Blogging about Warbook boosted my blog traffic

When I became active in Facebook a few weeks ago, one of the applications I got so hook with was Warbook. I thought of blogging about it but was figuring out the style that I would take. Note that it was also my first time to blog about games. My options include:

1. Review the game
This will require me to play the game and give an observation about it. This will take time to prepare as appreciation of a game can't be made in just one trial.

2. Show to how to play the game
Give a detailed guide on how to play it. This is a good option as in improving the help or FAQ manual that the game provides.

3. Share lessons learned
Play the game and share how you go about it especially in increasing you rank and in achieving milestones within the game.

Of course, there is nothing stopping you to do a combination of all three. What made Warbook a practical option is its popularity within the Facebook application. At the minimum, be able to entice readers within the community and let it grow from there.

At least, until it lasts, take advantage of the traffic that may come your way from players looking for information about it. Don't forget to submit it to sites that can deliver traffic such as Technorati's WTF (sample: warbook and warbook guide) and Digg. Even though your story may not get votes, the traffic you will gain can still benefit your site.

In the case of my blog, my traffic has grown three times since I released the guide on how to play Warbook and how to survive in Warbook. In this process, I also realized that to be effective in blogging about any game is that you must have a great interest in it. Not having it will be unfair to the game creators and your readers.

This is an entry to Darren's 24-hour giveaway.

9 Tools for Keywords and Blog Tracking

There are many tools that you can use to keep track of information and blogs that you like to read. It gets you connected to developments from various perspectives, the variety of issues, and concerns that bloggers are taking note of.

If you want to track your favorite blogs, the following sites allow you to do so:

• Technorati (add to Favorites feature)
  This allows the blog owner to know that you've added them and you will find those who have made you a "favorite" too.
• Google Reader
  What makes Google Reader unique is that it allows to share blog posts you like through your blog.

If you are just after specific information or keywords, you can also use:

• Technorati Watchlist
  Then add the RSS feed to your Google Reader account. As a result, whenever there are blogs that cite the keywords in my blog, I am immediately notified.
  
  
• Google Alerts
  This is a tool that you can used to monitor keywords as they appear on news, groups or discussion forums, websites, and blogs. Depending on your setting, whether everyday or weekly, I receive an e-mail that contains all the new content online that cites the keywords. If I’m interested to learn more, I just visit the website and read the full story.
  
  
• BlogPulse (October 17, 2010 update)
  Monitors blog post mentioning keywords you cited. You can generate an RSS feed that you can subscribe to.
  
  
• Social Mention Alerts (October 17, 2010 update)
  Monitors blogs and social media for any discussion happening related to the keywords you will input in the system.
  
  
• Backtype (October 17, 2010 update)
  Monitors tweets and comments focusing on a particular blog.
  
  
• Regator (October 17, 2010 update)
  Monitors keyword mention in popular blogs.
  
  
• Collecta (October 17, 2010 update)
  Monitors keyword mention in blogs and social media. It gives a feed url that you can subscribe to. Can also create a widget that can be embedded in a site.

I believe that these online tools are a clear indication of how the Internet is becoming much more user-friendly to users. This has also helped me update my blogs and find sites that can be worth submitting to social media sites.

I also discussed this in first episode of the DigitalFilipino.com Podcast (April 2006).

Integrating Feedburner in Blogger.com

I just created my first vlog tutorial for bloggers who would like to learn how to switch their blog feeds to Feedburner.



I used Windows Movie Maker to create this and realized that jpeg images can get blurry. Will use different file format next time.

For further reading, you can also visit the Feedburner site on how to do this.

Updates on the blogging book project

Our target book release last June did not go as planned. It seems going for an international book release is much more complicated than I first thought and had to go through several steps in completing it. However, now that I'm here in Adelaide, I hope to be able resolve all concerns and get it released. If things will happen as a I planned it, this September will be an exciting month.

To those who availed of our free copy offer, I'll keep you folks posted:

• Jeric Peña
• Weng Cheng
• Rowena Lim Lei
• Jane
• Jervis
• Vix
• Aaron Roselo
• Pierre T. G.
• Happy Lizzette Pajimna
• Shari Cruz
• Jomar Hilario
• Maria Kristina Eduardo
• Tess Romulo
• Ria Jose

If there's anything positive that came out as a result of this delay is that I'll be able to include my lessons learned in the recent Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs and in setting up Ratified Australia.

I had a great time during my talk at the recent Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit. A lot of opportunities opened as a result of it and hope that many got enlightened as well. To find out more on what happened, you check out the day 2 blog coverage and winners of the Boomerang Awards.

For those of you who are looking for inspiration in building up your blog, I encourage you to visit these two interesting activities created by Darren Rowse:

• 31 days to building a better blog
• 7 days to rediscovering your blogging groove
  

What do I Know Now About Blogging that I Wish I Knew When I Started?

Darren Rowse asked the question on what do we bloggers know now about blogging that we wish we knew when we started.

On the top of my head, this is what I realized:

• Blogging is 50% about you, 50% about your readers. A blog that only talks about oneself can be boring as time goes by. It must be balance by organizing activities that focuses on your readers as well. I'm trying this experiement now in the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2007 writing project and have gained new contacts that I haven't reached out before.
  
• Quality and meaningful links matter a lot. Although it is tempting to exchange links simply for the heck of it, I find that there must be a clear logic on why you are giving it.
  
• There is such a thing as a blogger's ego. Be wary on what you say and do to fellow bloggers. Especially to those whom you don't know personally.
• Blogs can generate sales leads and referrals too.
• Get out of your shell. Take the extra effort of getting to know new bloggers, no matter how established you are.
  

Postponed: Blog This: How Blogs Empower Every Internet User book release

Hi everyone. Just like to give some update on this book project:

• Release date. I will announce this soon as we had some challenges in resolving some publishing concerns. The following who joined our "Get a Free Copy of Blog This: How Blogs Empower Every Internet User" will be getting their copies soon. Sorry for hiccup folks.
  
  
• Jeric Peña
• Weng Cheng
• Rowena Lim Lei
• Jane
• Jervis
• Vix
• Aaron Roselo
• Pierre T. G.
• Happy Lizzette Pajimna
• Shari Cruz
• Jomar Hilario
• Maria Kristina Eduardo
• Tess Romulo
• Ria Jose

Thanks again for your support on this.

August 9 and 10: The Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit 2007

I just confirmed my participation as a speaker in the forthcoming Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit to be held on August 9 to 10 at the Hotel Intercon. This event is being organized by the Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (see my IMMAP related posts).

I will talk about "Blogs and Pod Casts as Interactive Tools – User-Generated Content Revolution" and will focus on how marketers can leverage this powerful, user-generated content revolution to build brands.

Here's more information about the conference:

The Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit 2007

'Global Trends for an Interactive Philippines'
Interconnection. Integration. Innovation.

August 09-10, 2007
Hotel Intercontinental, Makati City, Philippines

Organized By: Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP)

We are currently witness to nothing less than a global marketing revolution. With more and more consumers globally embracing digital mediums such as the internet and mobile, brands are increasingly shifting their marketing investments to these new media channels. In the United States alone, various research groups estimate that anywhere from 8-10 % of total advertising spending is already being invested in digital mediums. The rest of the world, meanwhile, is fast catching up, as brands race to connect with the billions of digitally-tuned in consumers.

On August 9-10, 2007, marketing history in the Philippines will mark a true milestone, as nothing less than the world's biggest titans in internet and mobile marketing visit our country for a first-ever Summit on Internet and Mobile Marketing. Learn powerful campaign strategie and techniques straight from the foremost international and local experts that will help your brand connect with the country's close to 40 million mobile phone users and 10 million internet users.

Learn the secrets of the trade and craft your digital marketing campaigns, now!

Who Should Attend:

Managing Directors, CEOs, CRM Managers, Direct Marketing Managers, Database Managers, IT Managers, Brand Managers, Product Managers, Advertising Managers, Corporate Communication Managers, Marketing Managers, Media Managers, Content Providers and those involved in marketing/advertising using the internet and mobile.

Registration Fee: P8,500.00 for 2 days inclusive of snacks, lunch, and conference kit.

Discounts and Early Bird Payment:

• 15% for IMMAP Members
• 10% for Early Bird with payment due June 30, 2007
• For a group of 5, One is free.
  

RESERVE A SEAT, SIGN UP NOW!

KEY CONFERENCE TOPICS

Day 1, 09 August 2007, Thursday

1. Using Digital Channels to Connect with Prosumers (9:00-9:45am)
   International best practices on internet marketing, from the perspective of global advertising network Euro RSCG, voted by Ad Age Daily as the "Advertising Agency of the Year" for 2006.
   Speaker: George Gallate, CEO, Euro Group
   
   
2. Pinoy Attitudes and Behavior Towards Internet and Mobile Advertising (10:00-10:45am)
   Learn the Filipino consumer's overall behavior and attitude towards internet and mobile advertising through the most comprehensive consumer research ever conducted on internet and mobile advertising. Research focuses primarily on consumer attitudes towards internet and mobile advertising, ie, willingness to receive digital advertising, preferred types of digital advertising delivery, etc.
   Speaker: Carol Ann Sarthou, Managing Director, Synovate
   
   
3. Building Brands through Internet Marketing: A Local Perspective (11:00-11:45am)
   The Philippines is home to many successful, home-grown internet marketing campaigns that have significantly built the business of numerous brands in the country. Learn best practices and approaches in internet marketing from local experts who will share some of the country's best internet marketing campaigns launched.
   Speaker: Donald Lim, CEO, Yehey.com
   
   
4. The Digital Brand Experience (1:30-2:15pm)
   Learn how digital marketing mediums such as the internet and the mobile phone help enhance customers' experiences with the brand, and thus help build brand equity and long-term customer loyalty.
   Speaker: Matec Villanueva, CEO, Publicis Manila
   
   
5. Emerging Trends in Internet Marketing (2:30-3:15pm)
   a) Social Networking as a Potent New Marketing Tool (2:30-2:50pm)
   Overview of the phenomenon of social networking sites, and how marketers can leverage and tap this new marketing medium
   Speaker: Michael Palacios, General Manager, Pinoy Exchange
   
   b) Blogs and Pod Casts as Interactive Tools - User-Generated Content Revolution (3:00-3:20pm)
   The phenomenon of blogs and pod casts spread over the world wide web, how can marketers leverage on this powerful new consumer interaction point.
   Speaker: Janette Toral, CEO, Digital Filipino, Inc.
   
   
6. Building Brands through Mobile Marketing: A Local Perspective (3:30-4:15pm)
   The Philippines, the undisputed SMS capital of the world, is home to some of the world's most successful mobile marketing campaigns. Learn best practices and approaches in internet marketing from local industry experts who will share some of the country's best mobile campaigns.
   Speaker: Arthur Policarpio, CEO, Global Wireless Connections, Inc.
   
   
7. International Best Practices and Future Trends in Internet Advertising (4:30-5:15pm) Learn international approaches in internet advertising from one of the industry's global pioneers and titans.
   Speaker: Tom Sipple, Managing Director, Yahoo! Southeast Asia
   

Day 2, 10 August 2007, Friday

1. How the World's Largest Internet Company Helps Bring Together Brands and Consumers (9:00-9:45am)
   Learn tips of the trade, secrets and techniques from the most successful internet marketing company in the world.
   Speaker: Aileen Apolo, Country Consultant, Google Philippines
   
   
2. New Approaches in Digital Marketing (10:00-10:45am)
   Learn powerful, breakthrough new approaches and techniques in mobile and internet marketing.
   Speaker: Nix Nolledo, CEO, Xurpass, Inc.
   
   
3. Multi-Channel Marketing Effectiveness: Successfully Integrating Internet and Mobile with Traditional Media Channels (11:00-11:45am)
   Truly effective marketing campaigns leverage the power of both traditional and non-traditional mediums. Learn global approaches and best practices in successfully integrating internet and mobile with traditional media channels, for a truly effective marketing campaign.
   Speaker: Yota Mitsunobu, Chief Consultant, Interactive Communications Division, Dentsu
   
   
4. Marketing Opportunities in Online Gaming (1:30-2:15pm)
   The booming global gaming industry offers significant opportunities for marketers to promote their products to consumers via a new, highly-interactive and engaging digital channel. Learn how to tap this medium from international experts in the field.
   Speaker: Enrique Gonzalez, CEO, IPVG
   
   
5. Creating Time, the New Brand Challenge (2:30-3:15pm)
   The next generation in successful digital media planning involves the fundamental shift from "buying time" to getting consumers to spend time with the brand.
   Speaker: Bob Maher, Chief Technology Officer, Isobar
   
   
6. Marketing Opportunities in Mobile Advertising (3:30-4:15pm)
   How do we advertise our brands to the close to 40 million mobile phone users in the Philippines? Learn consumer best practices and powerful new marketing techniques that will help your brand connect with the country's mobile users.
   Speaker: Ferdinand de la Cruz, Head, Wireless Business Group, Globe Telecom Inc.
   
   
7. Panel Interaction and Exchange (4:30-5:30pm)
   Conference keynote international speakers, together with some local speakers, to summarize views and learnings for the Conference, with Q&A from the audience.
   

Registration Fee: P8,500.00 for 2 days attendance, inclusive of meals and conference kit.

Please make the check payable to: Fiera de Manila, Inc.

For more details, please call: +632-8960639, 8960637, 8996216, fax: +632-8960637, 8902101, email: fiera@info.com.ph, visit web site.

Top 5 Highly Productive Blogging Articles

Darren Rowse Top 5 - Group Writing Project has just concluded. The past four days have been interesting as I got to learn a lot of things and met new bloggers in the process. The top 5 entries that grabbed my attention are:

• $100 a Day Blogging! Discover My Top 5 Action Steps
• Top 5 methods to increase comments on your blog
• Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Become a Co-op Blogger
• Top 5 Ways Ignorant Advertisers Lose Money to Google via AdWords
  
• Top 5 Rules For Making Your Blog A Success

Congratulations again to everyone who joined and made this writing project a worthwhile experience.

This whole project also inspired me to start "The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2007" writing project.

Testing Book Marketing Ideas

On the 2nd day of Darren Rowse's Top 5 - Group Writing Project, a lot has happened to some of my blog sites and new blog posts I've written lately were heavily influenced by those who participated in the project. This includes:

• My column today, That Marketing Spark, was inspired by Matt McDonald's Top 5 Questions to Spark New Marketing Ideas.
• I also shared "How I Make Money from Blogs and Websites" to give more info to Paula Mooney who is now tracking how bloggers earn. I hope my post will also provide insight as to the variety of ways that bloggers can generate revenue.
• On my Top 5 entry, I provided a link to a recent experience on "Shutting down a copyright violator and plagiarist blog". One reader Stumbled Upon it and doubled my site traffic instantly.
• If your blog provides blogging tips, I encourage you to get your blog included in our blogging book's directory section.

Additional Top 5 entries that I find to be of interest are: (will add more as I get to read the other entries)

• Top 5 Top Blog Posts in SEO by Michael Jensen
• Top 5 Ways Ignorant Advertisers Lose Money to Google via AdWords by Richard Ball
• Top 5 methods to increase comments on your blog by Thilak Raj Rao

Get your blog included in our blogging book's directory section

Ok, this is a very short notice, I have to admit. Our book project actually has a blog directory section referring to websites that offers tips, advice, and best practices to improve one's blogging craft.

However, since joining Darren Rowse's Group Writing Project, I realized that there are numerous blogs out there offering insight on how to grow one's blog.

With that, I invite blog owners specializing in this area to post a comment and recommend your blog (and of others) for inclusion in the said directory section. Just post a comment with the following information:

Name of Blog:
URL:
What the blog offers to newbie/aspiring bloggers:

We will wrap up for printing by the end of next week and it will be great to have these nice blog resources included.

Guidelines on how to get a free copy of the book is also available.

Thank you!

Top 5 New Creme of the Crop Blogs by the end of 2007

Everybody Go To just made a blog poll trying to determine the top 5 blogs by the end of 2007. The nominees are mostly blogs that have started in the last six to twelve months. I believe this is a great way of identifying new blogs and get them recognized. The site nominees include:

Internet and Technology

• Frantic Industries
• Tech Buzz
• iWebis
• Rex Dixon
• Geeks are Sexy

Making Money Online and Blogging

• Kumiko Suzuki
• The Wrong Advices
• Net Business Blog
• Dosh Dosh
• Dot My Spot

Web Design and Development

• WP Designer
• North X East
• Freelance Switch
• Deziner Folio
• Go Squared - Liquid City

Entertainment and Lifestyle

• Celebrific
• LifeSpy
• BLaugh
• The CineMattic
• Mama Pop

Work and Career

• Career Ramblings
• Home Biz Blogger
• Success From the Nest
• Young Go Getter
• Blogtrepreneur

If you are interested to participate, visit Everybody To Go and cast your vote.

Perhaps this is a concept that I can explore further in the DigitalFilipino Web Awards to encourage more start-ups in this area.

This blog post is also one of the participants in Darren Rowse's Group Writing Project. Other entries that I enjoyed reading are: (I haven't checked all of them so will add more shortly)

• Become Blog Worthy by Sarakastic
  In a funny way, talks about people who approach bloggers requesting to be featured and how could interest be sparked.
• Get Fit & Sexy While Blogging - the Top 5 Unusual Things to do at Your Computer… by RT
  I love the gripper and exercise ball suggestion. I should get one this week!
• Top 5 Reasons to Join a Blog Network by Steve Remington
  Gave me insight on how to handle challenges in creating a blog network. In my case, target members already have their own blogs.
• The Top 5 Free Search Engine Optimization Tools by Wendy Piersall
  Nice tools were mentioned here. I wish I got to play with them for my Ituloy AngSulong SEO contest entry.

Top 5 Reasons Why I'm Writing a Blogging Book

Darren Rowse just announced his Top 5 - Group Writing Project. This is timely as I often get asked why I'm writing and publishing a blogging book. I hope this Top 5 reasons will satisfy the reader's curiousity.

1. Demonstrate that blogs can be used as a medium to promote products and services by individuals, educators, entrepreneurs, SMEs, and even corporations.
   
2. Share personal experience and of friends on creating blogs suited to their needs. This can be from personal sharing to generating e-commerce revenue on a product website or service offering.
   
3. Show how to join 3rd-party advertising or revenue program for blog sustainability. I will also share my personal experience in creating an ad revenue program for bloggers.
   
4. Provide tips on how to avoid legal problems including how to protect one's copyright and run against those who violate it.
   
5. Discuss marketing practices and performance monitoring that can be explored in driving traffic to one's blog.

More than anything else, I am up for the challenge. After writing and publishing three (3) Philippines-centric books, working with this online blogging tutorial turned book as a project can provide a lot of international publishing lessons learned.

Through it, I hope to expand my network of contacts too.

Get a free copy of Blog This: How Blogs Empower Every Internet User

Last September 2, 2006 we released the Blogging 101 Workshop Online (blogging101workshop) and have been improving it since.

We'll be publishing 1000 copies of the book "Blog This: How Blogs Empower Every Internet User" and release it by June 29, 2007. From its original version, the e-book is expanded to 8 lessons so that schools who wishes to use it can plan their programs for a whole semester term.

• Lesson 1: Introduction to blogging (Exercise: Blog critic and setting up a personal blog)
• Lesson 2: Blog copyright and ethics (Exercise: Identifying blog violations)
• Lesson 3: Generating revenue through blogs (Exercise: Identify revenue generating schemes for blogs)
• Lesson 4: Getting started in blogging (Exercise: Theme planning and Setting up your blog for business)
• Lesson 5: Marketing your blog (Exercise: Metrics set-up, trend tracking, and blog promotion techniques)
• Lesson 6: Introduction to podcasting (Exercise: Creating a podcast)
• Lesson 7: Becoming a professional blogger (Exercise: Identify professional blogging opportunities)
• Lesson 8: Setting up your own blog network (Exercise: Creating a blog network)
• The 100-Days Blogging Challenge
• Club Member Directory (Individual member blogs, SME and Corporate Members website)
• Blog Directory (focus on blogs that provides further advice to improve one's blogging craft)
• Sponsor text ads

All DigitalFilipino.com Club members are entitled to a free copy of the book. SME members will get 2 copies while Corporate members shall get 3 copies. Individual members will get 1 copy.

If you are not a club member but would like to receive one of the 100 copies we are giving away, just do the following: (this promotion will end on May 29, 2007)

• Blog about this project and why you want to have a copy. Make sure to add a link back to this blog entry. Note that blogs created only for this purpose are not qualified.
• Make sure that your contact / mailing address details is clear in your blog.
• At your option, you can add the technorati tag blogging101workshop for mutual promotion.
• Post a comment here with the url to your blog.
• Only one copy shall be given per person. If you are based overseas, we will send you an electronic copy of the book instead.

Those who'll qualify for a free copy shall be posted here and be directly contacted too. This promotion shall end upon reaching the 100 free book giveaway count.

So far the following have linked to this blog post and shall get a free copy once it is available:

1. Jeric Peña
2. Weng Cheng
3. Rowena Lim Lei
4. Jane
5. Jervis
6. Vix
7. Aaron Roselo
8. Pierre T. G.
9. Happy Lizzette Pajimna
10. Shari Cruz
11. Jomar Hilario
12. Maria Kristina Eduardo
13. Tess Romulo
14. Ria Jose

Thank you for all the support.

Support petition for release of Eyptian bloggers

I got an e-mail recently from the Reporters Without Borders / Internet Freedom desk (blog), appealing for the release of two Egyptian bloggers now facing imprisonment for opinions expressed and exposes made in their blogs.

------------------------------------------------------

Six months after the arrest of Kareem Amer, Reporters Without Borders has started a petition calling for the bloggers release and that of his colleague Abdul-Moneim Mahmud.

Internet-users are being asked to sign online, in which the worldwide press freedom organisation calls on the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a conference organised under the UN mantle, to block Egypt from hosting the event in 2008 unless the two bloggers are freed.
Sign the petition : http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21993

Text of the petition:

"We call for the release of Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman (Kareem Amer) and of Abdul-Moneim Mahmud, who have been imprisoned for expressing their opinion online. We urge the organisers of the Internet Governance Forum to intervene with the Egyptian authorities on behalf of these two bloggers. It would be intolerable for a UN summit on the future of the Internet to be held in a country which imprisons bloggers".

The petition will be sent, on 6 November 2007, exactly one year after the arrest of Kareem Amer, to Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, to Executive Coordinator of the IGF, Markus Kumar, as well as to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.

"Kareem Amer"
Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman, better known by the pen name Kareem Amer, was arrested on 6 November 2006, for articles published on his blog (http://karam903.blogspot.com). He frequently attacked the authoritarian excesses of the government of Hosni Mubarak and criticised the country's top religious authorities, particularly the Sunni University Al-Azhar, where he was studying law. The blogger was sentenced on 22 February 2007, to three years in prison for "inciting hatred of Islam" and one year for "insulting" the Egyptian president. The sentence was upheld on appeal on 12 March.

Abdul-Moneim Mahmud
Abdul-Moneim Mahmud, who runs the blog Ana Ikhwan (http://ana-ikhwan.blogspot.com), was arrested on 14 April 2007. He has been officially accused of membership of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, but his detention appears most likely linked to articles and photos he has posted online and at his work exposing torture committed by the security services.

--------------------------------------------------------

Manuel L. Quezon III during iBlog3 encourages the growth of political bloggers that are not affiliated with any politician or working in the media. This is a leadership role that every blogger can take on. He encourages bloggers to ask and answer the question as to why are we still here in a situation within our countries. Politics is a human activity where personalities and issues are always involved. It is important for bloggers to find out and ask questions on what people are thinking, what matters to them, their concerns, opinions, and observations. He encourages bloggers to be a fighter of freedom of expression.

Test Drive: Blogging with the Palm Treo 680

Last January, Globe Telecom introduced the Palm® Treo™ 680 PDA-Phone, a GSM / GPRS / EDGE quad-band world phone, in the Philippines. What I like about this phone was that I'm able to access my Gmail, and now with the new Blogger, without a problem. For that reason alone, the phone was all well worth it.

Even though it is not 3G compared to the ones I've tried, being able to work with the phone like doing my Gmail e-mail, writing articles, and blogging makes it a big productivity booster. Although you may need to get yourself more familiar with the keypad or get extra devices (like a portable keyboard).

For blogging, it will require a little knowledge of html (for linking urls or web address) and being able to visit pages before saving their url and pasting it later when making your post. You may not be able to immediately include photos in your blog post.

So I guess this one is great to use whenever you have moments where you just need to blog something right away or a creative thought just struck as Dean Alfar would say during iBlog3.

I also find its camera and video feature to be very handy. The only challenge with recording a video using it, is that the sound captured tends to have some background noise. Perhaps using a special microphone with it can be necessary to improve the sound quality of one's voice.

With great Internet speed, there's a lot you can do with this device. The Treo 680 sells at a retail price of Peso 24,000. Globe users can get this from the Globe Telecom Business Centers and Hubs in the Philippines.

I also like the Bejeweled game and I'm glad that this device comes along with it. Although that puts me in a situation where my kids have to keep borrowing my phone to play the game and beat one another on who gets the highest score.

Especially now that Internet fees through the mobile phone are becoming more affordable, mobile blogging or moblogging, especially during times when you have to rush, can now be possible without hurting your finances that much.

I think I finally found the device that can replace my Nokia 9300.

iBlog3 and Blog Talk at ANC with Ricky Carandang

Yesterday, I was at ANC chatting with Ricky Carandang as to the various issues discussed during iBlog3 and my personal experiences in blogging especially on ad networks and shutting down a copyright violator blog site. It was a very fast discussion and allowed us to discuss several items on blogging at once that includes niche blogging, blog relevance, citizen journalism, generating revenue through blogs, political blogging, game blogging, blogger's code of ethics, legal risks in blogging, blogging regulation, youth blogging, freedom of expression, Philippine bloggers demographics, iBlog4, among others.

I hardly recall discussing a topic with one person at an extensive level and speed, despite limited time. It was an engaging experience and thanks to JJ Disini for passing on that opportunity to me.

Immediately after the interview, I got a text from Aileen Apolo and Jay Frank De Jesus. Another friend, Abby Ongyanco Lim, sent me a YM about it. (Thanks!)

Blogging in New Zealand

I just reached New Zealand last night. It was tough switching to 3 planes just to get here. Nevertheless, I am sure it is all worth it and look forward in hooking up to old and new contacts.
While here, I though of creating a new blog, Cyber Legislation Journal, that intends to document various cyber legislations there are to date.

Blogging Trends at iBlog3: the 3rd Philippine Blogging Summit

I'll be moderating a Blogging Trends Panel in the forthcoming iBlog3: the 3rd Philippine Blogging Summit this April 14, 2007. Joining me in the said panel are Wilson Chua of eRadioPortal, Aileen Apolo of Google, and Eduardo Mapa Jr of Euro 4D.

This is a free event and I encourage you to support it. Sign-up by registering today.
See you at iBlog3!!!!

Six blogs approved in ReviewMe

Six of our blogs have just been accepted in the ReviewMe program and can now accept assignments. This includes our leadership blog, Philippine Internet history, women blog, Philippine outsourcing tracker, Ituloy AngSulong entry, and Internet community podcast.

ReviewMe is one of the inspiration in our ad revenue program for club members.

Blog Talk at the Davao Bloggers Party

I'll be in Davao this March 17 for the Davao Bloggers Party #1. Together with Google's Aileen Apolo and Abraham Olandres, we will be sharing updates in this event.

On my part, I'll be doing a quick pitch on three things:

• About this upcoming book I'm releasing soon.
• Inviting folks to come to Manila for iBlog3 this April 13 and 14.
• Join the DigitalFilipino.com Club and become part of our ad revenue program for club members. We currently have six (6) club members based in Davao.

I also look forward in hearing about Dennis Agulo's upcoming SEO contest.

Blogging 101 Talk at YCIT

I gave a blogging talk yesterday and earlier today at the Youth Conference for Information Technology event that happened at the UP Film Institute. Close to 3000 high school and college students attended who attended the event from different parts of Luzon.

As time was limited, I was able to accommodate one question yesterday that asked about how copyright applies to members of deviantART.

Many thanks to the organizers of YCIT especially to Dr. Jimmy Caro for giving me this opportunity to reach out to students.

Book cover finally done!

The book cover is finally done. Note that the website images in the book cover/back cover will be replaced by sponsor blogs. The title was also improved to give it that much needed sound bite.

I had a great discussion with my artist who gave insights on my original title. Although now I'm still thinking whether I should use a period or exclamation point after the title "Blog this".

This book is a partial sequel of my e-commerce book as the lessons that I gathered since then will be heavily reflected in this book especially in the Internet marketing and revenue generation lessons.

Blogging 101 Talk at PUP

I just had a Blogging talk at PUP last Saturday. Interesting questions I got at that time include:

1. Can you be sued for libel with what you posted in your blog?



2. How do you protect children from pornography online? (although the person who posted the question admitted that such is not related to my talk)


3. How do you know that the ad revenue programs being offered online are real or legitimate?


4. Is there such a thing as a first mover advantage in blogging? If yes, will those who will only start blogging now can benefit in much the same way as the early movers?


5. How do you get your blog to be found in major search engines?
   
6. Can blogs be used for election campaigning? Won't this violate any ban?

Many thanks to Dr. Marilou Padlan, Prof. Annette Manansala, and PUP-ICTS for inviting me in this event.