Here’s the problem: since shortcodes are meant to DO something, how do you go about documenting them?

Well, one option is to use a double entry, like this:

[[c]]

WordPress understands that you are not using a shortcode, simply displaying it, and it will correct the issue, giving you the display of [c], and no activating.

However, what if the relevant plugin is missing? In this case, if I tried to use the doubled code without the plugin active, I’d get both pairs of brackets – very messy.

So, plugin active, [[…]] works, plugin inactive, [[…]] doesn’t work (and remember, that’s only for relevant plugins – if another plugin has another shortcode, then that plugin controls whether that shortcode displays right).

Of course, that’s annoying, and in fact there’s a few complaints about this feature in WordPress bug tracking. But that doesn’t help us right now.

For example, the last article described how to use a specific group of shortcodes. But the plugin wasn’t set up on this blog. However, if I later set it up, all those code examples would become ‘live’, and I’d end up with accidentally formatted normal text.

The only solution so far? Use an HTML entity for the left bracket, [

[c]just an example, no ‘working’ here![/c]

This breaks the shortcode scanning routine, preventing it from being used. Note that the one character is enough, you needn’t do it for the right bracket as well (but if you did, the code is ])

For quite some time I’ve used the old fashioned way of adding code – work in the HTML editor, the switch to the Visual editor and paste in code so that it formats it “HTML safe” (like changing the test ‘less than’ in code from < to &lt;)

But with a new plugin, my code can be quickly formatted to look right for a variety of computer languages, and with minimal fuss. For example, in C/C++ code I just wrap the code with [c]…[/c] and the  formatting is done for me, including line numbers and color coding.

To view it, drop by just about any page on my tech blog UtopiaMechanicus.com (I write a lot of code examples there). The display for each code section is almost entirely up to the plugin – I only added the surrounding code entries, and of course, changed the settings to suit my blog (dark background colors, for instance).

To give it a try:

• Search on “SyntaxHighlighter Evolved” in your Admin Plugins; Add New tab.
• Install and go to its settings.
• Adjust them to suit (if at all).

Add code with the encircling tags (and NO switching to the Visual editor). As I mentioned, [c] and [/c] are C/C++; [php] is for PHP, and so on (the plugin links you to a list of codes if you need a different one).

The plugin has so far jazzed up my pages and made maintenance easier. If you have a lot of source code (of any language), consider adding it to your site – and format more easily!

So, I’ve updated the counter, and turned it into a widget – which makes it much easier to use, and compatible with any widget-enabled theme, so you can place it anywhere your heart designs.

(And I know people want it easy to use – here’s a censored email I once received from a ‘fan’).

For more information on using and downloading it, you can visit the plugin’s page here.

By the way, the code was part of a larger tutorial in the June 2011 issue of The ActiveBlogging Report entitled “Widget Fundamentals: You CAN Write Your Own Widget!” If you’re a member, you can read how to create a widget very easily, starting with our lowly counter!

And unfortunately, their rules don’t give one whit about quality of writing, or value as prose – they only care about keywords.

What are keywords? They’re the most important words you use when you search on something. When you want to know more about Justin Timberlake, is that all you type? Not likely – the information out there is too vast. So you narrow it down with words you think will help your search: ‘Justin Timberlake concert listings’ for example.

And that’s keywords – what people need to type in to find what they want – and that’s hopefully you.

For example, look at my title – can you imagine people typing in ‘how do I get traffic to my blog’, or ‘How to write SEO wordpress’ (SEO = Search Engine Optimized)? A good title tells people what to expect, but also uses the keywords you expect them to look with. If I had instead said something quirky like ‘Zen and the Art of Title Creation’ I’d have an interesting title, but totally useless for search engines – and ultimately, for searching.

There’s some times you can break these rules: for example, if you are so popular that people link to you and visit you directly, rarely using search engines at all. But even in those cases, it doesn’t hurt to have a keyword oriented title, so it’s worth practicing the habit: ask yourself what people would search on to find this article, and then tweak the title to fit.

For most of us, search engines (and user searches) are key to getting website traffic. The resulting writing as a whole may lack panache, vibrancy, or zing, but at least Yahoo, Bing and Google will find us…

Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to just her friends – it was to her friends via Twitter. As well, she didn’t broadcast ONLY to her friends, she broadcast globally, so everyone heard it.

Apparently including Cisco, with a helpful person there named Tim Levad who decided to lend a hand:

Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.

It blew up from there. Now dubbed the “Cisco Fatty”, she of course did not get the job, and is now looking elsewhere.

And while I can only guess what set people off, I expect having someone complaining about a job offer at Cisco via Twitter is bad; somewhat on par with Barack Obama complaining about how hard it is to run the country at a Republican Party benefit.

(For those not in the know, Cisco is heavily into Internet connectivity, providing the routers that hook up the Internet. Along with AOL, they were one of the success stories of the 90s, and as you can imagine, they can just about print money at this point. So, many Twitter-loving tech geeks would jump to work there, unless Google wises up and hires them first).

It seems an honest mistake (and reading her new blog on the topic, she seems sincere), but I have to ask, is this a stupid blunder, or a calculated plan?

Either way, it’s obvious now that Twitter is going the way of Blogs, warts and all.

Moreover, it’s even better – now there’s no need to write anything logical, cogent, or lengthy – as a quick check of Twitter will tell you. After all, one of the annoying aspects of blogging was you had to actually WRITE something – now with Twitter, you can do little more than a textual burp, yet tell everyone you write online.

In fact, I’m already resenting the 380+ words I’ve written here – on Twitter I could mumble for about 20 words, and probably not even spell check…

…maybe Twitter has some benefits, after all.

Unfortunately, the percentage of good comments versus spam (the “signal to spam” ratio) is very low – because the more popular a blog gets, the more spam comes in (I won’t mention how much spam I used to clean out daily – it’s just too depressing).

However, for those of us considering a comment, here or anywhere, it’s time to explain how to comment – with a very few simple tips:

• Stay on topic. I frequently get comments that have nothing to do with the post they are posting on – a sure sign that a program is ‘writing’ them.
• Forget “Hi”, “I’m new here”, and other bland comments. Generic comments go – period. This is not rude – it’s a fact of life. Too many spam machines will say something like “great comment, I’ve added your blog to my list” as if we’re going to be moved with gratitude and publish it for all the world to see. If you do the same, expect to look like a machine – which WILL be the case.
• Don’t ask inane questions. Further on the machine versus person aspect, don’t ask something that doesn’t fit. I get many comments about how to add my blog to their RSS feed, or how to write. That’s what blog Contact Forms are for – and if they can’t figure that out, perhaps there is NO answer you could give them that would help.
• Leave links out! I know comments promote your site – and I know it’s an important part of your link strategy (and I use a ‘DoFollow’ plugin so you’ll get proper credit for it). But insert a few links into the post and don’t be surprised if it gets dumped. In fact, I actually wrote a WordPress plugin to automatically delete comments with too many links, so I don’t have to wade through so many ‘linky’ ones. You’ll get your one site link when you enter your comment – so don’t get greedy.
• Please give up the conversation – eventually. I like threaded comments, and a conversational give and take. But if the person just doesn’t ‘get it’, and asks the same questions, slightly rephrased, again and again, then I have to stop accepting them. Sorry, but the blog is for everyone, not just one visitor with a particular axe to grind.
• Keep slander away. A company with big pockets can sue over slander and libel – and guess who they’ll sue? The anonymous poster, or me, the blog site owner? It’s a no-brainer, so if your brain wishes to share a tasty comment or two about anyone, don’t, or this brain will be deleting them.
• Be nice (or, “Do you blog to your mother with that mouth?”). Profanity is popular – and it’s a clear sign that the writer doesn’t know what a thesaurus is used for. Enjoy the swearing if you must – but if you prefer being SEEN, then express yourself with a larger (and politer) vocabulary.
• Run cool. There’s something about online writing that brings out the aggressiveness. I’ve seen comments (not on my blog, thankfully) that would get people punched in real life. Don’t go there – arguing a position calmly and logically works better in the long run. And if the other side doesn’t want to play fair, walk away.

That’s just a few points – of course, YOU don’t have to worry about them, but the average commenter does. Remember that comments you make elsewhere can help promote your site, but they are first and foremost opinions destined for the other person’s site.

And just like visiting someone’s house, make sure to wipe your feet, don’t step on the cat, and keep the insults about the mother in law to a minimum – and you’ll likely be welcomed back with open arms!