By Now the World is aware that we run our blogs on Wordpress. We have tried the others, but there is just no denying the features and capabilities of Wordpress as a content publishing and management platform for the web.

Today we will share a feature Wordpress calls "shortcodes"... Yes, Wordpress offers shortcuts in code which make the process of creating interesting articles even easier, and they explain the entire process here:

What are the WordPress shortcodes?

What is a shortcode?

A shortcode is a WordPress-specific code that lets you do nifty things with very little effort. Shortcodes can embed files or create objects that would normally require lots of complicated, ugly code in just one line. Shortcode = shortcut.

What shortcodes does WordPress use?

[audio] converts a link to an mp3 file into an audio player. See full instructions here.

[caption] adds a caption to an image. See full instructions here.

[digg] embeds a voting button for your link on Digg. See full instructions here.

[flickr] embeds a Flickr video. See full instructions here.

[gallery] displays a thumbnail gallery of images attached to that post or page. See full instructions here.

[googlemaps] embeds Google Maps. See full instructions here.

[googlevideo] embeds a Google Video. See full instructions here.

[livevideo] embeds a video from LiveVideo. See full instructions here.

[odeo] embeds an Odeo audio file. See full instructions here.

[podtech] embeds audio or video from the PodTech Network. See full instructions here.

[polldaddy] embeds a PollDaddy poll(use without the space). See full instructions here.

[redlasso] embeds a video from Redlasso. See full instructions here.

[rockyou] embeds a slideshow from RockYou. See full instructions here.

[slideshare] embeds a slideshow from Slideshare.net. See full instructions here.

[sourcecode] preserves the formatting of source code. See full instructions here.

[splashcast] embeds Splashcast media. See full instructions here.

[vimeo] embeds a Vimeo video. See full instructions here.

[youtube] embeds a YouTube video. See full instructions here.

Keep an eye on this page for more!

Filed under: Audio, Flickr, Kyte, Music, Photos, Shortcode, Vimeo, code, embed, video.

Related Questions

• Using Google Maps
• What are the WordPress shortcodes?
• Slideshare.net slideshows
• Put your feed in your sidebar
• Where is my WordPress.com API key?

I received a call the other day from the son of a nearly lifelong (at least it seems like a long time) friend of mine.

My friends son, Keith Bloemendaal is the sales manager of a local fence building contractor company in Raleigh Durham, North Carolina.

Carolina Custom Fences builds high quality custom fences and they are proud of the fact that they have some of the best installers in the area.

Keith Bloemendaal called iBusinessLogic to ask our opinion of the current Carolina Custom Fences website (follow the link above).

As you can see, the current website is a bit bland and really does not engage the public. This is web 1.0 at its best and is about 6-8 years out of date for website design. The owner of the company, Scott, did the best job he could with the tools his web builder gave him, but the results just do not compare with the state of the art today. Continue Reading

If you ever had a doubt about the future of advertising, if  you have pondered the wisdom of spending time learning about social networks, blogging, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn...

Here is a big wake up call!

General Motors - not your grandpa's marketing team .... 

General Motors has devoted one half of their substantial marketing budget to digital media and one-on-one direct marketing.   When GM buys in to digital media to the tune of 1.5 billion dollars, you may want to ask yourself one very simple question, "Why would I advertise in a newspaper or magazine?"

Here at All Business Auctions we have always looked upon eBay and other Internet (digital Media) outlets as an incredible advertising venue. We think the article below indicates we have been on the right track. With GM inking a deal with eBay Motors to advertise all of their dealers' previously owned stock on eBay Motors and now this announcement, I think we can all see the writing on the wall when it comes to where the real value in advertising is found in today's marketplace.

From: Media Buyer Planner

 

 

GM Changes Game, Puts $1.5 Billion Online

GM, in what could signal a no-look-back shift to digital marketing, will dedicate half of its $3 billion budget to digital and one-to-one marketing in the next three years.

As the country’s third largest advertiser, GM’s switch may be the online marketing shot heard round the automotive world. GM, which spent nearly $10 billion on advertising last year, will use several online methods including gaming, search, mobile and a broad array of interactive applications.

Consumers looking to buy new vehicles were among the first to embrace online research to support buying decisions. And while television and print still have a place in product launches and awareness, many dealers now accept that the purchase process starts - and sometimes ends - online.

The news is not good for traditional media and may be exacerbated by a directive from GM’s Brent Dewar, vp-field sales, service and parts in North America. Dewar told Ad Age late last year that the auto maker will try to persuade its regional dealer ad groups “to shift their focus to digital vs. spot TV” starting this spring after the dealer co-ops, which spend $500 million annually, are revamped.

Other car makers are also upping online buys; Hyundai will double its online spending in 2008 over 2007.

Auto dealers are increasingly shifting their spend to online, with a particular focus on customer ratings and reviews and online video. 59 percent of dealers say they plan to use video on their own websites within the next 12 months, up from the current 33 percent, while the proportion of auto dealers using customer ratings and reviews will have risen from 29 percent to 43 percent, according to a new study by The Kelsey Group (via MarketingCharts). The proportion of those using social-networking sites will go from 15 percent to 33 percent, according to the surveyed dealers.

 

Dave White of the widely listened to Internet Radio show "eBay & Beyond Basics to Business" called my office recently and asked if I would like to not just be a guest but to co-host a segment of his radio show. Of course I agreed!

I have listened to Dave's eBay show for quite some time now. The great thing about it is that Dave does not stick with the "talking points" of eBay. Of Course he is a big supporter of eBay and does not spend his days finding ways to gripe and complain about eBay, but he also "calls em like he sees em". Dave has been at the forefront of breaking stories recently with his show and blog and I feel as though it is a real honor to be asked to join him behind the mic.

The Title of the show is "eBay & Beyond, Basics to Business" and that sums up a lot of stuff. I think Dave is wanting my perspective added to the show because I have sought out the "Beyond" end of the spectrum when it comes to eBay and eCommerce. The show's listeners want to learn more about outside sources of revenue, exposure, and income which go beyond just eBay sales. Frankly I am glad to help and believe that more eBay sellers should look outside the big box that is eBay into the rest of the Internet world. There are so many opportunities and interesting ideas available to online retailers. I sometimes forget how myopic the eBay world can be, once you are in the eBay universe you sometimes forget there is a whole other solar system out there.

Neither Dave White or I would ever say that abandoning eBay would be a wise business decision. There are still too many advantages to having an eBay channel set up for your business. Fee hikes, feedback changes, DSR levels, all do not outweigh the real measureable expeosure gained via eBay sales. If a company were to simply look at eBay sales as an advertising budget decision, then they would be looking at the lost cost per sale advertising campaign in the world.

But I digress, this story is about Dave White and his great radio show and how I hope to add value for the listeners with honest answers to questions about blogging, web 2.0, web 3.D and more.

The show is broadcast live every Saturday between 10:00 AM and Noon. The beauty of the Internet is that after that time you can join the show in a continuous loop 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world just by following the same link:

Show Goal: provide honest, fair and independent information and training to eBay and internet marketers.

David White host of eBay and Beyond: Basics to Business
David has been selling on eBay and the internet for over 10 years. In 2000 he was invited to teach at eBay University, instructing thousands all over the US how to buy and sell on eBay for almost 2 years. David also runs his own consulting business, assisting individuals as well as businesses establish and grow their internet business. David has sold over 20,000 items on the internet and continues to conduct educational programs for internet marketers.

Writing a blog for your company is an outstanding method for disseminating your message to the world and to attract new loyal customers for your brand.  

Blogging efficiently and wisely creates a conduit of information for your audience (potential customers) and there are few methods available either on the Internet or in traditional media matching the speed or effectiveness of this outstanding method of advertising. 

I could go on and on about the many reasons a blog for your firm is an initiative worthy of consideration, but this article is more about promotion of the blog after it is up and running.

When a blog is initially launched it is sometimes quite difficult to find readers for your message.  Making regular posts on the blog is the best method to get your message out because ultimately, good relevant content is king in the eyes of the search engines and your potential viewers.  Posting interesting and informative information with less of a sales pitch and more of a helpful and understanding tone is your best weapon in the blog arsenal for attracting and maintaining regular readership.  

There are other weapons available in the blog promotion arsenal.  Today we will discuss blog contests.

What is a blog contest?

A blog or blogger contest is a method used to attract other blog authors to post articles and links from your blog or about your blog, company or event - on other blogs. 

These links and content ultimately add "authority" to your blog.  In the eyes of Google, Technorati and other search engines such as Yahoo or MSN, the fact that your blog was mentioned - or a link to your blog was added to another blog or website with similar content - makes your blog more valuable, and therefore it becomes ranked higher in the search engines. 

When your ranking is higher, your content gets noticed faster. 

Another more immediate benefit is the almost instant increase in traffic from the blogging community. They place posts in their blogs about your site and you quickly see the increased traffic from the readers of these other blogs.

How do you get other blog authors to write about you or your blog?

With an incentive, a prize or an outright lotto... Cash is always good, but may be seen a payment for links and therefore considered somewhat of a taboo in Google's eyes.

An artful and creative contest can inspire other bloggers to write good material for your benefit, but only if your incentives are interesting and sincerely delivered.

How will you find these other bloggers to enter your contest?

When you first initiate a blog for your company, the first task after launch should be a systematic campaign to join and be accepted by social blog networks. These subscriptions will take time to develop, but once you are accepted in the communities like Mybloglog and BlogCatalog and others, you can begin to form relationships with the other members of the community. 

Over time, a certain amount of these other bloggers will join your neighborhood in the community because they want you to join their neighborhood.  Some bloggers do this for a sense of community, while others do it more to spam the other members with a daily barrage of linkbaiting.  I suggest your goal is to remain far to the left of linkbaiting and somewhat to the right of the social butteryfly...

Save your messages to the community for attaboys and sincerity until your have a serious reason to use the collateral you may have built up in the interim.  Do not start out your relationship with the embers of these communities with an instant "Hi - Nice to meet you - HERES MY PITCH"....

Be calm cool and casual until you have a contest to offer.  This approach will be more effective because the other members of your community will have more interest in your contest if you do not band them over the head every day with a pitch for your blog, your latest article or your best product.

Blogging is a more social way to market your business goals and ideals.  You can not apply the old tried and true mass-marketing tactic in a blogging environment.  "Easy does it" is the way to attract readers (or hits) which increases your rank and then can ultimately lead to sales.  Using a blog as the open end of your long tail sales funnel to direct your readers to links of your products - without selling them with an obvious pitch - is an art which can take time to develop. 

Using blog contests to jump start the stream of readers into your funnel is a very good weapon in the blog promotion arsenal. Use it wisely and judiciously...

Sample Blog Contest: (Running now on our Trading Assistant Journal Blog)

Announcing a special blog contest... Write & Win!

Simple & Safe to enter!

If you own a blog,  you may enter.  If your blog topic is eBay or eCommerce related - even better!

What is it?

A simple contest with judging based upon the most original and entertaining yet clean post written.

What to Write About?

The contest is based upon new and original posts describing TAWC - The As Was Conference

Main Page Here: TAWC Registration Link Here: TAWC Registration

Write about why eBay sellers and/or small business people should attend this conference. Include links to the main page, the registration page and/or my post describing the conference.

There is a great deal of content available recently regarding all of the changes in the way eBay is doing business so you should have plenty to work with.  TAWC conference attendees will get the best and most accurate information concerning these changes and how to adjust to them.

What Do You Get for your Words?

1st Prize Winner receives choice of:

• Auction Bytes.com 25k impression ad space ABAdvertising Link Donated by Debbie Levitt of As Was
• or Registration for 2 to attend The As Was Conference in Orlando (Travel and Accommodations Not Included)
• Plus 125x125 Advertising spot for your blog (restrictions apply) On this site for one month.
• Plus:1 hour of eBay marketing consulting time from your choice of experts (Debbie Levitt or Scott Pooler)
• Plus a Link to your blog of choice on As Was and All Business Auctions Or The Trading Assistant Journal blogs. (Restrictions Apply - No Links provided for unacceptable format or negative content sites)

Second Prize:

• Full Site/Blog review with recommendations for SEO improvement and graphic design element improvement or adjustments if necessary.
• or ... One Free Registration to attend TAWC (Airfare & Accommodations not included)
• Plus 125 x 125 ad spot on the ABA blog for one month. (Will not run concurrent with first prize winner)
• or 1/2 hour of eBay marketing consulting time from your choice of experts (Debbie Levitt or Scott Pooler)
• Plus a Link to your blog of choice on As Was and All Business Auctions Or The Trading Assistant Journal blogs. (Restrictions Apply - No Links provided for unacceptable format or negative content sites)

Third Prize:

• Reduced price registration to TAWC (1/2 price) - (Airfare & Accommodations not included)
• or 1/4 hour of eBay marketing consulting time from your choice of experts (Debbie Levitt or Scott Pooler)
• or 125 x 125 ad spot on ABA blog for 14 days.
• Plus a Link to your blog of choice on As Was and All Business Auctions Or The Trading Assistant Journal blogs. (Restrictions Apply - No Links provided for unacceptable format or negative content sites)

Details:

Posts should be a minimum of 250 words

Posts must be clean and original

No Copy and Paste of previous articles or other blog posts

Posts must include links to the main page, the registration page and/or my post describing the conference.

Posts may include graphics and or video

Posts must not be on a explicit or pornographic site

Contest is only for bloggers who post the most unique (and clean) post describing TAWC and promoting registration...

Post the TAWC review/write up/article in the next 5 days. Deadline Monday Jan 28, 2008 at Noon GMT

Send a link to your review/write up/post to: service@allbusinessauctions.com

Judging will be based upon originality, quality and uniqueness of each blog posting and will be reviewed/judged by three experts in Internet marketing and copywriting.

The winners will be notified via email. (So send in your email address please)

Get The Word Out!

Get the word out about the conference and we will reward the top three bloggers with the prizes listed above. Prizes will be awarded to three different people posting on three different URLs so make your post count!

We appreciate any participation and will be pleased to discuss the contest or prize package details with you.

Contact Scott Pooler 727-596-6900

Skype: allbusinessauctions

Yahoo Messenger: allbusinessauctions

email: service@allbusinessauctions.com

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