John Coltrane

If you are still not using the WordPress platform for your self hosted blogging, I truly recommend you switch to WordPress now that version 2.7 Coltrane has arrived.  There are so many new and improved features to speak about, I am glad they created a short video for you to look at some of the wonderful things the developers at WordPress came up with.

My favorite is the new look and feel of the customizable dashboard. The best feature of those that are new to blogging would have to be the ability to upgrade and install the many WordPress Plugins that make blogging on the Wordpress platform second to none. No more FTP client uploads for both Plugins and upgrades for future versions of WordPress.

So without further ado take a look at WordPress Coltrane version 2.7 and let me know what you think.

So for all my Solopreneurs and Small Business folks who are still on the fence about taking your blog 2 The Next LEVEL. WordPress 2.7 should set your mind at ease. And if you need help downloading and installing it please send me an email or give me a call.

All the best

JB

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VizEdu’s objective is to explain Social Media, Web2.0, Search and Emerging technologies visually. They make learning visual, fun, simple and actionable.

Take a look at these three Social Networking case studies and let me know what you think.

All the best

JB

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PayPal now has a Browser Plug-in that will make your online shopping experience easier and more secure.  

The plug-in puts PayPal right on your browser. You get exclusive plug-in features like AutoFill and Save Receipts, plus shortcuts to send money and check your PayPal balance. Secure Cards let you use PayPal online almost anywhere MasterCard is accepted – even where PayPal is not yet a payment option.

Secure Cards are MasterCard debit card numbers that you generate and control. You can use these numbers to shop online even at places that don’t yet accept PayPal.

How do Secure Cards protect me?

You generate a unique Secure Card number for that purchase only (unless you choose to create a multiple-use card). You’re 100% protected against unauthorized purchases made using your Secure Cards.

How do I use Secure Cards to pay online?

When you check out, a notifier drops down in your browser window asking if you’d like to pay using a Secure Card. You can generate a Secure Card number and pay right on the spot.

What is Fraud Site Alert?

PayPal lets you know when you land on a suspicious website. If you get a Fraud Site Alert, don’t enter any information. And please let PayPal know by emailing  plugin-fraud@paypal.com

What is AutoFill?

AutoFill saves you time by entering your billing and shipping address in one click. It uses the information you have stored in the plug-in.

How can I view my Secure Card transactions?

Go to Account Overview>Account Activity to see all your Secure Cards transactions. You can view your Secure Cards history on the Secure Cards page.

How many receipts can I save?

You can save up to 100 receipts for any rolling 30-day period. If you attempt to save more than that, you’ll be prompted to first delete some receipts from the previous 30 days before you can add any new ones.

Currently the PayPal plug-in only works with the Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla FireFox browsers. Like most debit cards, there are limits on how much you can spend in a day. The Secure Cards daily limit is $1,000. You can request an increase from the PayPal’s Payment Sources page.

So if you are looking to take advantage of all the great online deals this coming Cyber Monday, make sure your browsers is equipped with the PayPal Plug-in.

All the best

JB

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The new look and feel of the dashboard gives you navigation buttons down the left hand side. The most important navigation button of them all to me and many other WordPress platform users is the Media button. The dashboard also has a cool drag and drop configuration for all your most used window screens.

My good friend Peggy Duncan and I were in agreed annoyance over why WordPress made you create a new blog post or blog page in order to add new images to your media library. Well Peggy, the new media button takes care of that problem. Now you can add images to your media library in two button clicks. So you can now add and edit your images before posting anything.

The other major change is the ability to update your WordPress to the newest version without the use of an FTP client like FileZilla or CuteFTP. All you have to do now is click on the Tools button (see screen shots below) which will then give you a drop down of choices. One of the choices is Update as in upgrade your WordPress to the latest version. This feature works similar to the plugins automatic update. Even a novice WordPress user can now keep up to date with all new version updates.

Speaking of plugins, Wordpress 2.7 Beta has made installing plugins just as simple as upgrading them. You can find additional plugins for your site by using the new Plugin Browser/Installer. This new feature will help you automatically search for and then install a plugin using the zip file format.

What has not changed so far is the uploading of new WordPress Themes. This still has to be done the old fashioned way by uploading your theme folder into your wp-content/themes directory. I am sure uploading Themes is not that far behind.

If you have not seen the new dashboard yet here are a few screen shots.

If you would like to test the new version out for yourself you can download WordPress version 2.7 beta here.

I am sure WordPress has even more great changes to come. I will post a follow up article when they release version 2.7 officially.

All the best

JB

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The Linkedin Application suite is currently limited to 9 different applications right now. Company Buzz, Box.net Files, Blog Link, Reading List by Amazon, My Travel, SlideShare Presentations, Google Presentation, Huddle Workspaces, and WordPress.

I have tried all the applications but the ones that seem to work the best without any trouble in loading is Reading List by Amazon and SlideShare Presentations. These application are supposed to be similar to the many Facebook application that help you enhance your experience with the website. Unfortunately Linkedin may need a bit more time to get all these applications up to speed.

What’s great about having these applications on is they allow you to optimize your Lnkedin profile page. Given time these application will allow your Linkedin network to follow your blog posts using the Blog Link or WordPress app. Follow your Tweets with the Company Buzz app and follow your uploaded presentations with SlideShare and Google Presentations.

What’s not so great is the lack of support of these applications if they are not working on your profile page. I have been trying to get answers to why I can’t change the URL to the Blog Link app and why the Company Buzz app won’t show up on my profile page at all. All they give you is a feedback form that says your feedback is helpful but will not get a response.

As impressed as I am with Linkedin as a whole I am less than impressed with the roll out of these new applications. I would have thought that the 9 applications currently available would have been tested on multiple profile pages using multiple browsers. I have tried the applications on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Crome all with the same results.

Even though I can only get 2 of the 9 to work consistently on my profile page, I still have hope that all of the applications will eventually perform to their fullest.  If you would like to see some of the Linkedin Applications in action please take a look at my profile page below and click on the View full Profile button on the bottom of the page. Oh and please leave me comments on your experience with loading and viewing these applications on your Linkedin Profile page

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyalexanderbrathwaite

All the best

JB

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Twitter, a micro blogging service has real time conversations with its Election 2008 custom website.

You can then go to TwitVote and vote in a mock opinion-poll for voting for Election 2008.

Facebook will help you find your polling place and for those who don’t know you can still register and vote If you live in Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, or Wyoming.

CNN has an Interactive Map of the United States for updates on the Presidential election as well as customizing that page to show all the different races in every state.

Here is the Barack Obama’s website and YouTube Channel John McCcain’s website and Youtube Channel

Last but not least there was even a social media marketing case study created by Social CRM Expert Brent Leary and Internet Marketing Expert David Bullock. Barack20.com

This study helps small businesses understand how Barack Obama used social media to market himself. Brent and David used their blog to give

audio lesson on how small businesses can use social media to further their business as well.

We first reported on this study when it was just a webinar but has now grown into so much more.

Brent and David were recently featured in the November issue of Black Enterprise and are in the midst of launching their first

seminar in a local city near you. We will keep you posted on what happens next for Barack20 after the election.

The main thing that everyone should understand is that the 2008 Elections has used Web 2.0 technology and made the Internet better for us all.
We are so much more informed and knowledgeable about our local and national candidates. This can only help us make the best choices for the leadership of our country.

So if you have not done so yet. Please get out and Vote!

All the best

JB

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1. GrandCentral
2. Google Analytics
3. Google Adsense
4. Google Docs
5. Google Reader
6. Google Bookmarks
7. Google Notebook
8. Google Alerts
9. Google Checkout
10. Google Apps

1. GrandCentral: I have written about GrandCentral before in my blog post Solopreneurs Stay In Touch With One Number From GrandCentral With GrandCentral, you can be reached with a single number, answer a call at any phone you want, seamlessly switch phones in the middle of a call, and even know whether a call is important before you take it.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

2. Google Analytics: Use Google Analytics to learn which online marketing initiatives are cost effective and see how visitors actually interact with your site. Make informed site design improvements, drive targeted traffic, and increase your conversions and profits.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

3. Google Adsense: Earn money from relevant ads on your website Google AdSense matches ads to your site’s content, and you earn money whenever your visitors click on them. AdSense for content automatically crawls the content of your pages and delivers ads (you can choose both text or image ads) that are relevant to your audience and your site content—ads so well-matched, in fact, that your readers will actually find them useful.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: YES
Can it save you time: Yes

4. Google Docs: Create and share your work online. Upload from and save to your desktop. Edit anytime, from anywhere. Pick who can access your documents. Share changes in real time. Files are stored securely online. It’s FREE!

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

5. Google Reader: With Google Reader, keeping up with your favorite websites is as easy as checking your email. Stay up to date Google Reader constantly checks your favorite news sites and blogs for new content. Share with your friends Use Google Reader’s built-in public page to easily share interesting items with your friends and family. Use it anywhere, for free Google Reader is totally free and works in most modern browsers, without any software to install.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

6. Google Bookmarks: With Bookmarks, you’ll be able to save time with quick links to your favorite websites. Use Web History to find the sites you visit frequently and bookmark your favorites. Use the Google Toolbar for quick access to your bookmarks and to easily create more. Get your bookmarks on any computer. No matter where you may be surfing the web, your bookmarks can stay with you just by signing in. Keep your bookmarks organized. Add searchable labels and notes to your bookmarks to find them easily and keep them organized.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: No
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: No
Can it save you time: Yes

7. Google Notebook: Google Notebook help you clip and collect information as you browse the web. Clip useful information. Add text, images and links from web pages without leaving your browser window.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

8. Google Alerts: Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:

* monitoring a developing news story
* keeping current on a competitor or industry
* getting the latest on a celebrity or event
* keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

9. Google Checkout: Find it with Google. Buy it with Google Checkout.

Want a faster, safer and more convenient way to shop online? You got it. Stop creating multiple accounts and passwords.

With Google Checkout^TM you can quickly and easily buy from stores across the web and track all your orders and shipping in one place. Shop with confidence.

Fraud protection policy covers you against unauthorized purchases made through Google Checkout, and we don’t share your purchase history or full credit card number with sellers. Control commercial spam.

You can keep your email address confidential, and easily turn off unwanted emails from stores where you use Google Checkout.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: YES
Can it save you time: Yes

10: Google Apps: Software-as-a-service for business email, information sharing and security

Whether your business is moving everything to the cloud, just wants an affordable email solution or struggles to give employees access to critical information, Google Apps will help you stretch resources and work smarter.

Messaging
Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Talk are powerful tools that can save your company money and time.

Collaboration
Google Docs, Google Video and Google Sites complement traditional office software to make teamwork easier. Companies or departments can use these apps on their own to be more productive.

Security for on-premise email
Email security, archiving and encryption, powered by Postini, complement Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes and other solutions. Web security is also available.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

In future post I will go more in dept of how and why I use each of these Google Tools. For now I just want to list the ones that impress me the most.

All the best

JB

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John was most recently feature as “On Fire” in the Startup Nation Home Based 100 contest Please visit this site to help John win this contest by voting for him every day.

If you have been thinking about starting an eBay business, now is the time according to one of John’s 5 secrets he shares with our Solopreneurs. Take a listen to our one-on-one conversation and then head over to John’s Blog Colderice.com and get more insight and education on the ins and outs of running a successful eBay business.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

[podcast]http://2thenextlevel.com/2blogs/john_lawson_eBay_secrets_tim_intro_mwhite_end.mp3[/podcast]

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