Social Monkee - Solid SEO or blackhat danger?

Social Monkee is an SEO tool that creates 25 links to your site once per day for free.
While you can pay for additional links created more frequently the location of the links (the pages that your links will be created on) is said to be the same.

While you may find reviews raving about the benefits of using Social Monkee before you jump in you should keep a few things in mind:

1) Social Monkee runs an Affiliate Program
Affiliate programs provide incentives for people to rave about a service. Through raving about it the odds of you clicking on a Social Monkee signup link that the affiliate provides increases and the odds of them making money increases. As such any raves should be taken with a grain of salt, especially if they are accompanied by a sign up link.

2) Ideally you want Quality Backlinks
Social Monkee is trading on the quantitiy of the backlinks that they can provide. While Quantity can be helpful in boosting your google rankings what you really should be looking for a Quality backlinks. This is especially true when you consider what Social monkee might be doing to create your 25 backlinks a day. In all likelihood they're creating links for all of their clients on the same webpages. This means that while you will get 25 backlinks per day the benefit you receive from each backlink is likely to be negligible as your backlink will be one of many on the same page reducing its value.

3) The Googleplex Effect
If you're looking to boost your google ranking you should proceed with extreme caution. Google is interested in providing people with useful information. As part of this they attempt to create algorithms that sort and weight data in a way that is similar to the way a human would sort and weight data. This often means that they get wise to scams and blackhat SEO. Linkfarming was a big issue a few years ago and this sounds suspiciously similar - the creation of a lot of backlinks out of thin air.

4) The use of Jargon to Sound clever
If you've checked their main page you've probably noticed that they brag about Unique C Class IPs.
C Class IPs are simply IP addresses of a class level that is reserved for sites that use unicasting - sites that send information from their server to your computer. Class C IPs are associated with the smallest number of related network addresses. Unique C Class IPs is another way of saying different websites. Usually if someone is trying to blind you with science they're trying to hide something. something like the fact that they're not that special.

An alternative view is outlined in the video below. While the video might seem to raise a good point you should take note of the following points:
1) The test is not scientific
2) We don't know what other SEO techniques have been employed
3) His google search knows about him - it is unsurprising that his website ranks high when he is searching for his target keywords.

The importance of what you don't see - Why what Google and Facebook are hiding from you is important

Oddly enough while people are quick to criticise news networks, such as Fox in the US or even the Herald locally, our new information source, the internet, is not yet subjected to the same critical eye. Yet in this age of increasing personalisation Facebook, Google, and other providers using similar algorithms to determine the relevance of information are acting as the new censors. Ironically though this censorship does not (yet) serve to expose you to the views of the censor, instead it seeks to expose you to your own views. In so doing it will reinforce your existing beliefs at the expense of providing opposing viewpoints.

This is especially dangerous given the way that we work psychologically. If we hold a particular viewpoint we are likely to hold onto it even in the face of conflicting evidence. In fact we will use any supporting evidence at our disposal, no matter how weak, to counter any perceived need to adjust our viewpoint. Furthermore instance of information that are in line with our viewpoint are more likely to be remembered than those that do not. This all culminates in an idea known as confirmation bias - essentially our tendency to continue to believe things that we already believe.

When our innate confirmation bias is combined with an external confirmation bias the danger is that false/incorrect beliefs may be held even more deeply. Afterall instead of information in line with our thoughts being the exception to the rule the additional filter will now ensure that our belief is the rule.

In the video above the presenter rightly points to the importance of being exposed to information outside or personal bubble and suggests that those from Facebook and Google should listen. Arguably they may feel that the focus on social networking should achieve some of this already as we are being exposed to the filters of others. However in order for this to hold the exposure to these filters needs to be immune from the relevance shaping that we have seen occuring, so far it is not.

Story Telling - A Presentation using an Ipad

New dog, old tricks?
In the video below Joe Sabia talks about how storytelling has changed over time...
Or should that be how it has stayed the same over time?
Really the take home message in this presentation is one of consistency rather than one of change.

Ironically it is also worth noting that while the technology he has chosen to tell his story does enable him to tell his story it is little better than a powerpoint presentation. While one could argue that some of his examples are performed live or on the fly, such as the use of google, these examples would need to have been pre-prepared. As such the live on-the-flyness of them becomes somewhat irrelevant. In fact the one thing that could not be easily replicated in powerpoint is the use of  the camera at the end of the presentation. However this adds very little to the presentation as a whole and could also be replicated (or outdone) by cutting to a live feed of the audience..

At this stage then he has failed to make a strong case for the basis of his argument - the idea that storytelling evolves to take advantage of new mediums. In order to truly demonstrate his point greater interaction with the device or the audience would need to have formed a key component of the presentation.

However this does not mean that the ipad has failed where other mediums have succeeded. It simply means that storytelling has not caught up with this particular piece of technology just yet - that or this particular piece of technology has nothing new to offer and/or is merely a passing fad that will not need to be adapted to.

5 Christmas Gift Ideas for Photographers in the making

If you have a friend of family member who can be difficult to buy gifts for but is showing an interest in photography here are a few gifts that you might like to consider:

Buy Now

Digital Photographer's Handbook - A Book by Tom Ang

One of the best gifts you can buy someone who is interested in photography is one that will help them develop their skills. Tom Ang's Digital Photographer's Handbook is a detailed but easy to read introduction to digital photography. It covers camera mechanics (how your camera works), image composition (techniques that will help make your images more pleasing to the eye), visual effects, and even includes projects to help develop photographic skills. In fact it even goes beyond cameras taking in film scanners, lighting set ups and more. While the title suggests that it focuses solely on digital photography if your friend or family member is more interested in film most of the lessons contained in the book will still apply. In fact the section on Film scanning is targeted specifically at film shooters. As an added bonus it even includes some photos taken in little old New Zealand. Awesome!

A Tripod

Blurry photos should be a pet peeve for photographers in the making. A tripod is a great tool that can be used to reduce the odds of encountering this problem. It also has the added benefit of making night-time landscape photos possible. If you live near a road a tripod will help your photographer in the making take photos with blurred lights passing through. Focus on getting the sturdiest tripod you can for your money. If the tripod is likely to shake or wobble under the weight of the camera it is not worth paying for. As it is best to test tripods out in person I have not provided a link here. Instead pop down to your local camera shop (NB:// by this I mean a shop that specialises in selling camera equipment - I would advise against visiting a chain store that does not specialise in photography equipment as, chances are, the salesperson will not be able to give you the information you require to make the best decision).

Shutter Release Cable

If your friend or family member already has a tripod a shutter release cable is another tool that can help photographers reduce the chances of taking blurry photos. By taking photos by pressing something that is not part of the camera the odds of producing camera shake are greatly reduced. These are also usually fairly affordable.

Prints or a Print Voucher
In the age of digital cameras we often forget that photos are things that used to be printed an hung on a wall. You can remind your friend or family member of this by organising to have one of their favourite images printed to a large scale or getting them a voucher to enable them to do this themselves. 

A Film Camera
This is the option that I would most and least recommend. I strongly recommend film here as it will force them to shoot differently. If they use the film camera they will have to slow down and think about their shots a lot more. Raising the stakes in this way will highlight the importance of pre-visualising images. Try to purchase one of the same brand as the odds of knowledge around layout transferring from their digital camera to the film camera will be higher. The odds of them being able to use lenses across systems will also increase. The key reason to avoid this option is the fact that you will be introducing an ongoing cost to your friend or family member. Additionally as film photography differs from digital photography in the delay between shooting an image and seeing an image the film camera may end up being left on the shelf.

Ben Goldacre - Bad Science Review + Video

Buy Bad Science

Bad Science is a book with a great idea. In fact it could well be the perfect antidote to the way that science is presented in the media.

Unlike many introductory textbooks that deal with issues of experimental design Bad Science avoids getting overly technical. It aims to explain things to lay people with a passing interest in the subject matter rather than people with a need to understand the information. Through this user friendliness the concepts become easy to grasp. Through repetition of ideas they become cemented in the mind of the reader. Through the use of entertaining, and sometimes frightening, specific examples the ideas are clarified and given something to hold onto.

However the more relaxed approach also gives rise to an interesting and aggravating weakness. Rather than providing the reader with the tools required to make the call on whether certain claims are valid or not or even  allowing the data to speak for itself from the first time any study or person is mentioned the author makes his own view perfectly clear. Given the books focus on the importance of objectivity, of letting data speak for itself, this approach feels particularly jarring. Furthermore it inadvertently and counter-productively throws the responsibility of identifying bad science off the reader and back on the author themselves. While the author does a great job of identifying issues with research, as far as journalists go, Ben Goldacre is the exception not the rule.

Perspectives Photo + Cinema - An Outsider's View

Separately Perspectives Photography and Jared Brandon Productions have produced reliably stunning work. With a clear passion for creating beautiful wedding photos and stunning wedding videos these two teams of wedding creatives have been a source of inspiration; they know their equipment back to front and know exactly how and where to push it to create beautiful results. Now, in a mind bogglingly awesome move, they have joined forces to create combined wedding photography and video packages to completely capture you and your day. For those prepared to pay the premium that experience and talent come with at the upper end of the wedding market these guys will certainly be a force to be reckoned with.

Photography Style - an outside photographer's perspective

Isaac, Amber, and their helpers consistently produce stunning images from all parts of the day. Common features of their work appear to be the appropriate use of high powered flash and ambient light in their photo shoots. Critically the decision to roll with a shot dominated by flash or ambient light is a function of the setting/conditions and vision of the photographer rather than the blind application of a preferred technique. Indeed the subtle use of remote flash is also frequently employed to enhance an otherwise flash free image. All in all the Perspectives team know what they're doing and, if you like what they do, are well worth the money.

Video Style - an outside film-maker's perspective

Jared Brandon seems to be something of a pioneer in the New Zealand wedding video market. Drawing inspiration from established professionals outside of New Zealand he appears to take a more cinematic approach to wedding videography than what most people think of when they hear the phrase wedding videography. While the use of dSLRs is part of this - helping to achieve the cinematic look through their ability to produce images with shallow depth of field - the key aspect is in the departure from recording a wedding day. Instead Jared appears to focus on recording the story of a wedding day. By focussing on recording the story rather than simply recording the events his videos seem to invite you in - you feel like you are part of the day instead of just a spectator. You feel the emotion rather than witness it. You cry as they cry.

The Joint Venture - a prediction

This joint venture will be successful. However, given that they would each be successful alone the notion of a successful partnership may seem to be something of an obvious statement. Here though is the key. This venture will be successful because of the speed at which they will help their clients find what they are looking for. People who care about great images should care about great photography and great videography. While people often ask photographers to recommend videographers and vice verca this new venture does that immediately and demonstrates the added value that the other side can bring.

Check them out yourself here:
http://www.perspectives.co.nz/

Communicating from the inside out - Apple's Steve Jobs

Here Steve Jobs talks about focussing on your customers rather than your products. Create something that customers will want rather than trying to sell them something that you have. This core idea has some similarities to the idea of communicating from the inside out...

Kind of.

While Simon Sinek suggests that Apple's core belief is in doing things differently here we see it is more refined. Apple do things differently by not only communicating backwards, but also by thinking backwards. Rather than telling people what they want they ask what customers are likely to want.