Introduction
Facebook is massive, it has over 500 million users, half of which log on every day. The following document outlines how to create and maintain an Internet presence that will best take advantage of this valuable community.

The Facebook Page
Until recently Facebook’s social network only allowed for individuals and groups to create profiles. However, with the introduction of Pages, Facebook now allows non-human entities to create a presence on their network.

Top Facebook Page Tips
Setting up a page is very easy. Just follow the instructions. Here are some additional considerations.

Use your logo as your profile picture
Consider expanding your profile picture to 200 X 600.

Support your brand with your Page name
Your Page name could be the same as your brand, or it could help support your brand. For instance, “Joe’s Pizza” could be “Joe’s Pizza, NY style calzones and subs”.

Write something about yourself
Sounds good. But what? This small copy box offers a good opportunity to include a link to your website, or your twitter feed. You could also ask your visitors to suggest your Page to their friends.

Configure your settings for the most participation
Set your wall permissions so that fans can write, post photos, videos and links to your wall. An active community will require more administrative time, however it’s better than no community at all.

Top Facebook Community Tips
Once you’ve set up a Page, you’ll need to maintain it. Posts on your Page will also appear on the Facebook wall for everyone who has ‘liked’ your page. This is a highly effective outreach tool.

Post often, but not too often
Add content to your Facebook page, but not more than twice a day. If your Page gets spammy, people will unsubscribe.

Use images in your posts
When you post a link, Facebook will offer thumbnail suggestions from the linked page. Try to choose an image will support your post. If you’re linking to your own website, include an image on your permalink page. Pick an image that will make your Facebook wall post really stand out.

Post videos whenever possible
Upload videos for your wall that will display inside of Facebook’s media player. You can also link to YouTube videos.

Engage your community
Your Facebook wall is a two-way street. Try to start conversations through your posts. Ask questions, offer insight, solicit opinions – and then reply to comments on your wall. The more activity the better.

How to build up your Facebook Page
Creating and maintaining a Facebook Page is pretty easy. The hard part is collecting fans. Here are some tips for ongoing Page development.

Consider Facebook ads
These modest sidebar ads are reasonably priced, but highly effective at collecting ‘likes’. When setting up your Facebook ad, consider how your advertisement is targeted. Try different keywords and groups.

Build a vanity URL
You can set up a vanity Facebook URL after you collect 25 ‘likes’. A vanity URL allows you to write your own web address such as ‘Facebook.com/JoesPizza’.

Point to your Facebook Page
After you set up a vanity URL on Facebook, use it everywhere. On your website, email signature file, business cards, etc.

Did you like this article? If so, you should read every single thing on my website and then think good thoughts about me.

Meg for Meg.

As broadband makes cloud based web services more convenient, and more integrated into our daily lives, we’re beginning to see what’s possible by linking services together. The latest astonishing mash-up is a natural language commander for Firefox called Ubiquity. If you’ve used application launchers like Quicksilver or Katapult this tool will seem familiar. However, where Ubiquity blows minds is that it’s seamlessly integrated with the web. For instance, if you need to research a word, Ubiquity can pull the definition directly from WordNet. It can also grab translations and maps from Google, and reviews from Yelp. The possibilities for this mash-up maker are endless as it can integrate with any open Web API. It’s a killer app, and highly recommended, even if only to catch a glimpse of what the future may bring.

Reddit
Launched 2005, and acquired by CondeNast in 2006, Reddit bills itself as “the front page of the Internet.” This social news site allows users to up/down vote links to content on other sites, as well as create discussion threads on any topic. Reddit’s culture tilts towards liberal, anti-corporate and anti-religious views. However, libertarian, pro-business and free market ideologies are also represented.

Digg
Launched 2004, Digg was wildly popular at first. Like Reddit, it is a social news website that allows users to up/down vote links to content on other site. The site has been criticized in the past for being dominated by superusers who game the system to enhance their influence. In 2010, Digg lost much of its credibility after a redesign was poorly received by users.

Slashdot
Launched 1997, Slashdot is also similar to Digg and Reddit in that users can submit articles or create discussion threads. Users can also vote on comments and articles. Slashdot’s content tends to be conversations about "nerdy" things and technology.

Craigslist Forums
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classifieds. Within this network is a popular sub-section dedicated to discussion with more than 120 million user postings in 100 topical forums. Craigslist launched in 1996, and has remained virtually unchanged in function and design. The forum community is demographically diverse.

4Chan
Basically the wild west of the Internet, 4Chan started out as an image and discussion board in 2003. Today, 4Chan is a massive discussion board in which many of the Internet’s most popular “memes” have originated. 4Chan’s demographic is very young, with anarchistic, chaotic, juvenile, insider-only tendencies.

The archive website From my wedding in August 2009. Flickr.

Here's a little pre-roll ad I collaborated on. The amazing doodle animation was done by my pal Jael. This ran on MSN video.

Everything you've ever wanted to know about an arcane telecom policy issue and more!

fun times in downtown cleveland

"Vox Pop" is short for Vox Populi, in the USA we call these kind of short video interviews "Man on the Street".

• Keep a shot list as you go.
  Include the subject's name (double check spelling) and timecode. Make notes on particularly good interviews or sections of interviews.
  
  
• Have subject sign an appearance release form.
  Alternately, ask them on camera if it’s okay to use the video on your website and other places like YouTube.
  
  
• Tell the subject to look at you.
  Or have them look at the camera. Just don't let them bounce back and forth.
  
  
• Ask them to repeat the questions.
  “What's my favorite flavor of ice cream? Why, it's vanilla.”
  
  
• It’s okay to ask the same question twice.
  Ask the subject to rephrase their response, maybe it needs to be shorter.
  
  
• Help your interviewee self-edit.
  If they say something interesting, and then move on to something else, ask them to rephrase the interesting part.
  
  
• Don’t record a conversation.
  It’s really hard to edit chit-chat. Let them finish their thought completely before you speak again... Don’t interrupt / comment along the way “yup”, “un hun”, “really”. If you need to cut them off, do it with the knowledge that you’re starting a new cut.
  
  
• Get the microphone as close as possible to the subject.
  Position the subject so that nothing behind them emits or reflects reflect sound.
  
  
• Light your subject from more than one source.
  No harsh shadows.
  
  
• Frame your shot.
  Place your subject relatively high in the frame. Use a tripod. Do not use hand held camera. Do not zoom or pan.

Here are some crazy cool pictures from my trip with Kim to South India. Stay tuned for the *full story*