Blog

Letting Off SuperBowl Steam On Twitter

1/30/2015

by Mary C Long

Whether it's #deflategate, the murder trial of a former Patriot, or that strange green “haze” hovering over the Space Needle, Twitter feeds are being flooded with comments regarding the drama and spectacle surrounding Super Bowl XLIX, which promises to be one of the most watched – and discussed – big games in modern history.

Your eBook Length: Does Size Matter?

1/29/2015

by Will Viharo

When it comes to stuff like Godzilla movies, pro wrestling, pizza parties and, well, other things, size can definitely matter. But what about your eBook? Since it costs the same to upload the file no matter how big or small it is, what are the major considerations? Well, the potential reader, for one.

Web 301: 3 Ways To Upcycle Your Best Content

1/28/2015

by Lily Bradic

What happens to your brand’s best content after its initial publication and distribution? Is it buried on your website and forgotten about, or do you find new ways of using it again and again? When you upcycle, the time and effort you put into content creation goes further. Repurposed content can also perform better than the original piece and can provide unexpected insight into your audience’s behaviour. Here are three quick tips to get started:

When Hashtags Go Bad

1/26/2015

by Geoff Gillette

For baby boomers and those born before that, it was known as the ‘pound’ sign. More often than not, it was used when telephoning to indicate to an automated service which person you wanted to talk to. Since 2007, though, it's gained a new identity which has now become widely known (and by some widely despised) as the "hashtag."

Hashtags were originally a Twitter phenomenon, used to categorize the 140-character messages to make them searchable. Users could follow and add to conversations by looking it up by #hashtag. As with all things though, it has evolved over time and has spread to other social media.

And therein lies the problem.

Teachers on Twitter - Good Idea or Bad Idea?

1/26/2015

by Olivia Collins

It's no secret that education now revolves around technology. Teachers use computers and videos to teach rather than text books. Lectures are now power points rather than speeches. Teachers are now required to be tech savvy and able to navigate social media. Social media? Is that such a great idea?

Your eBook Cover: First Impressions Count

1/22/2015

by Will Viharo

They say you can't judge a book by its cover. That may be true once you've actually read it. But enticing a reader to choose your eBook out of literally thousands on the marketplace requires an immediate positive response.

And what's the one aspect within your power that can instantly grab and hold a prospective buyer's attention long enough for them to take a chance and peek inside? Yup.

Web 301: Beginner’s Guide To Live-Tweeting

1/21/2015

by Lily Bradic

Live-tweeting is an excellent way to get more mileage out of your offline activity. It can help your brand gain traction with its Twitter audience, attract new followers, and gain more attendees at your next event. Here’s what you need to know — before, during, and after:

Cops, Cameras & Wearable Tech: A Good Thing?

1/19/2015

by Geoff Gillette

We’ve come a long way from the days when police officers had to walk to their cars, pick up their fixed microphone radios and call headquarters with a question or to seek further instructions.

Nowadays, nearly every squad car has a mobile computer and dashboard camera. And each officer is sporting enough computing power to run Mission Control during the Apollo 13 mission with some RAM and ROM to spare.

And signs indicate that law enforcement is heading in an even more high tech direction. The question is…should it?

Do Typos Make Or Brake (Er, Break) Your eBook Career?

1/14/2015

by Will Viharo

Typos. They're like house bugs. All writers have to deal with them, nobody likes them, and they can be nearly impossible to find and eliminate. Indie authors working without the benefit of editorial supervision are especially vulnerable to these pests. But can they destroy the foundation of your self-publishing platform, or are you forgiven by gracious readers?

Zuckerberg and the Charlie Hebdo Attack

1/13/2015

by Geoff Gillette

In the wake of last week’s attack on the French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo, nearly every journalist, wannabe journalist and blogger has jumped on the “free speech, free expression” soapbox, railing at the horrific actions of the extremists who shot and killed the Charlie Hebdo writers.

One of the more ironic declarations came from none other than Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, who on his own page trumpeted that Facebook would be a bastion of free speech.

Tell that to the breastfeeding moms, drag queens and others who’ve been censored.