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Google Hotpot Starts Competing with Local Reviews

Google-HotPotAs I was exploring some of the changes that Google has been making with their search results page recently, I noticed a new service that is now integrated with Google’s local results where users can rate and review the places featured. It’s called Google Hotpot (is that really the best name you could come up with?) and to me it’s competing directly with similar review sites like Yelp!

The Hot Pot features seem to be just an extension of the existing Google Places controls for business owners. Google will still integrate related reviews from other sites, but they now also provide a special rating category by Google users.

Nowhere near the number of features and expanded content and community of Yelp, or similar, but definitely a start for them.

You can follow what Google Hot Pot is up to on their twitter account too: @GoogleHotPot

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Google Voice Tips and Tricks

google-voice

I’ve been using Google Voice now for awhile and I continue to find new and helpful ways to use the service that I hadn’t thought of before. I came across a few different articles today that expanded my awareness of just what’s possible even more.

I’ve currently been capitalizing on the basics of using Google Voice as a main business number that then forwards to whatever number I prefer. I have the Google Voice browser add-ons that allow me to send and receive SMS text messages from my browser. That’s a really big help instead of trying to type rapidly on my phone.

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This Daddy’s Talking to Go to Blog World Expo 2010

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to head on out to Vegas and attend the Blog World & New Media Expo. It was my second foray into a serious social media conference and it was absolutely loaded with more information, tips and suggestions than I could honestly even attempt to digest, and trust me… digesting what I’ve eaten has never really been an issue for me!

this-dads-talking

Since then, I’ve had a couple of years to try out a little what I’ve learned and to develop and expand the friendships I made during all the networking and hallway chats that go on at these events.

I WANT TO GO BACK!

The problem has been being able to afford to go back. I’ve got friends that live in Vegas and I can stay with them for free again, but trying to pony up the cash for the airplane ticket and conference pass was just too much to attempt this year. On top of that, my family did have a trip to Disney planned over the same period. Daddy sure wasn’t going to be absent on a family trip to Disney, that’s for sure!

Lately I’ve been seeing and trying to participate in a bit of a movement among the blogosphere for “Daddy bloggers”. Sure “mommy bloggers” get all the cool press and media exposure, which they deserve. I even know some great mommy bloggers like Casey Mullins, female blogger phenom and The Queen of Free herself, Cherie Lowe. You can follow the activity on Twitter with the #DadsTalking hashtag and participate on their official website at www.dadstalking.com.

I recently saw that they’re giving away a free conference pass and airfare from Southwest Airlines to the Blog World Expo & New Media Expo 2010.

WOOT!

Here’s the rundown:

  1. Find out about #DadsTalking activity
  2. Family trip to Disney got cancelled and rescheduled
  3. Find out Dads Talking is giving away prize to go to BWE10!
  4. Loves flying Southwest!
  5. Loves Vegas
  6. Friends in Vegas
  7. Wants to go to BWE10, with Dads Talking on Southwest

That about covers it right?

Now I’ve got to convince them to pick me as their winner! Aside from the giant, yellow smiley face, what more could you want? No, I’m just kidding. I’m really excited about the Dads Talking movement and love the new dads I’ve met in such a short time. I’d love to head out to Vegas and make some in-the-flesh and face-to-face connections with more dads and do everything I can to help increase the momentum for all involved.

Of course, it’s Vegas too, so who knows, I could be convinced to get a tattoo promoting the wonders of fatherhood in Vegas at BWE10 thanks to Southwest Airlines somewhere on my body!