Ted Demopoulos has just published his second book. He co-authored “Blogging for Business” which is a great resource if you are interested in blogging.

His new book is a different approach entirely, but still must read material for anyone blogging or interested in blogging. The book is a series of 101 interviews with real world bloggers and podcasters. -disclaimer time, I was one of the 101 he interviewed in the book. However I was interviewed on how I use blogs, not on my blogging skills.

You may have heard of Robert Scoble, he was a breakthrough blogger at Microsoft, and introduced a degree of transparency at Microsoft through his blogging. Indeed Microsoft now has probably the largest stable of company bloggers of any company.

Ted interviewed Jeff Foster of Symantec about Microsoft’s use of blogs, and Foster offered the opinion that blogging by Microsoft employees had changed his opinion of Microsoft positively. That’s a striking observation in my book, and it shows what a powerful tool blogging can be.

One of the more colorful interviews in the book is with Andre The Splogger, whom Ted met in a bar in Khanty-Maniysk in Central Siberia. (Is there no limit to where Ted will go for an interview?) Andre is a self described “cab driver, reindeer breeder, and Internet entrepreneur” that happens to run a Spam Blog, or Splog.

There are also chapters on Monetising blogs and podcasts, (yes Virginia, you can make money by blogging!), and even chapters on Military blogging. He covers the entire spectrum of blogging and podcasting including areas I never would have known about. (Student Loan blogs anyone? How about Mommy Casts?)

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in blogging or podcasting, or just generally interested in what all the fuss is about. The book does not require a technical degree to read, its written in a conversational style with lots of humor and clearly explained concepts. However, if you are technical, you will also bring away a great deal of information to help you evangalize and improve your own efforts.

And while you are at it, check out Ted’s own blog at Blogging for Business for even more resources and information.

Cheers,

Robert Porter

Updated

I have recently read two books. One of which is not new, but which I now wish I had bought years ago.

Both books are exceptional, both kept me reading, both gave me equal shares of good dreams and some real nightmares.

I am probably the last person in the country to have read “The World is Flat” by New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman. But if I am not the last and you have not yet read this powerful book, then RUN to the bookstore and buy a copy!

There has been more discussion and regurgitation of this book than any other I have seen in recent times, so I won’t add any more, other than to say, go buy it, but more importantly READ it.

The other book that I have recently read and also could not put down was “Micro ISV – From Vision to Reality” by Bob Walsh. This book is much more than yet another “How to start a business and be the next Bill Gates” type of book that bookstores are way to full of.

This book looks at the factors driving a whole new type of business, and how to grab hold of a piece of that for yourself.

I would describe myself as “Marketing Challenged”, I have plenty of idea’s even a few ready to go products, but I am terrible when it comes to marketing.

This book has taught me more in one sitting than years of reading other books and talking to professionals.

No, it won’t replace true marketing help, but it sure does an excellent job helping you understand how to look for and find what you need, and how to at least get your business to the point where you can attract and afford marketing help.

Check out http://mymicroisv.com it is a “Blog+resources” site maintained/run by the author, Bob Walsh. It does not have a forum system, by design, but it does offer a wealth of resources for anyone considering becoming a Micro-ISV. The “missing” forums? You can find those here at Joel on Software!

Go get ‘em, read ‘em, then repeat!

Cheers,

Robert Porter

MSDN Magazine is available for download as a compiled help file. It appears that at least 2005 and 2006 are available. The link is here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/htmlhelp.aspx 

I used to subscribe, but have not recently. However as long as this resource remains available I will certainly take a look at it again.

Cheers,

Robert Porter

Well, sort of, and, ah, not quite yet, but real soon now!

Ted Demopoulos co-author of “Blogging For Business” interviewed me for his next book titled: “What No One Ever Tells You About Blogging and Podcasting”. The book has been sent to the printer and is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Should be in the stores mid November?

I am one of the 101 bloggers he interviewed in putting together the book. So I guess that makes me 1/101 percent famous?!? Anyway from speaking to Ted I am sure it will be a good read. And more importantly I bet you will learn something useful from reading it. Ted did not do the typical A-List blogger interviews, he instead focused on bloggers from dozens of business areas, technical and non-technical, as well as uses that blogs are being put to. (My interview was about how I use blogs as a research tool and aide.)

I really enjoyed his first book, and I love his writing style, its easy to read, conveys the information clearly in almost a conversational style. (Which as a wannabe author myself I can tell you is hard to pull off successfully!)

He maintains several blogs himself and as joint ventures with his co-author Shel Holtz. The Ted Rap is his own blog, and then there is his book based blog called Blogging For Business, he has also guest blogged on numerous blogs, check out his web site for more info or better yet, book him to come speak to your group or company! (Tell him Bob sent you!!!).

So I have my 1/101 second? Femotsecond? Of fame coming and you all have a great read waiting for you!

Cheers,

Robert Porter

Hmmm