Dennis Kennedy

	Web DennisKennedy.com

March 21, 2006

A Better Way for Lawyers to Accept Credit Card Payments? Special Offer for Readers of this Blog

I've always liked to try new ideas on my blog that might benefit my audience. Here's the latest one.

I was contacted recently by the nice people at "Accept by Phone" about their merchant credit card accounts built with attorneys who bill for their time in mind.

They offered and now actually agreed to do something special for my blog audience for the next 4 days (through March 25).

"Accept by Phone" is one of those ideas that works just like it sounds. You can process payments from a client quickly by dialing a toll-free number, entering your client's credit card number through an automated system, and then authorizing and processing the payment, all in a few seconds.

The pertinent facts: The system supports Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover cards. Payments will automatically transfer from your Accept by Phone merchant account to your own bank account in about 24-72 hours.

So, what are the advantages, you might be wondering, as I did. It only costs $5.00 a month and 3.95% per sale. There are no equipment leases (that's an important feature) or other add-on fees, and you can cancel at any time without penalty. Hey, they even include free sales slips.

It's simple and it might be a good way for you to eliminate the hassles of dealing with bad checks, late payments and accounts receivable - and it could also help some of your clients to pay their legal fees. And you can accept payments from anywhere.

That's the idea of Accept by Phone. I liked what they told me about the service and said that I'd be happy to publicize the service if they would do a special promotion for readers of my blog. I'm getting no commission. We're trying this as a blog marketing experiment.

They agreed, and here is the special offer:

Normally, it's $99.00 to apply for an account. For the next four days, that application fee is waived if you use the codes below. Think of it as a $99 reader appreciation gift.

To take advantage of this offer and bypass the $99.00 fee to apply, you must click on the "Special Offer Login" link on http://www.accept-by-phone.com/attorneys.html (or go directly to http://www.accept-by-phone.com/spec_offer.html. Study the service carefully and see if it makes sense for you and your needs. I'm happy to bring the offer to you, but you'll need to do your own due diligence.

Then use the following user name and password to apply to receive the application fee waiver.

Username: techlaw

Password: abp7

If you have been considering accepting credit card payments, then be sure to take a good look at what Accept By Phone is offering.

This special offer will only be available until 11:59 PM, Saturday (March 25).

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Like what you are reading? Check out the other blogs where I post - Between Lawyers (feed) and the LexThink Blog (feed).

Posted by dmk at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)

January 23, 2006

Caselogistix and Affiliate Marketing Links

As I've mentioned, my friends at Caselogistix are bringing me to LegalTech NY next week to speak about trends and predictions in electronic discovery. I hope to see you there. I did a run-through of the presentation today and was pleased with how it is turning out.

As I've learned more about Caselogistix, I've become intrigued about how this tool fits into the whole litigation management / electronic discovery field. If your practice concentrates in these areas, you'll definitely want to do some research to see if it fits your specific needs. I like their tagline: "Litigation software so easy to use, lawyers actually use it."

As part of a new experiment on this blog for 2006, I'm trying out an affiliate marketing link on this blog that is designed to produce a small commission for purchases of Caselogistix use the affiliate link. Essentially, I'll be doing with Caselogistix exactly what I do with book links through the Amazon Associates program.

You would be correct if you assume that I get a lot of requests to mention products on my blog or put links in the Legal Technology Central Section of my website. I'm looking at affiliate marketing arrangements as a reasonable economic approach to handling those requests. I'm interested in your feedback on that approach.

So, I encourage you to learn more about Caselogistix by using this link:

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

This post brought to you by Dennis Kennedy's half-day electronic discovery seminar - "Preparing for the New World of Electronic Discovery: Easing Your Transition from Paper to Electronic Discovery." Contact Dennis today for more information and to schedule a seminar for your firm or legal department.

Posted by dmk at 09:00 PM | Comments (0)

January 19, 2006

Welcoming DiscoveryResources.org and Fios as Sponsors

I'm so pleased to welcome DiscoveryResources.org, the premier electronic discovery resource center on the Internet, as a new sponsor of DennisKennedy.Blog. In addition, Fios, a leading electronic discovery service provider, will be sponsoring the Legal Technology Central section of my website, which I am now in the process of updating and adding resources and new pages.

Please take a look at what's going on at DiscoveryResources.org and Fios by clicking on the sponsor banners when you see them.

I'm so pleased to see legal technology vendors seeing the potential of using blogs as a way to reach their target audiences and am pleased to be associated with an innovative and forward-looking company like Fios.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Posted by dmk at 07:47 PM | Comments (0)

December 30, 2005

X1 Licenses Are Almost - Get Yours Now

As I mentioned here, the nice people at X1 are providing fifty licenses for the X1 Desktop Search tool for readers of this blog who email me with a request for the URL for the download. My rough estimate is that there are around fifteen of them left, so if you would like one be sure to email me (denniskennedyblog @ gmail.com) with your request for the down load URl soon. I appreciate it when you include comments about this blog with your request. As any blogger will tell you, it's fascinating to see who reads your blog.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www/denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

This post brought to you by Dennis Kennedy's legal technology consulting services, featuring RSS and blogging consulting, technology audit, strategic planning and technology committee coaching packages especially for medium-sized law firms (15 - 100 lawyers) and corporate legal departments.

Posted by dmk at 02:32 PM | Comments (0)

December 27, 2005

Free X1 Desktop Search Licenses as Gift to Readers of this Blog (Limit of 50)

The nice people at X1 have graciously agreed to provide up to 50 of the readers of my blog with a free license to the X1 Desktop Search tool ($75 regular price). I wanted to used this offer as a way to say thank you to readers of my blog.

There's been no category of software hotter in 2005 than the desktop search category. X1 is one of the leaders in the category. The tool will let you swiftly search files and email as if you have a search engine for your hard drive. I can tell you that Microsoft Outlook seems like a completely different program once you use a desktop search tool for searching your email.

All you need to do is to be one of the first 50 people to email me (preferably at denniskennedyblog @ gmail.com) with a request for the URL you'll need for the download and I'll get you the info you need. The URL has a built-in counter that will cut things off at 50 or at an expiration date in January, so I'll simply ask you to download one copy only. Once the 50 downloads happen, the offer will end. If you'd like to pass along some comments or suggestions about my blog, I encourage you to do so.

By the way, although I am, of course, interested in sponsor inquiries, I'm also happy to talk to vendors about doing promotions like this one that provide benefits to readers of this blog (without requiring any more effort from me than this one does) or other discount / affiliate marketing arrangements.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

This post brought to you by Dennis Kennedy's legal technology consulting services, featuring RSS and blogging consulting, technology audit, strategic planning and technology committee coaching packages especially for medium-sized law firms (15 - 100 lawyers) and corporate legal departments. More information on the "Second Pair of Eyes" packages for legal technology audits and strategic planning may be found here (PDF).

Posted by dmk at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)

December 13, 2005

The Last(?) "By Request Day"of 2005, the Blawggie Awards and Other Housekeeping Matters

I had an appointment for tomorrow cancelled and thought it might be a good day to run another "By Request Day" on this blog, possibly the last one of the year. You know the drill - leave your questions in the comments to this post or email me at denniskennedyblog @ gmail . com with your question and I'll try to answer the questions I get, plus a few I've been holding.

A number of people have been asking me when I'll announce the 2005 edition of my annual "Blawggie" awards for excellence in legal blogging. I noticed that I did those on December 26 last year, but that seems like a busy day and I think that I'll do them before Christmas this year - tentatively on December 22nd.

As the end of the year approaches like a freight train, you can expect to see on this blog an effort to finish the job of reposting my articles, which has proven to be a popular feature. My goal is to finish by the end of the year - I was surprised by how many articles I've written over the years. I'm nearly finished with the legal tech articles and will be mixing in some more of my technology law articles.

The 2006 version of my annual legal technology predictions article is in draft form and that will be published this month, perhaps in a long version and a short version. Details to come. The crystal ball was quite interesting in its revelations this year.

I'm also looking for a few volunteers to participate in a roundtable article on Web 2.0 tools for the next issue of Law Practice Today. Let me know if you are interested.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/

This post brought to you by LexThink!(TM) - The Conference, Re-imagined. LexThink! - Think big thoughts, do cool things, change the world. Ask us about private LexThink retreats and conferences for your firm, business or organization.

Posted by dmk at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)

December 07, 2005

The Unique Legal Technology Needs of Medium-sized Law Firms

As many of you know, I've spent the better part of my legal career at The Stolar Partnership, a medium-sized law firm of roughly 40 - 50 lawyers when I was there.

My legal tech career probably began on the morning when I got into my office early and found a large manila envelope on my chair. I opened it and found a set of keys, a pager and a memo from our then one-person IT department that began: "As you have probably guessed, this is my resignation letter." It went on to say that that he gave me the memo because I was the only one in the who could understand the importance of and what to do with the info in the memo.

For better or worse, he was right and it made for an interesting day and next few months, to say the least.

So, I've always had a special understanding of the unique legal technology needs of medium-sized law firms. By medium-sized, I mean firms of roughly fifteen to maybe one hundred lawyers.

I've noticed, as have many others, that there are lots of great consultants and other resources for small firms and solos, and, of course, for large law firms.

However, there seems to be a gap when it comes to help specifically tailored for medium-sized law firms. As a local St. Louis sportscaster likes to say, they are kind of caught betwixt and between.

I've spent quite a bit of time talking with lawyers in medium-sized firms over the past few years. I have an affinity and an affection for this group - we have a lot in common.

Firms in this category have a difficult time evaluating legal technology options and face an overwhelming, sometimes paralyzing, number of choices. I often hear that these firms simply do not know what options they really have.

I've also found that these firms have two overriding concerns. First, they want to be sure that they are not wasting money they are spending or making truly bad decisions. Second, even with limited budgets, they want to identify a few technology projects that will be good projects that really help them. I absolutely agree that those are the big two concerns for firms of this size.

So, I've found myself thinking a lot about this group of firms and have decided that I want to make this category of firms my primary focus in my consulting. It's the category of firm or corporate legal department I can understand well and probably help the most.

As a first step down that road, I'm introducing some new, I hope reasonably-priced, consulting packages that focus specifically on the two biggest concerns decision-makers in medium-sized firms have expressed to me over the years. I described the packages as "A Second Pair of Eyes" and here are some of the details:

++++++++++++

A Second Set of Eyes: Legal Technology Audit and Strategic Planning Packages from Dennis Kennedy

Too many law firms and corporate legal departments flush away a surprising amount of money on poor technology choices and implementations. Maybe you work at one of them. Poor buying decisions, wasteful and duplicative projects, failure to take advantage of volume licenses and many other factors result in the waste of dollars firms actually spend. Failing to plan or put together any kind of cohesive approach to technology spending in the future will result in missed opportunities, misspent funds and mistaken priorities.

No one likes the terms "audit" and "strategic plan" these days, but the fact is that, whatever you want to call these processes, failing to do them will waste time and money, make people unhappy, and leave your firm unprepared for client demands.

In most cases, law firms have good people at work on these projects, but they are stretched too thin and simply do not have the time to become familiar with everything in the world of legal technology.

In many cases, what is needed is not a full-blown, expensive top-to-bottom consulting project, but simply a "second set of eyes" to look at your situation and help you set priorities, redirect projects appropriately and make better decisions.

Dennis Kennedy offers three standard packages designed to give you that "second set of eyes" from one of the most highly-regarded authorities in legal technology today.

1. Legal Technology Audit Package. Dennis Kennedy takes an overview look at your existing technology and your current projects based on telephone interviews and documentation you provide. Using his experience and knowledge of the industry, he provides you with a report of what you are doing right and what you can do better, with a focus on identifying places where you are wasting money or spending money in unproductive ways. You get a report, with a set of action steps for you to consider as ways to save or better spend your technology dollars. Price: $2,500.

2. The No-nonsense Quick Strategic Technology Plan Package. Dennis Kennedy will review your current technology plans, discuss your strategies, ideas and wish lists, and do a high-level review of your current technology set-up based on telephone interviews and documentation you provide. He will then produce a report that recommends three to five strategic technology goals tailored to your firm and action steps for working toward those goals. Price: $3,500.

3. The "Second Set of Eyes" Combined Package. The "audit" and "strategic plan" pieces fit together like hand in glove. You can combine both phases into a single package. Price: $5,000.

I've put a flyer (PDF) on my website here.

If you'd like to talk in more detail about these packages or other medium-sized law firm issues, contact me.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

This post brought to you by Dennis Kennedy's legal technology consulting services, featuring RSS and blogging consulting, technology audit, strategic planning and technology committee coaching packages especially for medium-sized law firms (15 - 100 lawyers) and corporate legal departments. More information on the "Second Pair of Eyes" packages for legal technology audits and strategic planning may be found here (PDF).

Posted by dmk at 08:51 PM | Comments (0)

September 26, 2005

Another By Request Day Tomorrow

It feels like it's time once again for a "By Request Tuesday." I've got a couple of questions in the hopper and encourage any of you who have questions that I can answer on my blog to email the questions to me at denniskennedyblog @ gmail.com. I'll try to answer them (or at least some of them) on the blog tomorrow.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog)]

This post brought to you by Dennis Kennedy's half-day electronic discovery seminar - "Preparing for the New World of Electronic Discovery: Easing Your Transition from Paper to Electronic Discovery." Contact Dennis today for more information and to schedule a seminar for your firm or legal department.

Posted by dmk at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)

September 25, 2005

New Missouri Ethics Rules Require Disclaimer Language, I Think

The Missouri Supreme Court has recently approved changes to the advertising and marketing rules for Missouri lawyers.

Unfortunately, despite efforts made to clarify the rules, I find the rules impossible to interpret or to understand how they are intended to apply to my website and blog.

Although I maintain that my blogs and website are not intended to be and are not an "advertisement" or "solicitation" for legal services, I have determined that my only option is to load up my website and this blog with the disclaimer language that seems to be required under this new rule.

Until I get further guidance on how to comply with the new rules, my best guess is that I must include the following language on my website.

REQUIRED STATEMENTS UNDER MISSOURI SUPREME COURT RULES IF THIS WEBSITE OR ANY PORTION OF IT IS DEEMED TO BE AN ADVERTISEMENT OR SOLICITATION. This website is not intended to be an advertisement or solicitation for my legal services. However, under recent changes in Missouri Rules, it may be deemed to be so, despite my intention. Therefore, the following statements may be required on this website and I have included them in order to be in full compliance with these rules. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Disregard this solicitation if you have already engaged a lawyer in connection with the legal matter referred to in this solicitation. You may wish to consult your lawyer or another lawyer instead of me (us). The exact nature of your legal situation will depend on many facts not known to me (us) at this time. You should understand that the advice and information in this solicitation is general and that your own situation may vary. This statement is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Missouri.

For a story about this new rule, please read .

The money quote from that article:

"Levison said it was unclear how this rule will be carried out."

That is quite an understatement. I simply do not understand changing rules in ways that make it clear how you should comply with them. I'm trying to do my best and I hope that will be taken into account.

I believe that these rule changes will become textbook cases for the law of unintended consequences and I fervently hope that, as advertised, they are intended to address specific concerns related to television commercials and litigation practices and not as traps for the unwary.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

This post brought to you by Dennis Kennedy's consulting services, featuring RSS and advanced blogging consulting and technology committee coaching packages for law firms, corporate legal departments and other professional services providers.

Posted by dmk at 04:51 PM | Comments (0)

June 13, 2005

Let’s Do A "By Request Tuesday" Tomorrow

It’s been a while since I’ve done a "By Request Tuesday" and I thought it might be fun to try another one.

Email me your questions at denniskennedyblog @ gmail.com and I’ll see if I can answer it tomorrow.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Posted by dmk at 07:56 PM | Comments (0)

June 02, 2005

A Major Change in My Approach: Enabling Comments on DennisKennedy.Blog

I've never enabled comments on my blog before today. I've had a number of reasons for not doing so – most of them familiar to anyone who maintains a blog and struggled with the issue of comments.

At Between Lawyers, we allow comments and, even though the results have been mixed – comment spam is a real issue, I've been rethinking my stance on comments on this blog.

My approach has always been that this blog is a publishing vehicle for me, not a discussion area. People routinely send me emails and comment on my posts on their own blogs, so I've never had the sense that I don't have an exchange of ideas because I don't allow comments.

However, I learned recently that even though I thought I had been blogging for a couple of years, I have not, in fact, had a blog because I did not have comments enabled for this "blog." It seems that a "true blog" has comments enabled. Imagine my embarrassment. Perish the thought that blogs might actually be a vehicle for individual expression when some see the opportunity to proclaim what the on true blog must be so close to their grasp.

While I will admit to ignoring these types of pronouncements about what a blog is or isn't and what a blogger should and shouldn't do (hey, why should government be concerned with regulation of blogs when there are scores of bloggers who are perfectly happy to slap all kinds of guidelines and requirements on bloggers?), the timing and heavy-handedness of this recent post got my attention at a time when I was thinking about enabling comments. So, I thought it was best to bring my "blog" into lock-step conformity with this type of pronouncement of what a "true blog" really is.

Well, maybe not.

Actually, I feel like experimenting with comments. I have some ideas for posts for which enabling comments will make sense. I've been generally pleased with my comments experience at Between Lawyers. I'm curious whether enabling comments will bring new energy or ideas to this blog and/or to me. And, it's just fun to change my mind on something every now and then, especially after becoming known for taking the opposite approach.

I have a few concerns relating to spammers and a**holes, but I'm pretty confident that I have neither in my audience.

I will have a comment policy. The basic principle is this: it's my blog and I'll do what I want.

The brilliant Lisa Williams at the Learning the Lessons of Nixon blog, recently posted about the various approaches to comment policies in this aptly-titled post, which I recommend that you read before reading the rest of this post. It should come as no surprise that I fall into the "living room" policy she describes in the post.

I've roughed out the following comments policy for this and welcome your comments about it and ways to improve it. I don't mind throwing it out to the public as a starting point toward evolving some standard comments policies that bloggers might use. I would be shocked if people didn't have some criticism of this policy.

1. I don't want your anonymous comments – stand behind what you are saying. If I can't figure out who you are, I reserve the right to delete your comments. If you want to be anonymous to the public or use a pseudonym on your comments, I'm OK with that if you first email me and tell me who you are and how to contact you.

2. When you post a comment, ask yourself whether you would say the same thing to my face while sitting in the living room of my house after I invited you over for dinner. If you know me at all, you'll know that I have no problem whatsoever asking you about a comment you post when I meet you in person to see if you will say it in person, just to see whether you are a person of honor or someone who will squirm.

3. It'd be bad enough for you insult me by posting a comment on my blog, but I will not tolerate your posting a comment on my blog to personally insult someone else. I'll enjoy either deleting your comment or posting about it separately to publicize what a jerk you are. Use common sense and good manners.

4. While I may monitor comments and manage/delete them, let's face it, I probably can't and won't do that on a regular basis. But I might. I reserve the right not to respond quickly to your comments, not to respond at all, to open, close and delete comments, and to generally act like I, rather than you as a commenter, am the owner of my blog. In general, I'll have good intentions and really mean well about responding to your comment, but sometimes I might in fact be studiously ignoring you.

5. Now, the legal stuff. By posting a comment, you agree that (1) you represent and warrant that your comment does not defame or libel anyone, does not infringe anyone's intellectual property, trade secret, confidentiality or other rights, and does not violate any applicable law or regulation, (2) you grant me a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, distribute, publicly display and/or perform, sublicense and make derivative works from your comment in connection with the normal maintenance and operation of this blog and my website, including archives and collections, and for my personal and internal business purposes, and (3) you will indemnify and hold me harmless with respect to any claim and related expenses (including legal fees) from a third party in connection with your comment. I reserve the right to take down so fast that your head will spin any comment that gives me any concern and may change these rules at any time by posting the changes on my blog and/or website.

I'm enabling comments as experiment in the technology and, more importantly, as an experiment in trusting my audience. I have every confidence in you, but there are some other people out there who have forced me to have a set of rules.

Comments are now open.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Posted by dmk at 11:08 AM | Comments (6)

February 21, 2005

DennisKennedy.Blog Birthday Celebration Week – Free PDF Download of First Two Years of Blog Archives

I thought I'd run the Blog Birthday Celebration Week thing another day or two.

Today, readers receive the gift of a free download of the first two years of DennisKennedy.Blog posts, organized by category, in one relatively humongous PDF file (approx. 1.5 megabyte download). The PDF document runs 479 pages and includes, as bonus, a copy of my article – "Life-Altering Technology – News Aggregators and Newsfeeds." Although not quite the same as a podcast, you can even use the "Read Out Loud" option in Adobe Acrobat to have all of the blog posts read out loud to you by "Microsoft Sam" or any other voice you might have loaded on your computer.

Like many other bloggers, I still have Gmail invitations to give away. If you want one, just email me at denniskennedyblog @ gmail.com.

I have a few surprises left for tomorrow (Tuesday), the last day of DennisKennedy.Blog Birthday Celebration Week. I'll announce those tomorrow.

However, I will now announce that, by popular demand, "Request Tuesday" will return tomorrow. Email me your questions at denniskennedyblog @ gmail.com. I have a few left over from the past week that I'll try to answer tomorrow and I'll also take a stab at new questions.

[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Posted by dmk at 10:30 PM

January 24, 2005

Special Offers and Discounts for DennisKennedy.Blog Readers

I have two discount opportunities for readers of this blog - one runs out in a few days and the other is a brand new one .

1. Until January 31, readers of this blog may go to http://www.eddixllc.com/landing/dmk.asp to obtain a huge discount on EDDix's EDD Supplier Landscape research report, which is essential reading for anyone who is really serious about wanting to learn about what is happening and what will happen in the electronic discovery industry. Reading this report will save any vendor in the industry hours and hours of research time.

2. Bruce Hause has put together a similar affiliate marketing arrangement in which my readers will receive significant discounts and I'll receive some commissions in connection with Quickscribe digital dictation software and related products. Simply ask for the "Dennis Kennedy discount" when making your order.

Bruce says:

"Quikscribe has a number of unique digital dictation and transcription features that appeal to attorneys and law firms. Our "Intelligent Audio File" format allows the author to include attachments of text, images, or files embedded within the audio file. This means that you can reference a case citation from a legal database, highlight the text with your mouse, then press the "insert" button on the hand control to capture and copy the desired text. The attorney doesn't have to dictate or print the citation, and the secretary doesn't have to type it during transcription. We also have lots of info on our website for U.S. customers at www.digidictate.com."

Posted by dmk at 09:54 PM

January 06, 2005

Looking for Some Vendor Recommendations

I'm looking for a number of service providers for my own use and for some of my colleagues. Although I'd obviously consider some kind of exchange of services for publicity or referrals type of arrangement, I'm mainly interested in finding some reliable, quality providers in the following areas:

1. Fully-outsourced ecommerce and credit card order solutions.

2. Distribution and marketing of eBooks, audio and video products.

3. Webinar hosting and administration.

4. Podcast hosting, with reasonable bandwidth and download pricing.

5. Routine conversion of VHS video cassettes and analog audiotapes to digital formats and production/reproduction of CDs and DVDs.

6. Design and production of ebooks and ebooklets.

7. Print-on-demand services.

Email me at denniskennedyblog@gmail.com. References or examples would be appreciated from vendor contacts. I'll share the results of my research on this blog.

Posted by dmk at 11:47 AM

December 17, 2004

Why I Don't Enable Comments on This Blog

I occasionally get questions about my policy of not enabling the comments feature on this blog, although most are bit more polite than the question I'll discuss below.

One of the difficulties new bloggers have is the sheer number of bloggers who make pronouncements about the "One True Way" to blog. Of course, most of these pronouncements are at wide variance with each other. I enjoy these pronouncements because, if you can look past the self-righteous and condescending tone of some of them, you can get some good suggestions for ways to improve your blog.

In other cases, well, I don't know quite how to respond. Take this recent example, please:

Dana Blankenhorn's recent post called "Blogiquette" is so grumpy and judgmental that I wonder if the title is meant to be ironic. In the post, he lists some of his pet blogging peeves, which seem to be considered cardinal violations of blogging etiquette.

One is "ads in feeds," a topic I'll address in some detail in the next few days. He's opposed to ads in feeds and thinks no one should use them. This might surprise those who see the 120 x 600 pixel (!) sponsor ad on his blog. However, I salute anyone with a blog that's good enough to command sponsor ads.

Here's the violation of blog etiquette that really got my attention:

"No comments. Who are you, God?"

Holy cow, I don't enable comments. I don't think I take that approach for Godlike reasons. In fact, I think my approach to blogging is pretty humble.

I guess that "blogiquette" permits this type of blanket criticisms of bloggers who commit this pet peeve. My sense of etiquette is somewhat different.

I've never enabled comments on this blog and that was a decision I made before I launched the blog almost two years ago. I've explained at various times why I don't enable commenting on this blog. I've also said that I can see doing other blogs where enabling comments might make sense.

That said, let me try to answer the well-mannered question, "Who are you, God?"

Reasons I Don't Enable Comments on My Blog

1. I know many bloggers who have turned off comments because of comment spam. I don't even want to fight that battle. I love blogging and I have no desire to give spammers an easy avenue to ruin my enjoyment. I turned off trackbacks recently until I see how the trackback spam issue gets resolved.

2. I've always wanted to use this blog as a way to experiment with my writing, to take my writing in some new directions and let it find its own audience. In my case (and maybe only in my case, for all I know), allowing a bunch of comments doesn't fit with what I want to do with this blog.

3. I've never really made comments on anyone else's blog, except when I couldn't find the author's email address. I'll either send a blogger an email and have a private conversation or, as in this post, use someone's post as a basis for post that may or may not have much to do with the original post. For example, I can't see how this post would be appropriate as a comment on Dana Blankenhorn's blog. It'd put him in a position where he'd need to decide whether to leave this up on his blog. I'm not comfortable with that.

4. People who want to make private comments to me email me. People who want to make public comments make them on their blogs. In each case, they "sign" their comments and take ownership of those comments. Unless I set up registration mechanisms, anonymous comments are possible. I don't see why I need to provide a stage for someone's anonymous theatrical performances.

5. I live in an increasingly newsreader-centric world. I rarely visit blogs, so most of the time comments on a blog don't even reach my radar screen. I'm using a newsreader, after all, to eliminate the need to visit each blog individually. Increasingly, I'm writing my posts with the idea that they will be viewed in a newsreader rather than in a browser by someone visiting a blog.

6. I have a hard enough time following the lines of conversation in the comments to a blog post when I visit a blog, but the feeds for comments I've subscribed to from time to time are indecipherable to me. I can't figure out who's talking. In my opinion, comments are not a good medium for conversations. But that's just me.

7. I subscribed to your feed because I wanted to hear what you have to say. I assume that's why you subscribed to my feed or visit my blog.

8. Finally, the last thing I need is one more silo that holds another set of demands for my responses. I have a hard enough time keeping up with email. A comments area on my blog would be like handling my email in public, only worse because there's no way I would be able to keep up with it and people would probably criticize me for not doing a good job of managing comments. I admire the people who manage comments well, but that's not one of my strengths and it's not what I want to be doing with this blog.

Bottom line: It's a personal thing.

I don't suggest that my approach is the way to go or that you should follow my lead. Some people are obviously very critical of my approach and quick to throw insults. However, I think blogging is cool because every blogger does his or her blog in his or her own way. I like that. I try to understand the reasons for and the benefits of the different approaches bloggers take, and don't presume to think that I have found the one true path of blogging.

Now you have my reasons for the approach I take to comments. I don't mind whatever you take on your blog. It should be whatever approach works best for you. I just don't think blogging should be a "one size fits all" thing.

Posted by dmk at 11:04 PM

November 01, 2004

DennisKennedy.Blog Reader Appreciation Week Extended

Due to a little illness this weekend and some commitments this week, I'm delaying the "official" launch of my new redesign of my website and blog until November 10.

I appreciate all of the great comments I've gotten from readers who have responded to my survey and have taken advantage of the special offers for readers that are part of my blog reader appreciation week. For the details and the survey, read my initial post on DennisKennedy.Blog Reader Appreciation Week.

Posted by dmk at 09:47 PM

October 25, 2004

Announcing DennisKennedy.Blog Reader Appreciation Week

As you probably already know, I've recently redesigned my website and blog. I am so pleased with the work Spry Legal Design has done to make the redesign a reality (thank you Corri and Lance).

There's still some work I need to do on the site, but I wanted to give the redesigned site an "official" launch. The official launch date will be November 1, which will also be the official launch date of my two eBooks and at least one eBooklet. I'll be doing a number of things on November 1 to make the launch official, so be sure to watch for the November 1 launch "event."

As you may (and should) also know, this blog is very important to me. That's another way of saying that the readers of this blog are very important to me. I read all the commentary that you do about the business and marketing aspects of blogs, but the true benefit of blogging is the friendships and relationships that grow out of your blogging efforts. It's no more complicated than that. Well, there's also the two turntables and a microphone thing.

As a pre-launch treat, I wanted to offer a thank you to my readers in a tangible way. I also wanted to give my readers a chance to give me some feedback. I also decided to have a little fun at my own expense and hope that longtime readers of my articles will get a chuckle out of the following title:

Five Ways DennisKennedy.Blog Will Show Its Appreciation For Its Readers Through November 1

1. Free eBooklet. Email me with your response to the survey below and I will email you for free the PDF file for my new eBooklet called "Preparing Your Law Firm for the Internet Era: 150 Steps Toward a 21st Century Practice of Law."

2. Free NoteMap License. Follow the instructions here and Danielle Carwell at CaseSoft will give you the serial number and other info you need to obtain a free license to the great outlining tool, NoteMap. (If you are a litigator, check out CaseMap 5, an essential tool for litigators).

3. 33% Discount on eBook Bundle. My eBooks, "Dennis Kennedy's Legal Technology Primer: Best Technology Practices for Lawyers and Law Firms" and "Unlocking the Secrets of Legal Technology and Technology Law: Finding Your Way in the First Internet Era" are priced at US$45 each, or US$75 for both. If you note on your order form that you are a reader of my blog and send me the order form and your check on before November 1, your price for both will be US$50. You will also get the eBooklet for free if you send me your response to the survey below.

4. 10% Discount on Services. If you become a new client of mine before the end of 2004, simply mention that you are a reader of my blog and you will receive a 10% discount on my project fee or hourly fee.

5. 10% Discount on Seminars. If you retain me to provide one of my seminars before the end of 2004, simply mention that you are a reader of my blog and you'll receive a 10% discount on my package fee (note that a 50% down payment is required to reserve a seminar date).

Instructions for Responding to the Survey.

Copy the survey questions below. Answer the questions. Either (1) paste your answers to the questions into an email message to me, or (2) mail me your answers along with your order form and check if you are ordering the eBook bundle.

DennisKennedy.Blog Reader Appreciation 2004 Survey

1. What do you like best about the website and blog redesign?

2. What improvement(s) would you like to see made to the website and blog?

3. Do you subscribe to the RSS feed for my blog?

4. What topics would you like to see me give more coverage to my blog?

5. What topics that I do not now cover would you like me to cover in my blog?

6. I am considering either category feeds or separate blogs for a number of topics. Do you have a preference for either method, or would you prefer to see my blog continue to collect whatever I want to write about all in one place and in one feed?

7. One of the reasons for the redesign was that people found it difficult to determine what I did or what services I provided. Do you believe that you have a good picture of the services I provide? What might I do to make the picture clearer?

8. I highly value the expertise, experience and suggestions of my readers. In terms of the services and products I'm offering and my business approach in general, what would you do differently if you were me?

9. If you were asked to describe DennisKennedy.Blog in one or two sentences, what would those sentences be?

10. As you may know, CaseSoft and Fios currently are sponsors of my blog. Consistent with current blogging practices, I have not yet placed ads or sponsor logos in my RSS feeds. Would you have an objection to the placement of tasteful, non-intrusive sponsor logos / taglines at the bottom of full-text posts made available through my RSS feed?

Thank you for your responses and thank you for being a reader of DennisKennedy.Blog.

- Dennis

Posted by dmk at 09:31 AM

October 10, 2004

Please Adjust Your Feed Subscription

The recent change in web hosts caused some problems with my standard feed, which has a file name of "index.rdf". We have a work-around, but it makes sense simply to change the URL for the feed for this blog in your newsreader of choice to:

http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/index.xml.

For those interested in technical details, the index.xml feed is an RSS 2.0 feed.

For those interested in variety, this blog also has an Atom feed at http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/atom.xml. At the moment, and for the foreseeable future, there should be no substantive difference between the RSS and Atom feeds.

Although I have no problems getting the feed through the old index.rdf URL, I can't guarantee that others will not and it simply makes sense to switch to the direct feed file rather than rely on a work-around.

I apologize for any inconvenience.

- Dennis

Posted by dmk at 11:40 AM