Enjoyed this article?
WebsiteWordPress themes!
{ 0 comments }
From the category archives:
Blogging
Capping off a busy week at Mashable HQ, we bring you a massive list of social media resources you may have missed. We’ve got 38 of the most interesting features and tools published over the last week or so in case you were, you know, outside during the summer.
Have a look through our social media resources for the Origin of Twitter’s ‘Fail Whale,’ some great Twitter visualizations, or why WikiLeaks and the mainstream media still need each other.
Our Tech and Mobile resources include some amazing Konami code Easter eggs, great (free) WordPress themes to use, and a game plan for keeping BlackBerry relevant in the battle for mobile dominance.
For our entrepreneurs, we’ve got tips on how to self-publish anything, great Twitter lists for C-Suite execs, and a guide on how to structure your startup. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Looking for even more social media resources? You can find this guide every weekend, and check out all of the lists-gone-by.
Social Media
- 5 Things the Internet Will Do for $5 [VIDEOS]
Who would actually advertise to do anything for the cost of an overpriced coffee? We found out with this little social experiment on the website fiverr.com. - The Origin of Twitter’s ‘Fail Whale’
We spoke with Yiying Lu, the designer of Twitter’s iconic error message about her influences, the future, and why she hates the term ‘Fail Whale.’ - 11 Free Services for Scheduling Social Media Updates
Here is a list of 11 free services for scheduling social media updates, either across multiple social platforms or just for Twitter. - 5 Free Ways to Never Miss a Twitter @Reply
We’ve found five free web-based Twitter services that will let you know via e-mail every time you are on the receiving end of an @mention or @reply. - A Look Back at the Last 5 Years in Blogging
How did the blogosphere grow from thousands of personal diaries into a network of media empires? The history of blogging is as interesting as it is complex. - 7 Days on Craigslist’s Casual Encounters
Many people use Craigslist to find roommates or jobs, but there’s another function: Sex. Check out this social experiment to see what the ‘Casual Encounters’ culture is really like. - 10 Free and Fun Twitter Bird Icons for your Website
Finding the right Twitter bird icon for your site can be a challenge, especially if your budget is bird seed. We’ve found 10 fabulous and fresh freebies for you. - HOW TO: Follow Mashable Staff Online
We try to meet our readers where they are at and create a place where conversation can take place. Now we want to give you glimpse behind-the-scenes of Mashable and its staff. - 5 Fab Twitter Follower Visualization Tools
If you’re interested in seeing what your Twitter followers look like as a keyword cloud, on parade, or even on a mug, check out these cool tools. - 10 Great Geeky Tattoos [PICS]
So, you love your tech and the web, but do you love it enough to permanently brand yourself with logos or related imagery? We’ve found ten people that do. - Why WikiLeaks and the Mainstream Media Still Need Each Other
The latest leak from WikiLeaks signals a seminal change for investigative journalism and next-gen whistle blowing – and mainstream media still plays a key role. - Top 16 Unusual Foursquare Badges
We talked to Foursquare’s Lead Designer, Mari Sheibley, about the stories behind 16 of the most unusual badges in their collection. - 5 Social Fundraising Alternatives to Facebook Causes
When it comes to social fundraising tools, Facebook Causes often comes to mind first. In reality, it’s just one of many tools available. Check out these alternatives. - 8 YouTube Channels for Unique Music Performances
We found some hidden gems in YouTube channels devoted to music. Look through to find sample channels and vids featuring the likes of Phoenix and Tom Jones. - Why Online Education Needs to Get Social
Social websites and real-time news channels are exploding in popularity, but online higher education has been slow to adapt. Here’s why college courses need to tap into the social web to stay relevant. - A Brief History of 9 Popular Blogging Platforms
The web is comprised of millions of blogs covering every topic imaginable. Here is short history of some of the most popular self-publishing platforms. - Why Hulu’s New Dance Show is a Game-Changer
Hulu’s new dance show, The LXD, is a game-changer in the way that web series and the arts are presented online. We spoke with the show’s creators about their concept and process.
For more social media news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s social media channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Tech & Mobile
- 5 iPhone Apps to Help You Learn to Dance
From ballet, to salsa, to tap dancing, with a little help from the iPhone and these five apps, your feet will be moving in no time. - 10 Cool Konami Code Easter Eggs [PICS]
Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start. If you like unicorns, rainbows and bacon these sites with Konami code Easter eggs will make your day. - 5 Energy Efficient Office Gadgets
Once you’re ready to get yourself on track to being energy efficient, check out these five energy efficient office gadgets to help you start saving on every level. - 10 Cool Tech Toys for Kids [PICS]
While you may have played Hungry Hungry Hippos, today’s toys are much more sophisticated and tech savvy, and even a little creepy. Here are 10 of the hottest. - 5 Awesome Optical Illusion Videos
Using nothing more than our eyes’ and brain’s perceptive weaknesses, these clever videos will trick your grey matter and leave you amazed. - 10 Geekiest Apple-Flavored Cakes [PICS]
To satisfy your sweet tooth (and geekiness), we’ve hunted down ten particularly fine examples of Apple-themed pastry. Enjoy! - 4 Ways BlackBerry Can Stay Relevant
To maintain market share in a world of increasing iPhones and Android devices, BlackBerry will have to get back to its roots and forge a new mobile direction. - 10 Ridiculous iPhone Accessories [PICS]
We take a light-hearted look at 10 totally unnecessary iPhone accessories that only the true gadget-addict would consider a good investment. - 10 Beautiful and Free WordPress 3.0-Ready Themes
If you’re looking for a theme that works great with WordPress 3.0 out of the box, check out our round-up of free themes with superb WordPress 3.0 support. - 10 Pieces of Gorgeous Geek Jewelry [PICS]
The geek collective is nothing if not creative, and some of that creativity can be seen in the treasure trove of geek-themed jewelry available. Here are 10 excellent examples. - 10 Free Web UI Kits and Resources for Designers
This post covers 10 of the best free web UI kits, resources and stencils to kick-start the early stages of your next web design project. - 5 Innovative Tech Camps for Kids and Teens
New tech camps offer some of the coolest and most innovative programs around. Take a look and see all the ways your kids could be engaged next summer. - 10 Incredible iPhone Photographs
We’ve collected 10 amazing landscape snaps by iPhotographers from around the world — both pro and amateur — to bring you a gallery of gorgeousness.
For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Business
- 10 Steps for Successful Social Media Monitoring
Social media monitoring of your brand image can be a complex process. Here are 10 pointers to heed when investigating your options. - How Small Businesses Will Use Social Media in the Future
In order to peer into the future, we took a step back and tried to build cases based on the evolution of trends and some successful small business examples. - HOW TO: Legally Structure your Startup
Whether you’re the next big thing in social gaming or organic knitwear, each startup eventually faces the same gnawing question: How should I legally structure my business? - How 12 CEOs & Founders are Leveraging Web Video
With all of the talk about how CEOs are getting social, we were curious to see how many CEOs are also branching out into web video. Here are 12 that are making a real impact on their brand. - 15 Twitter Lists for C-Suite Execs to Follow
To get you started or to beef up your current inventory of Twitter Lists, here are 15 great ones for C-suite executives to follow. - 3 Social Sites for Demonstrating Your Business Acumen
Sites like Aardvark, Quora and LinkedIn cater to the business professional seeking out knowledge or educational resources, and they are great for demonstrating business expertise. - HOW TO: Self-Publish Anything Online
These sites and services can help you create and brand just about anything, from books to clothes to software, and even food. - How Online Retailers Can Leverage Facebook’s Open Graph
Facebook’s Open Graph presents retailers with unprecedented ways to drive sales through recommendations. Here are some things to consider when tapping this data.
(Via Mashable!.)
Enjoyed this article?
WebsiteWordPress themes!
{ 0 comments }
Whether or not you agree with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s assertion that the age of privacy is over, you can likely agree on one thing – Facebook privacy settings are not easily deciphered.
If you’re not sure whether you’ve sufficiently protected what you share on Facebook, then ReclaimPrivacy.org has a bookmarklet to help you be as private as you’d like.
The bookmarklet (essentially a snippet of Javascript that executes from your browser bar) assesses your Facebook settings in a number of different areas. It looks at personal information, contact information, friends, tags and connections, known applications that leak personal information and whether or not your friends can accidentally share your information. It also checks whether or not you’re currently sharing information via the controversial “Instant Personalization” that was unveiled last month at f8.
The site and bookmarklet are the creation of software engineer Matt Pizzimenti and is completely open-source and hosted on GitHub. According to the website, ReclaimPrivacy.org will “never see your Facebook data” and will “never share your personal information”. The scanner operates entirely on the client side in the user’s browser, it says.
To run the bookmarklet and see how private you may or may not be on Facebook, simply follow these directions:
- Drag this link to your web browser bookmarks bar: Scan for Privacy
- Log in to facebook.com and then click that bookmarklet
- You will see a series of privacy scans that inspect your privacy settings and warn you about settings that might be unexpectedly public.
You can also become a fan of Reclaim Privacy on Facebook. The site, which is hosted on Google’s App Engine, was down earlier today because it had used up all of its bandwidth, so Pizzimenti has added a donation box to help cover bandwidth costs.
(Via Read Write Web)
Enjoyed this article?
WebsiteWordPress themes!
{ 0 comments }
This post is part of the Friday Q&A section. If you want to ask a question, just write a comment below.
CaptiousNut asks:
I’ve been blogging for 5 years but have never really, until last week, looked into ‘professional strategies’ to increase my traffic. I am using Blogger, and it looks like no one else is using it.
Am I handicapping myself with it?
I have been saying that getting your own domain name is a must for a long time, but many people still ask that question, so let’s talk about it once again. More specifically, let’s list the three main reasons why having and hosting your own domain is important.
1. You don’t really own your Blogger blog.
If you read Blogger’s ToS, you’ll discover that you don’t really own the blog. You do own the content you’ll write there, but the domain and the platform are properties of Google. The first consequence of this if that if you violate any of the service policies your account might get suspended and you’ll lose your hard work.
The second consequence is that you won’t be able to sell your blog, should be become popular and profitable one day.
2. Having your own domain gives you credibility.
Since Blogger is a free platform, you’ll find all sorts of blogs there. Sure, there are some good ones, but the majority is low quality, and you’ll have a lot of spam blogs that are created just to manipulate search engines, too.
As a result most people get suspicious as soon as they see the .blogspot on your domain name. That is why having your own domain will give an immediate dose of credibility to your site.
3. Hosting your own domain gives you more flexibility.
When you host your own domain name you’ll have complete control regarding the software and the setup that will be used there. You’ll be able to use simple HTML pages, to load a CMS like WordPress, to add special scripts and so on.
As your blog grows you’ll find that this flexibility is vital, as it allows you to expand the scope of your site and generate more traffic and money.
Would you add any other reason as to why getting your own domain is vital?
Original Post: Why You Should Get Your Own Domain Name
(Via Daily Blog Tips.)
Enjoyed this article?
WebsiteWordPress themes!
{ 1 comment }
