If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry, you can join in on the conference too.  Here’s the live stream from IzeaFest:

Free Webcam Chat at Ustream

This live stream is only available between October 2, 2009 and October 3, 2009.

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So it’s no surprise that when I tell others I’m a professional blogger, they ask me, “What’s a blog?”  I think I get asked this at least once or twice a day.  But I find myself stumbling for an answer each and every time.

When you start blogging and interacting with the blogging community, you tend to not really worry about the basics, like what blogging even is, so when you’re asked, it may be a little hard to give a good answer.

What is Blogging?

I often go back to the answer that blogging is basically an online journal, except it’s not anymore, it can be whatever you want it to be.  But this only serves to confuse those who ask me that much more.

Some of them actually stop listening and start looking around, trying to get out of the conversation just as quickly as they got into it.

To put it simply, blogging is nothing more than a website where you write articles and they display in a reverse chronological order.  It’s a new form of news media that is controlled by anyone that has something to say, rather than a college educated journalist.

A Little Help From Common Craft

The next time you find yourself stammering for an answer about what blogging really is, send those asking the question to this post.  Tell them to watch this video by the Common Craft Show, then if they have further questions, feel free to make an attempt at answering them.

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Here’s my entry into the contest:

What Is AT&T Small Business InSite?

AT&T’s Small Business Insite is a fresh, new Web destination designed by and for small business owners.

AT&T realizes that as more and more small business owners begin their own businesses, not having the money or know-how for the technology needed to run them can be a major setback.  So they’ve started a place where business owners can come to get information on running their business successfully and collaborate with each other on the best ways to run things.

The AT&T Small Business InSite portal provides small business owners practical “how to” articles, podcasts and video resources to help them use technology in their business. Additional site features include the ability to personalize their experience by choosing key areas of interest. AT&T will also sponsor free online seminars through AT&T Small Business InSite which will feature the ability to submit questions to experts, discuss topics in real-time with other small business owners and receive one-on-one advice.

Contest Prize Package

The lucky business winner will in a prize package consisting of:

• An AT&T products & services package: 2- Samsung Epix smartphones, 1-year subscription to AT&T Tech Support 360^SM Advanced Service Package; 1-year subscription to AT&T UNIX or Windows Enhanced Web Hosting services; AT&T Web Design service; 1-year subscription to AT&T Unified Messaging; Digital Express Direct Mail Extreme Membership along with the first 500 postcards; AT&T Connect five (5) Integrated Edition Named Hosts Web conferencing.
• A one-on-one consultation with a small business expert: Winner will receive a complete business assessment and customized roadmap for success.
• Windows^® Small Business Server 2008 Standard from Microsoft.

All you need to do to participate is complete an online form and send in a short video explaining why you should win the small business technology makeover. Contest details can be found by visiting AT&T’s Small Business InSite.

What do you think about the new AT&T Small Business InSite?

This is a post sponsored by AT&T.  All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by AT&T. You can view my own disclosure policy here.

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These expecting mothers often-times turn to abortion.  Some get depressed about being pregnant and turn toward drugs or even suicide.  And even some who are excited about having a new baby, may be in a tough financial situation.

I love kids, and I want to see every child have the chance to be something in this world.

So my wife and I decided after all this time that I’ve been blogging, that I need to give back.  I want to give back.  So… it’s charity time.

Please feel free to help me give back, and you could win $100.

The Cause

I chose a local cause that helps support Pregnant women in crisis situations.  Whether it’s underage pregnancy, pregnancy from rape, pregnancy during a tough financial situation, etc., Hope Unlimited is that local beacon of hope to expecting mothers.

Hope Unlimited Pregnancy Crisis Center is actually comprised of three parts:

The Crisis Center

Being the main piece of Hope Unlimited, the Crisis Center is where expecting mothers facing tough decisions take their first steps toward getting help.

In the words of Hope Unlimited:

“Through these services; education on sexual health, education on life style and relationships, abstinence, support groups to teen and single adults, we are telling the truth to a generation who has been ripped off by being told that sex is no big deal.”

The House of Hope

The House of Hope is a place where expecting mothers in tough situations can go and live to get help.  The House teaches those expecting mothers how to deal with being a single mom, how to deal with the fears of having a baby, and that no matter how tough they think it is, there is always hope.

The House also gives these mothers the following opportunites:

• Life skills classes
• Continuing education such as GED, high school, and college
• Assistance obtaining medical care
• Adoption counseling if needed
• Goal setting for the future
• A family centered environment
• Job placement
• Christ-centered counseling
• And so much more…

The Mobile Medical Unit (RV)

The Hope Unlimited Mobile Medical Unit, built right into an RV is used to go to expecting mothers in their own neighborhood.  It’s also used at events sponsored by Hope Unlimited so that mothers-to-be can get ultrasounds, or other medical checkups that are needed.

The Mobile Medical Unit offers many of the same services as the Crisis Center, only on wheels.

How I’m Giving Back

Hope Unlimited does a lot of things that touch so many lives.  But they do it all through donations from churches, groups, businesses, and other members of the local community.

I want to give Hope Unlimited the chance to be supported outside of the community.  I want them to know that everyone in the world supports their non-stop giving.

So I’m helping to raise money so that Hope Unlimited can continue providing it’s services free of charge to those that really need it.

In addition to simply raising money, we are having a supply drive.  Hope Unlimited is in constant need of supplies and we will have some drop-off points for the local community to contribute those supplies.

There is nothing really extravagant about how we are helping, but every little thing counts.

If you’ve ever seen Liberty Mutuals, “The Responsibility Project” commercials where one person does a small, good deed, followed by one more and so on; that is how we seen this fund-raising project going.

And that is where you come in.

How You Can Give Back

You too can help in our mission to give the gift of hope to those who need it.

All you have to do is donate a little money to support their cause by using the “ChipIn” donation button below.

For every person that donates at least $10, you will be entered in a drawing to win $100. Although, please feel free to donate more if you feel lead to do so.

Every little bit helps and while our minimum goal is $2,000, if we only raise $10, then we still helped out.

If you cannot afford to give money, but still want to contribute, please leave a comment encouraging the good work that Hope Unlimited is doing.

If you do contribute financially, please also leave a comment with words of encouragement or support.

My goal is to show Hope Unlimited that we all appreciate what they are doing, and we think the best way to do this is to let them see all of your comments.  Combined with the financial donations, this will let Hope Unlimited and many others realize that there is hope.

* All donations are tax deductible.

** Liberty Mutual is proud to sponsor the discussion around responsibility as it relates to this blog post, however, they do not endorse the topic/cause referenced in this blog post.

*** The fund-raising event ends April 27, but please don’t let that stop you from continuing to give if you feel the need.  The $100 contest ends on April 27th as well.

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I finally got the book in the mail today, complete with Joel’s autograph, and I’m super excited.  It usually takes me a little time to finally sit down and start reading a book, but this is one book I am starting immediately.

I’ve been looking forward to reading what lies within the pages of Twitter Power since I heard Joel was writing it.  And I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.

With Twitter becoming one of the biggest ways to connect with our target market, Twitter Power will be that map that helps us along the way.

Click Here To Get Your Copy Of Twitter Power!

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Google has become the “big dog” of the internet.  So big that it has even become a verb in our everyday talk.

But Google wasn’t always big.  It started somewhere.

If you have a spare 45 minutes today, I encourage you to take the time and watch this documentary on Google.  It shows how it got started, how it’s services work, and other interesting information about Google.

Where do you think Google will be in the next 10-20 years?

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The official announcement went live today.  Here is the video announcement from Ted himself.

IzeaFest has a lineup of awesome speakers this year as well.  So don’t miss out on meeting and hearing these top guys in the blogging and social media world!  Robert Scoble, Aaron Brazell, Chris Brogan and Darren Rowse are just a few of the speakers.

You will also get a chance to meet all of the Izea Advisory Board members, as well as all of the Izea Insiders crew leaders (of which I am one).

This is going to be the best blog and social media conference this year, and anyone who desires to be successful in the blogging world needs to be there.

Don’t be the only one not attending.  Click here to order your ticket now.  Early bird pricing ends in 2 days!

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Today, Inauguration Day 2009, as we watch CNN, we are met with yet another social media tool.

Facebook is helping to play a role this year by giving people all over the world the chance to talk about the inauguration as it’s streamed live.

Twitter is also playing a big role in the elections.  It plays such a large role that users actually see delays in their tweets showing up of hours.

Here’s a video from CBC that talks about the role social media has played in this years election.

What do you think about the role social media has played?  Good or bad?

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It’s like taking the war in Iraq for granted.  So many people just don’t realize the good that has come out of it, for all the bad press flooding everyone’s television screens.  The vast majority of Americans that will only ever get it are probably the Soldiers who lived with it every day for the past 7 years.

There are so many other things that go on around us that we remain unaware of, but often-times through no fault of our own.

I can’t help you with it all.  I don’t know it all.  Not even the tiniest fraction of it all.  But there is something I can help you with.

I can help you understand the purpose of Social Media, as well as Twitter, and hope that this helps you to understand the importance of it all.

These aren’t my videos, I stumbled across them and I believe they are the best explantion of Social Media and Twitter that has ever been made.

Social Media In Plain English

Twitter In Plain English

Take these videos and pass them on to your friends, relatives, and bosses who aren’t harnessing the power that lies with Social Media.  I promise, they will never regret a new beginning.

Does your place of employment use Social Media to connect and build relationships with its customers?

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It’s for this very reason, I sat down yesterday and created what I call “My Digital Dashboard”. It’s almost like having your own personal secretary to run and get things for you when you need it.

I tried using bookmarking websites, the bookmarks toolbar in firefox, and many other tools, but nothing offered the quick and easy (all tools on the table) approach I was looking for. So I created this, and I’m currently working on a version that you can use right out of the box.

Here’s a little video preview of “My Digital Dashboard”:

If this looks like something you’d be interested having for yourself, please let me know.

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