Sorry for this mind-dump. I've been very busy lately, too busy to even keep up with email, so here's some rambling thoughts about what I've been up to.
I recently attended a conference called Pubcon South, which is basically an Internet PUBlisher's CONference. (Technically, that's what SearchWarp.com is, an Internet publisher.)
It was a good conference, though I essentially went only to hear the two keynote speakers, venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki and Google engineer Matt Cutts. These guys always turn their audiences on to new technologies and their talks alone are usually worth the price of admission. And I wasn't disappointed.
The overwhelming, unintentional theme of the conference was Twitter. I won't even attempt to explain what Twitter is other than saying it is ‘short messaging on steroids'. If I explained it any further, you would likely wonder why anyone would want to use it.
Facebook was also discussed quite a bit. Both of these web sites would be considered ‘social networking' web sites and although there are many, many competing social networking sites, these two sites are where all the buzz is. The funny thing is that neither of these entities have a real plan to become profitable. This always amazes me.
As a result, we've taken the status updates on SearchWarp and hooked them in to Twitter, so If you're in to Twitter, you can now follow SearchWarp member status updates at http://Twitter.com/SearchWarp.
Something that I like to discuss at these conferences is the benefits of using an off-the-shelf, open source content management system (CMS) as the foundation of a web site like SearchWarp. SearchWarp uses a custom designed system that I've built little by little, from the ground up. This is the first conference where I couldn't find one person who operated a custom designed CMS. The trend is to use an open source platform like Wordpress, Drupal or Joomla. These are all great software packages which can be greatly customized with free plug-ins. I often wonder where SearchWarp would be if we had the ability to use these plug-ins developed by programmers far more talented than I am.
Something I want to point out is that in these technical discussions about CMS platforms, the fact inevitably comes up that even the greatest web site in the World is nothing if it doesn't have great users. This is one area where I know SearchWarp stands head and shoulders above the rest. I am constantly amazed at the number of quality writers who choose to publish their work on SearchWarp. In a world where user generated content (UGC) is considered one of the lowest forms of information, SearchWarp writers constantly turn out articles comparable with the best of the best. You guys make me look good!
Matt Cutts announced the introduction of Google Friend Connect (GFC) application programming interface (API). GFC is a platform which offers a wide range of features like chat, games that can be played between online users, picture and video sharing and a slew of other social networking type applications. Previously, GFC could be added to a web site with generic plug-ins which operate outside of the host web site. The API allows for GFC to be controlled from within the web site. One great benefit of this is that GFC can be used to log in to a web site, greatly expanding the web site membership base.
Now I believe that some of the new possibilities made available by these new social networking sites could make SearchWarp more about the web site and less about the writers, so I am hesitant to add too many new social networking features to SearchWarp. What I hope to do is try some of these features on our new mini-sites.
For those who haven't heard, I've been experimenting with a number of mini-SearchWarp-like web sites. These sites operate from the same backbone as SearchWarp, but they encompass narrower bands of topics and are managed by some other people that you may know. My hope is to create a few very popular niche subject web sites. We have about a half-dozen of them launched so far. You can see a list of them here.
Being away for this conference has given me some time to think about new promotions on SearchWarp. We have something special planned for our regularly featured columnists, and we also have a book project (yes a printed book!), both of which will be announced soon.
I'll apologize once again for the rambling… and all the acronyms. I've got a lot to say, just not a lot of time in which to say it.
I won't pretend to understand all you said but it sounds pretty exciting! Is there a possibility that our articles can be linked to our twitter accounts so that when we post a new article it sends it out to twitter? I think it's a feed.
Interesting idea Val. I could pretty easily make now articles be announced on the SearchWarp Twitter account, but to announce them on the individuals own personal Twitter account I would need their password, which I don't think I want to do.
» left by Ben Morrish(8,326) Ben Morrish (220 days 21 hours ago.)
SearchWarp on Twitter and Facebook, using Google Friend Connect!
Perhaps could incorporate something like this,only with the value of "status" being set automatically with the article name and URL rather than taking a value from an input box:
<form action="h t t p colon // twitter dot com / statuses / update dot xml" method="post" id="new_twitter_update" class="new_twitter_update"> <p> <label for="twitter_update_status">Message</label> <input type="text" name="status" id="twitter_update_status" value="What are you doing?" /> <input class="button" type="submit" value="Update" /> </p> </form>
..something like this could be implemented into the existing searchwarp submit button and would prompt the user to input their twitter login, so their details would never actually go through searchwarp
Oooh the book sounds intriguing, can't wait to read about that! All good things, I find the social bookmarking very helpful, so twitter on!
Meanwhile anyone can post their article url's on their own twitter accts, they just click on the article and copy the url in searchbar and paste into twitter bar update. That's what I have been experimenting with.
I read this article earlier but didn't understand it clearly. But I just seen on ABC news they talked about it tonight. So I understand it better now. Thanks for sharing
also have twitter and I have no idea what its about, I just post an up date here and there, for whatever reason I don't know...is there more to it than that?.........I found another little thing called STUMBLE I really like that......you may to just google STUMBLE and get it on your toolbar and so on, if you like browsing new stuff you will like this
Bruce, like some other SW/Webga readers, I did not understand a lot of your article, not due to your writing but for lack of exposure to many of the features you mention. I found your segment about the CMS model. Could "anyone" learn to do that, for a new site? Likely not, but I wonder.... Thanks for a lot of interesting and useful stuff. Jane
» left by Gary W. Halsey Sr. (213 days 10 hours ago.)
Sounds exciting Bruce, I for one am looking forward to anything that SearchWarp has to offer...as you know, I am a avid fan of it....they had something on Good Morning America about Twitter and how it is used to communicate, but I think your concerns are valid about the communication end of it....Great news though, and I hope to be a part of future plans for either a mini site, or whereever you should need some help...I'm here for ya partner.....Great article, informative and will look forward to new and exciting things.....your pal, and fan.......Gary.
I'm saving this so I can go back and read it a few more times. This non-techie was lost a few times, but it sounds like you are doing some exciting things, so I'm going to stay tuned and hope I can figure out what they are about. Respond to this comment
» left by paul schroeder from nyc (198 days 21 hours ago.)
» left by Suzy(930) Suzy from Midwest-USA (187 days 14 hours ago.)
Goodness, I could tell you were excited after the conference and sorry I got here a day late but never the less in time to catch some of the exciting light you have managed to project ~ I am new at Searchwarp and keep on plugging away at a turtle's pace. I understand about the social sites and hesitant with many and am at Facebook but inactive ~ Twitter sounds interesting because of being, perhaps, safer from viruses. I mainly stick with MySpace because of the satisfaction it brings with artistic graphics, self-expression and being able to keep current on the latest music.
I have found Searchwarp to be an excellent site and very user-friendly. You and many writers seem to do a great job at keeping people informed. Suz
Thank you for this article! Many folks do not understand the power of Twitter! We do not care about you going to Starbucks for a snack, we care about you going to such and such address to conduct a seminar on this or that! Now, that is a good use of a tweet! :O) Thanks for checking out our articles!
Wow! The cyber world is just wide open. Thanks for this. I still have a lot to learn, and articles like this help expand my knowledge a little bit more.
» left by samuel eyo from Lagos (85 days 3 hours ago.)
A really valuable, insightful, concise, informative article from which I learned more than I think I can even realize right now! and it has really help me in long way.
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