The Big Picture

CoverItLive!

If you cover live events often in your blog (and most of us do), you need to know about a new, free service, CoverItLive.

With CoverItLive, your commentary streams live to your Web page or blog (so you could also live blog your own conference for members and have it posted on your Web site). Readers viewing the commentary can ask questions and participate in polls you create - and, best of all, they don't have to create user accounts or download any software to participate.

While blogging, you can also add pictures and videos in real-time. 

[ via ReadWriteWeb ]

The making of a perfect speech

David Murray shares what all communicators can learn from what he sees as the greatest speech in American history.

Are you making the most of your inner Dr. King?

To mark this day and week honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., Better Workplace Now created a one-of-a-kind assessment. It's about Dr. King, but even more, it's about you.

The assessment helps you find your strengths and biggest improvement opportunities, all in the context of Dr. King's good works and great achievements.

Google Checkout Available For Political Contributions

Political candidates can now use Google Checkout to collect contributions online. The new feature allows candidates (registered with the Federal Election Commission) to embed Checkout buttons on their Web sites, blogs and social networking profiles to begin taking donations. The feature also lets candidates capture contributor occupation and employer information, and includes a policy message within the process.

Google charges 2% of donations plus a 20 cent transaction fee. Google Checkout joins other services such as PayPal and ActBlue allowing political donations online.

Google Checkout also lets non-profits collect donations online.

Politweets as usual

Politweets scours Twitter for information on presidential nominees...so you don't have to. 

Top Ten Best (and Worst) Communicators of 2007

Bert Decker, chief executive officer of Decker Communications, offers up his List of Top Communicators - the best (and worst) from business, politics, entertainment and sports. Take a look to see how communications skills helped make or break these notable individuals.

[ via How to Change the World ]

(Speaking of communications, if you're wondering why I'm all of a sudden posting so much to this blog, it's because it was my new year's resolution to no longer use the excuse of "not enough time" to neglect my work blog!)

Monetizing PDF content

In November, Adobe and Yahoo partnered to create Ads for Adobe PDF. It's a free service that lets you earn money by placing ads in your PDF files. (The ads are text and are served from Yahoo! advertisers based on content.)

You simply upload your PDF and earn money based on inserted ads. (You do have the ability to block competitors.)

With more and more associations searching for ways to monetize Web content, this may be something useful for your association to explore.

You can apply to join the program here.

[ via Kevin Kelly ]

Tips for Conference Un-Bloggers (and Bloggers too)

In the latest edition of his Cool Tools newsletter, Kevin Kelly points to a free e-book by Bruno Giussani and Ethan Zuckerman, Tips for Conference Bloggers. Many of the tips in the book I have explored before through my own conference blogging, for the American Society of Association Executives and MHA's own annual conference.

Last year, I confessed that oftentimes the only continuing education I get is my deskside un-conference. But when I do get to go to a conference, I always make sure to be a blogger (whether I'm "official" or not). And the reason is because I retain so much more information if I go to each session with the forethought that I will be blogging it later (even if I don't).

So I'm saying that even if you are an un-blogger, treat yourself like a conference blogger: research the speakers, research the topics and pretend you will blog all the sessions you attend.

You'll listen more carefully, think more deeply - and learn much more.