iTechSpeak :::...

2007 will be the year when blogging gets a firm "thumbs up" from corporations as a key mainstream business tool and as a professional career track. Similar to the open source arena, where everyone contributes, people already in the blogsphere arena can help shape the future in defining the professional blogger career track. It would be nice, if this happens sooner.

Elisa Camahort's Worker Bees blog previously introduced Earthlink's blogger job description. I agree with Elisa. Earthlink did a great job providing structure in the future for bloggers achieving a corporate identity. Below is another framework to consider, in order to guide the future perceptions for all fellow bloggers.

PROFESSIONAL BLOGGER JOB DESCRIPTION

SUMMARY:
Develop and maintain corporate blogs. Research and write articles in a conversational style, which engages readers. Interface with key departments (executive, marketing, customer service, IT etc.) to insure blog content captures readers' interest, while promoting company message. Use appropriate tools to provide management with metric reports. Use on-line and off-line social networking techniques for collaboration with people inside and outside the organization. Maintain quality assurance, by open information exchange with customer service and marketing departments. Promote company objectives with each blog article.


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Develop and maintain plan for organization's Internet presence, based on management priorities, policy directions, and goals.
2. Perform continuous enhancements and modifications to blogs.
3. Assess new standards, technologies and trends, and formulate plans for future enhancement to blogging strategies.
4. Use latest syndication and blogging tools with HTML, when appropriate.
5. Ensure blog(s) are accessible from a variety of different environments.
6. Produces a consistent visual image on blog(s) including maintenance of templates and image archives.
7. Ensure images are delivered to the viewer at sufficient high speed and quality.
8. Creates image links and ensure links are up to date.
9. Troubleshoot and repairs bugs and problems.
10. Respond promptly to blog comments and email
11. Provide metrics of traffic statistics, reports and blog comment feedback to appropriate areas.
12. Research, write/edit and create layout for new articles and features.
13. Act as liaison between blog readers and corporation
14. Interface collaboratively with web design team to insure cohesiveness between blog(s) and corporate web site.
15. Perform other duties, as assigned.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Possess engaging "conversational" writing skills with a professional posture. Must have be published by a recognized organization (on or off line) or have published blogs with confirmed reader visit statistics. High school diploma or GED with related experience in achieving company objectives with blogging expertise. Must be computer and definitely Internet/search engine savvy to perform online research. Completed degrees from accredited institutions may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis, provided courses were taken in writing, marketing, business and psychology/sociology.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Technical
* Ability to evaluate new and evolving blog technologies.
* Solid understanding of all sections related to the anatomy of a blog
* Ability to utilize reporting tools for analysis of traffic, referral links and reader demographics
* Ability to use syndication and pinging tools
* Knowledge and understanding of current editing, authoring tools, and related blog technologies.
* Ability to utilize computerized word processing, blogging and internet software.
* Solid foundation in search engine optimization (SEO) and implementing RSS technology
* Knowledge and understanding of internet operations and functionality
* Ability to evaluate new and evolving blogging technologies.
* Skill in the use of computerized blog layout and design software.
* Topical knowledge of the Internet, ftp, telnet and the ability to develop website documents.
* Topical knowledge of html, web development and maintenance.

Writing
* Proofreading and editing skills.
* Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials.
* Ability to write simply with a conversational style
* Writing should be informative, but not verbose

Project Management
* Ability to effectively manage time and schedules.
* Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
* Strategic planning skills.

Business Savvy
* Ability to include corporate objectives and mission throughout blog presentation
* Solicit feedback from internal departments and
* Understand mission of key departments
* Ability to make presentations on blog feedback, metrics and comments at business intelligence meetings
* Assist management in Identifying opportunities, based on new developments in the blogsphere
* Maintain high ethics with blog presentation, content and daily work tasks

Social Networking
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
* Present professional, but friendly posture with blogsphere colleagues and throughout the Internet
* Provide management and key departments with intelligence from blog feedback, metrics and external discussions related to blog content
* Collaborate with internal departments to enhance blog features and presence
* Act as ambassador and liaison for company with the Internet community
* Develop collaborative partnerships on-line and off-line
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Before you watch or get involved with FiOS TV, I recommend you put your seat belt on. This technology is the Autobahn of lightening fast broadband services.

Wikipedia seems to provide the most accurate definition as "FiOS (Fiber Optic Services, though the carrier denies this is the source of the acronym in published news stories) is a fiber to the premises (FTTP) telecommunications service offered in the United States by Verizon."

According I4U News, outstanding user reviews indicate FiOS TV is delivering, as promised.

Before those of us who are savvy technology professionals get all dreamy eyed about the employment or consulting opportunities for this new technology, do your homework. Run your career like a business and perform "due diligence". Research the market. Verizon appears to be the only FiOS TV player. Check with the The Fiber Optic Association for referrals to certified training schools.

You will have to crawl (learn standard cabling technology) before you learn how to run (learn fiber optic technology).

For any Spanish speaking IT professionals in New York City, I know a school in the area that provides Free fiber optic classes only in Spanish, if they are a member of LISTA.
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SAVVY INTRAPRENEUR: Innovative Fund Raising Approach Using Technologylinks

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This past Friday I attended a post holiday party at a bleeding edge telecommunication cable studio. They gave a tour of their technology readiness for the coming sunami of Internet Protocol TV subscribers.

IPTV uses a two-way digital broadcast signal, sent through a switched telephone or cable network by way of a broadband connection. A set-top box is programmed with software to handle viewer requests to access a plethora media sources, with high speed delivery.

According to a new Light Reading Insider report, “IPTV: Where the Money Is,” technology vendors, and especially the likes of Alcatel (NYSE: ALA - message board; Paris: CGEP:PA), stand to make a killing.

There are significant drivers forcing telecom operators to adopt those defensive strategies, most notably the increasingly intense competition they're facing from ISPs and cable and satellite operators. As a result, the IPTV market is set to explode in the coming five years and beyond, finds the report.

By 2010, IPTV will have captured 65 million subscribers worldwide, predominantly in North America, Europe, and Asia. To deploy the systems needed to deliver those services, carriers will spend a total $21 billion in the 2005 to 2010 timeframe. Read more . . .

Stay on top of IPTV Developments:

IPTV News.net

Your IPTV and TV Over Internet News Resource

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CSI in a box by ZDNet's Roland Piquepaille -- Reconstructing human faces from skulls found by the police is nothing new, and it has already being done with computers. But this was a long process. Now, a Canadian startup company, HumanCore has developed a new human anatomy software to do the job in about 30 minutes and which also will be used by the clothing industry.

Predictions for 2006 abound on the voice over internet protocol (VOIP) market. The 3 burning questions enquiring minds want answered are:

1. What is VOIP and how does it work?
2. What types of predictions have been made?
3. These predictions are important to me, Why? - WIIFM?


1. If you've never heard of VoIP, get ready to change the way you think about long-distance phone calls. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a method for taking analog audio signals, like the kind you hear when you talk on the phone, and turning them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet.

How is this useful? VoIP can turn a standard Internet connection into a way to place free phone calls. The practical upshot of this is that by using some of the free VoIP software that is available to make Internet phone calls, you are bypassing the phone company (and its charges) entirely. Read more . . .

3. What's in it for me?

Consumers
According to a Consumer Reports article, . . . "VOIP can be a great way to cut phone bills, increase talk time, and add useful new services. Consumer Reports urges consumers to keep a corded phone (requiring no power) and a landline plan for emergencies. Consumers who spend more than $60 for local and long-distance service may save money with VoIP".

With the dizzying options, like your recent switch from modem dial up to broadband (i.e. cable or dsl) or that famous "triple play", it is highly recommended you hire a technology professional for assistance with installing VOIP home/business telephone service. In considering the cost of hiring a VOIP consultant, remember price vs. cost. The price you pay for doing it yourself may appear as a savings. But what will it cost you [in time and money], if your VOIP installation is not done properly or certain computer hardware or software is not set properly? It may cost more to hire a consultant to resolve VOIP problems, afterwards.

which brings us to . . .

Technology Professionals
Quit whining about outsourcing and create a new income profit center with VOIP skills. Educate consumers on their VOIP telephone options. Help consumers implement VOIP service. Act as the VOIP QA manager to double check carrier VOIP home installations. The consulting market is wide open for helping businesses implement VOIP. Be creative. Learn who the players are and their VOIP product offerings. Register for a VOIP webinar. A quick Internet search will provide a plethora of Free VOIP training, white papers etc.

Investors
As you are probably already ahead [of consumers and IT professionals] in identifying opportunities in the VOIP arena, very little needs to be said. Maybe you want to read just one more report. VoIP: Spending and Trends, a new report from eMarketer, examines the rapidly developing IP telephony market and the impact its growth will have on businesses, consumers and the entire communications industry.
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