On January 18, websites all over the world will unite in protest against SOPA and PIPA, the pair of anti-piracy bills coming out of House and Senate, respectively.

MultimediaMomma stands with the likes of WordPress, Google (view its take action page), Wikipedia and others in protesting this effort to censor the internet. Here, it’s just one little voice. But this is a very important time to raise it.

Want to read SOPA? Mashable.com provides a link to the full text.

It is also a time to look at ourselves and our behaviors. What we are telling our kids. The example we are setting to them and others. Are we doing our part to stop piracy?

Individuals and organizations determined to run and profit from pirate sites will. But as individual consumers of information on the web, we don’t have to support their cause. We have to protect copyright, respect intellectual property and restore value to the creative work people share on the web. And we have to set the same standard for our children.

Piracy is wrong. Disrespect is unacceptable. But SOPA as it stands only serves to hurt legal innovation and freedom.

Perhaps you’ve been there.

Willing to do anything to appease a grumpy toddler, you pass over your handheld digital camera and let the tyke give it a try. After all, more often then not, the device was a Flip, a palm-sized, user-friendly, low-cost alternative to the sooo-2000 mommy cam. The virtually indestructible little gem of digital technology had the magic to restore calm in a matter of seconds without a frame of video lost in the process.

But almost as quickly as it seemed to rise, Flip has been sunk, a casualty of Cisco’s inability to keep a winner in the winner’s circle.

In a release on its website, the financially embattled Cisco said it will “exit aspects of its consumer businesses,” closing down its Flip operation and weaning lovers of the device off it with a “transition plan.”

And just like that, the nation’s best-selling camcorder finds itself in a digital graveyard somewhere between MySpace and my old electric blue pager.

Flip’s story reportedly started out in a small office above Gump’s department store in San Francisco in 2001 and it was originally sold in drugstores. I remember. I bought my first one before it even had a name (that came in 2007, two years before Cisco plunked down a reported $590 million to snap up Pure Digital and its signature camera).

No matter what it was called, the little white box with the big red button was soon a hit, stuffing the stockings of college students, traveling in the carry-ons of honeymoomers and chronicling the first moments of life in hospitals everywhere.

It was perfect. As a print journalist, it meant I was able to capture and tell stories in new ways before video was a common feature on smartphones. As an educator, I could afford to teach video shooting and editing more effectively because students actually had cameras in their hands. And as a parent, it was a legitimate option when either my smartphone was out of reach or I was unwilling to put it in harm’s way — and let’s face it, videotaping a toddler can be treacherous for any handheld camera. I’d rather lose a $179 Flip onto the pavement or into a swimming pool than be without my iPhone for a minute.

For everything that was great about the Flip, though, it had its flaws. Integrating a tripod mount took far too long. Silent mode and “child safe” came late, too. And if Cisco wanted to really give consumers a reason to drop a quick couple hundred dollars, it was not going to be with flashy custom skins. I would have been among the first to do so once a microphone jack was added, which could have catapulted the average Flip user to rockstar video producer status and set it apart from the smartphone competition.

But responding to the consumer was apparently not in the business plan of Cisco, and looks to be missing from its future outlook as well. It will become even less relevant to the average consumer, a gamble it apparently is willing to take. And fans like me are left hoping Apple, Sony or really anyone with even an inkling of consumer awareness picks up the Flip ball and runs with it.

SDSU is again kicking off another semester of digital media classes tailored to meet the needs of today’s media profescetsional.

Starting tonight, MultimediaMomma’s Nicole Vargas will teach Publishing on the Web, which focuses on teaching students the skills to establish and expand a web presence.

The certificate program has expanded to include a second social media class, also taught by Vargas, as well as a Photoshop class taught by Sam Hodgson, photographer extraordinaire for Voice of San Diego.

The program also recently rolled out a web presence of its own, sdsudigimedia.org. The site, developed on WordPress, is designed to not only highlight the Digital and Social Media Collaborative at San Diego State, but allows instructors in the classroom to practice what the preach. The site also features a separate private online community site for alumni developed on BuddyPress.

For more details on the blueprint used in developing the site, stay tuned!

You’ve spent time on WordPress.com, getting you blogging feet under you. You have a good base, but you’re ready for a bit more of a challenge, ready to invest more in your online brand. You’re ready to make the jump to a self-hosted WordPress site.

Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to build your own self-hosted WordPress site, MultimediaMomma-style.

1. Buy a hosting account, and if necessary, a domain name.
Think of it this way: You want to build a house, but you have neither the property nor the physical address. This is what you get with web hosting. Web hosting is basically rented server space, i.e. the land for your future home. The domain name is the house number. You need both to start the ball rolling. Which one do I choose? Ask around. Check out sites like this online to comparison shop.
Nicole’s recommendation: Bluehost. Legit company charges $6.95 per month for unlimited sites and includes a domain name. I have worked with GoDaddy, Network Solutions and HostGator. I always fall back to Bluehost, mostly because of the support. Worth every penny in my mind. Also features one-click WordPress installs. Note: MultmimediaMomma likes Bluehost so much, we joined it’s affiliate program in March 2011.

2. Get your template.
Like WordPress.com, WordPress.org features plenty of free templates (over 1,200 when I last checked). You can also find some online. I, though, tend to lean toward paying a little to get a lot. With a paid template, you usually get a network of support, greater flexibility in terms of customization as well as links to other sites using your same template — built-in inspiration!
Nicole’s recommendation: iThemes. When I started developing on WordPress, I looked at a list of third-party premium theme providers on Google. After visiting many of the top sites, though, one jumped out as meeting the most of my needs. I liked the diversity of themes, and the fact they were very business-oriented. They were neither too dark nor too cheery. The price was also fairly reasonable, and I liked that they offer coaching on becoming a WordPress developer. I’ve been impressed from the start, and you get what you pay for in terms of support and a network of users with great suggestions and ideas.

3. Import your content from WordPress.com.
In WordPress.com, under the Tools menu, you should see a button that says Export. This is the first step in moving content. A couple of things to know: when exporting, all that moves is text — not photos, headers and other media. You will have to import that by hand on your own. Also, there is such a thing as having too much to import. I have heard horror stories — only a few, but one is enough! If this is a way you want to go, I suggest doing it fairly early in your WordPress.com career so as to prevent issues with timing out, etc.
Nicole’s recommendation: Use the resources available through WordPress. The platform is so widely used, there is a ton of support available from people in your shoes, like on WordPress’ Importing Content page. You also should use the WordPress Importer plugin to make this easier.

4. Have fun with plugins.
You did the work to upgrade. Now, enjoy the benefits! Plugins are the fastest way to get the most bang from your  virtual WordPress buck. Over 1,100 are available in WordPress’ own directory alone, nearly all free. So start installing!
Nicole’s recommendation: Here’s a list of 10 must-have plugins.

• WP-Stats-Dashboard. Makes the dashboard in WordPress.org look like what you came to know and love in WordPress.com. A must.
• WordPress.com Stats.The engine for the above plugin. Best part is stats from .com site actually link to new site, allowing you to observe trends from the start.
• Akismet. The plugin to stop spam. Makes a very noticeable difference. Registration required, and payment encouraged.
• Sociable for WordPress 3.0. This is one of many plugins to encourage sharing, and it really covers the range of possible sites. Whether you pick this one or another one, make sure it is a part of what you do.
• Scroll to top. Remember, web visitors are inherently lazy. This make returning to the top of the page easy as pie and looks clean, too. No code required!
• Tweet Blender. Become your own Twitter aggregator! Choose the handles, hashtags and keywords you want seen. No more stale Twitter widgets!
• WordPress Backup. Another one of those don’t-care-if-you-pick-this-one-just-pick-one kind of plugins. If you don’t backup on your own, no one will. Prevent issues easily with regular (automatic) backups.
• If You Liked That… Allows for automatic list of related stories to appear. Looks super polished and encourages visitors to hang out awhile. Yay!
• Google Calendar Events. You can embed a Google Calendar easily onto a Wordpres page or post. This put a widget in your sidebar that shared upcoming events. Great addition and looks professional and dynamic.
• All in One SEO Pack. One of these plugins never hurts!

5. Go live!

I recently put this in the hands of students in San Diego State’s Publishing on the Web class. Hopefully, it makes upgrading to a self-hosted site less intimidating! If it has worked for you, let me know. Any any cautionary tales are welcome as well.

Facebook has made it easier than ever for businesses and non-profits to be a part of the astronomical growth of social media. Pages are public. They are indexed on Goggle. They ever feature new analytics, called insights, that can help any organization refine its social media strategy.

So why are so many organizations settling for what amounts to a glorified Facebook profile?

A page can take just seconds to create. But before rushing to click publish, businesses and non-profits should put in the kind of consideration that would go into a major marketing campaign or web development project. The benefits are definitely worth it.

What are the must-have elements of an enhanced Facebook Page?

• Profile picture with impact. Most people know it is a social media no-no to publish a profile without this highly visible element. But don’t settle for a simple headshot, which is customary on personal profiles. A profile picture can max out to 200×600 pixels. Experiment with scale, or integrate multiple photos into a sort of collage. Think of it as the eye-catching front of your business brochure. Make it pop.
• Enhance your users’ experience with custom tabs. Wall, Info, Boxes… Great start. But not the end by any means. Think like a website user. What information and functions would a current or potential client expect to find on your site? Create a list, prioritize it and give a taste of that on your Page. Many of the most popular applications come with their own tab. But the most adventurous out there also develop their own tabs using an application like Static FBML.
• Speaking of FBML… Learn it. Embrace it. Make it yours. Facebook Markup Language, as well as HTML, can and should be used to transform tabbed content into works of web art. You don’t need an advanced Dreamweaver degree, either. Turn to an HTML code generator for help, like QuackIt.com.
• Applications, applications, applications. You know what your clients and users want. Give that to your fans as well. Video a priority? Look at the applications like YouTube. Want Twitter integration? Make it happen. Already embracing e-commerce or soliciting donations? Make it a part of your Page, too. Have a special promotion or event coming up? Consider a Welcome page. You will have to wade through a host of sill, unusual or otherwise useless applications, but finding the handful that match your message can be game changers.
• Post early, often to stay fresh on the minds of fans. Only you can determine what your terms of social media engagement should be in order to serve your community best. A post once a week, or once a day? Fresh photos monthly? Video posted by admins or users? Is it time to spice things up with a contest or promo? No one knows your business or non-profit best. My suggestion? Take a conservative approach, set attainable goals, monitor feedback and insights and adjust accordingly. Don’t be sucked in by flashy apps or posting just to post. Make it mean something, and it will.

Other points to remember… Cross promote your web presence with your social media. Put it on business cards. Add it to your email signature. Consider investing in a Facebook ad campign.

Think about providing special content for your most loyal fans by adjusting the page settings. Evaluate the merits of allowing users to post content like photos and videos, easily the biggest draw on Facebook. Post your own, and do it often. And learn from the masters. No, you may not be Coke, Gap, Victoria’s Secret or Target. But you can take a little from what works on their pages and modify it to suit your needs and clients.

No matter what your decide, some simple planning on the front end will speak volumes about the brand you have established  on the back end. And hopefully, embracing the strategy will result in the kind of ROI your business or non-profit can build on.

To see many of the elements I mention in action, visit the AWSM Online Facebook Page, which I developed for the Association for Women in Sports Media.

And to learn more about enhancing a Facebook Page, check out this great article on Mashable about the top applications for a page. You can also dive into the Facebook Development Wiki.

Has Facebook finally overtaken Google? The quick answer, according to a Hitwise blog post this week, is sorta.

After sneaking to the top of the internet food chain on a handful of recent holidays and one weekend earlier this month, Facebook finally claimed a week at the top. The week ending March 13, 2010 had Facebook as the most visited site online.

Whether or not the trend continues will be something to watch. Another trend, according to Fortune Brainstorm Tech blogger Jessi Hempel, is the overall behavior of web users.

It is a fascinating trend, indeed, as web users are becoming as much creatures of habit online as they are offline. And if this has the potential to hurt a site like MySpace, small businesses, nonprofits and individual bloggers are at an even greater risk.

“Another important trend to watch: web behavior is consolidating. Taken together, Facebook and Google (including YouTube, Gmail, and Google Images) accounted for more than 17% of Internet activity for the most recent week available, or nearly one web visit in every five. The largest websites are growing larger and the long tail — all the publishers writing to audiences of a few readers — is growing longer. Meanwhile many mid-size sites like MySpace are losing ground.” – From How Facebook overtook Google to be the top spot on the Internet

So how does one of the web’s smallest sites grow its audience? Do like Facebook. Or to clarify, do Facebook. A static website (or better, a blog) is fine and good, but only the beginning. A complete web strategy has to include social media, and simply waiting for visitors to come to you without making an effort to drive traffic is short sighted. You are not going to beat the Facebooks of the world. So join them.

Here are a few tips on building out a social media presence.

1. Do your homework. Identify your audience and where they are spending their time online. Are they on Facebook? Do they spend time on YouTube? Are the Twitter types? Playing Foursquare? Make a single selection and start there.
2. Learn all you can about the application of choice. Every single social media application has tutorials and support to help users learn. And the average user is only scratching the surface in terms of the functions these sites offer. Investing a little time can go a long way. You wouldn’t get on the road without a license, so don’t travel down the social media superhighway without a little direction.
3. Be social. Yes, it is easy to create the account, but using it to build and extend an audience requires a little work. Set small goals for engagement. I will post something, anything at least once per week. I will answer all direct messages with 24 hours. I will visit and comment on three different sites or blogs weekly. After sticking to those goals for a couple of weeks, review the progress. Did you see a marked increase in traffic to your blog or site? Did your secure more friends or followers? Are comments up on your site? Then, adjust if necessary.

Leave behind the thinking that people will find you on their own. By integrating social media into your marketing strategy, you are driving traffic your way and building an audience that will turn to you first.

Note: Special thanks to @Social MediaWay on Twitter for the link to Hempel’s blog.

Dear Kindle,

Don’t worry. I don’t think I’ll be leaving you for the iPad.

I know. It seems as if everything shy of my toothbrush has a shiny apparition of an apple on it. But I think we’re going to be together for the long haul, or at least until iPad can a.) multi-task and b.) be friends with my small family of USB devices.

Now, it doesn’t hurt that a Kindle has amazing battery life and can be read in bright light (not so important now, but a big deal in the summer sun.) And then there’s the Kindle iPhone app. Even when we are apart, my Kindle, you are always with me thanks to the magic of my smart phone.

Hugs,

Nicole

P.S. Want to learn more about Apple’s shiny new toy? There’s no shortage of news and information. Some of the best I found was on Mashable, which has devoted a tab to the topic. No surprise there. And for my journalist friends, I suggest some time on the Poynter site. The e-readers impact on the industry is a hot topic right now, and will not be dying down anytime soon.

What started as a online convenience has become a big business — URL shortening. And like so many web-based tools and applications, the balance of power has shifted. Where TinyURL may have ruled the web for much of the decade, our top pick — bit.ly — is now the top dog for good reason.

Even before Twitter made bit.ly its default url shortener last May, dumping TinyURL, the new kid on the block was making waves. Bit.ly stood out from a sea of competitors for one reason, and it is a big one — built-in analytics.

This is the single greatest reason why we got on board with the service more than a year ago, and the reason why we recommend it highly to even the most web-phobic users. The site sells itself by providing real-time traffic statistics, as well as referrer data in a clean, easy-to-digest format. Do you want to know how many clicks you had the day you posted a link or sent it in an email? Bit.ly will tell you. What number came from Facebook vs. Twitter? It will tell you that. The total coming from outside the U.S.? That’s available, too.

While knowing this kind of information can be just plain fun for the average user, those trying to establish or expand a web brand, especially those lacking a big budget to do so, can benefit tremendously.

The simple reason: efficiency. This information provides the necessary information for an individual, small business or non-profit to refine their online strategy. With these tools, a user can make better decisions on how to spend time, who their audience happens to be, what that audience is looking for in terms of a product and how best to spend advertising dollars. Oh, and did we mention it is free?

Now, in order to benefit most from bit.ly, registration is required. Links generated will not only be omitted from statistics, but will not be unique to the user. Those links can apparently be imported into a user’s signed-in history after the fact, although we wouldn’t risk it.

This week’s rumors of an Apple tablet, the debut of a new Goggle phone and the opening of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has us eager to talk toys. Next week, we’ll kick off that discussion with our favorite new toys, both on the web and handheld.

-Nicole Vargas

If you are in San Diego and interested in a digital media program that will give you practical, hands-on training at an affordable price, San Diego State has a program for you.

We are embarking on our second semester of the Digital Media Certificate Program in the College of Extended Studies. The class size is small (15ish for lab classes, 25 for larger lecture-based classes) and the content diverse. Most of the students are mid-career professionals with some sort of media background, either hoping to enhance skills they have or gain new ones. Best of all, you have the opportunity to not only gain knowledge, but create content for what could  be the start of a nice portfolio.

The first class, Publishing on the Web, begins Feb. 4 and is taught by MultimediaMomma’s Nicole Vargas. Additional classes include video production, slideshow production, social networking tools and search engine optimization. Classes can be taken for the certificate or on their own.

To learn more about the program or to enroll, visit SDSU’s College of Extended Studies website. Do you know of a great digital media class or program? Pass your suggestions along.

-Nicole Vargas