Google Adds Creative Commons Image Search - With a Catch
Google announced today that its image search function has been enhanced to allow users to find images that hold a Creative Commons license. The intent is to make it easier for bloggers, Web site owners, and anyone else who needs to find photos and images they are legally allowed to use on their sites. You can simply visit the Advanced Search page within Google Image Search, select the type of license you'd like to search by within the "Usage Rights" box, and voila, images with that usage or license attached to them will be returned by Google.
Sounds great, huh? Don't get too excited. It's not that simple. Here's the catch -- the images returned may not always be accurately tagged with the correct license and/or usage permissions.
What does that mean? It means just because you conduct an advanced image search through Google and select a Creative Commons license, it doesn't mean that you can guarantee that license is appropriately applied. In other words, Google delivers results, but you still have to search down the original image and confirm the actual license attached to it before you use it.
Bottom-line, it sounds like a great tool for bloggers, but if you want to stay out of trouble, go to the source to find an image so you're certain what the license and/or permissions are for it. Follow the links to learn more about copyright and fair use and to find a list of sites to find images to use on your blog or how to search Flickr to find images to use on your blog.
51 Blogging Jobs Listed in the About.com Web Logs Forum
51 Blogging Jobs have been listed in the About.com Web Logs forum in the Blogging Jobs folder. As usual, there is a good mix of topics and requirements to choose from.
With the economy struggling to show signs of recovery, it's a great time to pick up a blogging gig to make some extra cash or start your new career as a professional blogger. As a reminder, these articles can help you succeed as a paid blogger:
NC, RI, HI - No Longer Allowed in Amazon Associates Affiliate Advertising Program
If you're a blogger in North Carolina, Rhode Island, or Hawaii, then you can cross the Amazon Associates affiliate advertising program off of your list of possible ways to earn money through your blog. And if you live in one of those states and are already an Amazon Associate, you should have already received an email from Amazon letting you know that you're not an affiliate anymore.
Since all three states have enacted legislation that would require Amazon to charge sales tax on products sold through Amazon affiliates who live in those states, Amazon has decided to end the program in those states rather than add the extra red tape, work, etc. that would be required.
You can get the complete changes to the Amazon Associates program on this page, which shows the updates to the Amazon Associates agreement made on June 29 and 30, 2009. The entire agreement is here.
The Register published two articles this week that provide great perspective and history about the tax issue and Amazon, which you can read here and here.
Review of 'Google Blogger for Dummies'
Jennifer Kyrnin, the About.com Guide to Web Design, published a review of my book, Google Blogger for Dummies. I'm happy to share that she gave it 5 stars! You can follow the link to read the full review, and even share your own opinion using the "Write a Review" button on the end of the article.
The "For Dummies" series of books from Wiley includes a number of great technical books, which are all intended for beginner audiences. They are a great option if you like to have a written reference tool on your desk that you can refer to or read on the go.
Google Blogger for Dummies is also written for a beginner audience. The book teaches new bloggers how to create a functional blog using Google's free Blogger platform. The book also includes some advanced topics such as making money and promoting your blog.
Also, check out my list of the 10 best books for bloggers, which covers references for starting a blog, designing a blog, and more.
51 Blogging Jobs Added to About.com Web Logs Forum
51 blogging jobs have been added to the About.com Web Logs forum in the Blogging Jobs folder. Despite the continuing economic troubles around the world, people continue to see the value in blogging and social media! Take a look at the list to see if the right opportunity is waiting for you to increase your online exposure, make some money, or just have some fun.
Of course, not everyone has the same goals for their blogging experiences, so a blogging job might not be for you. Consider your goals before you commit to anything. Read the articles below for help:
Don't Forget Your Manners When You Blog
Perez Hilton is a popular celebrity gossip blogger for several reasons -- he speaks his mind, his abrasive commentary can be amusing, and he's entertaining. However, many people, particularly celebrities, don't like him. Why? He speaks his mind, he can be abrasive, and his sarcastic humor can hit a bit too close to home for some celebrities. However you slice it, Perez Hilton has become a wealthy and well-known member of the blogosphere and the Hollywood scene thanks to his blog.
There are many things that bloggers can learn from Perez Hilton, including the importance of remembering that it's not okay to try to hide behind the perceived anonymity or distance of the Web.
This week, will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas got into a verbal fight with Perez Hilton over some negative comments Hilton made on his blog about his dislike of the group's new CD. The Black Eyed Peas' manager, Loborio Molina (who has a police record that includes more than one case of violent behavior) decided to punch Perez Hilton in the face multiple times to demonstrate his displeasure with Hilton's comments. As you can imagine, Hilton filed a lawsuit. via the LA Times
Let this incident be a reminder that you shouldn't hide behind your blog. Try to remember your manners and don't say anything that you wouldn't say to someone face-to-face. That's one of the best rules to follow to stay out of this kind of trouble.
What do you think of the Perez Hilton battery incident? Take the poll below and share your opinion.
10 Questions about Starting a Business Blog Answered
Earlier this week, I received an email from an About.com Web Logs reader with a number of common questions about starting a business blog. I thought her questions were ones that other readers could learn from and might wonder themselves, so I turned her email into a new article. You can follow the link to read my new article, 10 Questions about Starting a Business Blog Answered.
The article includes useful tips, information, some of my own opinions, and links to a wide variety of additional articles and resources to provide an in-depth introduction to starting a business blog. I hope it's helpful!
60 Blogging Jobs Added to About.com Web Logs Forum
60 blogging jobs have been added to the About.com Web Logs forum in the Blogging Jobs folder. As always, the majority of the blogging jobs listed are telecommuting positions, but there are a few interesting onsite blogging jobs included in the list this week as well.
I'm finding a lot of blogging job listings these days that don't actually want people to write blog posts but rather comment on other blogs and forums to increase the number of incoming links to a specific Web page. Be sure to read the articles below to understand all the details about blog commenting:
Poll - Do You Track Your Blog Stats?
Time for a poll! This week I'd like to hear whether or not you track your blog's stats using some kind of analytic application such as Google Analytics, StatCounter, or SiteMeter. Take the poll below and tell us what you think!
You can also follow the links to learn more about blog statistic trackers and blog analytics terminology.
What's a Tweet Chat?
Tweet chats are very popular, but many Twitter users don't know what they are or how to participate in them. In simplest terms, tweet chats are online conversations, typically held at a pre-arranged time, between a group of Twitter users, and using a specific Twitter hashtag to identify the discussion.
Where the term Tweet chat gets more confusing is when it is used to mean the actual process of chatting via Twitter versus when it's used to refer to the third party Twitter app called TweetChat.com that facilitates tweet chats.
Are you confused yet? Don't worry -- you're not alone. You can follow the link to get more details about tweet chats.
Have you participated in a Twitter tweet chat yet? Do you like tweet chats? Leave a comment and share your opinion and experience!