"Google" is NOT a Verb (lest ye be sued into oblivion)

The lawyers for Google have something to earn a few fee dollars on now. I just saw a tidbit in Tidbits about how these wiley lawyers are all bunched up about the word "Google" being listed as a verb in the latest edition of Websters and have been sending out terse notes to media organizations that they had better not use the word as a verb.

This is the problem with being too successful and establishing your brand as a universal word for something like web-searching.

Poor Google...getting their company name in the dictionary. How sad for them.

Firing someone by Texting them

I love text messages, especially since they're so easy to fire off with my Treo. "Fire off?" What an ironic choice of words considering the story I just read:

U r sckd: worker fired by text message

No matter how awful it is to can someone to their face (trust me, I know), let's not get so impersonal that firing someone with a text message ever becomes acceptable.

Blog Ads

If you're interested in making money from your blog, you might want to read this bloggers' guide to advertising revenue for bloggers.

Is it true that bloggers don't like to make money? How provocative! I guess you'll need to read their paper to find out if it's true!

Bigg results with Digg hits

Here's an interesting post on Cybernet on the impact that a front page hit on Digg will have on your web traffic and RSS subscriptions.

Digg is a "user driven social content website." I've posted about it before, and I love it. Users pick the stories THEY think are important and "digg" them. The stories with the most diggs gets ranked the highest on the site.

My.yahoo also ranks stories, but according to the most popular (those that get the most click-throughs). I like the Digg model better, because just because I click on a headline doesn't mean I value the story. Once I get to the story, it may not live up to the headline and I wouldn't recommend others clicking into it like I did. Digg lets me tell others that I think the story is worth their time. And I digg it!

TK Magazine whirlwind

It's been a crazy week and a half, and the whirlwind will continue this week.

See pictures of the TK Magazine launch party here.

We had nice press coverage by 13 and 27...you'll see pics of us being interviewed. Thanks so much to those stations, especially 27 and Nate Hill in particular for broadcasting live from our event.

On July 6th, we "made history" by presenting the first issue of TK Magazine to the Kansas Historical Society & Library. I'm a history buff, and one of the thrills of making a local magazine like TK is becoming a part of the historical record. Kansas history, in particular, is a hobby of mine. It's so colorful. Few states can boast of the rich history of Kansas--full of treasure seekers, trails (before we were flyover country, we were wagon-through country), gunfighters, and the whole 'bloody Kansas' thing that really got the Civil War going. Now, with a full color magazine for Topeka, our history of today can be recorded (literally) much more colorfully.

This week we are prepping for a big live broadcast with Majic 107.7 downtown. Our "TK Girls" will be downtown passing out free magazines while Lola's Cafe sells sandwiches and drinks for $1.07. This will happen on Wednesday. Hopefully we'll see you there.

I'll be getting back to posting about communications technologies and the like very soon.

TK Magazine

We are 1 day away from the launch of TK Magazine! Our launch party is tomorrow night at Jul's. Our goal with TK is to provide Topeka with a classy magazine that showcases the business in the local business and lifestyle scene.

Our big unveiling of the cover (and we have a BIG cover printed up) will be at 6:45 p.m.

Go to the site and subscribe to our RSS feed so you can always get the latest business and community news.

Regulating the blogs

Could the end of free blogging be near? Read this column.

The Internet is the newest and most free medium of communication, which can be used to check both government and the mainstream media. This means, of course, that the government is already looking to regulate it. If certain legislators have their way, the end of free blogging on the Internet will come sooner rather than later.

Better podcasting

Yeah, yeah...it's been awhile since I've posted to the blog. I'm sure you're all dying out there.

A little magazine project kind of took over my life. See www.tkmagazine.com. It's a new lifestyle and business magazine for Topeka. I'll tell you more about it later.

But for now, here's a great piece on what makes a great podcast. I love podcasts...especially now that I received an iPod from my kids (read: my wife). Podcasts give you a great opportunity to connect with an audience on a personal level and communicate with audible learners. Oddly enough...that's not me. I remember more from what I read, but I still enjoy listening to very good podcasts (though I often couldn't tell you at the conclusion what it was about--funny how the brain works so differently).

Getting Fired for Email Abuse or Using Surveys for Big PR

Here's a CNN story on how a third of companies surveyed have fired someone for violating email policy.

Proofpoint reported that employers are ever more concerned that outgoing e-mail could pose a risk to the company. As a result, many companies are hiring staff to read and analyze outbound e-mail. According to the study, 44 percent of major U.S. companies have hired employees to do so.

Blogs and Instant Messaging are also a concern to many employers. Seven percent reported that an employee was terminated for such a violation while 17 percent reported that an employee has been disciplined.

This is interesting, and something companies should think about. Do you have an email policy?

But, to me, the more interesting thing is that Proofpoint, a company that helps companies reduce email risks, used this survey that they sponsored to get big press coverage (a CNN story!) for their company! And surveys can be a very inexpensive way to create a story

PR rules for dealing with bloggers

Different strokes for different folks, and that includes bloggers. Some will take any and all contact from PR people, some want contact only under specific conditions, while others don't want to hear from you at all.

Go here to read an interesting idea from Mobhappy on how PR pros can recognize the preferences of the blogger.

For the record, here is Mobhappy's own "policy":

1. Please make sure that the information is about mobile technology, or at a stretch, technology generally. Read the blog - is there a good chance we might publish it?
2. If you keep sending us rubbish, we won't read your pitches any more.
3. Keep it brief please, in the first instance. We can always ask for more info.
4. Don't use the comments section on our blogs to blatantly promote your or your client's products. It REALLY pisses us off. You have been warned.

Here is a blog post from awhile back that used ME, of all people, as an example of how to pitch to bloggers. It's amazing how many people who I know saw this post.

Search Engine Optimization

Here are some nice tips on getting search engines to find your web site, thanks to Amy Campbell:

1. Use keyword-savvy "page titles," and strategic and proper metatagging on all pages.

2. Allow search-engine robots easy access throughout your site via text links, alt-tagged navigation icons, or a site map.

3. Register your URL with major search engines, directories and specialty sites, as well as select paid directories (such as Yahoo!).

4. Use strategic home page content (keywords in context in HTML text).

5. Use hyperlinks to further weight in-text keywords.

6. Encourage in-bound links from other relevant sites to your pages.

7. Add an integrated web log to your web site.

8. Add/update content frequently. (Write dammit!)

9. Avoid Flash-based opening home-page screens, improper metatag code, as well as any schemes meant to "trick" search engines.

10. Get a search-engine optimization audit for your web site.

Build a Better Blog

I've got a link for anyone wanting to build a better blog. Why does your blog stink? Good question...here's a blog with good answers:

www.whymyblogstinks.com

It's a fairly new blog, but includes insightful tips on improving the smell of a stinky blog.

Mobile Marketing

I love gadgets. I love marketing. You would think I'd be the ultimate expert on mobile marketing! I really need to get into it.

Here's a nice article on it.

Excerpt:

Mobile marketing should encompass more than just building brand awareness. It needs to be a robust part of the overall marketing strategy, helping companies to not only manage their overall brand message, but also to improve customer relationships, educate customers about products and solutions, and essentially give the company even greater control over its sales funnel.

Blogging and search engines

It's no doubt that adding a blog to your business site is good for business--creating open lines of dialogue between you and your customers, especially when needing to generate buzz prior to a product launch, just makes sense.

A blog is also good for search engines. Not just good--terrific! Search engines love blogs!

If you want in-bound traffic from search engines to your site, you couldn't ask for a better way to achieve your goal than by adding a blog. Why?

• Search engines favor relevant content, and blogs that are regularly updated with keywords commonly searched by surfers are ripe for the picking. If your blog is updated frequently and on a common theme or topic, it will find favor with the search engines.
• Search engines like sites with incoming links--and links are what brings blogs alive and connects them to related content. Search engines give extra weight to links from sites focused on the same topic. Referrals from other blogs add credibility for your own blog in the eyes of the search engines.

There are plenty of reasons to start a business blog, and search engines are one of the best ones.

The Story Behind Digg

Don't be a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to knowing about Digg and it's democratic approach to news. There WILL be imitators and anyone in PR and business communicators will need to know about it.

Here's the story.

Hold the press (releases)

TechCrunch blogger Michael Arrington spoke about likes and dislikes from PR folk. One stand-out suggestion: don't send him press releases. This is a common view from bloggers...they'd much rather have something quick, personal, and with good links.

Summary here.

Candor in Communication

Read this dandy column on how refreshing candor would be in political communication.

It certainly goes against the grain, as PR folk, to NOT put the best spin on every piece of communication; yet, people long for authenticity. They're almost starved for it in this age when no one admits fault or that they don't know the answer to the question being asked.

Perhaps a dose of candor would go a long way toward building credibility with your audience!

Podcasting, MP3 Players Stealing Radio's Audience

PodcastingNews reports:

Podcasting and MP3 players are stealing radio's audience, according to the latest figures from Bridge Ratings. According to Dave Van Dyke, President of Bridge Ratings, "By 2010, today's 94% penetration for terrestrial radio will have sunk to 85%."

27% of people 12-24 attribute their reduced use of radio to MP3 use; 22% attributed it to tired radio programming; 3% attributed it to podcast listening.

New RSS Services

NewsGator has been busy! Here's the latest:

03-28 NewsGator Technologies, an RSS platform company, announced NewsGator Inbox 2.6. Previously known as NewsGator Outlook Edition, the new offering includes clippings synchronization with the NewsGator Online Web-based RSS aggregator, integration with FeedStation, NewsGator's podcatcher, and the ability to view Web pages while working offline.

03-28 NewsGator Technologies also announced FeedDemon 2.0. The new version of the company's desktop RSS aggregator for Windows adds seamless synchronization with the entire NewsGator Online platform, and improvements in usability and system performance.

Outted by Plaxo

Anybody who uses Plaxo to keep their Outlook Address Book up-to-date should be warned: you can blow the news of a job change or company acquisition simply by updating your own Address Book entry!

I know a guy whose company was acquired by another company. It was to remain a secret until a later date, but he went ahead and changed his contact information in his Address Book--and lo and behold pretty soon hundreds of his contacts received Plaxo updates that included his new title, employer and contact info.

Within hours, there were blog and news postings about the acquisition and they had to speed up plans for their announcement of the acquisition.