Do Business Blogs Need Help Pages?

By Greg Balanko-Dickson I was wondering what might happen if a blog or website had a set of help pages? We expect help pages when using a software or web application. We see About pages and FAQ on blogs but how often do we see a set of “Help” pages on a business blog? Never? […]

Your Blog is Your Business Card

The following are the notes for my popular workshop “Your Blog is Your Business Card”. The premise is that today’s business card can’t hold all the contact information necessary to connect adequately with potential clients, but the blog can. It is the holder of your contact information and online identity. The workshop covers the philosophy […]

Blog Exercises: Are Your Comments Open for Business?

Are your comments closed? Are they set to moderation? Are your comments wide open for all without question or challenge? Are you comments open for business? In “You Must Be Logged In To Comment” I wrote: Why do people turn off open, unregistered comments to require people to login in order to comment? I’m not […]

Business of Blogging: Purpose, Customers, and Content

Originally published in Blogger and Podcaster Magazine. I write for a variety of magazines and publications online and off. Blogger and Podcaster has graciously allowed me to republish my articles. When blogging began, many of us started blogging for fun. Blogging is fun. It’s a great way to express yourself, to meet and greet people, […]

Disclosure Now Required on Blogs, Twitter, and Other Social Media Sites

With the news that the UK is cracking down on those blogging and tweeting for pay without disclosure, and California law making online impersonation potentially illegal, social media and blogging are taking a hit. In summary, if you pretend to be someone you aren’t, famous or not, or blog about a product or service for […]

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 […]

Blogs Offer Communication, Information, and Connections During Disasters

Jonathan Bailey of Plagiarism Today just called me from Northern Louisiana to report that he and his family have survived the evacuation from their home in Shreveport, Louisiana, though Hurricane Gustav appears to have done more damage where they evacuated to rather than where they left from. Jonathan and I were both victims of Hurricane […]

Blog Challenge: Worst Business Decision

As we continue exploring our mistakes, with last week’s blog challenge about the worst mistake we’ve made in a relationship, this week I’m going to challenge your work history and experience. Blog about the worst business decision and mistake you’ve ever made. We’ve all made dumb business decisions. Taken jobs we hated, told off a […]

Blogging Resources: Business and Professional Resources and References for Bloggers and Writers

As part of my ongoing series on blog resources, so far I’ve covered Blogging Resources and Sources to Help You Blog, Blog Resources for English Language and Blog Writing, and Blog Resources: Researching the Research, Finding the Facts, and Seeking Supporting Evidence. Today, I’m offering the resources I use for business and professional sources of […]

Cancer Blogs and Bloggers

Over the past year, National Public Radio’s blog and radio series called “My Cancer” has been an amazing portraly of life living, and dying, with cancer. Called NPR: My Cancer, it is frank and open, discussing the daily aspect of life with cancer. A lot of times, I sit at my computer, trying to figure […]

SOBCon: Be There for the Business of Blogging!

Put it on your calendar. May 2 – 4, 2008. Register. Book your flight and hotel in Chicago. And be there for this year’s SOBCon, the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers Conference. This year’s theme is Biz School for Bloggers with an amazing line up of the best of the best to bring the business of […]

Why You Want To Link To Other Blogs

By Dawud Miracle of dmiracle.com Just about anyone who’s blogging knows that they need to link to other blogs in their blog posts. You know it, right? But how many look at linking as a strategy? I’m not talking about a strategy just to increase traffic or exchange links for Technorati rankings – though that […]

Developing a Business Model with Greg Balanko-Dickson

My friend, Greg Balanko-Dickson, has decided to jump off the risk cliff out of his comfort zone and you all get the benefit. You may be familiar with Greg as he is an occasional guest blogger on this blog. He’s brought you the wonderful articles such as Business Blogging Strategy: Build Trust and Rapport, Relationship […]

The Clutter of Dead Blogs on the Web

Blogger’s Blog pointed to Times Daily’s article on “Dead Blogs”, the growing number of blogs abandoned by their owners and authors. The blog rush has slowed down from 175,000 new blogs posted per day in July 2006 to 120,000 new blogs per day as of March, according to Technorati, a blog tracking company. Blogs with […]

James Farmer Takes on Edublogs.org Full-Time

It is with great joy that I announce that James Farmer of legendary Edublogs and all its associated free blog services, is leaving his work with The Age and going full-time to Edublogs.org. Today I handed in my notice at The Age and come July 1st I’ll be working 100% for myself, the majority of […]