Are you a blogger, copywriter, journalist… or just someone who enjoys writing online? If so, then content discovery is likely VERY important to you – even if you didn’t realize it already. On Thursday, November 18th, I will be co-hosting a webinar with my good friend Jake Ludington called Chris Pirillo University (CPU): Writing for Google. Between us, Jake and I have more than 25 years of combined online publishing experience. We are prepared to bring you the best tips, tips and secrets we have to help you write for Google.

How will people find what you’re writing? Sure, there’s the social media outlets – but, chances are, Google is the primary gateway to your intended audience. How do you rise above the competition? Forget about buzzwords and busywork – we’ll show you how to do things right the first time so that you don’t have to hire anybody else to help you make things work for yourself in terms of writing for discovery on Google (and other search engines, vicariously).

Prepare yourself to learn:

• How to write titles that rank
• How to do effective keyword research
• How to use keywords without stuffing
• How to make the most of your 300-500 words
• How to link for maximum impact
• How to craft better file names for your pages
• How to integrate rich media with your text

And get your questions answered, like:

• Do “meta tags” matter?
• Are there tools to make writing easier?
• Where do I find great article titles?
• Can images help my articles?
• Should I link outside my blog?

All registrants will receive a copy of the webinar – so even if you can’t interact with us live, you can still learn on your own schedule! You have nothing to lose (especially since you’re likely already writing online and wanting to optimize your time).

Tickets are only $97.00, and they won’t last long. Be sure to sign up before it’s too late.

Chris Pirillo University (CPU): Writing for Google

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Links are pieces of text that make a web browser useful. Some pages have a lot of links sitting on there. You might want to extract the link, and not all the other garbage. There’s an easy way to do this, you know. You can grab all of the links quickly and easily.

Easy Extract Me frees you from having to extract links one by one on a page. Grab them all at the same time! Copying links one-by-one into your download manager or viewing the source code of the page (and thus deleting unnecessary junk to leave the links there) is a huge time-waste. Save yourself the hassle, and just use Easy Extract Me.

Simply copy the URL of any web page onto the site. The free service will go and extract all of the links for you. All you have to do is sit there and let it do the work. It doesn’t get any easier than this! Given that most of my audience loves to download things – you’re going to love this recommendation!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VK6mhS2r6go"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VK6mhS2r6go" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://chris.pirillo.com/">Chris</a> | <a href="http://live.pirillo.com/">Live Tech Support</a> | <a href="http://media.pirillo.com/">Video Help</a> | <a href="http://feeds.pirillo.com/ChrisPirilloShow">Add to iTunes</a>

How to Extract Links from Download Sites

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I love links! And, of course, I love Twitter! So, it’s no wonder I enjoy checking out links on Twitter, and tracking them. Links are shared constantly on Twitter, and it becomes impossible to keep track of everything. How do you know what links are more popular than others, what ones just ‘work’, and what doesn’t?

Enter a new site called Twitturly. Twitturly is a service for tracking what URLs people are talking about as they talk about them on Twitter. It’s easy to explain what Twitturly does: if you are familiar with Digg, then you already get it. On both Digg and Twitturly, people “vote” for a URL. The more votes it gets, the better the rankings are. If a link is very popular, it gets put on the front page of the Twitturly site.

With Twitturly though, you don’t ‘vote’ on their site like you do with Digg. You vote simply by retweeting links that are important to you. Every time you send a link to your followers on Twitter, Twitturly takes note of it and applies your vote.

It doesn’t matter if you use a regular link, a TinyURL link, or even any of the other URL making sites. Twitturly spiders crawl the actual links, not the ‘tiny’ ones. Therefore, your actual link is what is getting votes.

Be sure to keep an eye on the main page of Twitturly throughout the day. You’ll be amazed at the huge variety of links you’ll find there, and you may just discover something very cool that you otherwise wouldn’t have.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xos27whHO7M"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xos27whHO7M" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://chris.pirillo.com/">Chris</a> | <a href="http://live.pirillo.com/">Live Tech Support</a> | <a href="http://media.pirillo.com/">Video Help</a> | <a href="http://feeds.pirillo.com/ChrisPirilloShow">Add to iTunes</a>

How to Track Popular Links on Twitter

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I don’t mind PR agents, really. There are some – and their approaches – that I DO mind. There’s a fine line that a lot of PR people don’t realize is there. I’m now being asked by a journalist to give my thoughts about PR and their direct role within the Blogging the community. The question, specifically is “Is it reasonable for PRs to target the Blogging community?”.

A blog in itself isn’t a “community”. There are subsets of types of blogs and genres. They themselves are communities. The bottom line is that I am not a journalist. I’m a columnist, yes. I’m a blogger. I’m a video caster. I help other people blog. I don’t know how you’d classify me. The one thing I am is that I”m not a media agency. I’m just someone who enjoys Technology.

I think it’s reasonable for PR people to contact bloggers, yes… with these five things in mind.

• Be transparent, and expect transparency in return. Don’t email us pretending you’re someone you’re not. Be up front, and honest about what you’re after. You’ll have a much better shot at getting us on your side or promoting your product(s) and services.
• Don’t ask for links. It’s rude to just ask us to give you a link. If I’m interested, I’ll talk about it, and link to it. But for you to just send me a message and ask me to “embed this link”… is just not cool.
• Be proactive with review links or products. The only way to really get me to talk about your item(s) is to put something in my hand. Give me something to review. Send me coupons or savings I can pass along to my community.
• Know who they are, and why they matter. Don’t just send out some generic email. Make sure you put something into your approach that shows you really DO read my blog, don’t just state it.
• Keep it short and sweet. No. Press. Releases. Scan… delete. Software, if you don’t offer me a review code, then it’s deleted. If it’s hardware without a review sample… delete. Maybe you should post your press releases on Twitter.

FirstRSS ERROR: "http://shop.tagjag.com/products/blog" NOT FOUND!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1xJlS2Lg0SI"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1xJlS2Lg0SI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://chris.pirillo.com/">Chris</a> | <a href="http://live.pirillo.com/">Live Tech Support</a> | <a href="http://media.pirillo.com/">Video Help</a> | <a href="http://feeds.pirillo.com/ChrisPirilloShow">Add to iTunes</a>

Public Relations (PR) and the Blogosphere

[Okay, there are no lady links here - I just have Fergie on the brain.]

• What to do when your Web cam bites the hand that installs it.
• Registering a domain name is easier (and cheaper) than you may think.
• Make no bones about it: dog fighting is criminal.
• Run BASIC (don’t walk BASIC)!
• Outlook 2007 looks out for your note-taking needs.
• Continuing to point out the security vulnerabilities in Web.config files (in case the first five weren’t enough for you)!
• How many copyrights make a wrong?
• When it comes to laptops, it’s never too late for spring cleaning.
• Have The Sopranos finally gone out of whack?
• The chips are down, but what’s the game?

1. When is someone going to invent a proprietary adapter for adapting proprietary adapters?
2. Outlook’s junk mail tool is just as effective as ketchup packets are to stopping terrorism.
3. I don’t mind eating dinner in front of the television… so long as we don’t have to watch Oprah.

Today’s Photos

My Lovely Lady Links

I send my picks to 140,000 subscribers every day – join them by sending an email to picks@lockergnome.com. If you blog and encourage others to subscribe to the list, your site will be placed in the queue to be featured in an upcoming Pirillo’s Picks!

• [OOPS] Microsoft apologises for serving malware
  (tags: security, Microsoft, apology, malware, spyware)
• [STARGAZE] Interactive Sky Map
  (tags: cool, sky, map, science, space, maps, astronomy)
• [CLASSIC] Postcards, Mail Art and Letter Writing
  (tags: postcard, letterwriting, communication)
• [FUN] Access your PC from your Wii
  (tags: wii, pc, media, music, game, nintendo)
• [EMBED] Free Video Code Maker
  (tags: embed, html, hosting, flash, vlog, video, free)
• [STARTUP] A Community for Entrepreneurs
  (tags: business, startup, entrepreneurship, community, advice, technology)
• [HABIT] Twelve-steps to curing e-mail addiction
  (tags: habit, addiction, email, 12steps, help, selfhelp)
• [COLLAB] Free Web Conferencing, Windows or Mac
  (tags: conferencing, collaboration, free, tools, communication, web)
• [WISDOM] Limiting Financial Risk Online
  (tags: finances, financial, risk, money)
• [WINDOWS] The Death of the Drive Letter
  (tags: windows, driveletter, cdrive, windowshomeserver, server)
• [GOALS] Free Online Habit Tracker
  (tags: GTD, todo, Tools, lifehacks, goals, productivity)
• [DRINK] It’s All Scotch To Me!
  (tags: drink, scotch, whisky)
• [BRAIN] Normal social restraints are weakened in cyberspace
  (tags: psychology, internet, flame, brain, mind, cyberspace, social)

Pirillo’s Picks for 02/21/2007

I send my picks to 140,000 subscribers every day – join them by sending an email to picks@lockergnome.com. If you blog and encourage others to subscribe to the list, your site will be placed in the queue to be featured in an upcoming Pirillo’s Picks!

• [BE] Windows, Linux, OS X… Haiku?!
  (tags: haiku, beos, operatingsystem, os, windows, linux, osx)
• [POLITICS] Two-way candidate technology tracker
  (tags: politics, president, blog, technology, election, Internet)
• [DESKTOP] Add screen tabs to your PC for free
  (tags: tabs, software, freeware, download, pc, desktop, tabbed)
• [RADIO] Sirius and XM Announce Merger
  (tags: radio, satellite, xm, sirius, merger, audio)
• [DESIGN] Web-based image information tool
  (tags: design, color, webdesign, tools, tool, images%2C)
• [TWAIN] Easily import Flickr photos into your documents
  (tags: twain, documents, import, scan, flickr, photos, software, driver)
• [SWAP] Trade your used media for more
  (tags: swap, Web2.0, trade, social, trading, exchange, service)
• [FREE] Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
  (tags: windows, Microsoft, virtualization, software, virtual, VMWare, Free, vista)
• [HARDWARE] Bluetooth Car Diagnostic Tool
  (tags: bluetooth, car, diagnostic, tool, hardware, mp3, podcast)

Rest assured, I haven’t forgotten about you. I’m still alive. Barely. Ponzi whipped up another wonderful meal this evening, forgetting to check the expiration date on the cream carton and serving us something that may have been spoiled. My tummy is a widdle woozy wight now.

Pirillo’s Picks for 02/20/2007

• [NEWS] Vista Will Have Little Impact on Mac Sales
  (tags: vista, mac, osx, sales, os, operatingsystem, computer, microsoft, apple)
• [USEFUL] Spam-Harvest-Proof Email Link
  (tags: spam, harvester, spammer, email, obfuscator, link, mailto)
• [CRASH] Automated off-site backup tool for everyone
  (tags: backup, software, storage, Mac, windows, network, linux)
• [FIND] StumbleUpon for Video
  (tags: stumble, youtube, video, web2.0, cool, music, neat)
• [SOCIAL] Share your wishlist, exchange wishes
  (tags: web2.0, wishlist, sharing, social, Wishes, lists, community)
• [HELP] How To Replace Your iPod Battery, Screen, or Hard Drive
  (tags: ipod, battery, screen, harddrive, help, howto)
• [LIFE] MP3 Goes Down the Toilet
  (tags: mp3, toilet, humor)
• [TOOL] Open PDF files without a viewer
  (tags: pdf, tools, online, editing, editor, office, web)
• [PLAY] Video gaming – good for the eyes?
  (tags: see, eyesight, videogame, gaming, game, eye, eyes)
• [PHONE] Free Conference Calls and Group Calls
  (tags: phone, free, conference, collaboration, phones, groups, tools)

I send my picks to 140,000 subscribers every day – join them by sending an email to picks@lockergnome.com. If you blog and encourage others to subscribe to the list, your site will be placed in the queue to be featured in an upcoming Pirillo’s Picks!

Pirillo’s Picks for 02/15/2007

I don’t know how or why this is happening, but there must be some way to turn it off or stop it. Since moving to a new machine, I’ve discovered that all my searches through Google produce results that have crap surrounding the direct hyperlinks. For example, a search for the word “Chris” spits back familiar results – but each result link is prefixed with “http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=1&q=” and suffixed with “&e=9797″ – which totally kills my ability to easily copy / paste the link elsewhere without first removing the surrounding text. Link crap! I tried clearing my cookies to no avail – I just can’t get Google to give me straight up hyperlinks in IE (though it works fine in Firefox). Anybody know how to take this pain away?

Google Search Results Link Crap