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Technology Corner: Simple, Fun Tech Tools for Communicators

By John Heineman

It seems almost daily, as we search the Net; we come across clever new tools, useful resources and information. As a part of the open information and collaboration network, known as the Internet, here are a few fun, simple technology tools/utilities, that you might want incorporate into your communication efforts.

Add Sound to Digital Pictures
Roughly 2 out of every 3 Internet users currently takes and shares digital photographs over the Internet. And the trend is rising. Pictures have become a powerful digital communication medium, capable of carrying a tremendous amount of information. And with new technologies, this form of communication is rapidly turning into a multi-sensory communication vehicle. Soundpix is a software utility that lets users add sound, audio or music directly into any digital photo or image. Bring pictures to life - embed live event audio into company picture, add commentary to better explain an image, or drop in music to create a mood.

Screensavers as a Communication & Branding Tool
Screensavers are one of the most frequently downloaded and used computer software applications. Companies have discovered that these fun little utilities offer branding and communication potential. Since the tool is digital, it can be replicated with little distribution expense. It delivers messages repetitively - which studies indicate is critical to successful branding. And new types of interactive screensavers allow moving beyond a static repetitive message, giving you the capability to broadcast new announcements. See how customizable screensavers can be a fun communication tool, visit Plumwire where you can build, download and explore the world of interactive screensavers.

Compare Website Traffic
Compare your website traffic to that of competitors. Alexa (www.alexa.com), an amazon.com company, ranks every site on the web based on a sampling of the number of users and number of page views. Type any web address into any Alexa search box and see how your site ranks, compared to others. Alexa also provides lists of the Top 500 on the Web, Movers & Shakers which gives the Top 10 Sites moving up or moving down in the traffic rankings and Top Sites by Subject.

Publish Online Articles
Article Manager is a useful tool for anyone who regularly publishes articles online. This web-based content management system allows users to update their site from any web browser. It provides html templates and makes it possible to add new content, remove pages, upload images, or change formatting quickly. The tool allows multiple writers and provides the option of giving them permission to change the site directly or require a review by an editor first. www.interactivetools.com/products/articlemanager

Reference Tools
If you don't feel like hauling your library around with you and do a fair amount of writing or editing, you'll find these free multi-source web search tools very helpful. Just type a word in the search box that appears at the top of every page and then click the 'Look it up' button.
www.dictionary.com
www.thesaurus.com
www.acronymfinder.com

John Heineman is the managing partner at The LeadGen Group, an Internet Marketing and Communication Agency, based in San Francisco, Ca.. His career spans more than 15 years, working with industry leaders like Microsoft, Adobe and Guerrilla Marketing. To learn more about the LeadGen Group visit www.leadgengroup.com, to contact John directly email jheineman@leadgengroup.com.