Bloggers R Us

Is it technology? Is it philosophy? Or is it simply marketing hype? Web 2.0 is a concept so fluid that even the experts in this book don’t agree on what it means. Some feel that no definition is even necessary. But most agree on one thing: Web 2.0 is a sweeping tide that’s changing the face of the Internet.

Web 2.0 is not about mass marketing. It’s about actually understanding the masses. And it’s not about controlling the message. It’s about engaging the audience and actually hearing what they have to say. It’s about enabling creativity, realizing a culture of contribution, and putting the user in control.

Here is a rich smorgasbord of unique viewpoints — from bloggers, social networking developers, corporate communicators, online strategists, distinguished engineers, and others. These are the people who are shaping today’s Web. What they have to say can help you shape your organization’s future.

The Impact Makers

• Max Mancini eBay
• Alan Meckler Internet.com
• Eric Engleman Bloglines
• Gina Bianchini Ning
• Dorion Carroll Technorati
• Raju Vegesna Zoho
• Richard MacManus Read/Write Web & Web 2.0 WorkGroup
• TJ Kang ThinkFree
• Patrick Crane LinkedIn
• Shaun Walker DotNetNuke
• Biz Stone Twitter
• Seth Steinberg Meebo
• Joshua Schachter Del.icio.us
• Ranjith Kumaran YouSendIt
• Garrett Camp StumbleUpon
• Rodrigo Madanes Skype
• Rod Smith IBM Corporation
• Tim Harris Microsoft Corporation
• Bob Brewin & Tim Bray Sun Microsystems
• Michele Turner Adobe Corporation

Everybody’s doing it! And while that logic never got far with your mother, it’s a fine reason to start blogging, especially if you have a business to build or a cause to promote. Well-run blogs do more than offer an outlet for your thoughts. They’ve actually influenced everything from a company’s image to the outcome of a local election.

Because the blogosphere is pretty crowded, it’s a good idea to find out a bit about the anatomy of a blog, what makes a good one, and what it takes to keep one going before you dive right in and start sharing with the world. Blogging For Dummies, 2nd Edition gives you all the basics so you can get a good start. And if you’ve been around the blog a few times and want to advance to the next level, Blogging For Dummies, 2nd Edition even takes a look at podcasting and videoblogging.

You’ll find out how to:

• Make your blog stand out in a crowd, build an audience, and even make it pay
• Choose the best software options, boost readership, and handle comments
• Generate revenue from your blog with ads and sponsorships
• Protect your privacy and your job
• Deal with spam and the inappropriate comments from that guy who posts several times a day
• Find your niche
• Attract and keep readers
• Use your blog to promote your business, cause, or organization
• Add audio, video, cool widgets, and more

Ready? Get Blogging for Dummies and let’s get started!