Category Archives: Social media

Can I Use That Photo on My Blog or Site? Basic Copyright Info for Small Biz, Bloggers

I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice. Do not take it as such.

Over the years I’ve spoken with more than a few clients who’ve said some variation of the following:

I’m copying pictures from the web for my new website.

We just copied-and-pasted the content we found on a similar business’s website.

Don’t worry about a blog image–I’m going to use a pic I found on Google.

I don’t think these clients viewed what they were doing as stealing or copyright infringement. Instead, I think many of us don’t fully understand how copyright works. I don’t know about you, but I never had a copyright course in school. What’s more, the social sharing environment is so relatively new–if Twitter were human, it would be in elementary school–that lines regarding what’s appropriate and what’s not are still a bit blurry to some. So what’s a blogger or small business person to do?

Here’s a basic, not-legal-advice FAQ guide for using images you don’t own on your blog or website:

I found a cool image on Google that I want to insert into my blog post–can I use it?

Short Answer: Probably not.

Long Answer: Just as Lord Voldemort descends on Hogwarts every school year, copyright is a magical cloud that descends the moment a person creates a work in a tangible form, whether it’s writing the first words of a novel on a bar napkin or taking a pic of a dog shredding a pillow. The person who created the work owns the copyright, unless he or she created it as part of their responsibilities as an employee–in that case the company usually owns it.

The copyright owner gets to choose when, where, and how the image is used. If I find a dog shaming pic of a pooch who poops Legos, I can’t use it on my blog unless:

I receive explicit written permission from the image owner;
The pic has been licensed for use, like through a Creative Commons license;
The image has been placed in the public domain, which means the copyright expired or the owner has given up rights to it.

But the image owner wouldn’t have posted the picture online unless they wanted the exposure…so I can use it, right?

No. Really, no. Frankly you or I usually haven’t the foggiest idea why a particular person posts a particular pic. If you want to use an image that’s not licensed for use or within public domain, the copyright holder is the boss of you.

The image doesn’t show that little copyright circle. So I can use it, right?

No. A formal copyright notice isn’t required anymore (although it used to be). Remember, copyright is a magical cloud of protection that descends upon creation.

But isn’t there a fair use sort of a thing?

Yes, but it’s only applicable under specific circumstances. Fair use is generally limited to purposes like teaching, criticism, news reporting, etc. Think…

A book reviewer quoting a passage from the novel being reviewed;
A teacher showing a print of a painting during an art lesson;
A journalist quoting from a magazine article for a news report.

Using a photo owned by someone else to add visual pop to your blog, my blog, or anyone else’s is, in many cases, not fair use.

Takeaway:

Don’t use random photos off the web–each one belongs to somebody. Choose pics licensed specifically for use on websites or blogs. I’ll post more blog pic resources and ideas soon, but in the meantime check out this fantastic list from Carly Spec on HubSpot Blog: 10 Sites for Free, Non-Cheesy Stock Photos.

Again, I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice. Do not take it as such. For more detailed information, contact a copyright law attorney or visit these resources:

Cornell University Legal Information Institute

Social Media Today’s What Bloggers Should Know About Copyright

Blogging Tips for Non-Profits

Whether you’re a dedicated volunteer or a nonprofit director, chances are your to-do list is packed. That can make it challenging to find time for blog writing that engages donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders. Never fear! Here are simple non-profit blog tips:

Develop an editorial calendar. Take a deep breath; I promise this isn’t as scary as it sounds. As blog writers, we all get busy. It’s not uncommon for an event or holiday to sneak up before we have a chance to blog about it. Take out your non-profit’s calendar and start planning ahead for blog topic ideas that center around events, fundraisers, and even holidays. It only takes a few minutes, but you’ll be rewarded when you’re not scrambling the day before the year’s biggest fundraiser to write a related blog entry.
Add the call to action. This tried-and-true marketing technique is a must for blogging non-profits. According to social media expert Dan Zarrella, the most effective online calls to action contain specifics, convey urgency, and use concrete numbers. Think “Donate today” or “We fed 24 additional families last week—how many more will you help us feed this week?” If possible, make the call clickable by including a button or hyperlink that takes the reader to the next step, whether it’s an email to the volunteer coordinator or a form to submit a donation.
Take a stance. One of the most powerful ways to generate online traffic and conversation is by stirring the pot a little. And, as a non-profit worker, you probably feel passionately about whatever it is you do. Don’t be afraid to use blog writing as a platform to argue against relevant potential legislation, fight for a new law, or tackle an issue that deserves attention.
Invite guest bloggers. Non-profits run on people power, so why not tap those folks to write guest blog entries? Consider a community leader familiar with the work your group does or one of the clients who has benefited from your services. Adding relevant “outside” voices to the blog will build online cred for the organization.
Get social. Chances are good that many of your stakeholders, from current volunteers to prospective donors, are already using social media. That makes websites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and even Pinterest ideal platforms for driving traffic to blogs. Here are 3 basic ways to promote your non-profit blog on social media:

Post a blog link on social media sites each time you upload a post.
Use social networks to post clips from blog entries that share video, whether it’s an interview with a client or footage from a fundraiser.
Ask your social network audience what type of blog content they’d like to read, and then write posts related to those topics.

What successful non-profit blog writing tips can you share?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Blog Topic Ideas to Beat the Blank Page Blues

The blank page. Whether you’re writing as a freelancer or blogging for a small business, few things trigger a case of the sweats like a pure white word processing document. So if you need small business blog topic ideas to beat away those blank page blues, read on:

Get down to the business nitty gritty.

It doesn’t matter if you offer small business accounting services or kids’ birthday party venues, your readers expect to find relevant info regarding whatever it is you do:

Recap the most interesting tidbits from a recent study or report.
Ask readers what they want to you to blog about.
Compile a list of your 5 or 10 best blog posts.
Post a dictionary-type list of definitions for common industry terms or jargon.
Use a keyword tool (Google AdWords is free) to generate a list of related keywords—use those keywords as a basis for a post.
Share an infographic. (Check out this post about infographics from social media expert Ilona Olayan).
Share your industry predictions for the next 6 months or year.
Take a position on a hot-button issue.
Share a post-event recap after conferences or trade shows.
Write your unique take on a news item.
Profile an employee.
Interview a client or industry colleague.
Share a client case study.
Answer the most frequently asked questions about you, your product, or brand.
Post a list of your favorite blogs and websites.
Review a book.
Share a list of relevant resources, whether they’re website links, blogs, or books.

Let’s get video.

Who said great web content had to be in written form? Check out these video blog post topic ideas:

Upload a video tutorial that demonstrates how to use your product.
Video an interview with an employee, client, or industry colleague.
Give a behind-the-scenes tour of your office or facility.
Video blog your own reaction to industry news or trends.

Show ‘em your human side.

Don’t underestimate the power of building connections. I don’t know about you, but I find it easier to do business with someone I’ve started connecting with (I also find it harder to be cranky with them!). Showing your human side while blogging for a small business is a smart way to lay the foundation for those connections. Here are a few blog topic ideas to inspire you:

Tell the story of how your small business got its start.
Blog about why you love whatever it is you do in your business.
Share snippets about life in the office or workplace.
Blog about your favorite local charity or non-profit organization.
Post a list of your favorite local vendors, whether it’s the local coffee shop or your long-time accountant. Share why you love them, too. (“Dotty whips up lattes that would make a Seattle barista jealous!”)

Have fun!

All work, no play creates dull small business bloggers. Don’t be afraid to occasionally publish lighter blog content:

Have an exclusive contest (with a fun prize, of course!) for blog readers.
Compile a list of the funniest tweets related to your industry.
Share outtakes or bloopers from any video content you’ve published.
Write about a big game or favorite sports team.

Do you have business blog topic ideas to share?

Image courtesy of Flickr user Adi Respati.

Web Writing for Small Business – Pain-free Do's and Don'ts

Do you wrangle with writing content for your business? Whether you’re writing a small business blog or penning posts on Facebook, you could be one of the many professionals who would rather lose a toenail than start clicking on the keyboard. But the fact is that the written word is a necessary part of doing business in a world that’s increasingly virtual. Check out these 4 do’s and don’ts for making web writing for small business less painful:

Don’t write an essay. Is my thesis in the right spot? Have I used the thesaurus to insert as many 6-syllable words as possible? These were the kinds of conundrums that kept many of us up late into the night (in my case, plugged into a Walkman). But web writing for small businesses is not about writing a 5-paragraph essay. Keep writing clear, paragraphs short, and, for heaven’s sake, toss out the thesaurus.
Do write for human beings. We’ve all visited one of these sites: a well-meaning small business owner reads an article or two about the power of using keywords—and then goes crazy loco inserting them into web page or blog content. Using keywords as part of SEO is important but, ultimately, too many keywords will send a visitor clicking away to a competitor’s site. Keyword use is like eating ice cream: a little goes a long way. (Okay, at least theoretically a little ice cream goes a long way! You get the point…) For friendly reading, keep keyword density under 5%.
Don’t bore customers away. Long blocks of text is actually web-speak for bye-bye visitor. The web is a place to get information—the fast and dirty kind (no, not that kind of dirty!). Consumers and buyers want their info in easy-to-scan bites. When writing web content for small businesses, use visual cues to break up the page. Think bullet points, numbered lists, and sub-headings.
Do be yourself. When you’re writing a small business blog or posting an update on a social network, it’s tempting to mold yourself in the image of a competitor or an industry expert. But, ultimately, your value lies in your own experiences and personality. So write the same way you would speak to a long-time customer or a friendly business colleague.

As a busy small business owner or decision maker, you may not have the time (or desire) to tackle writing web content—but the web is often the first touch point for consumers ready to make a purchase decision. Don’t push those people to a competitor by populating your site or social media outposts with stuffy, long content. Now get out there and start writing the content that gets customers clicking!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Slow Times for Small Business? Tips for Staying Busy (and Out of Trouble!)

How do you solve a problem like slow business? A few weeks ago, I was asking myself that question (and, yes, sometimes the query was torturously set to The Sound of Music tune.) And although I was seriously cranking out freelance writing proposals, I found myself with rather more time on my hands than I was used to. So rather than find myself parked on the couch midday with a bag of corn chips and a Doctor Oz obsession, I made it my mission to stay busy in ways that were healthy for my freelance writing business. Things are back on track, now, but I did discover a few slow business strategies for staying busy:

Start a business blog.

From building an online presence to generating leads, there are many reasons to start writing a business blog. And, as a freelance writer who ghostwrites several blogs, I know most of those reasons. But I recently read a blog entry that stuck with me. Top Rank’s Lee Odden shared some advice he’d given to a small business owner: writing just one blog entry each week gives Google 52 more reasons to insert your business into search results. That’s not all…

Websites with blogs get 55% more visitors. (HubSpot Blog)

Websites with blogs get 434% indexed pages than non-blogger sites. (HubSpot Blog)

Now it’s time to share communication and writing tips, resources, and news to promote my business and build my network. Hence, this writing blog. If you haven’t started blogging yet, use downtime to jumpstart a small business blog.

Find the answer to a lingering business question.

I’d never had the time or opportunity to learn some of the finer points of SEO writing, like meta tags and title tags. Downtime was the ideal time for me to catch up. Do you confuse the word hyperlink with hyperspace? Wondering if there’s an easier way to streamline accounts receivables? During fat times, it can be challenging to justify devoting time to getting answers for questions that don’t generate an immediate sale.

When business is sluggish, answer those lingering questions and put the knowledge to use. Learn more about outbound and inbound marketing tactics. Figure out a faster way to do the books. Decipher the terms that allow you to sound like a pro when speaking with colleagues or tweeting with clients.

Add a new word to your writing vocabulary.

Yes, even if you’re not a freelance content writer chances are you write to communicate with clients, co-workers, subordinates, or managers. And no matter how we connect, whether it’s an old-school paper memo or a direct reply on Twitter, the words we use matter. So when business is slow, learn how to use and spell a fun word. That’s right, fun.

Think of it this way: Many professionals use standard biz language with ease: maximize, boost, lift, profitability, connect, engage, monetize, etc. Those words have their place in business writing. But there are times when that writing could use a little pop. Here’s an example of a blog headline on Social Strategy1: Tweets Trigger Bacon Brouhaha for Chipotle.

Use slow time to identify a fun word you’ve heard recently, even if it was out of the mouth of your teenage son. Look up the spelling, learn the proper definition, and then keep it in your writer’s toolkit so you can unleash it at the right time. (It’s also good for boosting your Words with Friends score!)

How do you keep yourself out of trouble when business is slow?

Image courtesy Jason Hollinger, Flickr, Creative Commons