The Productive Web…

The web continues to grow, and Web 2.0 tools are emerging constantly. I’ve only done a small amount to research and already the amount of Web 2.0 applications available are overwhelming. However, understanding what each application does, can really increase your productivity.

Lets take a look at my newfound favourites…

Doodle is a free online coordination tool. (I can’t wait to try this one out!!) Say good-bye to endless emails, and text messages… With doodle you can schedule your next event with the click of a few buttons.

Flipboard (I recently found whilst browsing the app store on my iPad) is a social magazine that brings all your online stories, photos and news into life! The app pulls down all your favorite sites and displays them in a cool “flipboard” layout. Now you may be thinking… “but how is this productive?!” Well flipboard can even pull down your twitter feed making it super easy to browse everyone’s blogs.

These are just a few of the MANY Web 2.0 apps around. Take a look at this place and discover even more!

– Nick

E 2.0: Content, Content, Content…oh and traffic.

If you didn’t get it already, blogging is all about content and traffic. No blog survives long without traffic, and generally a lack of traffic is due to poor content. The key to getting traffic is to come up with a strategy to get your blog noticed. Here are my top 3 strategies for creating an awesomely good blog:

1. The Content
   Your blogs content is the most important part of being a success because it’s the reason people will come and visit. Find what your audience wants and match your writing to what your readers will find interesting and engaging.
   
2. Publish, Publish, And Publish
   To gain an audience for your blog and retain them, you must publish new content consistently. You must publish as often as possible, while making sure that the post you’re about to push is meaningful, of value, well writing and of interest to your audience.
3. Give your blog its own unique voice… you!
   Readers who identify with you on a personal level are more like to become consistent readers of your blog. Don’t be afraid that your positing on subject will run contrary to that of your readers. Disagreement with your readers generates debate, which in turn can stimulate greater reader interest than the original blog post itself.

Top three things I would like to achieve through blogging are:

1. O is for Opinion
   Just like my third strategy above; I plan to “tell it like it is”. Why bother talking about something you don’t believe is right – how tiresome.
2. Be different
   As you can imagine, there is going to be a lot of similar blogs around (there are over 100 of us). I need to find a way to stand about from the crowd!
3. Meeting new people
   Who says you can’t meet new people online….right?

Here are some of my favourite blogs:

• uncrate.com
• fastcodesign.com

I think the reason these are my go to sites is the clean layout and design. Obviously the content engages me as it keeps me coming back for more. What do you guys think about my favourite blogs?

-Nick