Lorelle VanFossen publishes a very readable and useful blog about WordPress and blogging in general called Lorelle on Wordpress.  Lorelle recently attended a WordPress event in Israel and she has published a helpful post containing tips and suggestions about how to get the most out of Wordpress.  I recommend this post to all bloggers - new or experienced.

I was particularly interested in the section where Lorelle wrote about how to deal with the problem of content theft.   Content theft happens when an unscrupulous blog owner "scapes" your content and puts it on his own (Google Adwords stuffed) blog.  Often the scraped blog (called a "splog" within the blogging community) will contain scraped content from several legitimate blogs on a particular topic.  The splogger then includes a trackback hoping to pick up page rank from the legitimate blog.

As Lorelle points out, these sploggers are content thieves.  In the "How to Stop Content Theft" section of her post, she identifies several specific tactics to deal with these content thieves.   There is a splogger who scrapes every post from my Atlanta bankruptcy blog and I am going to try some of these suggestions.  I'll report back to see how they work.

About a month ago, my house was hit by lightening.  The lightening strike was a direct hit - we ended up with a hold in the roof and water damage in the ceiling.  The strike also blew out most of my electronics - including televisions, stereo receivers, my garage door, my alarm system, the cable box and the DSL modem.   I also lost my desktop computer - the one with all of my digital photos, videos and personal financial information.

About 85% of the digital photos were backed up - I burn my digital photos to DVD's every year, but not much of the rest had been backed up.  Fortunately, my IT consultant was able to salvage the hard drive - he put it into an external enclosure so all of my data is still there.  Nevertheless, this experience served as a wakeup call to me.  You cannot assume that your digital information will always be there.

In the old days, there were backup programs that compressed data for storage on floppy disks.   Now, with hard drives holding 200 to 500 gigabytes of data, backup options are less obvious.

There are some software options but I have not found one that I like or completely trust.  At this point, I am going to use the external hard drive route - I will have to remember to back up but I will have a complete copy of all of my data.

My friend, Atlanta mortgage broker Steve Epstein included the following suggestions in his weekly newsletter.  You may have seen these tips before, but they bear repeating:

• Hold On to Those Disks. You know those disks that come with your computer…the ones with all the software on them…the ones you throw in a drawer and forget about? Well - don't. Even though software often comes preloaded and ready to use, those disks and serial numbers are priceless. Keep them in a safe, memorable place and you'll be able to easily reload your software after a crash.
• Rule of Thumb. Those little USB flash drives or "thumb drives" that you see everyone carrying around now are an ideal, inexpensive way to backup small files for short periods of time. Whether you're moving information from one computer to another or you want to make sure a critical company report doesn't get lost before the client presentation, these handy devices are well worth the small amount of money you'll spend for 4 GB of peace of mind.
• Don't Get Burned…Do the Burning Instead. Most computers come standard with CD/DVD burners. Contrary to television commercials, you can burn more than just song compilations. Make the most of this device by backing up your important data regularly. Most DVDs can hold 4.7 GB, or you can double the data with double layer DVDs (known as DVD DL) that can hold up to 8.5 GB!
• Take it Outside. To backup every last byte of data, add an external hard drive that operates independently of your computer. Products like Seagate's FreeAgent storage devices offer you a variety of options…as well as the ability to access your information even when you're not at home, so you can open a document or even view your family photos from out of town.
• Leave Home Without It. For the best level of protection, move data out of the house altogether. Storing your IT off-site protects it from fire, theft, and flooding. And it's not as expensive as you might think. In fact, you can get a ton of space free from services like Yahoo! and AOL. At that price, the only thing you have to lose is your data if you don't back it up!
• Once the Damage is Done. If you've already lost your data, you may actually be able to recover it…the cost, however, runs anywhere from the hundreds to the thousands.
• Don't wait until the worst-case scenario happens–act now to protect your important data files.

I have previously written about the benefits of adding multi-media to your blogs and web sites.  One of the first questions I hear from colleagues and consulting clients relates to the technology issues that arising from including audio and video.  I can certainly understand why a new or non-technical blogger or web site owner would be confused about how to record, edit and post audio and video.

The good news here is that the technology part about adding audio and video to your site is the easy part.  Coming up with compelling, relevant content can be a different story.  Both audio and video have their place.  I am going to start with audio because it is easier and if I was trying to learn about how to add multimedia, I would definitely start with audio.   Audio files are easier to produce and to edit.   You don't need to worry about background light or about whether your hair is combed.  You also don't need a director or to worry about video editing.  I'll talk about those things in a future post, but for now, I'd  like to focus on the "how to" of adding audio to your web site or blog.

Typical Audio Applications

When I add an audio file to my web site or blog, it takes the form of a monologue (me talking) or a discussion between myself and someone else.  If I am recording myself, I use a device called the Microtrack 24/96 by M-Audio.  This is a digital recording device that records to a compact flash card (the same type of card that you might use in your digital camera).   The Microtrack records .mp3 files, which is a compressed format usable for Internet applications.  This device works similar to a handheld dictation machine, but instead of recording to tape, it records to the compact flash card.

This M-Audio device is not cheap - it will cost you close to $500, but it does save a lot of time and effort.

Once you have recorded your post, you simply transfer the .mp3 file to your computer and upload it to your application.

When I want to record a conversation over the phone, I use a very handy device called the USB Phone recorder from usbRecorder.com.  This device, which retails for less than $200.  This device allows you to record both ends of a phone conversation and the recording is saved as a .wav file on your computer.   The recording control is in the form of software which appears on your computer screen.

As an aside, I recently had to re-install my USB Recorder and I ran into some trouble with the actual install.  The USBRecorder web site included an email address for support and I sent an email explaining my problem.  Within a few hours, a person named David emailed me back and walked me through the fix (it turns out that my USB Recorder, which I have had for a few years, was an older model and it did not work with the newer software.)  He directed me to the correct software and I was up and running in just a few minutes.   That level of customer service was impressive, especially for a customer like me who had purchased the device several years ago.

Editing Your Audio File

Once you have captured your audio file in either an .mp3 format or a .wav format, you may need to do a little editing.  There are a number of inexpensive editing programs out there.   I use Sony SoundForge, which is a full featured editing program.  There is a free program called Audacity that I have not used in a number of years, but I understand that it works well.  I am currently testing a low cost multimedia editing suite (which includes an audio editing application) from AVS Media.  Again, audio editing software has come down in price dramatically and a simple web search should  yield many choices.

Getting Your Audio File On-line

By far the easiest way to get your audio recording online is to use a third party host like FreeIQ.com.   As discussed in a previous post, you need only upload your audio file to FreeIQ and then wait for the FreeIQ system to generate a line of code that you can link to in your web site or blog post.  FreeIQ does the hosting at no cost to you.

If you want to host the audio yourself, most blogging platforms have plugins that would allow such activity.  A well known audio player for Wordpress is available online.  If you use Moveable Type or another blogging platform, I suspect that similar plug-ins are readily available.

If you decide to upload plug-ins and your own audio files, you will need a good FTP (file transfer protocol) program.  I use CuteFTP for this purpose.

While you can use FreeIQ to host audio for your web site, you may want a little more flexibility in terms of the appearance of the audio buttons.  I use Jay Jennings Sonic Memo program to add audio buttons to my web sites.  Click to take a look at how I use audio to create an audio FAQ page on one of my sites.

The technical side of manging audio on your web site or blog may be challenging at first, but once you have figured out the process, it is easy to repeat.  Hopefully some of the links and tools discussed above will help you in your efforts.

Technorati Tags: audio recording for web sites, audio on blog, multimedia on web sites, multimedia on blogs, Sonic Memo, usbrecorder, freeIQ.com, editing audio

I have long been a proponent of including audio and video in blog posts and on web sites. Although there are number of audio and video plug-ins for Wordpress and other blogging platforms, you must have some familiarity with programming to make these plug-ins work.

Here is a better solution. Noted search engine expert and Internet entrapreneur Brad Fallon has developed a service called FreeIQ. Brad sees FreeIQ as the "YouTube for business." Like YouTube, FreeIQ offers an extremely easy interface whereby you can upload audio and video files. You can even mail in a cassette tape, video tape or disk and the FreeIQ staff will upload your content to your FreeIQ page. You can join FreeIQ for free.   FreeIQ storage is free and all you need to do is post a short html link.

If you have limited time to promote your web site, you may find that you gravitate towards "obvious" sources of web traffic - including pay-per-click, web page optimization and offline advertising of your URL.  You would be making a mistake, however, if you do not regularly use press releases and public relations techniques to drive visitors to your web site.

The experience of my old college friend David Schwartz serves as a good case study to demonstrate the power of public relation.  David is a solo practioner lawyer in San Diego and he has a number of interests outside the legal profession.  Several years ago, David came up with the idea for a product that would eliminate the need for an indoor cat litterbox.   He explains that cat owners frequently have to dedicate a bathroom or small room in their homes to the cat litterbox because of the unpleasant odors.

David built a prototype of what he calls the outdoor litterbox for indoor cats.  It consists of a tunnel connected to a pet door, and an enclosed outdoor litterbox.  Cats exit the home through the pet door, travel through the short tunnel into a small enclosed space where they "do their business."  Since the litterbox remains outside, all the associated odors stay outside as well, allowing the homeowner to recapture his cat litterbox room.

David discovered that there was no similar product on the market, so he enlisted the help of a patent lawyer and obtained a patent for his idea, with the idea of licensing the patent to a pet product manufacturer.   David found that potential manufacturing partners expected him to have a web site for his invention.   At that point, David contacted me and I helped him put together a website for his invention - the Outdoor Litterbox for Indoor Cats.

Because David does not have a product to sell, he did not want to spend money on pay-per-click to drive traffic to his web site.  Further, since his invention was new, keyword optimization would be something of a challenge.   After discussing these options we decided that public relations would make the most sense for him to build a little "buzz" about his outdoor litter box.

About three weeks ago, I ran across an article by a humor columnist in San Diego who was looking for "offbeat" gifts.  I forwared this blurb to David, who responded and ended up being interviewed and published.  CNBC then picked up the reference and one of their reporters wrote about it.

Last week, David got a call from a talk radio station in Montreal, and he was interviewed on the radio for an entire 16 minute segment about his invention.

Note that all this free publicity has been generated in less than two weeks.

Now, David is looking into the possibility of manufacturing his outdoor litterbox independently.  I can' t say for certain, but I suspect that the positive reaction David has received in print and on the radio has motivated him to take his business to the proverbial "next level."

Only time will tell if David will be crowned the nation's "litterbox king," but I know he is having fun with his invention and I am sure that this experience will open many new doors for him.

Technorati Tags: public relations, David F. Schwartz, free publicity, outdoor litterbox, cat products, doggie door

If you publish one or more websites, you will always look for good ways to get the word out about what you are doing.  This afternoon, I ran across a new wiki designed specifically for web sites - AboutUs.org.

For those not familiar with the concept, a wiki is a web site that may be edited by anyone.  The most well known wiki on the Internet is Wikipedia, but there are numerous other wikis using the same type of technology.

Because Wikipedia is so big and pervasive, it is very hard to edit.  In addition, Wikipedia editors frown on any text that appears self-serving in any way.  Wikipedia bills itself as the world's largest encylopedia and its focus remains on providing extensive information.

AboutUs.org encourages web site owners to describe and promote their web sites.  While it is too early to tell whether AboutUs will have any marketing value, it is a good place to learn how to use a wiki and it may very well provide a good promotional outlet for your web site.

Technorati Tags: Wikipedia, AboutUs, wiki, web site promotion

If you publish one or more websites, you will always look for good ways to get the word out about what you are doing.  This afternoon, I ran across a new wiki designed specifically for web sites - AboutUs.org.

For those not familiar with the concept, a wiki is a web site that may be edited by anyone.  The most well known wiki on the Internet is Wikipedia, but there are numerous other wikis using the same type of technology.

Because Wikipedia is so big and pervasive, it is very hard to edit.  In addition, Wikipedia editors frown on any text that appears self-serving in any way.  Wikipedia bills itself as the world's largest encylopedia and its focus remains on providing extensive information.

AboutUs.org encourages web site owners to describe and promote their web sites.  While it is too early to tell whether AboutUs will have any marketing value, it is a good place to learn how to use a wiki and it may very well provide a good promotional outlet for your web site.

Technorati Tags: Wikipedia, AboutUs, wiki, web site promotion

Future lawyer Andrew Flusche has written a very useful post entitled "Top 11 Ways to Give by Blogging" on his Legal Andrew blog.  Andrew is both a programmer and a law student at the University of Virginia and he concisely sets out eleven specific actions that blog visitors can take to support their favorite blogs.

As the editor and publisher of several blogs, I can say from first-hand experience that feedback from readers is always appreciated. 

Active participation in the blogosphere can also be good for business.  When I started publishing my Atlanta bankruptcy blog, for example, I was quickly discovered by fellow attorney Scott Riddle, who publishes the Georgia Bankruptcy blog.  Although Scott and I have never met in person, we email regularly and speak on the phone as well.  I have referred him several cases and he has reciprocated.  I also recommended him to appear as an instructor for an upcoming CLE program where I will also appear.

My bankruptcy blog also led me to attorney Ken Brock, who practices bankruptcy law in the Middle District of Georgia.  I expect that both Ken and I will benefit from the relationship.

My work as a bankruptcy blogger also brought me to the attention of New York bankruptcy lawyer Jay Fleischman who recently started a very interesting project - a multi-lawyer bankruptcy blog.  I became one of the charter members of the Bankruptcy Law Network, which I hope and expect will grow and thrive as an extremely valuable source of consumer bankruptcy information on the web.

My two Social Security blogs - ssdAnswers and 4SocialSecurityDisability.net/disability blog and my Social Security disability podcast support several of my Social Security web sites and have resulted in new clients and sales of my Social Security books. 

Blogging is an ideal platform for service professionals to engage in a time and cost effective interaction with potential clients.  As bloggers, we need to educate our readers about the power of this tool and Andrew's post is a great resource for any active blogger.

Technorati Tags: blogging for business, law firm blog, Andrew Flusche, blogosphere

Content really is king!  It is always good to have confirmation of a theory and I do.  Search engines like Google look for meaty, relevant content.  As part of my bankruptcy law practice, I have published three web sites and a blog.  As of this morning, my sites are #1, 3 & 9 for the terms "Atlanta bankruptcy."   I think this is the case because all of these sites offer unique, extensive and informative content.  Click here to view a screen shot.

Many sites on the Internet exist primarily to generate AdSense income.  They provide no real information and exist only to achieve high rankings to generate AdSense revenue.

Google hires some very bright people whose main job is to create algorithms that filter out fluff.   Sites that have no real value may achieve high ratings for a while, but inevitably they will fail.  Quality will win out.

Need a site optimized - call me at 770-393-4985 or email me using the Contact Form (on the right of this page) and we can discuss.

Technorati Tags: search engine optimization, Google algorithm, AdSense sites

We all hear warnings about data loss and the need to backup.  Fortunately, I have never experienced a catastrophic loss.  However, noted affiliate marketer Chris Carpenter recently did experience a complete loss of both his laptop and both of his external backup drives.  Chris used two external backup drives for redundancy in case one of them failed, but he did not plan for a fire.

The lesson - back up your data to DVD or to an external drive and keep your backup in a separate location!