What Do You Want To Hear About?

Since it’s the beginning of the year I’m currently working on several “projects” for 2011 – or at least the first couple of months of the year.

One are that I think we need to do more is in relation to this blog.

Sure, we post on here semi-regularly, but I think we need to do a better job.

How?

By posting more about things that are of interest / concern to our clients, or about things that we think that people should know more about.

With that in mind I’m trying to put together a very rough list of topics or themes for articles in 2011.

NB: These will NOT be “howto do X in the Blacknight control panel” articles.

Current possible topics include:

DNS basics
Difference between Windows / Linux
Taking payments online
How to choose a web developer / designer
Something on SEO?
Something on PPC (eg Adwords)
IPv6
Online security

What other topics do you think we should be talking about?

Which topics would you like to see covered in more detail?

Should we get some guest bloggers?

Let us know in the comments!

About the Author: Michele Neylon

Known for his outspoken opinions on technology and the Internet, Michele Neylon is the award winning author of several blogs and co-host of the Technology.ie podcast. A thought leader in the Internet community, Neylon is active within ICANN and an expert on policy, security, domains, ICANN, Nominet and Internet Governance. You can stalk him on various social media networks including Twitter and Instagram

21 Comments

Pete K January 6, 2011 at 13:43

Taking payments online
How to choose a web developer / designer
Something on SEO?
These are usual critical but overlooked aspects that either a client or a developer might not fully understand
Piers Meynell January 6, 2011 at 13:48

An introduction to SSL and https would be welcome: what is a certificate, where to get them, an overview of the authorities that issue them, what you have to do to basically make use of one.
Thanks.
Adrian Shanahan January 6, 2011 at 13:52

Hey,
I had though about this since earlier, much like explaining the differences between Windows and Linux how about giving a rough outline of the real world differences between Shared Hosting and say VPS. The Pro’s and Cons. When and if should shared users upgrade to VPS or is it even an upgrade as opposed to just a different way of doing things?
Much more than the “more control” aspect I’m talking to average users like me who have to learn as we go and up until not so long ago html / php never really existed.
I know it may seem obvious to those in the know but to less tech inclined folks perhaps not.
Cheers,
Adrian
Dave Devery January 6, 2011 at 14:02

People would be interested in reading a bit about SEO.
Dave January 6, 2011 at 14:06

IPv6 would be interesting, since things are going in that direction.
I’d love to hear more about it in layman’s terms, what it will mean for those with websites (if there will be any significant difference) and how it will change the internet for the average user.
Just my two cents.
-Dave.
Gordon January 6, 2011 at 14:23

+1 to the suggestion of an introduction to SSL and use of certificates with Blacknight.
Paul Furey January 7, 2011 at 00:24

1. Shared v VPS
2. DNS
3. SSL
4. and errr IPv6 (like what is it – too lazy too Goole)
Many thanks
Paul
Francesco January 7, 2011 at 11:49

While you talk of SSL you could add something about DNSSEC, what it is and how is it different from SSL 😉
michael January 7, 2011 at 21:05

Description of the levels of security that blacknight offers and your policy for data protection.
Do you run an intrusion detection system?
Tips on log monitoring to help detect if a blacknight hosted website is under attack. Are ther any monitoring tools that would fit in with the infrastructure at Blacknight?
Thanks,
Michael
Michele Neylon January 9, 2011 at 11:06

SEO seems to be a popular topic, so we’ll see if we can do something ourselves or enlist the skills of a guest author 🙂
Michele Neylon January 9, 2011 at 11:08

Francesco – be careful or I might enlist you to write the post 🙂
Michele Neylon January 9, 2011 at 11:10

Michael
We are not going to discuss our security setup in public.
If you have a specific query I’d recommend you contact our support team.
Michele
Jason Roe January 9, 2011 at 15:02

Its not tech related.. but id love to see some real world case studies about some blacknight clients. Real world examples of how clients are using your services and honest (un-moderated) feedback from them on what they would like improved.
Maybe even use these case studies to cover some of the tech topics covered above. I’m sure your clients would like the extra exposure and your readers want to read about real people and businesses. Not how-to theory articles.
Personally, I don’t need factual based articles as there are hundreds of articles on the same topic floating round the web. Give me something interesting, locally relevant and engaging. The content will do the rest of the work.
My 2c.
Brian O'Neill January 9, 2011 at 15:52

Call me crazy but i read the blacknight blog to find out information on blacknight 😉
There is lot of other blogs that cover SEO, web design etc.
Stuff i would like to you:
-More info on upcoming products
-Client case studies
-What can you do with VPS? I think there is a lot of confusion about VPS, most people assume its more resources but this is not always the case.
-Info on behind the scenes at blacknight, eg staff, tech set up etc. I think this type of thing helps to make businesses more ‘human’ espically something like hosting which can appear quite generic.
-Post were you interact with customers to ask what they would like, or things that bug them etc
-I can understand not wanting to bore us all with specific tech advice, but i would like to see hints and tips on how to better use my blacknight products.
I think the key point is as a blacknight customer i want the blacknight blog to concentrate on blacknight topics.
Michele Neylon January 9, 2011 at 17:03

Jason
Do you mean guest posts by the clients or the “classic” case study type of thing?
Michele
Ross January 10, 2011 at 10:45

Hi there,
I found that there was a steep learning curve moving from Shared hosting to VPS. Things that were very simple, for example, installing an SSL certificate, are more complicated in a VPS environment.
I understand completely that it is not Blacknight’s job to answer System Administrator type questions. We have Google after all! However, I am commander in chief of an army of one, and I am head of the Department of Everything. As such, I do not have access to a System Administrator. Therefore, it takes so much longer to figure out the smallest of problems.
Have you ever considered a “Blacknight Morning” – where your (valued) customers could come along and ask questions (and drink coffee!)? For example, I have two problems at the minute. (1) How to install an SSL Certificate on IIS6, and (2) How to install multiple websites on a VPS.
Other than that, i’m happy with Blacknight 🙂
Regards,
Ross
Michele Neylon January 10, 2011 at 10:49

Ross
Our customers are spread across the four corners of the globe, so I’m not sure how practical organising a coffee morning would be 🙂
To answer your queries – they should both be covered in the Microsoft technet knowledgebase. I assume you don’t have Plesk on your VPS?
Michele
Ross January 10, 2011 at 12:31

Hi there,
I was referring to you valued Irish customers 🙂
Thanks anyways, Back to Google then…
Ross
Michele Neylon January 10, 2011 at 14:06

Ross
We had been toying with the idea of running as webcast or two .. It’s still on the cards
Michele
Chris Byrne January 11, 2011 at 11:01

My 3 cents:
1 Guest blogging
2 Case studies on why BK-discussed technologies
are actually useful eg VPS. ie “What this means is…”
3 Security of servers and data, perhaps via private webinar.
Keep up the good work!
Chris
Michele Neylon January 11, 2011 at 11:23

Chris
The guest blogging idea is something we’re going to pursue.
On the case studies – I’m still trying to see how best to handle this.
With respect to security – that is not going to happen.
Regards
Michele