Columns

We’re told that publishing a blog is a great way to market our freelance businesses. That’s easier to say than it is to do. The hardest thing about blogging, for me, is finding topics that interest me enough to spend the time, AND that other people want to read. A blog is not a press release, after all, so traditional PR/marketing language just doesn’t cut it.

What makes a good blog topic?

According to Andy Sernovitz of SmartBlogs.com, the three major characteristing of a good blog topic are:

1. Emotion. Share stuff that you feel strongly about, especially stuff that makes you happy.
2. Brevity. A blog topic should be portable. Your main point should be dramatic and pithy. It should fit on a t-shirt or in a Twitter tweet. Seriously. Seth Godin has made an international reputation as a marketing guru with blog posts that are, at most, three short paragraphs. Yes, he could write a book on it. In fact, he probably has. But he doesn’t (at least, not in his blog).
3. Quotable. Your blog topic should be understandable and easy to remember. You want your readers to pass it on to others (with your name attached, of course). As Sernovitz says: “If someone has to make an effort to remember what to say, they won’t say anything.”

See more of Andy Sernovitz’ blogging and social media tips at:

SmartBlog On Social Media: The 3 characteristics of a great word of mouth topic.

Geek Stuff

If your web site, blog, and Facebook page haven’t been hacked yet, it may only be a matter of time.

Richard Adhikari’s TechNewsWorld column this week features security measures to avoid cyberscams on social networking sites such as Facebook.

There are things you can do to protect yourself and your business, without giving up the advantages of social network marketing. Single-point authentication methods such as Captchas are one method, but tend to be seriously annoying to site visitors. Two-factor authentication systems, incorporating something you have (a certified software agent on your computer, PDA or mobile phone that incorporates a unique code) and something you know (a strong password or pass phrase). Purewire’s PurewireTrust.org cross-checking service (familiar to Facebook members who sign on through Facebook Connect) is another method.

For more information on social networking security, read the complete Technology News article at Social Networking: Friend or Fraud? Security and Social Networks.

2009 IEEE Accessing the Future Conference is the first IEEE conference dedicated to identifying the next generation of accessibility challenges. These challenges arise from the increasingly pervasive use of technologies such as 3-D Web, online collaboration, shared medical records, and advanced systems for transportation and communication.

20 – 21 July 2009
Hosted by Northeastern University, Boston, MA

This international conference, organized in partnership with IBM, will consist of a plenary session with keynote speakers and panel and working sessions with speakers, panelists and participants from diverse sectors including, academia, industry, government, advocacy groups, and others. A poster session is also planned.

This first conference will focus on four areas:

* Universal design and accessibility standards
* Patient-centered collaborative care
* Accessible online workplaces and communities
* Transportation and Travel

The deadline for early registration is May 29.

Are you a technical illustrator? Graphic designer? Interactive media designer?

bLog-oMotives: Calls for entries: Upcoming design competition deadlines.