Archive for March, 2008
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 31st, 2008
The sun is shining, the daffodils are blooming and Spring is in full swing. If these weren’t enough reasons to be cheerful then here are some more on the Internet front.
The main reason to be cheerful this month is the release of the latest WordPress blog software – version 2.5. I only started using it today but so far so great – my spacing problems have been resolved as have my cut and paste issues.I am looking forward to finding out what other goodies version 2.5 brings.
Another discovery this month was the ThoughtFarmer knowledge sharing solution. Aimed at providing organisations with an Intranet portal that enhances knowledge sharing and collaboration, ThoughtFarmer combines the best of wiki technology with social networking to allow organizations to deploy a unique and highly usable portal.
Suitable online invoicing systems are few and far between. Some are good at handling expenses, others good at tracking time but I haven’t found one that does both well, one that is easy to use, customizable and can link to Paypal. Canadian online invoicing provider Freshbooks may just be the solution.
Looking for any easy way to involve your visitors on line? PollDaddy is a great code generating tool that allows you to create a poll on your site (you define the question you want to ask and the answer criteria). Simply cut and paste the code to your web site and start polling your audience.
Another easy way to enhance your site and make the user experience more enjoyable is to add forms. Wufoo simplifies this by giving you a catalogue of templates to choose from (everything from customer surveys to registration forms).
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 31st, 2008
Last summer I blogged about my frustration with social media and in particular the need to remember so many login processes and details. Its all very cumbersome and time consuming – especially if you can’t remember your password.
Thankfully the days of having multiple logins are coming to an end. You may have noticed OpenID logins or logos on some of your favourite Internet networking hubs. OpenID is an new approach to Internet identity. Right now you have a different ID for each and every site but by using OpenID you will be able to use one digital identity for many sites you use.
OpenID is aimed at making the Internet safer (by making it harder for people to gain access to your personnal details) and easier to use. It should save you time in that you wont have to fill out another endless registration form.
The popular bookmarking site Ma.gnolia is pioneering this by making OpenID a prerequisite for new users in an effort to further eliminate spam and limit fraudulent use of the bookmarking system. Ma.gnolia isn’t the only company adopting this – they are in company with Yahoo, Google and Microsoft to name but three of over 10,000.
One recommendation – choose a veritable ID provider. I used one recommended on the OpenID sites – they also list:
I also downloaded the browser plugin that allows me to add pages to my OpenID account easily when I am surfing. Its early days for OpenID but once all sites are on board and users proliferate, I can see the web being a much less cumbersome domain.
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 27th, 2008
Last month saw our first 2 podcasts and there’s more to come. Wouldn’t you like to share the Podcasting learning process I am going through it so that when its your turn you can learn from my mishaps? This week I recorded the first podcast interview on the hop in a coffee shop near the beach, lots of background noise and all. I was trying out a Belkin plugin for my iPod which worked like a dream. Sound was great, the process to record and upload was all automated and very simple – perfect. Podcasting couldn’t be easier.
I was lulled into a false sense of security however. The problems began when I tried to do some editing with Garageband. Not an easy task as I found out and this isn’t my first time using it either by a long shot. Garageband isn’t as intuitive as I’d like it to be, its slow and cumbersome. And wizard would help – if you’re listening Apple. Now I am trying out Audacity but off course how to import a file from an iPod to Audacity: the fun goes on.
There is another Podcast planned soon this time over Skype which brings more technology to the mix guaranteeing another interesting experience. With any luck the interview recorded this week will finally be published by then. Watch out for the uncut version – coming soon!
My experiences have led me to believe that Podcasting is far from being a medium for the masses. Not yet anyway. Before it can become mainstream, it has to go through a simplification process making it easier for the non tech majority to adopt and enjoy its benefits. In the meantime, if Podcasting is something on your corporate agenda, hire a professional and save yourself some pain.
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 26th, 2008
When you subscribe to a blog or podcast or populate a portal like iGoogle the technology that brings the information to you is called RSS. Its a way of publishing information easily so as to make it available to subscribers in a central on-line repository.
Why take advantage of RSS? There are many reasons:
- Pull rather than push – articles come to users rather than them having to hunt them down;
- Subscribers get the latest and greatest information as its posted;
- An RSS link encourages traffic to your site;
- Users can have a bunch of sources of info in one place – much like a newspaper;
- RSS can be used internally to disseminate info too.
How to set up an RSS feed?
- First get your site set up to support RSS by adding a few short lines of code.
- Place code on your site that the RSS feed readers can find your info.
- Publicise your feed by telling the world and everyone you know in it at every opportunity.
- Add the RSS feed button to your site so visitors know you the can easily subscribe. Feedburner has widgets to support this on their site.
- Submit your feed to syndicators and search engines to make it easier for your audience to find you.
Once thats done, your good to start publishing your own data feed over the web.
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 21st, 2008
Thanks to the ZDNet blog for this very apt cartoon. Same could be said for many company websites too.
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 19th, 2008
Our one year blog anniversary came and went recently with little fanfare (until now that is). We’ll put in down to having too much fun blogging. Here are just a few of the pleasures derived from blogging over the past twelve months:
1.The Out-Smarts blog is doubling in readership every month but it wasn’t until November when post on a Facebook hoax brought the first HUGE spike in traffic. Its great to ride a wave.
2. In January I was introduced to someone I hadn’t met before and they responded that they enjoy this blog – very flattering;
3. Its always fascinating to track where visitors come from. This site gets visits from all around the world we have visitors in the UK, US and Canada but have also met colleagues from Serbia, Korea and India by blogging here;
4. When our work was copied last week the community really rallied around giving advice on next steps, encouragement in a number of different forums – heartwarming indeed.
5. Its amazing how easily blog posts ideas and words can come one day then another its like getting blood out of a stone. I look for inspiration by reading other blogs, listening to podcasts, attending seminars and events but perhaps the most unlikely inspiration came from a tech column in Women’s Health magazine.
6. Blogging has been very therapeutic – its a great way to get things of your chest but alternatively it can be quite addictive – its important to manage blog time effectively when there’s so much out there to learn about.
7. Establishing expertise is one of my main reasons to blog and this is continuously reinforced when I meet with new prospects who have read the blog prior to our meeting – it reminds me to be careful what I say!
8. We’ve averaged about 2 or 3 blog per weeks and have noticed traffic correlates to number of posts up to a point – another incentive to blog regularly.
9. Blogging has led to podcasting. Who knows what will be next – vlogging? Watch this space.
10. The power of 10 – people like lists and 10 seems to be a popular number giving us a great excuse to stop now.
Here’s to another great blogging year….
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 17th, 2008
Facebook hysteria is hitting new heights. The media is abuzz with Facebook horror stories, sensationalized stories of how Facebook can threaten our very existence.
Perhaps its the cynic in me but frankly this is just the next example in a long line of innovations that have been seen as threats by the mainstream. Even the phone was described as a tool of the devil when it was first introduced.
Why this hysteria ? Because, like all new ways of doing things it challenges what people perceive as the norm. Its a new way of doing things and in good human nature fashion we see it as a threat because its something new that we don’t yet understand.
Get with the programme peeps! Rather than viewing Facebook as something to be afeared of check it out yourself – go online and see what its all about.
You have a choice, no one is forcing you to have a Facebook profile or interact with people in that forum but before you go spouting off about what a threat it is to society understand what a social network is and the potential benefits of using one and first and foremost, use your common sense.
Here are some common sense tips to bear in mind on social networks.
1. Every one of these sites has privacy settings that individual users can apply. Before doing anything in these forums, check what these are, the level of control you have and decide in advance how transparent you want to be. Use the privacy settings to your advantage.
2. Understand that yes, social networks do, by their very nature, cast a wide spotlight. Be aware if this and act accordingly (i.e. like the teacher in BC, don’t post naked pictures of yourself – thats just common sense).
3. Just like in the real world where there are things you wouldn’t do, online has the similar boundaries. Apply the same rules as you would in the virtual world. For example, don’t talk to strangers, don’t trust people you don’t know and don’t walk down the street naked.
4. Outline in advance your reasons to be on Facebook or other SNs. If it is to keep in touch with friends then only add friends you know in the real world. If you want to be a Facebook slut and add every one and anyone then be aware that every one and any one can see your personal details and use them accordingly.
5. Always think twice about what you post and do the Granny test. Be aware that once something is out there, its out there so stop and ask yourself is this appropriate do I want strangers to see it before you post anything. And never do anything rash in the spur of the moment.
6. Develop a policy for adding friends and stick with it. If you don’t think its appropriate (perhaps because of your profession) to add someone you know then tell them why and stick with your principles. Its a good thing to have principles and by standing by them people will only respect you more.
7. Never let Facebook consume your life (it can be tempting). Schedule time for it and use it as a tool – don’t let it use you.
A sensible approach to social networks should soon have you seeing the potential networking (both for business and for pleasure) benefits rather than the perceived unknown threat. Don’t get sucked in by the hype, keep the head – use your common sense and you should be good….
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 14th, 2008
Our blog hit 2 rather dubious milestones this week. Both occurred yesterday when someone was good enough to post our blog peice about the SMEI event with links and all. We love link love here at Out-Smarts and we are always glad to share as long as blog etiquette is followed.
In this case it wasn’t, the post, on a site that had little or no original content, even credited our article to someone else!
They referred to it as a great article – thanks but next time please GET IT RIGHT:
- If you’re not sure of the author don’t include fake or false info.
- If in doubt about the source – DON’T post it.
- Always credit the true author and include a link back to the original article.
- Be aware that the Internet by its nature is very transparent – if plagiarism is your game then chances are you’ll get caught out sooner or later.
So in fine Monica Hamburg fashion – we set to correcting the situation with a well worded comment demanding the error be corrected. Which brings us to the second milestone, our first abusive email following a post that was full of profanity and bluster.
Thankfully the post has since been removed and I won’t give them them the satisfaction of linking to the site.
I’ve already had some feedback from some of my friends on Facebook as to how to deal with this and what I can do to counter both plagiarism and abusive emails but I would be interested in your advice too. What should I do next? What have you done that has worked for you and what can bloggers do to mitigate the risks of putting their good words out there?
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 13th, 2008
The blogosphere is a great way to get your message across and reach wider audiences but if you are thinking about harnessing it for PR purposes, be aware. As with all things web 2.0 blogging for PR can be done and done well but you have to approach it in a new way. When approaching a blogger:
- Don’t try to sell to them or buy their good words – it won’t go over well;
- Establish rapport up front if you can, network with them in other forums and develop a relationship that shows your sincerity;
- Relate your offering to a blog post they may have made on an applicable subject;
- Contact a select few bloggers via a personalized email that include links to pertinent pages or info;
- If applicable, offer a reciprocal link;
- Don’t use a traditional press release format – it will be perceived as too “suity”.
Written by Mhairi Petrovic, March 12th, 2008
Social media for marketing and business development is the hot topic on the networking circuit in Vancouver these days and today’s SMEI event was no exception. With expert panelists from BCIT and Oracle bringing their unique experiences in SM to the panel, the event proved to be insightful.
It started off with a brief intro to Web 2.0 described as being “Tech, Process and People – but most of all collaboration” then went on to a 101 of web 2.0 terms such as RSS, blogs, podcasts for the real newbies in the audience.
Once the panelists got started the true value of the event became apparent. Justin Kestelyn, Director of Development Programs at Oracle discussed their web 2.0 adoption and the benefits they have gained from using a more transparent strategy and involving their customers and partners more. He made a great point in that by involving their customers and allowing them to have a voice these invariably become evangelists at little or no cost to Oracle. He points out that Web 2.0 is an attitude, a new way of doing business and not just an Internet term.
Next up was Robert Duncan from BCIT whose presentation centred on LinkedIn as a means of developing relationships (a topic close to my heart). He focuses on LinkedIn in particular of the social networks available and has over 800 contacts that he uses extensively to spread awareness of what he is doing at BCIT and in his work with innovators. He pointed out that by joining groups in LinkedIn you have access to all other members of that group – a great way to extend your network further. Its easier to do business with people you already know something about.
The last panelist to get up was James Wells also from BCIT and a founder of Lendary Social Financing a company that uses web 2.0 technology to build trust online and to put investors in touch with entrepreneurs looking for money. “Word of mouth is vital to growing any business these days”, he pointed out – “go out and do it – if you fail you learn”.
The conclusion – if companies don’t embrace web 2.0 then they face failure or a steep catch up. It costs very little to adopt these technologies and the benefits in terms of buzz are profound.
Interesting to see Vancouver mega blogger Miss 604 there. I am looking forward to her take on proceedings too.
