iTechSpeak :::...

Outside of MySpace, YouTube, Linkedin, Bebo, social networks and blogs are also being used by schools, stock traders, non-profit organizations, event planning companies and professional/trade associations.

There is a list you can scroll down to view more videos. Enjoy!!

What does Subscribe mean? has been previously covered in 2 articles posted on iTechSpeak; "RSS is a Double Edge Sword" and "Make Jobs or Clients Come to You using a RSS Reader".

Installing a RSS reader saves you much time by making information and business opportunities come to you. RSS epitomizes working smarter, not harder.

Video: RSS in Plain English by Common Craft

It is now a given that Google and other search engines are used more often to check out people and companies. Work that to your advantage. The Internet provides an awesome fertile platform for growing your business or career. The internet allows you to always be marketing.

Become an Internet farmer. Like growing a crop, your Internet web presence must be nurtured, watered and maintained. So you have a profile on LinkedIn, Monster, Career Builder etc.. Or your business web site is featured in a couple of Internet articles and it has some reciprocal links from other web sets. As far as search engines are concerned you're still only as good as your last home run.

Search engines work against you, if no new content is added. Your name or company name slowly gets pushed down on search engine results, unless you're continuously fertilizing the Internet with your presence.

Here's 5 ways to grow and maintain your web presence:

1. If you have a resume posted on any job boards, make Sunday night your time to feed your web presence. Open your resume in "edit" mode. Press the space bar any where in your resume. Then press the back space key. Now save Your resume. The search engine spiders will sense the change and push your resume up for higher visibility to recruiters and hiring managers. Successful Project Manager, Terry Opalka, provided this brilliant technique at a recent ETP Network event "Sunday night I would update my resume on the job boards, by pressing the space bar and saving it. By Monday my inbox would contain emails from people contacting me about my resume."
   
2. Participate in group forums that cover topics of interest. When replying to a topic thread, insert your full name, company name, web site and contact email address, in your signature. This is referred to as your tagline.
3. Maximize your reading of news articles. At the bottom of each article is usually a comment section. If you agree with the reporter or have something "positive" feedback, go for it. Add your tagline.
   
4. Add "key words" to your Linked profile, resume and web site. This seeding process should include the names of companies or clients where you previously worked. Add your skill set, services or products as key words. Add the names of high profile people related to your industry in your key words.
   
5. Start a blog or comment on blog articles, with your tagline. Search engines love blogs more than web sites. Content on blogs is updated more often. This provides exponentially better results when people are searching for you or your company. Google has a dedicated search engine just for blogs http://blogsearch.google.com .
   

Over the last couple of years I have spoken to many associates who design web sites. I ask them if they are incorporating blogs into their client web site design strategies. Dead silence, a deep breath, a latent cough and then comes the questions from them. What's a blog? How does it work? What's the benefit to the client? Is it profitable?

Yesterday, there was a practical application news item about Walmart getting cozy with bloggers "Wal-Mart Enlists Bloggers in P.R. Campaign" By MICHAEL BARBARO

Steve Rubel presents ongoing stories of blogging as a "prime time" public relations and marketing tool, which compliments a web site.

Any web developers need help incorporating blogs into their web designs? Do you want your client's web site to explode with visitors, which translates into more potential sales? Do you want more client referrals?

Adding a blog to a web site is definitely the way to go.

Post a comment, if you need assistance from a professional blogger.
Category 4_

In the mid 1980s I was laughed out of the room by mainframe COBOL developers; not once, but several times. My crime was spouting blasphemy about personal computers being a good marriage for mainframes via local area networks. I suggested my peers adjust their skills accordingly to ramp up for personal computers. I wonder how they made out in IT their careers? I hated programming in COBOL. It was like kicking a dead whale across the beach. I saw it as a dead end. I took my own advice by plunging into the PC arena with both legs and arms. You know what happened in the 1990s. Next . . .

Laugh, if you will. History will repeat itself. Blogs will create very profitable opportunities on an even larger scale. The November/December 2004 issue of Foreign Policy struck a nerve to clue me in. Their article Web of Influence By Daniel W. Drezner and Henry Farrell gave the media fair warning way before the Dan Rather episode.

If 35,000 people say it can't be done and 1 person accomplishes it, who's right? The "Blogs to Riches" article in the February 20, 2006 issue of New York Magazine mentioned AOL purchasing Peter Rojas' blog Engadget for $25million. Everyone will not become a millionaire blogging. There is a potential for people to make 6-figure incomes blogging.

The explanation of the long tail theory in the same Blogs to Riches" article is definitive proof of what the future holds.

Grab on to the Tail . . .
Category 1_ Category 2_ Category 4_ Category 5_ Category 6_

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
Category 1_ Category 2_ Category 4_ Category 5_ Category 9_ Category 10_

SAVVY INTRAPRENEUR: Innovative Fund Raising Approach Using Technologylinks

Category 4_ Category 5_ Category 7_ Category 9_ Category 10_

Can life get any better? Imagine jobs or new clients coming right to your doorstep? An RSS reader is an excellent tool for bringing jobs and potential clients to you. Just tune your RSS reader into those resource sites that display (i.e. www.PickaJob.com, www.Indeed.com or www.Craigslist.com ). Then sit back and let papa bring home the bacon, with opportunies coming right to you. How kewl is that?

Since a picture is worth a thousand words,
click here for a diagram on how
RSS Technology Simplifies Your Life
By Jason Rhode

Many people still do not understand what is the purpose of these icons displayed on web sites and web logs (blogs) - Syndicate this site

With RSS (really simple syndication) technology heating up on the Internet highway, RSS readers are fast becoming the darling software tools. This is a niche market for savvy developers to capitalize on. RSS could be the next technology gold rush.

.

RSS "enabled" blogs or web sites are indentified with little icon logos (above) that contain or simply say Syndicate this site. This allows a person to right mouse click on the icon > select Copy short cut

I highly recommend Thunderbird. Use Thunderbird by Mozilla as an all-in-one tool - Email Interface (like Outlook Express), RSS Reader and Powerful Spam Blocker

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) technology is a sleeper that is slowly creeping into the mainstream. There are plenty of articles on implementing RSS Technology. The question that still begs to be answered is "what's in it for me or my organization to implement RSS?".

The convergence of RSS technology with web logs or web sites is a powerful double edge sword for increasing market share. OK, profits increase too.

One Side of the Sword
The reason is fairly simple. RSS is a free and easy way to promote a web site or web log without the need to advertise or create complicated content sharing partnerships. Whenever your web log/site is updated, people are automatically notified of new content posted. This creates a "stickiness" effect for people to continously come back to your web site.

There are 2 caveats for making RSS technology work effectively. First, people must have their RSS reader tuned into your web log/site. Then they receive automatic update notifications. Secondly, your web site/log must be updated regularly. Something as simple as weekly updates to the "frequently asked questions" section of your web site is a good start.

RSS "enabled" Web logs/sites are indentified with little icon logos that contain XML, RSS or simply say Syndicate this site. This allows a person to right mouse click on the XML icon > select Copy short cut > and then add the web log/site to their RSS reader. Now the RSS reader is tuned in to that particular channel; your web site or web log.

RSS technology can even position Non-profit organizations to potentially increase funding by 1)attracting donation sponsors or 2)getting more referrals to increase clients served. Having a RSS enabled web site or web log can make this possible. Google lends a hand, with getting the word out about services provided by a non-profit, through its Google Grants Program .

The other side - Practical Application of RSS
One of several profit centers my business partner develops is event planning. So she tunes her RSS reader into various web sites that post marketing and event opportunities. With timely automatic notifications from the RSS reader, she saves time by not having to constantly visit those sites, until new opportunities are posted. Using the RSS reader has been very profitable for her. It allows her to beat competitors to the punch in contacting potential clients first. The RSS reader acts like a radar system.

As a consultant who focuses on client relationship management (CRM) to maintain or acquire clients, my RSS reader has been an invaluable tool. Depending on what type of industry a [potential] client is in, I tune my RSS reader to various web site channels. This allows me to quickly send clients timely informational articles that may impact their business. This good will effort has paid big dividends in client satisfaction and CRM trust, not to mention quite a few profitable referrals.

Other RSS reader applications could include receiving immediate updates on legal or regulatory requirements. News items are currently the biggest applications being used by RSS readers. Customers and employees can receive simultaneous updates on special company offerings. Customer service improves when employees can more intelligently answer customer inquiries, because they both receive the same information.

Although RSS definitely throws a monkey wrench into email spam, it is not meant to replace email. The monkey wrench is allowing people the freedom to choose which sites to tune their RSS reader. Unlike spam, RSS allows people to volunteer to be a captured audience. They opt-in or opt out, at will. When people unsubscribe to spam, there is not always a guarantee their email address is actually deleted from the mailing list.

Want to Test Drive Some Free RSS Readers?
Mozzilla's Thunderbird - This is a cutting edge program that combines email with an RSS reader.

RSS Reader - I use this RSS reader, because it uses low PC memory overhead and provides nearly unobtrusive news feeds. It also probes news feed web sites that require a password login.

Pluck - This RSS reader integrates with a web browser, like Internet Explorer. Allows creation of Perches (persistent searches) to continuously look for items on eBay, Amazon, Google or 5,000+ other web sources.

For those interested in using RSS technology to quickly increase market share, I recommend reading Guerrilla Marketing for Consultants: Breakthrough Tactics for Winning Profitable Clients by Jay Conrad Levinson

P.S. - Don't forget to add iTechSpeak to your RSS reader
Syndicate this site




category 2_ category 4_ category 7_
Subscribe to this feed through My Yahoo!: