Hi Readers,
In the interest of consolidating the blogs I run and the ideas I have, it is time to merge my blogs. The new Blog is called Real World Basic (http://jobbasic.blogspot.com) and it offers life and work advice for recent grads with some fun stuff thrown in along the way. Please check it out and change your feeds and bookmarks! I understand that in the beginning some information gets rehashed. Hopefully bringing others up to speed will further the discussion.
Thanks,
Brad Maier
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Announcing Where is the Director?
For a while I had been preparing an article on people who have broken out of the traditional mold and were working in a career and living a life that they loved. I was keeping the interviews at a site called Where is the Director? Inspiration and advice from those who run the show. In thinking about it more, the topic is very relevant to what I write here and in the future I will be posting the responses to the Six Simple Questions here as well for the people who already subscribe to this feed. To start here's the short interview format as it played out with Keith Schacht of JobCoin.com:
Keith Schacht is Founder and CEO of JobCoin, which provides a user-friendly job board application that gives websites a new way to monetize their content. He also currently co-edits Freshwater Venture and previously co-founded Inventables, Lever Works, Inc., and Chicago Beta. As someone experienced with living the start-up life and succeeding, here’s how Keith tackled the Six Simple Questions:
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Back then I would of told you “Someone who can just make stuff all day.” Give me some space parts and a little duct tape, and I was entertained for days.
Whether it is in a big way or a small way, how do you change the world?
I’m changing the way people connect with one another around job opportunities. I’m constantly amazed at how inefficient the process is.
What’s one invention or innovation that would change the way you do your work?
I want a tool that knows what I’m working on, or what I’m looking for, and automatically connects me to people who are in the same boat as me or who can help. It has to be instantaneous and it has to be smart. Yahoo Answers and other sites are almost there, but not instantaneous enough. People have an inherent desire to help each other and answer questions.
What problem do you encounter most frequently in your everyday life?
I don’t feel like there are a lot of problems, I’m amazed how many tools exist to help you day-to-day. It would be nice to eliminate batteries, no more charging laptops, cell phones, etc.
If you could go back to when you were just starting out, what are two things you’d do differently?
I don’t think I’d change anything. I know that sounds cliche, but it’s a learning process and you have to experience the good and the bad to learn the lessons.
What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Cinnamon!
If you’re interested in learning more or getting a job board for your site, check out www.jobcoin.com. Also, be sure to keep up to date with new developments at the JobCoin Blog.
*Check out Where is the Director for the other interviews so far and look forward to more on the way. If you're interested in learning more check out the About section on Where is the Director and if you have any ideas for who should be featured next please let me know. Eventually I plan to merge the two blogs into one.Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The Importance of Traffic
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? The same thought could apply to the Internet. If a great website exists but no one knows about it, what's the point?
It's true, great content is what keeps visitors coming back and with the advent of RSS and other web technologies it is becoming arguably the main thing that attracts visitors. However, with the amount of content on the web today, the ability to market your offering is still incredibly important.
Like it or not, your website or blog is a brand. It is important to make sure that your content and presentation is uniform and professional. You also need to take steps to establish your "brand" and to make it known to others. The most effective way to do this is to network through the Internet and especially in the blogosphere. Make friends, read blogs frequently, and join their communities by posting correctly. The more friends you make the more allies you have to drive traffic to your site.
***NOTE: learn the blog, read some posts and get a feel for how the community works. Above all do not post spam. If you are going to contribute a link please also take the time to contribute a relevant comment. Behave on other people's websites as you would wish them to behave on yours.***
We also hear a lot about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) these days. Search engines, if used correctly can generate a lot of traffic for your site, especially as search technology improves. Thankfully this cottage industry has far more information on the web than one could ever ask for and more than I could possibly present. If you're interested, check out Search Engine Watch to learn more. Perhaps, the best advice I can give is that it is very important to learn how to develop and implement an effective META Tag. It will prove very valuable when it comes to controlling how your site is indexed by a search engine.
Another often overlooked tool is a press release. Chances are if you're publishing a website worthy of traffic, you're doing something newsworthy as well. In a sense, your website is a community or a project and big or small you're working towards something. The media is always looking to keep tabs on these types of things and specifically if you target your release to members of the media who cover the area of interest that encompasses your site (this takes some research), a press release can provide you with leads, contacts, and media coverage. All of which can lead to increased traffic for your site, not to mention opportunities you may never have even thought of when it comes to getting involved with an area you love. Here is a great article on how to use this tool to market your site. If nothing else you'll gain great experience in media relations.
Finally, we touched on Really Simple Syndication (RSS) in the beginning and it has become an increasingly important traffic tool. Users are becoming tired of having to check all the different sites every day to get their information. RSS brings information and your content to the reader through a feed. This makes it easier to get return visitors and to keep visitors tuned into your site. Projects like Feedburner and Technorati have simplified the process even further and remove any hassle that was left from syndicating your feed. If you'd like to learn how to make any site into an RSS feed check out this link from Search Engine Watch: Making and RSS Feed.
I really can't stress it enough but in anything you do you should be conscious of how you are going to sell it. If people aren't interested in what you're doing, you need to take steps to either reach a different audience or to make what you're doing interesting. If you're creating a website or a web application, it would serve you well to reread Everyone Should Learn to Sell, it applies to your website as well as your person.
It's true, great content is what keeps visitors coming back and with the advent of RSS and other web technologies it is becoming arguably the main thing that attracts visitors. However, with the amount of content on the web today, the ability to market your offering is still incredibly important.
Like it or not, your website or blog is a brand. It is important to make sure that your content and presentation is uniform and professional. You also need to take steps to establish your "brand" and to make it known to others. The most effective way to do this is to network through the Internet and especially in the blogosphere. Make friends, read blogs frequently, and join their communities by posting correctly. The more friends you make the more allies you have to drive traffic to your site.
***NOTE: learn the blog, read some posts and get a feel for how the community works. Above all do not post spam. If you are going to contribute a link please also take the time to contribute a relevant comment. Behave on other people's websites as you would wish them to behave on yours.***
We also hear a lot about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) these days. Search engines, if used correctly can generate a lot of traffic for your site, especially as search technology improves. Thankfully this cottage industry has far more information on the web than one could ever ask for and more than I could possibly present. If you're interested, check out Search Engine Watch to learn more. Perhaps, the best advice I can give is that it is very important to learn how to develop and implement an effective META Tag. It will prove very valuable when it comes to controlling how your site is indexed by a search engine.
Another often overlooked tool is a press release. Chances are if you're publishing a website worthy of traffic, you're doing something newsworthy as well. In a sense, your website is a community or a project and big or small you're working towards something. The media is always looking to keep tabs on these types of things and specifically if you target your release to members of the media who cover the area of interest that encompasses your site (this takes some research), a press release can provide you with leads, contacts, and media coverage. All of which can lead to increased traffic for your site, not to mention opportunities you may never have even thought of when it comes to getting involved with an area you love. Here is a great article on how to use this tool to market your site. If nothing else you'll gain great experience in media relations.
Finally, we touched on Really Simple Syndication (RSS) in the beginning and it has become an increasingly important traffic tool. Users are becoming tired of having to check all the different sites every day to get their information. RSS brings information and your content to the reader through a feed. This makes it easier to get return visitors and to keep visitors tuned into your site. Projects like Feedburner and Technorati have simplified the process even further and remove any hassle that was left from syndicating your feed. If you'd like to learn how to make any site into an RSS feed check out this link from Search Engine Watch: Making and RSS Feed.
I really can't stress it enough but in anything you do you should be conscious of how you are going to sell it. If people aren't interested in what you're doing, you need to take steps to either reach a different audience or to make what you're doing interesting. If you're creating a website or a web application, it would serve you well to reread Everyone Should Learn to Sell, it applies to your website as well as your person.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Go Forth and Prosper Joblog
As an extension to the blog I've added a free job log to help others like my in their post-graduation job search. The StartUp Joblog is a result of my travels through the job search maze that is the first few months after college graduation. As comprehensive as the internet has become, its still pretty darn tough for a recent graduate to find jobs in new ventures and startups that they didn't have a hand in starting. It becomes exponentially more difficult if you're are looking for non-programming jobs with these new ventures. A job feed serves the company equally as well. They make one posting and have it broadcast to a ready-made pool of targeted applicants. Some websites are making progress with the concept of the job feed but run into problems when it becomes too broad in scope. The feed gets bogged down for the searcher and inefficient for the employers. This joblog makes an attempt to target those individuals interested in working for newly formed ventures with a focus in the realms of internet, technology, social entrepreneurship, and eco-entrepreneur firms. The goal being to simplify the process for all involved. Want to post a job? Send the posting to b (dot) maier (at) umiami.edu
Take some time check out the Joblog. It's free for potential employers and potential employees and will remain that way.
Take some time check out the Joblog. It's free for potential employers and potential employees and will remain that way.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
An Interesting Discussion
Blogger Ben Casnocha put a thought provoking post up today regarding the need, or lack there of, to have a degree or certification when entering the business world. The gist of his post is this:
Obviously it hit a nerve as it has sparked quite a discussion on Ben's blog. As I've written in the discussion over there, I feel the major reason is that the consequences of a failed business are far less than the consequences of a failed court case or failed education. It is interesting then, now that the discussion has begun to focus on the free market, that two reasonably educated people can come to incredibly different conclusions regarding the same subject. My opinion is that Reflexivity plays too large a role in the market in the short term for society to be able to weather the ups and downs without at least a little market regulation. What do you think? Join in the discussion.
Can you imagine if there was a law requiring all wannabe businesspeople to have MBAs (or some other degree)? It would be pure madness.
Why, then, is there a law requiring someone who wants to be a lawyer to have a JD? Why is there a law requiring someone who wants to be a public school teacher to have an education certificate? Why is there a law requiring someone who wants to be a doctor to have an MD?
Why wouldn't we just let the market self-sort itself like we do in the business world? Some people get MBAs, some don't. Some people value MBAs more highly, some don't.
Obviously it hit a nerve as it has sparked quite a discussion on Ben's blog. As I've written in the discussion over there, I feel the major reason is that the consequences of a failed business are far less than the consequences of a failed court case or failed education. It is interesting then, now that the discussion has begun to focus on the free market, that two reasonably educated people can come to incredibly different conclusions regarding the same subject. My opinion is that Reflexivity plays too large a role in the market in the short term for society to be able to weather the ups and downs without at least a little market regulation. What do you think? Join in the discussion.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Reconciling The Real World
Coming out of college, today's students are faced with some distinct realities. More and more students are struggling with the balance between what they want to do and what they need to do to stay afloat and increasing numbers are simply refusing to settle for the latter. Much has been written about this balance but a few standout. As someone who has been contemplating this a lot lately here are some of the things I have found most helpful.
The Brazen Careerist
Penelope Trunk is a former corporate worker who has done extensive thinking into the subject of a balanced life and is one of the few out there who are actively, consciously, and thoughtfully taking steps to do something about it. Her blog should be required reading for anyone but especially those just starting out into the world after graduation.
IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com
The tongue in cheek title of this blog should not take away from the content that's provided within. In the absence of a real life mentor Mr. Sethi would be a good online starting point. Ramit takes the time to logically organize and disperse tips on how to face the difficult battle between finance and enjoyment in the real world while producing some sound financial advice and providing some great tips for entrepreneurs at the same time.
Feld Thoughts
For the entrepreneur, Feld gives interesting insights into the world of venture capital and high tech entrepreneurship along with some poignant writings on business and life as well. If you're looking for inspiration check this blog out its always good to see how the mind works of someone who's already "been there and done that."
In the vein of inspirational blogs that everyone should read, Ben Casnocha's might take the take. Ben has done more than most and hasn't even entered college yet. His blog possess a personal and conversational tone and is a great look into the mind of one of America's most fascinating young entrepreneurial minds.
Life of Meaning
Steven Tomlinson's Blog may be quite different from what you expect out of a blog but it definitely shouldn't be overlooked. The blog consists of one post; one very long post that should be read over and over again. Tomlinson's discussion of the balance between passion and career comes from a high school commencement address given in 2002 and while this may seem interesting and trivial, readers should be slow to dismiss these words coming from one of the instructors at what is arguably the worlds most innovative and rigorous entrepreneurially focused business school; The Acton School of Business in Austin.
The Brazen Careerist
Penelope Trunk is a former corporate worker who has done extensive thinking into the subject of a balanced life and is one of the few out there who are actively, consciously, and thoughtfully taking steps to do something about it. Her blog should be required reading for anyone but especially those just starting out into the world after graduation.
IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com
The tongue in cheek title of this blog should not take away from the content that's provided within. In the absence of a real life mentor Mr. Sethi would be a good online starting point. Ramit takes the time to logically organize and disperse tips on how to face the difficult battle between finance and enjoyment in the real world while producing some sound financial advice and providing some great tips for entrepreneurs at the same time.
Feld Thoughts
For the entrepreneur, Feld gives interesting insights into the world of venture capital and high tech entrepreneurship along with some poignant writings on business and life as well. If you're looking for inspiration check this blog out its always good to see how the mind works of someone who's already "been there and done that."
In the vein of inspirational blogs that everyone should read, Ben Casnocha's might take the take. Ben has done more than most and hasn't even entered college yet. His blog possess a personal and conversational tone and is a great look into the mind of one of America's most fascinating young entrepreneurial minds.
Life of Meaning
Steven Tomlinson's Blog may be quite different from what you expect out of a blog but it definitely shouldn't be overlooked. The blog consists of one post; one very long post that should be read over and over again. Tomlinson's discussion of the balance between passion and career comes from a high school commencement address given in 2002 and while this may seem interesting and trivial, readers should be slow to dismiss these words coming from one of the instructors at what is arguably the worlds most innovative and rigorous entrepreneurially focused business school; The Acton School of Business in Austin.
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