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[h=2]Text Messages
[h=4]Pros and Cons of Text Messaging
Will text messages work for your needs? Review some of the pros and cons to help decide:
[h=4]Pros:
Texts can be sent and received with almost any mobile phone—not just smartphones.
They are great for quick messages, especially if you are away from a computer.
The other person will see your message either immediately, or the next time they look at their phone.
It's possible to send text messages from a computer to a mobile phone.
[h=4]Cons:
Text messages generally cost money, unless they are included in your mobile
phone plan. Also, the recipient may also be charged when they read the message
The 160-character limit makes text messages unsuitable for longer messages.
Unless your mobile phone has a full keyboard, it may take a long time to type your message.
[h=2]Direct Messages
[h=3]Introduction
Many websites allow you to send direct messages: private messages sent from
one person to another. In many ways, direct messaging is very
similar to email, but with a few important distinctions
It has fewer features than email.
It's only used to communicate with other people who use the same website.
You don't get your own email address, which means that you can't really use
direct messages as a replacement for email
Sending a direct message with Twitter
[h=2]Direct Messages
[h=4]When Are Direct Messages Used?
Direct messages are often used when email is not an option. For example, an
eBay seller may keep their email address private, but you can always contact
them through eBay's direct message feature. Direct messages allow both
parties to communicate without sharing their email addresses. For
convenience, you can usually have direct messages forwarded to your email address
There are two main types of websites where you might use direct messages:
Online stores: If you have a question about an item, you might send the seller a
direct message. This is especially common on websites like eBay and
Etsy where items are sold by regular people, not retailers
Social networking sites: websites like LinkedIn let you send direct messages to other
users. This allows you to send a private message without posting it to a public profile
Sending a direct message in an online store
[h=2]Direct Messages
[h=4]Pros and Cons of Direct Messaging
Will direct messages work for your needs? Review some of the pros and cons to help decide:
[h=4]Pros:
Your contact info stays private. Neither person has to reveal their email address.
You can send private messages that are only visible to the recipient.
It gives you an alternate way to contact friends if you lose their email addresses.
[h=4]Cons:
Like email, it may take a long time for the other person to see your message.
It can't really be used as a replacement for email and its usage is more limited.
[h=2]Direct Messages
[h=4]Where to Find Direct Messaging
There are many websites that offer direct messaging features, including:
[h=2]Likes, Comments, and Sharing
[h=3]Introduction
One of the great things about the internet today is that anybody can join
the conversation. Instead of just reading web pages, you can engage and share things you find with your friends.
Whether you're reading a news article, watching a YouTube video, or shopping for a
great deal, there's a good chance you'll be able to add a comment or use a Social Plug-in to post it to your social networks
Social Plug-Ins
[h=2]Likes, Comments, and Sharing
[h=4]Leaving Feedback with Social Plug-ins
If you're viewing something online, you may notice buttons with the
Twitter logos. These are
called
Social Plug-ins, and they're designed to let you give feedback on a
web page. When you
Like,
recommend, or
tweet a web site, a
link
to that page will be posted on your profile, allowing you to share that site with all your friends at the same time
- Some sites have a +1 button, which is Google Plus's version of the Like button
You can
email an article or link to someone.
[h=2]Likes, Comments, and Sharing
[h=4]Sharing and Comments
People use comments to give feedback, ask questions, or just continue the
conversation. Comments sections often appear at the bottom of a page
or article. Not all web pages have comments, but they're especially common
on blogs, news sites, video sites like YouTube, and image hosting sites like Flickr
When viewing or posting comments, be aware that some people intentionally try to
start arguments (often called flame wars) by posting outrageous or offensive
comments. These people are known as trolls or cyber-bullies. While it may
be tempting to respond to these comments, it's usually best to ignore them
[h=2]Likes, Comments, and Sharing
[h=4]Pros and Cons of Comments and Plug-ins
Wondering if you should start adding comments and using Social Plug-ins? Review
some of the pros and cons to help decide
[h=4]Pros:
Interacting with the things you see on the web provides a better online
experience than just reading web pages
You can easily provide feedback on a page by telling the author what you
think or adding information that may be useful to other people
When you find something that you like, you can share it with your
friends, whether it's a product, article, video, or other website
[h=4]Cons:
Trolls and cyber-bullies may add negative or offensive comments.
Things that you post may be permanent, so you have to be careful not
to post things that could harm your reputation in the future
With Social Plug-ins, it's possible for companies to track your
browsing to collect data about your preferences
[h=2]Blogging
[h=3]Introduction
Have you ever wanted to create your own magazine or newsletter? Would you like to promote your
home-based business or build your personal brand? Have you always wanted to create
your own website, but didn't know how? Today it's possible to do these things by
creating a blog (short for weblog). Best of all, it's free and relatively easy
Many blogs focus on a particular topic or interest, for
example: music, cooking, technology, or parenting. Others are less structured
and cover a variety of topics.It's easy to find a professional design for your
blog, even if you don't know much about building a webpage
[h=2]Blogging
[h=4]Different Types of Blogs
You don't necessarily have to be a writer to create a blog. Some blogs focus on a
particular type of media, such as video or photos, instead of having full-fledged
articles. Others have shorter posts, which won't require as much writing and
may be less time-consuming. Below are some common types of blogs
Video blog: Also known as a vlog, this is a type of blog composed
mainly of videos. Many YouTube channels are classified as video blogs
Photoblog: This is a blog that is mostly photos, with or without descriptions.
Microblog: A microblog consists of very short posts. Status updates are a
form of microblogging. Twitter and Tumblr are two of the most popular microblogging services
Different types of blogs
[h=2]Blogging
[h=4]Blogging Privacy
It's important to remember that blogging is a public form of online
communication. Generally, anyone in the world can view your posts and your
profile. That means you should be extra careful not to post sensitive
information. Additionally, posting things that reflect negatively on you
(such as derogatory or offensive content) could seriously affect your
personal and professional reputation
[h=2]Blogging
[h=4]Pros and Cons of Blogging
Thinking about starting a blog? Review some of the pros and cons to help decide:
[h=4]Pros:
- It gives you an opportunity to write about things that matter to you.
Your blog can be read by people all
over the world.
A blog is much
easier to set up than a regular website.
You can choose a
design and
layout that you like.
[h=4]Cons:
It can be
time-consuming, especially if you post frequently.
You'll need to avoid posting
sensitive information, since it can be viewed by anyone.
Writing
derogatory or
offensive content could harm your reputation.
[h=2]Blogging
[h=4]Where to Find Blogging Services
There are many websites that allow you to create a free
blog. Here are a few of the most popular ones
