which blogging platform is right for your business? wordpress (part 1)

Just as you have tools to manage your finances, marketing, inventory and, hopefully, social media, simply put, a blog is an online content management system (CMS).

It can be personal place in a professional world where you, the owner, can put a human face on your business, share opinions and insight, and create a dialogue with consumers. It’s your place to say what you want directly to your consumers while improving your rank in search because you’re creating content that’s relevant to your business. That may be another topic altogether, but just know it’s an outlet for you to reach and interact with potential and current consumers by sharing content, which’ll ideally show off the fact that you’re an expert in your field or maybe even a tastemaker or trendsetter.

The blogging software is the actual tool that manages this content (and enables you to edit and publish from a central interface), turning your words, thoughts, ideas, photos, videos and anything else you want to post into a format that’s easy for consumers to read and, if you’re using SEO properly, find too (because you’re also speaking the language of the Internet).

Of course, you do have choices—many choices. So, which blogging platform is right for you?

This week in Local U, NN's online small business education center, we're kicking off a series exploring the pros and cons of different blogging platforms. Whether you're concerned about ease of setup and integration, theme options, ease of use and updating, plugins, SEO tools, security, mobile or tablet capabilities (including apps for publishing), or price, we're here to help you find the best match.

First up: A look at WordPress.

While Blogger, Tumblr or any other number of blogging software names might sound familiar to you, there’s one platform that is truly ubiquitous: WordPress.

The free, open-source blogging software and content management system has been powering websites and blogs for more than a decade now, and today there are almost 70 million WordPress sites in the world, from The New York Times to Forbes to the NFL and countless tech and pop culture blogs.

“WordPress is a nice solution for a small business website,” says Mathew Simonton of Formic Media, a search engine marketing agency for small businesses. You can build your entire site (blog included) on the WordPress platform or extend your current presence with a WordPress blog installation, he explains.

“With WordPress, you have two options,” explains Jennifer Rana of Made by Finch, a Portland-based website and graphic design studio that develops WordPress blogs and sites: A WordPress.com account is free and fully hosted by WordPress.com (plus, for a small fee, you can pay for a unique URL), or you can download the WordPress software (available at WordPress.org) and install it on your own site (aka self-hosting). Read more on the nitty-gritty details.

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Subscribe to Neighborhood Notes' small business education center, Local U, to read the rest of this article as well as follow our series on blogging platforms.

rodrigo y gabriela show a fresh familiarity at edgefield

A glowing Gabriela at Edgefield on July 6th.

Rodrigo y Gabriela's latest Portland appearance was back to the basics—mostly.

After sharing the Schnitzer stage in 2012 with a five-piece band—a Cuban orchestra dubbed C.U.B.A. (Collective Universal Band Association)—following the release of Area 52, Rod y Gab took the outdoor stage in their most impressive form—as a duo—at Edgefield on Saturday, July 6th. And while opener and C.U.B.A. collaborator Alex Wilson briefly joined the pair on piano, the performance was chiefly the familiar ol' Rod y Gab show we've come to adore—mostly.

Last time in town, the music was full of new sounds but the songs weren't—every one was simply a re-envisioned take on material from the duo's self-titled record and 11:11. But this time, the setlist featured quite the offering of new material. Being only the second date of the tour, Rodrigo mentioned that they'd just come from the studio and were ready to show off songs from the forthcoming album.

As for what was the same:

You could picture Rod y Gab getting pumped up backstage as Rage's f-bomb-filled "Killing in the Name" blared before the set. This was followed by Tool's "The Pot," which meant the duo was ready to take the stage.

Pure power.

After opening the set seated for a new tune, "Hanuman" was the first opportunity for Rod y Gab to strut their stuff, showing off the power metal stance they've both perfected.

As the natural light waned, the pair glowed, and (because I had the luxury of standing literally right underneath them while snapping photos for the first three songs) you could see the subtle, silent cues—speaking volumes with just their eyes—and not only to each other but also the audience. As Gabriela got into the groove, rapping her knuckles with more and more intensity, a brief respite would see her looking out into the crowd with a joyous, childlike smile while she yipped and bounced about the stage, one arm raised, finger pointing skyward.

A tiny hint of "Stairway To Heaven" started off Rod's solo bit. The crowd wanted it so he kept going with the Latin-ized Zeppelin before (intentionally) botching it and mouthing: "I don't remember."

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Read the rest and see more photos on OMN.

radiation city : in the middle but on the way up

It's no coincidence that Radiation City's name starts with an informal adjective designed to describe themselves before you've even had a chance to finish saying, or comprehending, their name. They just put it out there at the beginning because they want you to know.

And it's true: They are Rad.

Although the majority of the five sexy band mates are in some sort of love affair with their other band members, there's still plenty of love to share. In recent times, since the May 21st release of Rad City's second full-length album, Animals in the Median, the rest of the nation has glommed on to the "Poitland" act's sultry blend of jazzy bossa nova tinged with electronics, which all the while maintains something slightly symphonic, yet ultimately remains deliciously danceable. Topped by breathy harmonies and the requisite serving of indie fuzz, the band says it best themselves: "Your parents' record collection spent some time on the event horizon, and this came out."

Not in love yet? Well, try to deny the retro flavor of "So Long," which is lucid and bleary at the same time:



Animals in the Median is another largely DIY effort (after their self-recorded debut and subsequent EP), but this time Radiation City's Cameron Spies, Lizzy Ellison, Randy Bemrose, Matt Rafferty and Patti King were joined by a few friends.

"There are some interesting things that are unique to this record for us, like the homies we worked with (mixer Sonny DiPerry, player Riley Geare) and the locations (rural Washington cabins, Oregon beach spots we shared with Josh Hodges [of Starfucker], et al., the various PDX homes, mixing at Jackpot!)," Bemrose explains. "All in all, we worked harder and longer on this record than any other before it. Hopefully you can hear that paying dividends on the album, but if nothing else, it has honed our skills as collaborators, engineers, producers, and players. We'll continue to try and raise the bar moving forward, but I expect it to be a good deal easier after all the heavy lifting we did on this one."

Progress is also represented by the album's title: "On one hand, it's evoking a highway median or midway—this haven for traveling creatures, a safe place surrounded by danger," Bemrose says. "On another hand, it's referencing the mathematical notion of the median, or the number that lies in the middle of any group of numbers, effectively bisecting the group into higher and lower. I like to think that that's where you are at any given moment, in the middle, with a choice or opportunity to strive for the higher, or fall into the lower."

Seeking "the higher," Radiation City took to the road on a nationwide tour as soon as the album dropped, but they're plenty happy to be wrapping up their jaunt right here at home.

"We're just excited to be playing Portland at the end of a tour for a change," Bemrose says. "Usually we play PDX and then leave for tour so we're still working out the kinks, fiddling with the song list we'll be drawing from, dialing in sounds... it'll be nice to be a well-oiled machine for y'all."

That machine (or animal) will perform at the Wonder Ballroom on Friday, June 28th with looped electronics and drums from Portland "nerd-wave" XDS and San Francisco's Social Studies, who are also supporting their second album, Developer. (Psst, fans of Beach House should definitely show early to enjoy this band fronted by vocalist and keyboard player Natalia Rogovin.)

And even though the gig hasn't even happened yet, here are a few reasons to look forward to what comes after the show.

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Read the rest on OMN.

melville's upcoming 'maquette' is ready for release

Melville—Photo by Hanmi Hubbard Meyer

Ryan T. Jacobs' Melville is gearing up.

And although his new six-song EP, Maquette, doesn't officially come out until September 14th, the bandleader isn't simply sitting on the record until then. Rather, he's preparing himself and his band for a series of gigs that span the state at the end of the month.

In fact, it seems like Jacobs is constantly in a state of preparation. That and change. After almost three years in Portland, Jacobs, a Southern Oregon native, has been battling to get his music out into the world as he's dealt with a rotating cast of players while writing and recording new material as well as learning the local music scene, like how to get booked at respected venues like the Doug Fir and Mississippi Studios or how to get his music on the radio. (Melville's been featured on both KZME and KINK.)

But, the product of this process is a second EP under the Melville name, and the first single, "Forked Tongue," drops today.


A "caustic" rocker "about some of the unconscionable things people say or do to get ahead in any respective area (career, personal lives, etc.)," the track is anchored, as always, by Jacobs' genuine, emotive vocals. "They don't worry about what effects it may have on people they're involved with as long as they're able to, however incrementally, 'get ahead,'" Jacobs continues. "It's essentially just a roundabout way of calling those kind of people snakes. We all know those kinds of people and we all dislike them, yet they still somehow exist, and in certain unfortunate cases, even thrive."

Jacobs himself has been on a path of steady growth, one that's been more constructive and organic than the one he describes. Much like The Beatles who played the clubs of Hamburg to cut their chops, Jacobs spent four years in Berlin honing his songwriting craft and moving up in the world, from performing solo on street corners to selling out legitimate venues. Releasing his debut EP, The Places You Might Have Gone, in April 2009, Jacobs returned home to Oregon in 2011 but settled in Portland (rather than his hometown of Grants Pass). Deciding it was time to plant some roots and put together a band that could flesh out his songs, he started calling his project Melville and introduced this act at the LaurelThirst Pub in June 2011.

Of the six tracks on Maquette, a few are revisions of songs that appeared on Melville's debut EP, Erstwhile, but Jacobs says that the band, which currently features Tim Skerpon on drums, Thomas Yates on bass, and Jim Meyer on keys, "was integral in shaping how the songs sound on the record and how we interpret them live."

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Read the rest on OMN.

throw a neighborhood block party!

Summer’s here and a block party is a great excuse to get to know those neighbors who you only see traveling to and from work or taking out the trash. There are a few bureaucratic hoops to jump through with the city, but if you follow our advice, throwing your own block party should be a cinch.

Think of a block party as a potluck or barbecue-style event intended to attract only local residents who live on your street rather than a community event, like a street fair or farmers' market, which would attract people from beyond your immediate vicinity.

First, you need to determine the scope of your block party:

• Do you want to block off the street to traffic?
• Do you plan to have live or otherwise amplified music?
• Will your party have large structures such as a stage, merry-go-round, bounce house or the like?

Depending on what you want to do, take the following into consideration so there are no surprises along the way.

Pick a Date

Begin by polling your neighbors to find a good date and time that works for everybody. National Night Out is a natural choice because it always falls on the first Tuesday in August and the city waives certain application fees for parties planned on this eve.

Apply for the Necessary Permits

This is where the scope of your party matters and you have two basic options.

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Find out what else you need to do to plan your neighborhood block party on Neighborhood Notes.

summer festivals + outdoor activities in portland

What happens when you combine creativity with a questionable amount of engineering experience and then send it hurtling down the side of a hill? You get the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby—the epitome of Portland culture.

It’s the time of year when the sun should be shining in the Rose City, and whether or not that’s a fact, Portlanders take to the streets and parks to enjoy live music, parades, street fairs and more. If you need ideas for where to find summer fun outside, Neighborhood Notes has some suggestions to get you started. Now, get out there and join your neighbors for an outdoor movie on the big screen or a bike ride.

Portland Rose Festival

May-June

Proud to be the Rose City, the Portland Rose Festival is our namesake festival. While there are innumerable events and activities planned, the carnival-like CityFair is open three weekend in a row—from May 24 to June 9—starting on Memorial Day weekend (opening night features fireworks) and includes rides, vendors, music, food and more. Then, the June 1 Starlight Run and Parade gives participants a chance to join a fun run through downtown’s streets while spectators can enjoy the runner’s costumes and the following floats, marching bands and more. June 6 and 7 bring the Portland Rose Society’s 125th Annual Spring Rose Show, while June 8 is the big day, marking the Queen’s Coronation at Memorial Coliseum, followed by the Grand Floral Walk, and then the culminating event: the Grand Floral Parade.

Movies in the Park

June-September

While it might not be a drive-in theater, the Portland Parks Foundation keeps a little piece of American history alive with its free Movies in the Park. On select warm summer nights throughout the city, some 40,000 community members come together in more than 40 local parks under an open sky to watch a movie, snack on popcorn, and enjoy the company of their neighbors.

Waterfront Blues Festival

July 4-7, 2013

More than a quarter century old and going strong, the nation’s second largest celebration of blues, rock ‘n’ roll and soul takes place right here in Portland. A benefit for the Oregon Food Bank, the Waterfront Blues Festival draws more than 100,000 people to see more than 100 artists on multiple stages during several days of music, sun, brews and, of course, fireworks on the Fourth of July.

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Visit Neighborhood Notes to find more summer festivals and outdoor activities across town all summer long, like Sunday Parkways, Concerts in the Park, the Mississippi Ave Street Fair and more.

oregon wine month : meet alchemy

While today may be the last day of Oregon Wine Month, I featured one final urban winemaker yesterday on Neighborhood Notes' Local Agenda: Alchemy Wine Productions. The husband-and-wife team along with their sustainably minded neighbors (Stone Barn Brandyworks, Marigold Coffee, Nell & Mary, and Make It Good) are hosting another Producers Portland event at the Green Warehouse on June 8, so that'd be a good time to visit the winery and "take a peek behind the scenes of some of SE PDX's boutique manufactures."

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Check out the other urban winemakers featured earlier this month.

what to do if someone steals your logo online

Imagine opening your email in the morning to find two messages—one from a designer in Denmark and another from South Africa—and both friends have inadvertently similar warnings for you: They’ve each just seen your logo—or one that’s unmistakably similar to yours.

Whether an unauthorized reproduction of your brand’s identity is spotted in two continents on one day, or a child from a village in Kenya is wearing your local balloon company’s logo embroidered on his shorts, you should understand the importance of protecting your business or product name with a trademark.

You've likely invested time and money to generate an identity for your brand and to trademark it, but the reality is, no one is going to protect it for you. You are required to police the use of your trademark and that means being proactive and on the lookout for rip-offs of your logo online.

This might sound like an impossible task so we’re going to provide you with a few tips to help you protect your brand in a digital world.

Finding Infringing Trademarks Online

Graphic designer Jeff Fisher of LogoMotives is a model of vigilance. And, he’s very open about publicly sharing appropriations of his design work in a gallery he dubs “Rip-offs and Unauthorized Usage.” Continually updated, the Facebook album contains some 150 photos and stories. The detailed examples illustrate his process to protect his designs and clients and are an invaluable resource where others can learn how to protect their brand.

So, how does Fisher discover infringing content on the web?

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Subscribe to Neighborhood Notes' small business education center, Local U, to read the rest of this article, and once you're a member, you can read up on the rest of NN's trademark resources.

oregon wine month : meet the winemakers

Oregon Wine Month has barely more than a week left, but every Thursday throughout May, I've been featuring a new urban winemaker on Neighborhood Notes' Local Agenda. So far, we've met the wine aficionados and received tasting recommendations from Hip Chicks Do Wine, Jan-Marc Wine Cellars, ENSO Winery, and the Southeast Wine Collective, which features four wineries (Helioterra Wines, Vincent Wine Company, Division Winemaking Company, and Bow & Arrow Wines) under one roof.

Learn about these Portland vintners and then go visit a few this Memorial Day weekend because all of them are hosting events.

get out! 'city baby' — portland film premiere

My contribution to this week's edition of Get Out!

Written by locals David F. Morgan and Cora Benesh and directed by Morgan, City Baby—showing one night only—is "a Portland-centric coming-of-age story about a group of meandering 20-somethings trying to find meaning in the new world of adulthood." It’s also a fictitious Portland band. Love and friendship and… self-absorption—sound like someone you already know in Portland (or someone you encounter at the coffee shop every day)? What's notable here is the stacked musical lineup the film features and intertwines into its story. With live performances from Glass Candy and Starfucker and cameo appearances by Stephen Malkmus (Pavement), Rocky Tinder (Wampire), and Jake Morris (Joggers, Street Nights, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks), the soundtrack also features several Johnny Jewel composed songs (Glass Candy, Desire, Chromatics and tracks from Symmetry), plus music from past and present (as well as active and inactive) PDXers like Red Fang, The Helio Sequence, Lovers, Explode Into Colors, Mattress, The Reservations, Reporter, Angelo Spencer, Jeffrey Jerusalem, Okay Colour, Aan, Guidance Counselor, Marius Libman (as well as Copy), The Miracles Club, Charlie Salas Humara (Sun Angle, Grapefruit, Panther), and Jay Winebrenner (Street Nights, 31 Knots). All this means you can now enjoy some of your favorite local tracks on the big screen!

Thursday, May 23, Cinema 21, 7:30pm, $8 advance / $10 door, not rated (but there is nudity and strong language—so I’m not exactly sure that will dissuade adolescent audiences)

Watch the trailer for City Baby:

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Check out the rest of OMN's Get Out! picks for May 23-29.