It was interesting to find that the four panelists which included the following:

• Robert Brokamp from the Motley Fool
• Amanda from the Daily Worth
• Diane Ty from Life Tuner
• Kelly Whalen from The Centsible Life

The four panelists were all from various backgrounds and discuss the different but humorous views of how the social media had influence them to invest their money now and in the future. They also shared how FaceBook and Twitter are examples of how social media influences others to invest. Other social media that the four panelists mentioned was FourSquare which is used by businesses to promote their products and services and Blippy which is a site to see what your friends are buying.

Attending this event made me aware of how it is important to note how we can invest our money in various places but we have a social media like that of Facebook or Twitter to help us decide.

Essential Blogging is a book that informs you of the different types of blogging platforms that can be used as well as choosing the right blogging software to blog as a beginner.

The book begins with defining what blogging is and describes the different components of a blog such as the title, the subtitle, including pictures, and including links.  Chapters 1 and 2 describes the different types of blogging platforms that a person can use to blog but touches on four blogging platforms (Blogger, Movable Type, RadioUserland, and Blosxom)throughout the book.

In Chapters 3-5, each blogging platform was discussed on how to use the blog platform, the requirements of using a blogging platform, how to managing your blog post, and installing a blog platform. Chapters 6-8 was a continuation of Chapters 3-5 as they discussed more advanced features of the blogging platform such as customizing your own template, incorporating statistics as part of your blog, and automating blogrolling.

In the last chapter, I truly enjoyed the section on Blogging Voices which gives advice about blogging from experienced and real world bloggers.  I felt the main objective of the book was to focus on different blogging platforms other than WordPress and to take notice that no matter what blogging platform you use, it is important to know the components of successfully blogging.

XMind. XMind is open source software that you can use to brainstorm your ideas. I like the fact that XMInd is simple to use without a lot of instructions and that it can be used on Macintosh, Linux, and Windows. In addition, XMind can be saved as a .jpg, text file, or even an .html file to post on your website. You can also create an account to benefit from other features as well as download the software and start using.
Cost: Free
URL: http://www.xmind.net/

Free Mind. FreeMind is used on Windows platform. This software can be downloaded and used as well as exported out into different formats like that of XMind such as .png, jpg, .html, .pdf and if you use Open Office; it gives you the option to export to Open Office Writer. For me, this one took a while to understand how to create or illustrate my ideas. However, below I have noted some Free Mind tutorials.
Cost: Free
URL: http://sourceforge.net/projects/freemind/

The Brain. The Brain is one I just found out from another group I belong to. The Brain allows you to type in your thoughts or ideas. This is simply done by dragging and dropping/importing files and web pages that you want to use. I like this one because you can not only import files such as a Word Outline but some of your bookmarks as well. The Brain has the capability to export your information out to a .html file to upload to your web page for others to see your ideas. In addition, I like this one in which it is cross platform accepting Windows, Macintosh, and Linux users and provides a free version and a paid version.
Cost: Both free and paid version
URL: http://www.thebrain.com

Sticky Sorter. This one is more like sticky notes but you can still express your thoughts, concepts, or ideas with this one. Once you click on the Sign On button; it directs you to your Hotmail account to sign in. The Sticky Sorter allows you to include Notes in. The Sticky Sorter is used basically for Windows XP or Vista.
Cost: Free
URL: http://www.officelabs.com/projects/stickysorter/Pages/default.aspx

There are so many useful tools to use to draw out your concepts, ideas, or just brainstorm for your business or clients. Have you thought about using mind mapping software to draw out your ideas? or Do you already use mind mapping software and if so, what type of mind mapping software do you use?

I spent a lot of time reading this book on social media as I was intrigued to found out more about it. I am familiar with some of the social media network but how to target a community is a different story.  Social media is being used more than just the traditional marketing to connect with your friends and family but in turn to connect with your clients and customers to engage them in the business or community that is being promoted.

The book itself gives twelve great points with social media marketing which are:

• An introduction to Social Media Marketing.
• Set goals by using the SMART method (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely).
• Achieve social media mastery by building relationships and listening to consumers.
• Play an active role within the community by participating and listening to build a strong reputation in the community.
• Communicate, influence, and learn by using blogs within the community.
• Use microblogging(Twitter) as part of community and using other Twitter tools(TweetDeck) to engage consumers.
• Use Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn to create profiles to connect with friends, family, and consumers. Beyond the three above are others that are used in other countries such as Friendster, Orkut, Bebo, and hi5.
• Find answers to questions using Wikipedia, Yahoo! Answers, and many more.
• Use social bookmarking such as Stumble Upon , delicious.com, and Digg
• Promote content and bring visitors by using social news site such as Sphinn and Reddit.
• Share photos on Flickr, share videos on YouTube, and use podcasting.
• Gather from the eleven points above how to implement social media marketing into your marketing plan.

The book is useful for those who are starting out and wanted to know what social media marketing is, how it can help with their business, and how to implement these ideas, techniques, and tactics into their business. It also points out various examples of how several companies use a form of popular and non-popular social media to stay involved with their consumers.  Therefore, I recommend this book for those who have an interest in knowing more on social media because social media is not a one- sided conversation; it is about staying engage with the community.

Most of us might be familiar with a RSS (Really Simple Syndication) which allows you to syndicate and distribute content to your visitors using browsers. Using RSS can beneficial when you are posting to your blog and want others to be informed about regular updates that can be delivered to a news reader (Google Reader as an example), widgets, or gadgets.

How to Integrate the Flickr RSS Feed

In order to integrate your Flickr RSS Feed with your Wordpress blog (Wordpress.com or Wordpress.org) the following steps can take place:

Part 1 – Your Flickr Account

• Make sure you are logged into your Flickr account.
• Select the “You” menu command.
• Next to the “You” menu command is a drop down list, select that and choose “Your PhotoStream”. You should see your photos.
• Scroll all the way down into your see a RSS feed button(It looks like a square orange button) and next to it will show in gray “Subscribe to your name photostream”.
• Right click on the RSS feed button and select “Copy link Address”.

Part 2 – Using Wordpress.com and Flickr

If you are using a Wordpress.com(an example fortwashingtonphoto.wordpress.com), the following steps can take place:

• Select “My Dashboard”
• Under Appearance look for Widgets.
• Select Widgets.
• You should see a Widget called “Flickr”.
• Move it over on to the sidebar.
• Give it a title (optional).
• Paste the RSS URL (in part 1, you went to your Flickr account and copy the link) where it shows you Flickr RSS URL.
• Click on the Save button and select Close.
• View your site to see if the Flickr photos appear on the sidebar.

Part 1 – Your Flickr Account

• Make sure you are logged into your Flickr account.
• Select the “You” menu command.
• Next to the “You” menu command is a drop down list, select that and choose “Your PhotoStream”. You should see your photos.
• Scroll all the way down into your see a RSS feed button(It looks like a square orange button) and next to it will show in gray “Subscribe to your name photostream”.
• Right click on the RSS feed button and select “Copy link Address”.

Part 2 – Using Wordpress.org and Flickr

If you are using a Wordpress.org(an example is www.webmastertoolcenter.com- on your own web host), the following steps can be taken place:

• Select Dashboard. You will see Appearance. Look for Widgets and select Widgets
• Look for a widget called” RSS”. Move it over on to the sidebar.
• Give it a title (“Give the Feed a Title”) which is optional.
• Paste the RSS URL where it shows you to “Enter the RSS feed URL here:”
• You have options to display the number of items you want others to see such as three, four, or even five.
• Select the Save Button and select the Close link button.
• Preview your site to see if the Flickr text or items appear on the sidebar.

More and more, photo sharing is becoming increasingly used with more ways of sharing your photos on your blog or other places such that of Photo Bucket or Flickr. However, Flickr provides a wonderful way of integrating photos onto your blog (Wordpress.org or Wordpress.com) whether you are using the different Flickr plugins or using the Flickr RSS. With that in mind, have you used Flickr? How often do you use Flickr for photo sharing and possible integrating your photos on your blog?

Alessandro took the time out to let us know about him:

How long have you been in business?
Been in business for a year but still many years I am in charge of advertising and graphic design for several major advertising agencies as an art director, ever since I made the university.

What made you decide to open your business?
I love to work alone, it derives from the fact that I needed to have my own way of running things, not be employed by others, and create something personal.

What type of services do you provide? Do you have a specialized area?
Mainly we are dealing with commercial art, but we also offer a complete service, publishing, communication, web, corporate image. One of our first clients was the brand WINX that led us to develop a sector of small-scale illustration and animation. But ‘we are always looking for new projects and new challenges.

Would you mind sharing some of your websites that you have created?

• At http://www.tolenodesign.net is a portfolio of completed sites we have created. However, to name a few, here are the following:

• http://www.buonavacanza.org
• http://www.michellelily.it
• http://www.mondomarcio.net
• http://www.annabaccari.it
• http://www.w2agency.it
• http://www.tolenodesign.net
• http://www.shiverilromanzo.it/
• http://www.walterveltroninoi.it/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/8154038@N04/

What skills and technologies do you find useful and interesting for your business?

We use all the programs of the Adobe family, and only those programs like Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop and Illustrator complete our work requirement of 90%, other technologies are inevitable Mac environments.

What are some of your favorite tools that you like to use when creating and designing? Why?
Flash and Illustrator ever since their compatibility with each other. I always say that one of the best discoveries in the world is the vector.

What keeps you motivated?
The world of contemporary art

What advice do you give for those that are starting their business?
Never lose the sense of things, the inspiration to create something you can find it in every detail, creativity not only stops during the hours of work, but always works

Do you have any offers for this month or next month that you would like to offer to group or let others know?
At this time, we do not have any special offers but we do work on quality and aesthetics.

In this article, the following objectives will be discussed:

• Benefits of using Firefox Extensions
• Types of Firefox Extensions
• How to Install and Uninstall Firefox Extensions

Benefits of Firefox Extensions

Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera provides the opportunity to communicate, to purchase items, to save your bookmarks for that favorite page you like and even surf the web. Firefox provides pretty much the same benefits as the other web browsers do but offer the benefit of using Firefox Extensions with Mozilla.  Below are noted some benefits to using Firefox Extensions which are:

• Easy to install and uninstall Firefox Extensions.
• View related news, weather, and other information when Firefox Extensions are installed.
• Firefox browser compatibility is checked before installing Firefox Extensions.

Types of Firefox Extensions

Mozilla Firefox offers thousands of different types of extension, also known as Add-ons (this can be found at http://addons.mozilla.org) for non-developers and developers for the purpose of day to day business or general use. Mozilla Firefox Add-ons section provides various categories from web development, bookmarks, photos, music, blogging, and much more. Once you start browsing the different categories, you noticed that the page to the right will show you the type of extensions and also provide you the top downloads, top rated, and recently added within that category that you selected. From downloads, top rated, and recently added, can be one out of the many factors of choosing an extension with Firefox.

How to Install and Uninstall Firefox Extensions

After examining the various categories of extensions to use with Firefox, now it is time to install some or even uninstall the ones that you do not want anymore. If you want to install Firefox Extensions, the following can be done:

1. Select a Firefox Extension category.
2. A list of Firefox Extensions will appear. Select the green button which is to the right that says “Add to Firefox”
3. Click on it to install.
4. Before installing “A dialog box will appear indicating to install from authors whom you trust. If you feel comfortable with this then click on the “Install Now” button and it will install that add on for you to use with Firefox.
5. Select the Restart Firefox button so that the Add-On can be included on the Standard Toolbar under “Tools” menu command.
6. Go to the Tools menu command after Mozilla Firefox has reopened and look for Add-ons you have installed.

You have installed an extension to use with Firefox.

Now that you have installed several extensions and find no need to use these anymore, how do you uninstall them? Below are the following instructions on how to uninstall a Firefox Extension:

1. Go to the Tools menu command and select Add-ons.
2. Select the Extensions button at the top. It will list all of the extensions that have been installed.
3. Select the extension in the list area that you do not want and select the “Uninstall button”. An alert box will appear and ask “Do you want to uninstall? Select the uninstall button.
4. Select the “Restart button” to allow the uninstall changes to take effect.
5. Go to the Tools menu command.
6. Select Add-ons to see if the extension is uninstalled.

There you have it! The extension that was once installed is uninstalled.

In conclusion, using Mozilla Firefox as an alternative to Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera, provides an opportunity to include functionality and features to Firefox. However, it is a good idea to spend time looking at the various categories of extensions that you might need on a day to day basis for business or general use.

If you use Firefox Extensions, which ones do you use and why?

A domain name is a unique website address that businesses have for their clients to view the latest articles, products, services, or other information on their website. According to Verisign, there are over 183 million domain names registered globally. If you are interested in registering your own domain name whether you are beginning your business or working on an additional business website, you might want to purchase that domain name before someone else decides to register it. If you have registered your domain name, what do you do with that domain name if you are not ready to launch the website? Why not park it!

Domain name parking is just what it is, parking a page that is not being used at the present time. Domain name parking can display some pay per click ads on the domain name parking page. As for me, I decided to look into parking my domain name to generate a little revenue when it was time to renew my domain name that I am not using as part of my business at the moment.

Some websites will charge you to park your domain name but there are some that will allow you to park your domain name for free. I found two free domain parking websites that I use which are Traffic Parking and Sedo. By parking your domain at these sites, revenue can be generated when traffic is being directed to a search page or when a visitors clicks on a pay per click ad link that calculates a percentage and generate revenue.

Even though I listed two free domain names parking sites to check out, there are many more free ones to research. Domain name parking is a process to register, park, and leave your domain name at the parking site until you are ready to use it.

Social RSS. This will allow you to promote your blog or business within Facebook. I like the fact that with the Social RSS you can add your blog or any RSS feeds to your wall tab or even create a new RSS/blog tab that is only for your feeds. In addition, I like that I can post the latest articles automatically to my wall and share these with my friends, family, or as it relates to business. This application can be found under the Business category.

Slide Share. I just recently went to a meetup and the person that was presenting was talking about Social Media. He informed us that he would put it under “Slide Share”. I find that using Slide Share can be beneficial for business.  Using Slide Share, which is located under Business category, allows you share your presentation online, ideas, or concepts with others whether it is in PowerPoint, Open Office, .pdf, and many more formats.  Slide Share allows you to create an account even if you are not part of Facebook.  But if you are, you can synch your account with Facebook.

Marketplace. From time to time, I like to know what people are selling so I look at Marketplace. Marketplace is a great way to buy, sell, give things away, or even ask for things that you might want or need from people especially if it is to support a cause or charity.

weRead. With so much to do on a day to day basis, where is the time to read? weRead provides a way for you to list, rate, and write reviews for the books you have read as well as even start a book club. I must say that my interest really is reading computer books but I would like to expand my interest beyond just computer books.

Growing Gifts. From time to time, I like to give gifts to people. Growing Gifts is a great opportunity to give someone a gift that grows, assist them with growing their garden, as well as offering and helping one another.

There are so many different applications that a person might decided to choose when using Facebook as they are connecting with their friends, family, or even business associates.

So which ones do you find worth adding to your Facebook?

There are hundreds of services that provide website monitoring, but in this case, I will list a few that I have tried and use.


Internet Seer. Internet Seer checks your website remotely from several geographically monitoring stations at certain times. Internet Seer provides other types of monitoring which includes availability monitoring, performance monitoring, link and image checking. If you want to take advantage of the other services they provide, there is a monthly fee for checking your websites at certain time periods. The service that I signed up for was the Standard which is free and provides a limited usage (allowing you to monitor one website URL) which is one of the limitations of the free website monitoring. The free one works out for me because I just want to know when my site is down and send me an email to let me know.
URL: www.internetseer.com

Host-Tracker. Host Tracker has a very simple website interface. This site allows you to check your website up and response time without signing up first. I decided to sign up for this one anyway and work with the free one. With the free account, you are able to include two website URL’s to check your website and of course reports are sent out on a weekly, quarterly, or yearly basis. If you use the free account, it will check for you on an hourly basis the uptime. I found the navigation of this site to be puzzling. I was not sure where to find my statistics until I looked under “Main Page”. The main page indicates the uptime stats, sites for monitoring, contacts, alerts and reporting.
URL: www.host-tracker.com

Mon.itor.us. I use this one the most. I like the fact that is free without paying for any more features like that of Host-Tracker and Internet Seer. This one allows you to select what you want to monitor from your website. I like the fact that it offers the following:

• Monitor your site externally 24×7 which reports your site being down and checking for response time.
• Monitor your site internally which checks your memory, hard disk, and the Intranet.
• Monitor visitor tracking. This allows you to track your website visitors, page views and much more. I check my visitors tracking through my web hosting service to see how many unique visitors come to my site.
• Provides a chart of your website response time.

URL: www.mon.itor.us

In conclusion, using and choosing a website monitoring tool can be useful especially when you want to make sure your site is available to your clients as it relates to speed, availability, uptime, and response time.