UGH Owen A Big Thanks For This Free Tool
After making our post for January 3, it was off to my favorite forums. That’s where I found six tools mentioned by Owen that he loved using in 2008.
The one that caught my eye is Zemanta, an add-on to your Firefox browser that automatically recognizes your wordpress and/or blogger blogs. It’s a tool that’s going to help suggest photos, videos, articles, etc., related to what you’re writing about – all done from inside your admin area.
Here’s an example:
Related articles by Zemanta
What the example above shows is something Zemanta considered “related to” the rest of the information in this post (see below about Twitter). There are many items to choose from, but I just picked this one – all from inside the admin area of this blog.
After installing (and it’s quick and painless and yes I did read the terms of service first), you’ll end up on the welcome page where you’ll get instructions on “how to get started right away” using this super cool tool!
A big thanks to Owen for sharing this and five other tools (one of which he created himself).
Excellent!
- Image via Wikipedia
And, for those of you wondering why your Wordpress Twitter Updater plugin no longer works, well we don’t currently have the answer to that… However, TwitterBar 1.1 may be your easiest solution.
It’s been available since November 1, 2008, tried and tested. Just be sure you know what you’ve got typed in your address bar before you Twitter it. It can be words, the link of the page you’re on, whatever. So double check first 
(The Firefox logo was also pulled in using Zemanta.)
- Image via CrunchBase
A second alternative to get your feeds posted directly to your Twitter account (though the toolbar above is very cool), is TwitterFeed
TwitterFeed requires you to create an OpenSource id. Just be prepared to validate your signup via email AND be adept at picture recognition – the process is a tad long while you “guess the picture” during the account creation process.
What TwitterFeed will do is, depending on your setting choices, take a peek at your blog feed and post the last “x” amount you designate at the time interval you ask it to check. While that may sound confusing, it’s not – it’s just a fill in the blanks AFTER you get past the picture recognition thing (it’s very hard to explain but worth the trouble).
So there you have it… multiple ways to get your current posts automatically onto Twitter, plus add some graphic interest to your posts painlessly. Enjoy!
Now it’s your turn to tell us what you think about this post. So please DO comment!
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=ceaad632-891e-4a64-b54c-368eed4f96c4)
Tags: admin area, blog, bloggers, blogging, blogs, browser, firefox, firefox browser, free, free tool, get, help, information, photos, postings, related articles, share, sharing, suggestion, twitter, video, videos, wikipedia, wordpress
January 4th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Hi Diane,
You must have read my mind. I was going to ask you about these tools that Owen mentioned in his post. Now you answered. so, I guess I will get on installing!
Barbaras last blog post..Something New To Ring In The New Year !
January 4th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Outstanding! You have solved the twitter issue and gave us some goodies to boot! Its gonna be a good year, I can tell!
Lindas last blog post..EPA Environmental Fugitives
January 5th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Diane, welcome to the Zemanta community
If you register in Preferences, you’ll be able to personalize your recommendations. If you give us your twitter account, then you can just write @owenc (hopefully just Owen will also work) in your text and we’ll automatically recommend a link to his Twitter account and blog.
If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to email me, jure@zemanta.com, or visit our forums getsatisfaction.com/zemanta
Jure Cuhalev, Zemanta
Jure Cuhalevs last blog post..What I learned in my 3d month of running + FAQ
January 7th, 2009 at 9:30 am
First of all thanks for linking to my post and I’m glad you found it useful.
Zemanta has really wowwed me .. both in their execution of the plugin, which is awesome and in their use of social media. Seeing Jure’s comment above just brought it home to be again. When I initially tried it I tweeted about a concern I had an WITHIN MINUTES he tweeted back which how to solve it. I was pretty impressed shall we say!
Owens last blog post..Unit Testing, Test Driven Development and Behaviour Driven Development
January 13th, 2009 at 4:21 am
I know some people find TwitterFeed an annoyance, but I love it. It’s how I follow some of my favorite bloggers.
corrins last blog post..Start your New Year’s Resolution with a Cleanse!
January 13th, 2009 at 6:18 am
those sound like a couple of neat plugins. i might try those.
cadys last blog post..Cookie Monster
January 13th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I’m using Zemanta and the Twitter tool bar now and loving it…Thanks!
Barbaras last blog post..Is Your Mindset On Your Resolutions?
January 13th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Oh no! Another project! LOL this sounds like a must do.
Karens last blog post..Icy Roads Change Our Plans
January 14th, 2009 at 4:21 am
Ah, might have to go check out that.
LadyGraces last blog post..Domestic Goddess
January 14th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I might have to check out Zemantia. I’ve heard a lot about it.
Sadies last blog post..The Winter Blues
January 14th, 2009 at 11:25 am
I remember running across that post as well. I believe there were 2 things that hit home for me and Zemanta was one of them. I’m glad you mentioned it again so I can keep it top of mind-
Maureens last blog post..Jonathan Budd’s MLM Mastermind System
January 14th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Thanks Diane! I’m so happy you stay on top of all this for all us Whole Hog Bloggers!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Owen rocks. He is my go to guy when I can’t figure things out. I love Zemanta too!
Lisas last blog post..What kind of day are you having?
January 15th, 2009 at 9:50 am
I thought that was an awesome post by UGH Owen! I didn’t get to install any of the tools yet but I have it bookmarked to get to that soon. Your further explanation and description of course helps even more… Thanks!
daria369s last blog post..How natural…
January 15th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
I started using Zemanta the day Owen wrote that post! It’s great – and makes adding a link or photo into my post sooooooooo super easy – love it!
I use the Twitter tool bar as well – when I remember it’s there. It speeds up the whole process amazingly fast
The ‘Twitip ID’ plugin you are using is an amazing tool too!
Heather in Beautiful BCs last blog post..Earn an Easy $10.00 via Paypal
January 15th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
First thank you to everyone who’s commented! It’s always a thrill, and agreed Zemanta is turning into a huge help. It has a conflict with Headspace but after submitting a “support ticket” of sorts the creators said they would be checking into it (along with another question I had). Can’t ask for anything more really – I love people who respond
P.S. Check out our new blog – more a directory really – click something LOL!
Diane Scotts last blog post..Aikido Ancient Martial Art
January 16th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I still need to get Zemanta set up on my blog, thanks for the reminder!
For my Twitter I use the Wordpress plugin Twitter Updater (http://www.ingoal.info/archives/2008/07/08/twitter-updater/)
Julies last blog post..Affiliate Summit West 2009 Bloghaus Blog Mistress
January 16th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Cool plug-ins.. I might check them out as well..
January 19th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Hi!! Those are some cool plug ins. We tried to load Zemanta and nothing happened. It kept telling us we had not agreed to the terms!! What do we do next? Thanks for sharing!
Your FL furiends,
Samantha & Mr, Tiggers last blog post..ManCat Monday with Mr. Tigger
February 15th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
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