Blogging Rants: Tangential Blogging Can Lose Readers

Over the past couple months in my travels, I’ve been interviewing a lot of old and newly found family members on their life and family history for my own needs and my new family history blog I’ll be starting soon. Today, I heard an interesting family story that I want to share with you. When […]

Prove It: Defining Your Avenues of and Communication Marketing

A news story came out today that specifically served a client of mine. It was a national news story that could help them support their current clients with helpful information, and help convert potential clients with persuasive, current event information. Unfortunately, this client has been adamant against blogs, interactive websites, and social media. In my […]

May Day Protests: Having Your Say Beyond the Web

Yesterday was the annual May Day protests across the United States. I stumbled upon the Portland, Oregon, May Day protest parade on my way to meet with the panel members for the WordPress Theme Panel at WebVisions 2012. The power of the blog is the ability to have your say. A blog doesn’t guarantee the […]

Prove It: What Makes You Trust a Website?

What makes you trust this site? What makes you trust me? What makes you trust any website you visit? What is it about the site that earns your trust? I’ve asked this question at most of the conferences and keynotes I’ve given over the past seven years: What makes you not trust a website? The […]

What’s Involved for a Speaker at a WordCamp Event

One of the greatest honors in my professional life is being asked to speak or keynote at a WordCamp or related event. I speak at professional conferences all the time, but there is something precious and wonderful about a WordPress Community event. I love attending them as well as actively participating in them. I’ve helped […]

SOBCon 2010 Chicago: What Did You Learn?

In May of 2010, over 150 of the brightest minds in online business, web publishing, blogging, and social media gathered in Chicago for the 4th annual Successful and Outstanding Bloggers Conference (SOBCon). It was an amazing experience for all with three days of non-stop business strategies and techniques for online business. And they are doing […]

Weblog Tools Collection Annual WordPress Plugin Competition

The best Plugin competition, The Weblog Tools Collection WordPress Plugin Competition 2009 (3.0), is underway. WordPress fans rejoice. The annual WTC WordPress Plugin Competition has rocked the WordPress Community since 2005. Each event brings out the best and most creative WordPress Plugin authors competing for prizes, and many of the award winners and entrants are […]

Example of a Perfect Personal Blog

I’m working on a series of articles about personal blogging, but I wanted to share with you a perfect example of a personal blog. It’s by my cousin, Duke DesRochers. You may remember Duke from the story I did on him called, “Future Social Media Renaissance Man,” on Lorelle on WordPress or the one on […]

The Freedom in Freedom of Speech

Before and after WordCamp Whistler 2009 in Whistler, BC, Canada, I took advantage of the good graces and lovely home of Glenda Watson Hyatt of Do It Myself Blog (@GlendaWH) and her husband, Darrell Hyatt of Enabling Abilities to Appear in Vancouver, British Columbia. Spending time with Glenda and Darrell is filled with laughter and […]

Cooking Up a Story: NPR Explores Web Businesses

Today, National Public Radio (NPR) will feature a story on unusual businesses working on the web featuring Rebecca and Fred Gerendasy of Cooking Up a Story, a Portland, Oregon, area internet video production company. Their successful video blog, Cooking Up a Story and Cooking Up a Story YouTube Channel, produce a wide variety of film […]

Blog Struggles: Negative Campaigning Isn’t Just For Politicians

With all the negative campaigning and nasty spin by the media wrapped up in election campaigns and conventions, it surprised me to find a connection between a politician commenting on negative campaigns and my continued defense of bloggers attacking other bloggers and going negative. I thought it worth talking about in my ongoing series on […]

The Challenges of Creating an Interactive Blog

By Rachelle Chase Last week, I used my Sex Lounge Finding Derek Contest – an online contest where hunky guys competed to be the hero of my book – to show the importance of interactive web sites. I focused on the why and how to make your site interactive. This time, I’d like to get […]

What Inspires Your Readers to Interact With Your Blog?

By Rachelle Chase Static content that talks to readers is not enough today, especially with the meteoric rise in popularity of online communities and social networking. Good content is still the key to attract and compel people to return to your site, however giving them more than static content and blog comments for interaction gives […]

What You Need To Know About WordCamp Dallas

I and a couple hundred other WordPress and blogging enthusiasts are gathering outside of Dallas, Texas, for a foot stomping and roaring great time this Saturday and Sunday. You better be there. These are some things you will need to know about WordCamp Dallas. 1. Register Now or Never Registration is required. There will be […]

Blog Struggles: Surviving the When Blogging Goes Bad Blues

It’s been a hell of a day. I’m sure you’ve had them. When every other word out of your mouth should have started with F or S but didn’t because you “grinned and bared it” for the grace of others. Okay, let’s be honest, you didn’t grin, you bit the bullet. We all have these […]