Month: August 2009

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Blog Posts Should Never Be Website Content

We’ve been hit with a real flurry of activity of website owners pretending that they want blog writing done, but we have to supply the content as Word documents and they have no online blogsite and a website that is under construction. I have to say that this smells to me like a client trying to get website content at a blog post price.

Yes, I know that some people like to do things on the “cheap” and it seems like a good idea, fool a quality blogger to write for you at a super cheap price when website content costs a whole lot more. But, I would like to explain why you should never use blog posts to build your website content.

1. Blogs are derivative works.  When we write a blog post, we find an article online on a news site, we read it and then put our own unique spin on it. Sometimes using our own point of view for the piece or a conglomeration of thoughts from other web news articles compiled into our own unique content. The content is unique but really not what I would consider suitable for website content.

2. Blogs being a more conversation medium than web pages. Blogs are also written in a different style and tone. Blogs are written in a more casual tone. Website content just sounds different when you read it aloud.

3. Blog writers, due to the market, are paid by far less money than web content writers. You will get what you pay for in this area. Although the content will be just fine and really even great for your blog, I would not recommend that a blog piece be passed off as authoritative website content or for that matter even as informational content on your website. Blog posts should stay as blog posts.

4. Website content is typically optimized for specific keywords and is written with a call to action and marketing language. This type of writing would be very boring for a reader to read on a blog, but is appropriate for search engines and a more sanitized selling message that is typically used on a corporate website.

5. Blog content needs to be timely to cater to readers and encourage interaction. Website content on the other hand should have more staying power and not speak to events that have passed or ask the client for input as there aren’t comment links on web pages as there are on blog posts.

Additionally, blog posts should not be used as Link Bait articles for similar reasons.

We are not fooled by clients who try to contract for our blog services and really want inexpensive website content. If you need website content don’t ask for blog posts. Get what you should have for your specific need. In the long run the extra money you pay for website content, that is created for this special need, will serve your site better in the long run winning you customers and communicating confidence in your products and services.

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Using Lists With Facebook

Sorting my friends into lists has revolutionized my experience on Facebook. If you have not started to use this relatively new feature then you really should consider doing so.

You need to access all you friends first. Go to the menu bar item on the left sidebar that says All Connections. On this page will will see a list of all of your friends and their photos. on the left side of their listing click the link there, as I have all mine in lists, my link says “lists”, yours may say something different. Mouse over create a new list and create a category for that person. I have my account set up with lists for Family, Friends, Work, and Acquaintances.

Work your way through your friends list assigning friends to one or more lists that you have created. Now, go back to your profile home page. You will see a new navigation feature under status updates with the name of your new lists. You can sort how your lists appear there by just dragging them into the order you would like.

For me, no longer do I have to wade through the wall postings and status updates of acquaintances that clutter up my home page, I can go to family and see immediately what my son or nephew is doing. Using lists is a huge time saver and as your Facebook account grows allows you to stay in control over what you see in a glance.

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Using the New Facebook Privacy Settings

Almost a month ago Facebook rolled out some new privacy setting features giving you greater control over who can see what on your Facebook account. It has taken me a while to get around to reviewing how to use these new settings and if you were like me, you may not have reviewed them yet.

First, you can access these settings once you login to your account by clicking privacy on the top links where you would access your profile settings. Mouse over the link called settings and a drop down box will appear with an option called “Privacy Settings”. You will have several options in each of the links that appear on the next screen. You will be offered setting updates for your profile, search, news feed and wall, and applications.

Work your way through each setting deciding whether you want videos and photos to show and to whom in your network. You can even select if photos you are tagged in will appear on just your wall or your friends’ walls. You can choose how much or how little to show in each category.

Additionally, the new settings allow you to control exactly what from your friends shows on your wall as well. For me, as I am friends with young people in my family but use Facebook for work and personal combined, I do not necessarily want business acquaintances to see what the young people in my network are doing and saying. Another really big thing that I have just started using, in addition to the privacy settings, is the Facebook grouping feature. I’ll talk about that Wednesday so make sure to check back.