy book
If you prefer, Amazon also has a great book available Pay-Per-Click Search Engine Marketing
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Introduction
OK, so I'm not an expert on the topic YET, but I have figured out a few things.
First of all, Blogging can either be a great pass-time or hobby or it can be a colosal waste of time which does nothing except encourage obesity and lack of activity. The key to successful blogging is balance, after all a successful blog is written from personal experience which cannot be gained by slugging behind the computer.
I have a number of blogs on various topics which are in various stages of development. There are many blogs out there which are basically full of crap. These people take information from other websites and paste them into their own blog pretending it is their own. Sometimes they give credit where credit is due, however many do not. This kind of dishonesty, although it does bring in some hits, does shine through and valuable blog loyalty is missed out on.
Examples would be a blog I created on a hobby of mine (Winemaking) I'm not an expert, but I do enjoy the art and I am always experimenting with different wines. Another would be a friend of mine who, after going through an incredible ordeal with weight gain due to drugs she was on leading to and after a surgery, created a blog for people who were fighting weight problems. Although different in content, these blogs have one thing in common... Passion. This is not something which can easily be faked, sure you can try, but people will notice and you can join the ranks of "just another porn blogger" pimping ads for penis enlargement devices.
Speaking of ads, see those things over to the side as well as the various highlighted words in my text? Well those links pay me everytime someone clicks on them. So feel free to help a fellow blogger out and click away. In addition, these links tend to be targetted towards the content of this site. You will notice alot of them on Blogs. In fact some of those links could be very valuable in helping you make more money from Blogging. I have also done some looking around and found various products which can help you in your quest for the almighty Blog dollar, those can also be found on the side.
First of all, Blogging can either be a great pass-time or hobby or it can be a colosal waste of time which does nothing except encourage obesity and lack of activity. The key to successful blogging is balance, after all a successful blog is written from personal experience which cannot be gained by slugging behind the computer.
I have a number of blogs on various topics which are in various stages of development. There are many blogs out there which are basically full of crap. These people take information from other websites and paste them into their own blog pretending it is their own. Sometimes they give credit where credit is due, however many do not. This kind of dishonesty, although it does bring in some hits, does shine through and valuable blog loyalty is missed out on.
Examples would be a blog I created on a hobby of mine (Winemaking) I'm not an expert, but I do enjoy the art and I am always experimenting with different wines. Another would be a friend of mine who, after going through an incredible ordeal with weight gain due to drugs she was on leading to and after a surgery, created a blog for people who were fighting weight problems. Although different in content, these blogs have one thing in common... Passion. This is not something which can easily be faked, sure you can try, but people will notice and you can join the ranks of "just another porn blogger" pimping ads for penis enlargement devices.
Speaking of ads, see those things over to the side as well as the various highlighted words in my text? Well those links pay me everytime someone clicks on them. So feel free to help a fellow blogger out and click away. In addition, these links tend to be targetted towards the content of this site. You will notice alot of them on Blogs. In fact some of those links could be very valuable in helping you make more money from Blogging. I have also done some looking around and found various products which can help you in your quest for the almighty Blog dollar, those can also be found on the side.
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