From the monthly archives:

July 2010

How Not to Run a Company Blog

July 30, 2010
Thumbnail image for How Not to Run a Company Blog

I excitedly accepted an unpaid gig as a contributing blogger for a new company blog. A retail business trying to improve its online presence hoped that a few writers could bring perspective and increase exposure. However, I lost my enthusiasm after a few weeks when I realized that I was wasting my time.

Read the full article →

5 Ways Social Media Can Feed You

July 28, 2010
Thumbnail image for 5 Ways Social Media Can Feed You

he Internet and social media have greatly increased my enjoyment of cooking and shopping for food. I’ve learned new techniques, discovered new recipes, and have been inspired by food bloggers and recipe websites. A few days ago, I poached eggs for the first time in my life after watching a video on YouTube.

Read the full article →

Growing Up in a Global Village

July 26, 2010
Thumbnail image for Growing Up in a Global Village

The Internet is a huge table full of adults. They are talking about grown-up topics like politics, family, the economy, sex, relationships, work, money, health, and responsibility. And you can listen without worrying that the adults will change their tones or the subject matter if they fear you’re listening.

Read the full article →

Is It Just Me, or Is It a Bit Drafty in Here?

July 22, 2010
Thumbnail image for Is It Just Me, or Is It a Bit Drafty in Here?

Wordpress, and most other blogging platforms, allow you to save drafts; this function is useful if you have an idea you want to save for later, or if you can’t finish writing a post in one sitting. You can save your draft and come back to it at any time, on any computer with Internet access.

Read the full article →

How Blog Posts Can Become Lessons

July 21, 2010
Thumbnail image for How Blog Posts Can Become Lessons

If you have a blog, do you think you could make a lesson plan from all the work you’ve done? Could your blog posts become instructive exercises? If you reorganized your posts by category or theme, for example, could they tell an overarching story? Could you possibly organize your blog posts like a textbook?

Read the full article →

Eyerolls, Spoilers, and Tastemakers

July 20, 2010
Thumbnail image for Eyerolls, Spoilers, and Tastemakers

The problem with social media is that users can talk about anything they want, and they don’t owe you any disclaimers. They can reveal surprise endings, give unwanted advice, ramble on about their favorite television shows, and even poke fun at your tastes. The most seemingly harmless person can do the most unexpected damage.

Read the full article →

The AIM Away Message Arsenal

July 19, 2010
Thumbnail image for The AIM Away Message Arsenal

When I was in high school, I spent way too much time on AOL Instant Messenger, chatting with my best friends and waiting for my crush-of-the-moment to send me an instant message. Our AIM conversations were the most important, vital exchanges of our adolescent lives.

Read the full article →

5 Ways the Internet Can Boost Your Creative Output

July 15, 2010
Thumbnail image for 5 Ways the Internet Can Boost Your Creative Output

Please don’t blame technology for a decline in creativity. If you are curious, the Internet can help fulfill a lot of your whims and whet your imagination. The Internet and social media have helped me become a more creative person; the overwhelming surplus of information can challenge your mind.

Read the full article →

5 Ways that Writing for a Website Is Like Dating

July 14, 2010
Thumbnail image for 5 Ways that Writing for a Website Is Like Dating

If you want to keep a person interested, you should avoid doing certain things like belching loudly or talking excessively about an ex. Like dating, writing effectively for a corporate website or blog has its own rules and etiquette. Here are five ways that writing for a corporate website is like dating.

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries