How to Handle Negative Comments on Your Blog

Some of our clients who are considering blogs are concerned about negative comments. They've had bad experiences in the past with customers (and non-customers) who created a stink in discussion forums about perceived problems with products and services.

They want to publish a blog without having to worry about people leaving critical feedback. Part of me feels like, "well, that's what your Web site is for." In my mind, as I develop my Web site vs. Blog thoughts, is that a Web site is your stage, while your blog is more of your communications tool.

For those of you concerned about negative comments, be sure to check out the excellent post by Toby Bloomberg called 5 Strategies to Combat Negative Comments.

As Toby says, "if you turn your comments off you lose the home court advantage."

Rich Brooks
Comments Are The Bacon Bits on the Blogosphere Salad

Go Blogwild Teleseminar with Rich Brooks

Don't say I didn't give you enough warning.

I will be interviewed by Andy Wibbels on small business blogging issues as part of a series of teleseminars on blogging and related technologies. This series is part of the outreach of Andy's upcoming book Blogwild! A Guide for Small Business.

According to Andy:

• Calls will feature 1-on-1 interview format with some Q & A from callers.
• The calls are free and hold up to 100 participants.
• Calls and transcripts will be released under a Creative Commons By-Nc-Nd license and hosted forever.
• Calls will be promoted through podcast, press release, newsletter and blog as well as receive visibility before and after the Blogwild! book is released.
• The goal of these calls is to provide multiple viewpoints on the myriad topics of business, blogging and related technologies as well as introduce some of the brains behind the blogs to a larger audience. Further, the call recordings will be archived for posterity at Ourmedia.org/Archive.org.

My segment will be on February 21, 2006 at 7:30pm EST. I'll give you a head's up when it gets closer.

Rich Brooks
When Am I Going to Write My Book?

207's Tech Expert Strikes Again

Did you receive an iPod or digital camera for Chrismakkah? (Or do you prefer Hannumas? Personally, I like Festivus, if for no other reason than the Airing of the Grievances.)

If so, do you feel a little overwhelmed trying to get music into your iPod or photos out of your digital camera?

Fear not! Rich Brooks will show you how to rip CD's, buy music from the iTunes music store, sync your iPod, download photos from your camera and share them with the world...all within the space of a five minute segment!

The episode will air this Friday night (12/30/05) Tuesday night (1/3/06) at 7pm on WCSH Channel 6 in Maine. See you there.

Rich Brooks
Time for the Feats of Strength

Retention Associates: Retain Employees, Reduce Turnover

Last week, while I drove the family down to Long Island, New York, my employees stuck around and launched a new Web site for Retention Associates.

Retention Associates helps companies reduce costs by keeping good employees. The site offers a free report: What Employee Turnover Really Costs Your Company, and offers a free retention calculator that will help you determine what employee turnover costs you.

The site also offers some ideas on how to get your good employees to stick around. Turns out the answer isn't compromising photos, although that's worked for me in the past.

Rich Brooks
Click Here for Compromising Photos

Change Your Domain Name Without Hurting Your Search Engine Rank

OK, it's been almost a week since I last posted due to the holidays, so let's start with an easy one.

If you need to change your domain name (due to merger, re-branding, or whatever,) but don't want to lose your search engine rank that you've worked so hard for, check out Switching to a New Domain Without Losing Your Google Ranking, written by Scottie Claiborne.

If you thought the best solution was a "permanent 301 redirect," this article is for you.

Rich Brooks
I think I just pulled a blogging muscle

Lessons I've Learned in 2005

Today we're publishing the newest issue of our email newsletter flyte log, Your 2006 Web Marketing Plan. Writing this issue got me thinking about what I've learned in 2005.

I'm sure this isn't everything, but here are a couple of highlights:

Search Engine Optimization: When is it Too Much?

Bill Hartzer writes a nice piece called "Search Engine Optimization Overkill" that summarizes a recent SEO forum at Search Engine Strategies.

The experts on the panel talk about the pitfalls of over-optimizing a Web site and how this can happen.

This goes along with our philosophy that good search engine rankings are a result of quality content and not an end unto themselves.

If you haven't yet, also check out this post called SEO Philosophy: Naturalists vs. Eugenists.

Rich Brooks
SEO Naturalist...Naturally

Your 2006 Web Marketing Plan

Tomorrow flyte will be publishing our December issue of flyte log, our free monthly email newsletter.

The issue's title is "Your 2006 Web Marketing Plan." It's got 12 (one for each month--get it?) ideas on how you can market your Web site better in 2006.

The ideas cover topics such as search engine "findability," email marketing, business blogs, podcasts and more. It also tackles specific ways in which you can improve your Web site to convert more visitors into customers.

If you've been looking for some ideas on how to increase the number of visitors coming to your site, and generate more business from your Web site, why not sign up for flyte log today? It's free, and if you confirm before tomorrow around noon, you'll get this issue delivered right to your email mailbox.

But wait, there's more!

If you subscribe now, you'll also get free copies of the following articles, only available to flyte log subscribers:

• 10 Questions to Ask Before Setting Up a Web Site
• The 11 Commandments for Writing Web Copy for the Non-Copywriter
• The 11 Biggest Mistakes Small Business Bloggers Make

So what are you waiting for? Sign up today!

Rich Brooks
Web Marketer

Musings of a "Tech Guru"

Oh, man.

Just watched my self on 207 from tonight's episode. I can't believe I talk that fast. Why didn't anyone tell me I talk that fast?

It was like watching old time baseball film where everybody moves at double-speed.

Rich Brooks
President, "new flyte media"

The Five Ways to Protect Yourself While Shopping Online

Well, I guess with my appearance tonight on 207 I will officially become their "tech expert" as opposed to that guy that was on that one time. (WCSH channel 6 in southern Maine at 7pm.)

Tonight's topic is how to make yourself secure while shopping online. You should have seen me Tuesday before the taping...pacing back and forth...trying to figure out how to stretch this into five minutes...trying to memorize the five things one should do to protect themselves online...worried that after I ran out of material Kathleen Shannon would be looking at me like, "that's all you got?!? Some tech expert you are!" (She would never do that, she's much too sweet.)

And then as it turns out we barely touch on two of the five things and don't get to how to lodge a complaint...plus we went over!

Well, for all those people who would like to know the five ways to protect yourself while shopping online, and where to file a complaint and more, here are my notes and links: