Embedded Components and Tools Blog Center

Ron Fredericks writes: I have a problem in common with many software engineers and technical managers – “How can I display source code within my blog?”

See, the problem starts when the source code to be displayed interacts with the blogging software itself and then corrupts the blog’s own loop-and-display engine. Thus, the blog page becomes corrupt or at the very least, becomes mis-formatted and hard to read. Of course it would also be nice to color code a software snippet similar to a source code editor to make the posted source code easier to read.

I tried several techniques during my Internet search for “WordPress source code formatting”. I discovered a common theme – there are source code display and highlighting methods available – in fact too many are available. So the search became a “needle in the haystack” time sink. And the sad fact, most choices have some severe limitations.

But at last, I found Dean Lee’s blog post: Source Code syntax highlighting plugin for WordPress (V1.1)

Dan’s pluglin for WordPress has all the features I was looking for:

• installs as a simple plugin for WordPress
• usage within a blog post is easy through the use of the pre tag
• source code displays in its own container with line numbers for reference
• a reader should be able to easily select a range of displayed source code and copy it for their own use (without also selecting the displayed line numbers)
• source code display should not break my WordPress blogging software

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Ron Fredericks writes: This is just a note to point out to my readers that drupal is an easy content management system to use. Over time, ECI will be adding more of the drupal features to improve its community experience. Drupal includes multi-user blogging as well as forums and many other core and extended modules. You can see my new drupal personal site in action from here [updated for Drupal 6.4 on 9/10/08].
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Ron Fredericks writes: In a previous post I talked about using a blog site as an influential place to communicate. Why is it influential? Primarily because an individual can self-publish their thoughts while linking to other posts and sites that are relevant. To take this concept one step further, the question comes up “How shall I motivate other bloggers to promote my story/initiative/whatever?” Clearly, if you can just get a whole bunch of influential bloggers to write about your story in a positive way, well then your message would be read and perhaps even accepted by many more people.

The problem is that individual bloggers don’t like to be told what to do with their blogging activity and time. I read an interesting post this morning on Stephen Walli‘s “Once More unto the Breach” blog titled Blogging and Traditional Marketing that describes the situation exactly.

There may not be a single way to use bloggers to generate influence and create improved marketing exposure. However, Steve Rubel‘s Micro Persuasion blog post titled How to Pitch Into the Long Tail News Curve describes how to work with bloggers more effectively:

• Identify Leading Blog Influencers
• Plant the Seed with the Bloggers
• Hit the Mainstream Press
• Regenerate the Story with Other Bloggers

But the answer was clearly explained by Stephen, take the time to build a relationship with a blogger before you ask them to help you create influence or build marketshare.

Reference:
Morgan Stanley: An Update from the Digital World: from Morse Code to blogs, 2004

Technorati Tags: Ron Fredericks, motivate, promote, Stephen Walli, Once More unto the Breach, Marketing, Steve Rubel, Micro Persuasion, Long Tail, Influence

Gain Impact,
Save Time

Ron Fredericks writes: Dr. Thomas Buckholtz offers his new book titled Gain Impact, Save Time (GIST) as a direct download from Embedded Components, Inc.’s web site. His public speeches are well regarded in Silicon Valley and around the world. A recent lecture titled Mentorship Unplugged: Innovate Incisively by Dr. Thomas J. Buckholtz was discussed on RainMakers LIVE!.

Technorati Tags: Ron Fredericks, Dr. Thomas Buckholtz, GIST, Embedded Components, Silicon Valley, Innovate, RainMakers LIVE!

Are you interested in increasing your influence in the embedded system‘s marketplace? Are you looking for a place to self-publish your content and have it seen by lots of other professionals? Then this blog center may be just the place for you. Embedded Components, Inc. (ECI) recently integrated WordPress to drive this blog center. WordPress is full of features and offers a robust support community.

Do you know how to blog, pingback, digg, tag, link, feed, and reach into the “long tail of the curve”? No? No problem, we’ll teach and help you. Yes? Great, then you already know there is synergy in participation. That’s what our blog center is all about – increase your influence – lower your promotion and support costs. We’re already the experts in embedded blogging:

• for online Cycles of Efficiency™
• for the embedded tools community
• for the embedded components community

Now it’s our turn to help others!

If you are interested, then take the next steps: (1) comment on this initial post, and (2) as part of your comment, request a free author’s upgrade to be an active contributor.

This can be your team’s independent site to influence engineers, marketers, and enablers in the device manufacturing community. We offer this site as a free service to you, or you can sponsor a custom virtual community.

- Ron Fredericks

Technorati Tags: embedded system, Embedded Components, WordPress, long tail, promotion, device manufacturing, Influence

Let’s start blogging!