Plugging In

Plugging In to Advocacy and Life

2007-11-19T11:59:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been quite "unplugged" in recent weeks due to a crazy travel and work schedule. Thank goodness I had so many electronic gadgets to keep me focused and organized!

I know I haven't shared lately, but no worries. Here are a couple great pieces for the tech-savvy to enjoy:

I wrote a piece for the American Society of Association Executives (yes, the association of associations) on using social networks in advocacy campaigns. While the five tips outlined are oriented toward government relations and grassroots, they can definitely be useful for anyone hoping to get started in this brave new world.

For anyone who doesn't get Parade Magazine in your Sunday paper (or who doesn't read it), you might want to check out the online version. The lead story this last week was how technology can help you Get Connected! (hmmm, or maybe "Plugged In?). The main point of the piece was that people use technology to be active and involved in politics, meet people across the planet and organize / focus their lives.

Humane Treatment of Animals in a Virtual World

2007-10-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

According to a recent Media Post article, the Humane Society of the United States (one of my favorite organizations) is partnering with There.com to promote membership in HSUS with a new demographic. Users of the site will be able to learn more about HSUS and even purchase memberships for their avatars.

I find this one of the more innovative approaches I've seen an association take to member recuitment and retention (full disclosure, HSUS is one of my clients, although not on this project). It doesn't surprise me that HSUS would be a leader. They already have Facebook and MySpace pages, contirbute regularly to their vlog and podcast and their CEO, Wayne Pacelle, regularly posts interesting and insightful entries into his blog. I do have one small quibble. The blog isn't open, meaning that HSUS reviews comments and posts only samples. While I understand that they are probably a lightening rod for many groups and there are probably a huge range of negative comments, I'm thinking HSUS would be able to get more positive responses and viewers of its blog if they had an open comment policy.

At any rate, while for many of us a couple social networks a podcast and a blog might not sound so "cutting edge," considering the fact that many associations aren't even willing to set up a blog, HSUS seems to have it going on with the new technology.

Now if I could only teach my dog to listen to the podcasts. Then we'd be all set...

How did I miss it?

2007-10-29T14:48:00.001-07:00

Did you know that last Friday October 27th, or today, October 29th, was World Internet Day? Yeah, me neither. Read more about it here, here and here. Interesting, though, that considering how connected we've all become through the Internet, no one really knew about it or celebrated it in any significant way.

Frankly, I'm not even sure who decided it was World Internet Day. And whoever did decide should have at least designed some cards, put together a gift-giving protocol and, of course, outlined an appropriate budget for the event. I have no idea how much I'm supposed to spend on my loved ones for this auspicious occasion. Where's the leadership?

I mean, geez, if we can all start declaring things, I'm going to declare this "World Give Stephanie 10 dollars Day" (or the currency of your choice). Has a nice ring to it.

Go ahead, send in the cash. Be part of the celebration

I'm glad this wasn't around when I was in College

2007-10-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

Partida Tequila is hosting a "Tequila Confessions" site at www.tequilaconfessions.com. Apparently, you can send in your story online and the roving tequila team might, when they're in your home town, come to your house and film your confession.

It's certainly an interesting branding technique -- relating your product to what might be some of the worst experiences of some people's lives. Sure, I love tequila, but there are some things I'm just not going to confess either online or on video. Let's just say that one involved Disneyland and the other involved the Japanese Embassy. That's all I'm going to say.

That said, I'm sure there are braver people out there that will enjoy this unique approach and I say "more power to them." Just don't drag me into it...

The Rich Read People Magazine Too

2007-10-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I am a member of the "business elite" and "affluent." I don't really think of it that way, but according to new research I fall in to both these categories and am, as such, to be courted by businesses selling to the "well-off." (Rolex, here I am -- start marketing away).

The two reports, one from a Paris research firm called Iposos and the other from Monroe Mendelsohn Research define the "business elite" as anyone with a "C-level" title or their senior managers (Iposos) and the affluent as anyone in a household making over $85,000 per year (MMR). Well, I own my own business (Advocacy Associates) and I make a decent living, so I guess I qualify!

The more important finding from these reports, though, is that this group of people uses new media to a surprising degree. Those conducting the research expected, frankly, to find that the middle aged, white guys comprising the bulk of the business elite would have no use for blogs and the Internet. Turns out, they were wrong. In fact, nearly 1/3rd of business elite read a blog at least once a month, and almost 25% dowloaded a podcast.

But have no fear that we're getting too big for a britches in the "business elite" and "affluent" crowd. According to the report, our favorite magazines are People, National Geographic and Sports Illustrated. You'd think it would be Fortune or the Economist, but, well, that's just what we tell everyone else.

See you around the country club!

The iPhone Tsunami

2007-10-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

It seems odd to me that Apple's announcement that it will open the iPhone to outside applications isn't on the front page of every online news source in the country. Sure, some publications like the New York Times and AFP have released short stories about Steve Jobs recent announcement. And, of course, Techie publications like Wired have covered it in a little more detail.

For those who missed it, Jobs says "Let me just say it. We want native third party applications on the iPhone." That seemingly innocuous statement will, in my opinion, open up whole new avenues for software developers and iPhone / iPod users alike. It's HUGE -- yeah, I know it doesn't seem huge, but it is.

Why? Because the iPhone and its cousin, the iPod Touch are more than just simple hand held devices. With their WiFi, e-mail, file storage and keyboard capabilities the devices are, in fact, mini-computers, and have the potential to operate as such -- especially if fitted out with some of the third party applications envisioned by developers. Imagine having all the functionality of your current laptop available in your iPod.

In opening up the possibility for developers to work WITH Apple (not against them), Jobs is part of a continuing positive trend in the Web 2.0 world. Larger players, such as MySpace, Facebook and Google recognize that in order to thrive they need to accept and embrace third party applications as opposed to control against them.

Sure, it seems like a new way of doing business. I mean, can you imagine Ford Motor Company unlocking the secrets of its production process so that outsiders could create new, better components for Ford vehicles?

But to me, what Apple and others are doing is building a new component into their brand image. That new component is called "flexibility" and its what successful companies must incorporate into their products and services to have any success in the future.

Well Past the Tip of the Iceberg on the TV/Computer Merger

2007-10-16T14:21:00.001-07:00

So, it occured to me the other day that I have really gotten in to the habit of jumping online whenever and wherever we want. We have a wireless network in our house, so that rather than make the long trek upstairs to our office computer, I can log on to whatever sites I want from the safety of my couch.

Of course, I currently have to keep a laptop on hand downstairs to enjoy that luxury, but as more and more people are watching TV on the Internet (and starting to access the Internet from their television sets), I can see that changing.

I know, I know -- the merger of television and computer has been discussed for years, and I'm not saying we're there yet. But recent reports indicating that online television show viewing has DOUBLED in the last year has got me thinking this merger is coming sooner rather than later. In fact, according to a study by the Conference Board and TNS, close to 16% of American households who use the Internet watch TV online.

At first I thought that was just something those young folks do until I realized that my own husband -- a not very technologically literate boomer (he just learned how to text) -- watches some programming online, especially sporting events that aren't available on one of our 8.000 cable channels. If he does it, then we're past the tip of the iceberg -- we're in the thick of it.

Plugging In to Change

2007-10-11T14:24:00.001-07:00

Thomas Friedman recently presented a very thought-provoking piece in the New York Times, expressing his concern about the lack of outrage he sees with America's youth. The piece, titled "Generation Q" (for Quiet) suggests that college kids these days have a lot to be angry about -- and should be showing it more.

Friedman comments that between massive deficits, the demise of Social Security, the trashing of the environment and other mishaps of the "greediest generation" (that's us, by the way), Generation Y should be out there getting arrested, participating in protests and generally rabble-rousing to gain attention and foment change.

But, see, I'm not so sure they aren't out there burning their bras -- they're just doing it in a different way. Boomers like Friedman (and, to some extent, me, although I'm in that gray Boomer / Gen X area) don't really understand the power of social networking techniques to create change. Generation Y is showing us new ways to be effective advocates, through a combination of online and offline approaches. We see their influence in the Save Darfur efforts, in the work being done on the environment and in how presidential candidates are running their campaigns.

Just because they aren't out there looting and pillaging doesn't mean they don't care. In fact, we have a lot to learn from how Generation "Q" speaks up!

Anyway, I've written a letter to the editor on this -- if it's printed, I'll let you know!

Radio Continues to Thrive Online

2007-10-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

What's the one thing that Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y agree on? Internet radio. According to a recent report, 18% of Internet users visit a radio station online at least monthly. That's 38.6 million visitors per month! I find this somewhat surprising, since I'm used to thinking of radio as an "old" technology.

Turns out, it's not that old -- and radio programmers and distributers are really figuring out how to use the online medium to their advantage. According to a news article on the report:

"The 18% cohort is dominated by frequent radio listeners and Internet junkies, with people most likely to visit a station's Web site when they're at work. According to the Media Audit figures, the top 10 cities where Internet users visit radio Web sites are, in order: Minneapolis, Seattle, Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, and Milwaukee."

Seems to me that many leaders in the industry have figured out that people are willing and able to use their computers as a radio receiver -- especially in the office. Could this be the start of the great "TV/Radio/Computer Melding" we've heard so much about? In fact, once we're at the point where everyone can access video at broadband speeds (including HD video) we may just find that traditional over the air broadcast will go the way of the land line telephone...

Anyway, I don't know why I'm surprised. My baby boomer husband, who just figured out how to send text messages on his phone, spends more time listening to radio on the Internet than I do!

A couple favorite "Plugged In" ways to waste time

2007-10-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

OK, I admit it. I've been sucked in to iwon.com. I don't know how long it will last, but I have to say that their combination of sweepstakes and the search engine Ask.com seems pretty darn brilliant. I mean, most companies have figured out pretty standard ways of gaining revenue for their search engines (Google's AdWords, for example). But the folks at iwon have come up with something totally different.

See, once you register on the site, you need to start gathering sweepstakes entry credits. You can do this through a variety of means, including playing through some of the games on the site until the bitter end (good for wasting away an afternoon) or by conducting searches on the site using Ask.com's highly respectable search engine. Given how many times in a day I search for something, well, that's a lot of sweepstakes entries.

I'll keep you posted on whether I win anything.

Another fun "wasting time" site is www.theonion.com. Lots of funny stories replete with tongue-firmly-in-cheek satire. Some of my recent favorites include "New Heart Device Allows Dick Cheney to Experience Love" and "Third Amendment Rights Group Celebrates Another Successful Year." Quick, can you tell me what the third amendment to the constitution is? Why yes, it's the one protecting American citizens from being forced to house soldiers.

And speaking of satire, please go to Despair.com. This site offers some really humorous riffs on those "Successories" posters (you know with the pictures of people and or fluffy animals working together and some inspiring phrase like "Teamwork: we're all in this together"). Despair's perspective is far more realistic: "Teamwork: A few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of destruction." It's really heart warming. You can even create your own.

Why I haven't posted this week

2007-09-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Well, we have a new addition to the family. Meet Ozzie, a 3 month old Australian cattle dog who we just adopted. Between working with the great folks at the shelter, buying all the accoutrements and just hanging out with this guy it's been quite a whirlwind.

It will be interesting raising a puppy in this "plugged in" age. I've already plugged in to tons of dog-related information on the Internet, kept my iPhone at the ready to take adorable pictures and posted pictures on Flickr to keep the proud dog grandparents apprised of their furry grandchild's progress. Oh, and now I'm blogging about him!

It is good for me to remember, though, that no amount of being plugged in will achieve all my goals for taking care of Ozzie. He still managed to climb over the baby gate that we're using to keep him in the kitchen area -- without any technological devices at all!

Local Business and Online Advertising -- A Missed Connection?

2007-09-17T13:35:00.002-07:00

Quite the hot little subject these days. There's a great discussion about a new report from emarketer on MediaPost's Online spin blog titled "Can You Do the Local Motion."

The main question raised by the blogger and commenters is whether online advertising by local businesses is the next hot thing. Given what was found in the Marchex report I blogged about last week (that only 5% of local business advertising dollars are being used for online advertising), this certainly is an area for growth. I think the question is "how?"

There's seems to be a fundamental difference in how online advertising might work for a local business as for a national business. Local businesses are going to need more word-of-mouth and referral approaches. That's why I think sites like Yelp.com might help pave the way for more investment in online approaches. As local businesses get more used to the idea that people turn to the Internet for information -- even on their local, family-owned, non-fancy business -- they might be more willing to utilize some of these approaches.

At least I hope so, because I think I can help them out :)

Time to get online?

2007-09-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

A recent report from Marchex titled "Unlocking the Potential of the Local Internet" indicates that local businesses aren't doing such a good job of migrating their ad dollars to the Internet. In fact, only about 5% of the $100 billion expected to be spent in local outreach this year will go to online activities. The rest will be focused on traditional venues like yellow pages and local newspapers.

Hey, local small businesses -- snap out of it! No one wants you to ignore your traditional outlets but if you want to be successful (and, more specifically, if you want people to FIND YOU!) you'll need to invest more in online approaches. This means investing in local search outlets (like Citysearch.com) as well as consumer driven sites, like Yelp.com.

Truth is, many people these days turn to the Internet before they'll turn to the Yellow Pages or a local newspaper ad, even for local services. For many of us, it's the best way of finding services -- from plumbers to restaurants to dry cleaners.

So, if you run one of those businesses, take a minute to review the Marchex report and see what you can do to improve your standings. Who knows? Maybe the 20-somethings will start flocking to your doors.

Domain Names and Babies

2007-09-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

You may have spent months picking out the perfect name for your baby -- but did you reserve the domain name? That's the key question behind a recent post at Yahoo's Tech site. Seems that parents these days are holding off on making the choice about a name until they can ascertain that some reasonable version of it is still available on the world wide web.

Another common practice is checking the name your considering for possible confusion with someone of ill-repute. I'm lucky because it seems that most of the Stephanie Vance's in the world are doing good things. I feel sorry for my friend Paula Jones -- just Google the name and you'll see what I mean (for those who don't remember, she was one of the first women to publicly accuse President Clinton of sxual harassment while he was Governor of Arkansas. My friend Paula Jones, on the other hand, hasn't, to my knowledge, ever met Bill Clinton or been to Arkansas.

So, before you decide on that "perfect" name, do a quick Google search. Or you may find you've named your child after a famous porn star -- and then what are you going to do about the domain name?

We Need a Social Network for Introverts

2007-09-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

I'm a little embarassed to admit this, but I am somewhat friendless on Facebook and MySpace. Oh, I have a few (friends and family who took pity on my friendless status) -- and I have a respectable showing on LinkedIn. But I'm pretty low-down on the friend totem pole in the traditional socializing forums.

Now, don't get me wrong. I certainly get my share of requests -- often from the obviously creepy guys and party gals who are just trying to rack up online digital points (or, in some cases, offline hookups). Usually, by the time I've gone online to say "yes" or "no," the person making the request has already been booted off the system. So that makes it easy.

But the thing is, I'm not really into the network sites for the new friends as much as I am for looking up past friends or making new business connections. You see, I have enough friends. I can't even keep track of everyone I already know, much less the gazillions of other people out there. And, I'm of a generation that you don't just "friend" someone if you don't mean it... If I'm going to call someone a friend, I plan to interact with them every once in a while.

I think this is the plight of anyone logging on to a social network who are "of a certain age" (yep, that's me). We're not in the market for new social interaction. We're in the market for better maintenance of our existing interactions. So as soon as the powers that be invent a social networking site for those of us that don't really want to meet random people, I'll sign up. Maybe a "social network for introverts." One option might be Eons.com, but I'm not quite in the over 50 age group Iyet!)

In the meantime, maybe we'll take over the existing networks. In fact, that's what this Business Week article says we're about to do!

Wired "How To" Edition

2007-09-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

The August edition of Wired (OK, I admit it, I just got to it... Sorry, but I was on vacation!) includes a fun and entertaining "How To" section reminiscent of all those books about how to do things with duct tape. It covers how to work, live and play -- pretty much everything! I found "How to Popularize Your Meme" and "How to Fill the Watercooler" of particular use.

I'm trying one now (popularizing the "Plugging In" meme) and was gratified to learn that I'm doing the right things (nothing like a little validation in one's life). I haven't tried the water cooler thing yet but that's on my agenda for next week. Oh, and I'm looking forward to applying the "Win at Scrabble" ideas to the next game with my husband. He never reads my blog, so he'll never know.

iPhone Apologist

2007-09-07T14:27:00.001-07:00

OK, I admit it. I was one of those "chumps" that bought the new iPhone the day it came out at the original price. I waited in line for a few hours on that fateful day and was fortunate to get the very last phone in the store. That's right. The very last. I grabbed my precious box of technology, ran out the door and didn't look back.

Of course, that night I did look on EBay to see what I could sell it for. I wasn't going to, mind you. No way. But if I had wanted to I could have made about $1,000 over what I had paid. Not bad for a few hours in line.

At any rate, by all accounts I should be irrate by the fact that Apple recently cut the price of the iPhone by $200. I should be moping around, taking to the streets and, perhaps, burning all my Apple products in effigy.

You know what, though? I've looked long and hard through the depths of my soul for a little anger and, well, there isn't any. Sorry. Maybe I'm a sucker (actually, no doubt I am). But frankly I'm glad I was part of the initial excitement! It was worth $200 to be able to tell people "yeah, I stood in line and got the VERY LAST PHONE." It was worth $200 to bask in the techno-envy of all my friends for a few months. And now I get $100 to play with at my local Apple store. Really, it's not that bad.

Anyway, if that makes me a "chump" so be it -- at least I didn't buy it on EBay.

More on Niche Social Networks

2007-09-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal Best of Business blog had a great piece recently on niche social networks. In it, the author provides concrete ideas and examples for business related social networks, noting that social networking has, in many ways, "grown up."

True, many of us think of social networks as those online forums that kids use to make new friends and talk to each other in incomprehensible language (R U there? LOL). But many businesses are beginning to understand the value of connecting like-minded people together in cyber-space (and, preferably, on an issue that relates to the product or services of the company). For example, Playboy Enterprises is setting up a social network open to just college students. Hmmm, I wonder what products and services they'll be selling... Or, you can look at the niche (OK, VERY niche) social network for my company, Advocacy Associates.

As the author notes, the point here is that adults don't necessarily just want to "meet people" (hey, I have enough friends). We still turn to the Internet for information and idea exchange on the issues we care about. That's where a niche social network for new mothers, diet coke drinkers, CIA spies (yes, there is one) or Playboy enthusiasts might grab (figuratively, not literally) our attention.

Now, I'd link you to that site but the WSJ does not like to share its information with non-subscribers (I wonder how long they'll be able to keep that up once Rupert Murdoch gets his hot little hands on the site). So, if you want to read the piece for yourself, go to Google News and search for "niche social networks". Once you find it you'll have to scroll down after the title about Cigna -- not that Cigna's not interesting :).

Couldn't Help Myself

2007-09-05T12:28:00.002-07:00

OK, there are times when I'm not officialy "plugged in." Here I am, for example at the bottom of the ocean in Maui. Yes, I know it looks like an aquarium, but believe me, it's the ocean. I didn't e-mail anyone from down here, although I was tempted to find a water-proof case for my iPhone and send some text messages.

Although, now that I think about it, perhaps the best technology to have down there at 40 feet was my scuba tank :)

Blogging: It's Not Just for the "Young"

2007-09-05T12:00:00.001-07:00

Bill Marriott, age 75, recently launched his "Marriott on the Move" blog, introducing it as the new form of "management by walking around." For those not familiar with this business technique, it's basically just what it sounds like: managers take time to walk around their company and talk to everyone -- from the front desk person to the people in the warehouse to their VPs of public relations -- to get a sense of the "real" functionality (or non-functionality) of the company.

Clearly, Marriott (and others) have cozened on to the fact that online interactive tools like blogs and social networks can help immeasurably in their implementation of traditional management techniques, like "management by walking around." Anywhere from 6 to 10 people a day comment on Marriott's entries -- some customers, some employees, some random citizens. And the posts, while polite, aren't all postive.

In fact, here's what's really cool. People are actually allowed to -- GASP -- disagree with the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Publicly! Without repercussions (well, I'm not sure what room they get when they check in to a Marriott). But the point is that this isn't just a corporate fluff piece. Real people with real concerns get to have a say and they're willing to speak up with less rancor and more thoughtfulness than you might expect.

The fact is that people these days, whether they're customers, employees or random web surfers EXPECT you to have a blog. It's a new business standard. So what are you going to do to get on board? One great place to start is my post on blogging. More to come soon.

Happiness defined

2007-08-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

According to Charlie Brown it's a warm puppy, but according to a recent report from MTV and the Associate Press, 50% of Americans 18 to 34 see happiness in the form of the Internet and their cell phones.

But have no fear! Most young people also see spending time with family and friends as a major source of happiness -- the number one source, in fact.
One wonders, though, whether they count time spent with friends online or on their cell phone as "friend time" or "Internet time." Or what about all those semi-friends one has on MySpace? Which category does that fall in to?

Perhaps the good news here is that when one is "plugged in" one can earn double fun points when one connects with friends and family through technology.

At the same time, these folks are stressed out about a few things. You'd think it would be "too much SPAM on the internet" or "not enough texting capacity on my cell phone." In fact, the number one source of stress, now as it always has been, is money (not having enough, that is. Few people reported stress about too much cash).

Overall, though, it seems that the younger set is a jolly lot -- a much different picture than we sometimes get of the "self-centered, morose" millenial generation.

If you're interested in a closer look you can read more about this study here and here

Broadband is here to stay...

2007-08-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Pew Internet and the American Life Project just released an interest research memo on broadband adoption in the home, and for anyone arguing that people aren't into having Internet access in their homes, well, you're wrong.

First of all, consider the fact that 71% of all adults use the Internet frequently, and 62% have an Internet connection at home. And those connections aren't all dial-up. In fact, almost 1/2 of Americans (47%) now have a broadband connection at home, reflecting a 5% increase from the previous year. While broadband use continues to be less prevelant in rural areas, growth in rural areas is faster than in other parts of the country.

Perhaps most interesting is the fact that one of the fastest growing demographics for broadband adoption is the African America community, with over 40% of homes boasting a broadband connection. That's nearly triple the number in early 2005. Oh, and according to Pew "...the number of home broadband users in early 2007 is now roughly as large (on a percentage basis) as the entire universe of internet users in the first year of the [Pew] surveys of online use."

Seems that this Internet thing is pretty popular, not just for work and communication but for home entertainment as well. Clearly, people are flocking to faster connection speeds for a reason. Could that reason be the desire to upload their own content (as well as to access new forms of content from other users (like video)?)

Sounds pretty e-scapist to me!

Plugging In to Blogging: Five Key Steps

2007-08-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Everyone has probably already heard of this site, but just in case: If you want to make sure you get off on the right foot with your blogging efforts, go to www.problogger.net. The guy who runs this site knows a LOT about blogs and provides the information in a really clear, concise, meaningful way (no wading through tons of posts to get to the one you want!)

I discovered the site while putting together a session for First Class on how to make money using your blog.

For purposes of the class, I broke the process down into five basic steps and encouraged participants to ask themselves questions at each point in the process. In the class session, we discussed all the various free tools available on the Internet for blog optimization. I'll post the full class materials on the site in the near future. In the meantime, following is my outline of the class -- enjoy!

Step One: Start the Blog!

What will you write about (hint: to make money on your blog, people have to want to go to it!)
What are you an expert at?
How often can you commit to writing (more often is better; one short post every day to start at a minimum)
What technology will you use?
Are you comfortable with blogging as a medium (it’s different from “regular writing”)

Step Two: Drive people to the blog

Who will want to read your blog (what is your target market?)
Why will your content be so compelling that people will want to read?
What techniques will you use to drive people to your blog? (hint: ads are not enough!)

Step Three: Put revenue makers on the blog

How could you utilize each of these techniques to gain revenue from your blog?

Advertising and the Google Haiku
Potential affiliate partners
Products you could create and sell
Potential for donations?

Step Four: Consider additional revenue making options to advertise through your blog

Although it is possible, over time, to develop a more “passive income” oriented site, one of the best, most lucrative ways to gain money from your blog is to use it as a marketing tool for your expertise. The types of services that are uniquely suited to marketing through a blog include:

What kinds of services could you offer for sale through your blog?
How would you describe those services? How would you price them?
Could you turn your blog entries into additional articles for e-lance providers?
Could you offer webinars or trainings?

Step Five: Monitor your progress

If you really want to have a successful blog (and make money!), you have to be committed to all the critical steps: content development; driving traffic; having revenue generators on your site and following your progress.

How will you:

Utilize tracking tools (like Google Analytics) to monitor your web pages
Identify the strategies that are working and focus on those
Maintain a consistent commitment to writing in the blog
Optimize the blog on an ongoing basis by providing new tools and opportunities to interact?

A whole new meaning to the term "Peer Review"

2007-08-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

Anyone in the academic or scientific community understands the idea of "peer review." See, when you right something really complicated that no one is likely to understand, your publicher will probably ask other really smart people to review the piece just to be sure that you're not crazy (well, you may be, but they really want to be sure you're not just wrong).

Yelp.com takes the idea of peer review to the masses -- but don't worry, you won't have to write something incredibly erudite. I suppose it's not technically "peer review", it's just plain old regular reviews from plain old regular people. On the site you can read useful, detailed reviews of local restaurants. stores, products and experiences by joe and jane public. You can also write your own! Be sure to check it out before heading out for a meal out, or make sure your favorite places have positive comments online.

Frankly, Yelp.com is going to be around for a while. Local businesses that want drive business should double check their reviews -- if there are trends indicating problems, it's time for the restaurant to take action. It's kind of like a free secret shopper service.

I'm heading off to Minneapolis today -- I hope they have information on that city!

Those High Tech Park and Rec Guys...

2007-08-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

I don't usually think of the people affiliated with local, state and national parks as the most high tech people. I don't mean that in a bad way -- I just don't! I mean, they spend all their time doing fun things outdoors. It's hard to imagine them locked in an office in front of a computer all day.

But these folks continue to surprise me with their adoption of technology to imporove the park experience. Take the example of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and its LocateAPark site which "mashes up" information about their member parks with Google Maps.

And the coolest thing about it is that they just used their database information and two free online geocoding and mapping services, Geocoder and GoogleMaps. Sure, it took some time, but the basic tools are available to everyone with a computer and an Internet connection.

Of course, the mapping service is only as good as the data that goes into it -- Google Maps will map whatever address you give it, even if it's wrong. Nevertheless, these tools have tremendous potential for any association or organization that wants to build a geographic representation of their members, products or services.

For more information about this cool site, check out the Associations Now article highlighting the IPRA's work