All over IT - Topics and Trends in the Land of Technology

How To: you need an RSS feed

So you’ve got your blog up and running with all the bells and whistles, 15 blog articles written, waiting in the queue, you are ready to  go live with your site! The day before your official launch, you subscribe, via RSS, to a blog you stumbled across. The next day, your launch day, a light bulb goes off! I DON’T HAVE AN RSS FEED ON MY SITE! Don’t panic! Ok panic just a little bit. You NEED an RSS feed, it’s the easiest, most convenient way for your fans to subscribe to your blog. And it’s the easiest way for you to promote your content and distribute it across the web.

Ok that’s enough panicking. Calm down now, geez! We can help you. Here are a few, quick steps to get an RSS (real simple syndication) on your website. It’s really easy. So take a sip of water, a deep breath and let’s get started. Ready? Set? GO!

I hope you have a Gmail account like we told you last week. If not, stop here and go get one! Then come back!

1. Go to feedburner.google.com and sign in using your Gmail account (see why you need Gmail?)
2. Enter your website address
3. Identify your domain name is correct.
4. Presto! All done!  If you want to add more statistics follow the prompts and u can add stats for clickthroughs, how often people clicked items back at your site and more !
5. Not sure how to get the actual RSS box or graphic? click the publicize tab at the top and scroll down until u see “friendly graphic”, click there and choose the graphic you would like to use to promote your RSS. Then copy and paste the code into the coding for your website. If you don’t know where to post the code for your website, call your webmaster. If you don't have a webmaster, shame on you, call us!

Sidenote: If you want your information to be well received across the board, be sure to add a signup for email subscription. Although RSS feeds are widely used they aren't the only form people use.

Gmail for the win!

Gmail is at the top of my list when it comes to email services. Because of its functionality, Gmail is not only used personally,but professionally as well.  The people over at Google have done their due diligence to make sure that it can easily be integrated into all email enabled devices effortlessly. I think we all can appreciate that!

Along with making it accessible to just about everyone with a cell phone, the Google team has made it user friendly. Integrating email from other email accounts (even non Gmail accounts), ease of navigation and even a vacation responder are all components that make Gmail number 1 in my book!

Even though the average user can't stop, won't stop singing Google's praises, there are some functions that mosty dedicated Gmail users don't even know exist! Recently, Google released a list of Gmail tips “to become a master of your inbox”

Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the tips Gmail divulged to the public:

• Use stars to easily mark certain messages as important or indicate that you need to reply to them later.
• Set up filters to automatically label, archive, delete, star or forward certain types of incoming messages.(also called "rules")
• Custom URL? No problem! You can use Gmail from your own domain or for your organization on Google apps.
• Forget to sign out of a public computer?  You can sign out remotely by clicking “details” at the bottom of your inbox, click “sign out of all sessions” and it’s done
• Send and archive your email in one step.
• Easily preview an attached document instead of downloading and opening it in a separate program. Just click the “View” or “View as html” link to open a preview in a new window.

See? Gmail rules! To find out more tips about functions of gmail you may not be using, click here for a printable pdf.

Google says knock Facebook out!

The internet was as all a buzz when news hit that Google was planning to launch a Facebook competitor.  Yep you read that right! Word on the cyber streets is that “Google Me” (in addition to the movie of the same name) , Google’s attempt at competing with the ever popular Facebook, is supposed to launch later this year.

I don’t know about you but we’re excited. If any company can compete with Facebook and pull the favor in their direction, Google would definitely be the one. But don’t get too excited. No details have been released (sad face) and Google hasn’t been so gracious as to confirm or deny it, no surprise there. Even though we have no solid confirmation, this can’t stop us from thinking…what would we like to see “Google Me” do better than Facebook.

• The ability to send/receive email

Since it is Google, it’s almost guaranteed, they will have Gmail directly integrated into “Google Me”

• Do away with those bothersome “like” buttons

Do you like the “LIKE” buttons? When the like button was first introduced, it was met with great criticism for good reason. They were a real headache. Hopefully Google will test and retest all of its functions.

• Decrease the notifications

Facebook gives notifications for everything, EVERYTHING! Lots of stuff no one asked for. This brings me to the fourth gripe.

• SIMPLIFIED PRIVACY OPTIONS

Remember when Facebook was front page news concerning their security options? They’ve launched, re-launched and launched again different configurations to ensure that everyone’s privacy is intact and the details and are still a little fuzzy.

Now that the cat is somewhat out of the bag, about Google’s attempt at competing with Facebook; what does this mean for the future of Diaspora? Can a startup company with a few computer guys really compete with Google and Facebook? We say yes! We’ll keep our eyes and ears on this story and keep you updated if any details are released.  

Google's new SideWiki... Cool Tool or Demon Widget? IT Support Provider Weighs In

Last week Google introduced a new applet called Sidewiki that brings social networking to a whole new (and some say terrifying) new level.

In essence, this new widget allows anyone to post comments for all the world to see - right next to your website!

Yep, that means anyone - ANYONE - can heap praises or throw sticks and stones at you or your products.

If your company has been unwilling to engage in the exciting world of social media - either because you didn't think it really mattered much to you, your industry or your brand, or because out of site (pun intended) meant out of mind.....well social media has now come to you.

Almost every business today has a website. Whether your site is as simple as an electronic brochure or as sophisticated as a fully interactive site,  it is one of the keys ways you communicate with your constituents (clients, prospects, investors, regulators, etc) and market your products. 

And until now - when anyone visited your site - you were the only one talking to them.  Not anymore.

Now when someone visits your site - they can quickly and easily see what others are saying about you as well.

So, just think - it's like having a "Review Me" sign next to every page on your website.

If you have great products and happy customers - this is a wonderful thing!   It's like free advertising!!

But if you've had some bumps in the road  - a mishap with poor customer service, or an employee fired for poor performance, or a competitor who decides to knock you down a notch - then this is a scary thing!  It's like letting other people hijack your website to do you harm!! 

Well, like it or not, two things are true:

1) those people were already talking about you - good and bad, though most likely the bad ones have been more vocal.  It's just that if you haven't been participating in the social media conversations (be they on a blog, Facebook, Twitter or a dozen other social media platforms), you didn't know people were talking about you.

And you know what they say about Ignorance....

"Ignorance is innocence - stupidity comes with experience" 

2)  Your need to manage your brand image via social media has just elevated from "When I can get around to it" to "Right Now!" 

Your IT support company can do a number of things to help you stay abreast of IT technology that impacts your business - like writing articles like this one, and providing tools and managed IT services to ensure your on-line presence is up and running efficiently.  But quality tools and good support don't replace your need to actively manage your on-line image.

From entrepreneurial business owner to corporate brand manager - if you ignore social media - particularly Sidewiki - you do so at your own peril. 

For a step by step on what it is and how to use it read Brian Maka's post.

Have you tried Sidewiki yet?  Any stories to share?  Let us know how it is or isn't (yet) impacting your business.