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Small WordPress Twitter Enhancement To Your Self-Hosted Blog

Posted on August 27, 2009 // 2 Comments

Do you want to have your blog author name point to your Twitter account? I have been playing around with a few self-hosted WordPress.org blogs and their PHP.

It’s worth it though! If you want to have your single-author blogs [I feel pretty sure there is a way to do this for multiple-author blogs to do this via php, I just don't know--any PHP people want to comment?] to point to your twitter account then simply change the following code on single.php and index.php. single.php helps create the page when someone clicks on one specific blog and index.php is what is used to create your front page (see WordPress Theme Template File List). [You may also want to check page.php; however, these usually do not include an <?php the_author() ?>]

Under Single.php (Single Post) under Appearance > Editor, find the code that states:

<span>Written By: <?php the_author() ?>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<?php the_time(‘F j, Y’); ?></span>

And change it to:

<span>Written By: <a href=”http://www.twitter.com/TWITTERUSERNAME”><?php the_author() ?></a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<?php the_time(‘F j, Y’); ?></span>

Be sure to put in your Twitter Username where I have TWITTERUSERNAME.

And do the same thing on your index.php (under Appearance > Editor), find the code that states:

<span>Written By: <?php the_author() ?>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<?php the_time(‘F j, Y’); ?></span>

And change it to:

<span>Written By: <a href=”http://www.twitter.com/TWITTERUSERNAME”><?php the_author() ?></a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<?php the_time(‘F j, Y’); ?></span>

Be sure to put in your Twitter Username where I have TWITTERUSERNAME.

Then in your PROFILE (Users > Your Profile), change your NickName (required) to your Twitter Username. For example, your Nickname may simply be your FIRST LAST name (ie. Kris Dunn at HRCapitalist.com or Laurie at punkrockhr.com) and you can change it to @TWITTERUSERNAME so people will see it and can click on it. It doesn’t matter if you change it or not because your name will be hyperlinked to your Twitter profile (good for Google & SEO!).

WARNING: I do not know PHP, have not been trained in PHP, and have no creditials whatsoever, not even Lynda.com, so try at your own risk! When I am editing my index.php I copy the current php into a Notepad txt file and save it. Then edit away. It’s like creating a backup, sort of? But again, I am no expert by any means.

Filed Under: Social Media // Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Who should use Lynda.Com?

Posted on July 12, 2009 // 3 Comments

The other day my company asked me to review and evaluate Lynda.com, a site started by Lynda Weinman, author of Designing Web Graphics, one of the first books on web design, to see if they would be a good fit for our company. So I signed up for a one week free trial for friends of Deke (and you can be his friend without even knowing who he is, like I did!). In my evaluation time, here’s what I concluded:

  • It is an online training library for everything Adobe and more (Apple, Microsoft, Google, WordPress, Quark, Macromedia, Photography, Web Design).
  • All the modules are in short increments with the longest being around 13 minutes (but the average length is around 5-7 minutes).
  • It is self-paced and on-demand.
  • It is a cheap solution (great during these times) if one is trying to survey the various fields.
  • The videos cannot be downloaded (something I dislike but understand).
  • You cannot be signed in on more than one PC (prevents unethical use of their terms/conditions).
  • You can only watch one video at a time.
  • Uses Quicktime and does not offer another viewing method.

My job is one that was created knowing that the description would change and morph as I worked since my company is new to online training and eLearning. My job only requires that I use various software applications that I already know how to use, but in order to maximize my job better than even my boss realizes and can fathom, I need to expand my knowledge into other software suites. Lynda.com will allow me to slowly learn other softwares in my own free time without simple trial and error or even buying the software in case I may use it (which is a bad business reason, huh?).

While Lynda.com will not make anyone an expert, it will give anyone that uses them the simple tools to utilize the various softwares it covers. Their goal seems to be to provide the essential training of the various software applications, while sometimes providing more advanced training. Lynda.com can expand their customer base (1.) if they begin to provide some more in-depth and advanced training on their various software offerings; and (2.) they begin offering testing and certifications. The reason I say the second is that many companies need a measureable way to determine if they are getting their monies worth from such an endeavor (which other training solutions will provide, even if they don’t produce the level of knowledge/expertise as Lynda.com may provide), and I know a few that have not gone with Lynda.com simply because they don’t offer certification.

So how much does it cost?

  • Monthly – $25 per month (does not offer exercise files).
  • Annual – $250 per year (does not offer exercise files). Same as monthly plan except a 17% discount for annual membership.
  • Premium – $375 per year (includes exercise files)

However, there is a promotion going on right now.

  • Annual – $200 per year (does not offer exercise files). Enter the disount code: ug200otl. (that’s U-G-200[two hundred]-o [the letter]-t-l)
  • Premium – $300 per year (includes exercise files). Enter the disount code: ug300otl. (that’s U-G-200[two hundred]-o [the letter]-t-l).
  • These expire 12/31/2009, are subject to change without notice, and if you have any questions email usergroups@lynda.com.

In conclusion, Lynda.com is not for everyone, but if you are looking to become a Jack of all trades in digital software, Lynda.com may be for you. They have over over 544 courses, 21,000 well-done videos (which is slightly deceptive because of their shortness) on over 300 topics. Even if you already know various software applications, like me, more than likely you may not know the full extend of the software. Lynda.com offers quick on-demand training in areas that we may be deficient (this is a plus side of the short videos). So if you have a question about one particular thing, more than likely Lynda.com will have one or more approx. 5 minute video(s) about that.

What do you think? Is it worth pursuing in such a economic climate like we are in now? Do you think it is a great way to help facilitate a change of jobs or careers? Do you think it is a great way for a boss or and executive to come abreast of a few software applications that his people may be using (overview tutorials)?

Filed Under: eLearning // Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Personal Social Network/Media Policy

Posted on July 12, 2009 // 2 Comments

Where do you draw the line or do you even have a line? Where does work end and personal life begin? Or does it? Or is it so blurred that you have no idea? Which social media do you use and which do you use effectively? We all know there there is a plethora of social media and networking options, which is constantly growing as time moves forward. Which media option is for anyone and which is for a select “few” (few being quite relative)?

For me, I consistently use Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, and my blogs (recent WordPress convert. While I actually maintain about 4 blogs fairly regularly, each over something specific, except one, a catch all, Travis’s Thoughts). While I use LinkedIn, I struggle with maximizing its use just as even Dave Wilkins, whom I consider to be a Social Media expert (see his article about certifications!), is struggling. I have not yet began to use YouTube or Slideshare effectively yet (well, I may need to create a YouTube channel or something first; that might help). And I know I should be using another Social Media/Network site that I am currently not using.

TWITTER

I use Twitter for a variety of reasons. I actually have more than one account, which has gotten me into trouble in the past. Now that I am learning Twitter more and more, and by no means do I consider myself a social media expert, I believe I am becoming better at Twitter, though I don’t tweet as much as I’d like. I actually do recommend two Twitter accounts, and here’s why.

Not everyone is interested in your or my personal life in detail. I have one twitter friend (actually college buddy) who is constantly tweeting. He literally dominates my Twitter feed over the most annoying and dumbest things from I am having lunch with @whomever and @putnamehere, as if I know who they are! He says the most obvious things, to driving to such and such. His favorite tweet is something like this: past:BLAH BLAH/pres:BLAH/fut:BLAH BLAH. Ok, I may want to know who he knows that is on Twitter, but frankly, I don’t care when he’s driving and where he’s driving. But that’s how he’s chosen to use Twitter as a log book for everything he does. So, solution? I could stop following him, but I don’t want to dog my college friend. While I wish Twitter would create something like Facebook used to have and select an option like (Less of @thisguy and More of @thatgal), but until then he only appears on my Twitter feed but not my device. I feel just don’t need to know what he’s doing every second of the day.

So likewise I know that many in my Twitter world may not care about my personal life so I have one business and one personal which is connected to my Facebook (though sometimes this makes for awkward Facebook status updates). I don’t care whether people blurr the lines and crossover, though I also wish Twitter could make it so that you can tweet the same thing on two accounts (that would be awesome!) because some things are that good to be said among friends, co-workers, and my “Tweet peeps.” As far as I am concerned, people can follow or not follow just as I can follow and not follow. I am either interesting or not, and frankly I know that I am uninteresting sometimes (not recognizing this is foolish). Personally, I’d rather say nothing than say something uninteresting (though this can lead to dry spells). And as Dave Wilkins said, “I didn’t really “get” Twitter until I had a few hundred followers.” While I am not there (and being actually quite new at this), I am growing and learning. So if you want follow me, I would love to have you! @travka.

LINKEDIN (see also, Tony Karrer’s Philosophy here, here, here, here, and here)

I am not really sure how to use this network very well. To me, it is cumbersome and awkward. Why can’t the home screen stop asking me for more contacts? Do I allow any and all people I know to connect to me? Or do I limit it to people I have actually worked with or networked with? For example, should I allow that guy who works in the same company as I do join my network even though I have never met him once in my entire life? Yet, I see great potential with LinkedIn; however, I do not find that people have used it very well, at least in the circles that I run.

Generally, I don’t like to connect to people that I haven’t met in some form or fashion or at least had conversations with over the “phone, IM or Twitter.” So if you want to invite me to join your network, I’d be more than glad, just make sure you send me a message telling me why you want to connect and the nature of our previous connections. This message needs to better than “We are both members of THISGROUP.” Connect with me.

FACEBOOK

Facebook is my preferred social network. I like it much better than MySpace or Bebo or Hi5 or any other simply because it is real and authentic. This is a bit more personal place for me. At one point, I had two Facebook accounts; however, when my place of work decided to forgo this, I dropped the account waiting for them to come back around. However, I like to reserve my Facebook account for people that I actually have met and know, hence I do not have an icon over to the right. Other good social networks like specialty ones on Ning.com are fantastic, but it depends heavily on the community manager.

DELICIOUS & SLIDESHARE

Personally, I love Delicious by itself. While I have not yet understood all of its capabilities and possibilities, I like that I can connect with people and send them links via Delicious. As it stands right now, I am grooming my boss into using this tool.

I also like Slideshare very much. It is actually a fantastic way to create good PPTs together and well if people so chose to go that route. I have learned a great deal from Slideshare and have shown others many of its presentations. I have even used some as a foundation or a starting point to my own personal presentations, which I do not give out or show publicly unless I receive the expressed permission of the original creator unless I feel I have changed it substantially enough to warrant “fair use.”

We all have our own Social Media/Network “policies” written or otherwise. It may be beneficial for you to begin a personal “working” policy that you can change and transform as you learn more. Here are two other policies that helped me as I sat to think/write: here and here. Other people have these policies too, and we need to be aware of them respecting their “virtual space.” Just as Kelley Dingee from Fistful of Talent said, “It’s in your best interest to figure out how to contact them and establish rapport so as not to freak them out or invade their virtual space.”

Filed Under: Social Media // Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,