announcing the j-incubator home page

Hey all,

Thought you might like to see that the little web space we used for the class has now spawned its own home page so people can learn more about the class and see your projects. It will continue to grow as more classes come online. Thanks again for a great semester!

Dan

last minute problems? I’ve got your back

I know tomorrow’s going to be a stressful day. I have been doing my best to respond to e-mail questions as quickly as possible. Ditto to Twitter problems. And, I’m around the office all day tomorrow, from noon to about 4:30.

Do not hesitate to ask for help!

Where we’re going next week

We are going to Google Chicago. Be there at 9:45!!!!

View Larger Map

Lecture links 12-4-08

Analytics: Understanding Where they’re coming from
Google Analytics
Beginning Analytics video
Analytics basics
The Death of the Page View
Google Analytics for WordPress Plug-in

Search Engine Optimization: Helping them get to you
The Basics of Search Engine Optimization
Writing for Search Engine Optimization
SEO tips for WordPress
Creating the Curious/Known combo headline
The worst spelled, most informative explanation of basic SEO you’ll find on the web, with lots of great links

Make Modest Money: Simple ad programs
Google Adsense
iTunes Affiliates
Amazon Associates

about your site podcast

It was asked of me today if the podcast assignment outlined in the syllabus was, in fact, an assignment. The syllabus says this:

“Prototype a podcast for your website. Play it for members of your target audience and get feedback. Be prepared to discuss that feedback and play your podcast next week.”

My answer to the question? Of course it’s the assignment. That’s why it’s in the syllabus. It’s also a very good idea: check to see if your content is really going to work for your audience. YES.

Have a good weekend!

Dan

Slideshows go here

please put links to your slideshows in the comments of this post (unfortunately, this install of WordPress won’t let us embed the slideshows. Sniff!)

our distinguished panel of experts

Today we are joined by:

Andrew Huff, editor and publisher of GapersBlock.com
Holly Ross, executive director of the Nonprofit Technical Network
Trish Bendix, blog editor for AfterEllen.com
Paul M. Davis, founder IsGreaterThan.net

Plus, members of the journalism faculty.

$10,000 scholarship for college bloggers!

You may want to look into this. Deadline is October 30th.

Due Next Week: Your Audience Strategy

Next week is our first of a few graded check-ins on your site. Driven by our guest speaker last week, it is a check in that’s centered around the audience/community that you hope to engage with your site.

Next week we will have presentations and you will turn in a report. Your report and your presentation should encompass:

presentation & report

Who is the audience you’re targeting?
— what age/gender/etc are they?
— what do they do, both for a living and also for fun?
— what are their hopes/dreams?
— why are they interested in the things they’re interested in?
— where do they go? (both in real life and online)
— why are they a part of the community(ies) they are a part of?
— what will they gain by visiting your site?
Give three specific examples people, complete with photo documentation. For your written report, write a short profile of each person.

Where is the community that already exists around your site’s topic?
— where do they go online?
— where do they go in the real world?
— what do they do when they’re there?
For both locations, please cite three specific examples of each (both virtual and real), explain the motivation your audience/community has in going to those places, their activities once they are there and what you can learn from these things to apply to your site. For the real-world place, please include photo documentation of your visit there: show us your community “in the wild”.

Who are the influencers in your space?
— identify five people who help to drive interest and people towards other sites, places, and concepts within your topic space
— talk with two of them (this can be a virtual conversation over Twitter, e-mail, or wherever)
— where do they go online? Why do they go there?
— what do they feel are the needs within your space?
— what leads them to recommend certain things?
— why do they believe they’re influencers?
In your report, be prepared to explain why you’ve identified these people as influencers.

Who are your competitors?
— give three specific examples and list their Google PageRank score
— how are you different?
— what are they doing right?
— what are they doing wrong?

What keywords are people searching within your space?
— how can those keywords influence your content?

Bring it all together
With all this information about your audience/community, explain how you will reach them and engage them with your site.
— three specific online examples
— two specific real-world ideas

Your report will be handed in, but please paste a copy in the comments section below. Be sure that every member of your team signs the report.

Slides

You will make a number of slides for this presentation. You will upload them to the photo-sharing site Flickr. Flicker will automatically make a slideshow of your photos, though it’ll help if you arrange them in a set so you can reorder them as you see fit. Your slides need to cover:

1. Intro to your site with a one-sentence description
2. Your audience defined, with photos
3. Their community defined, with images of them in the locations you identified
4. The influencers in your community
5. Your competition
6. The keywords around your space
7. A slide for your conclusion

Your slides can contain as much information as you want (though remember: less is often more, you will be talking along with them), but need to cover these eight points. Link to this slideshow on the class blog (unfortunately, this install of WordPress won’t let them embed)

Readings 10-9-08

Guess who forgot to make this post live last week? ME! Sorry about that.

The Mobile Web
Mobile Data: the next hurdle for journalism
The Mobile Web reaches a critical mass
By the end of the year, there will be four billion mobile phones in use worldwide
Last year, cell phone users texted more than they called

The Geo-Locational Web
Everyblock
Google’s simple-to-follow instructions for creating basic maps.
Strategies for using Google Maps, from the simple to the easy to the very complex.