[Contest] Top Blogging Tools I use in OAP; What's yours?

Top Blogging Tools I use in OAP; What's yours?

Contest Duration: July 12, Monday, 12.00am to July 25, Sunday, 11.59pm

I'm often asked variants of this question: What camera / hosting / tools do you use for blogging? 

So, for this blog post, I would like to share my answer to that question with you, but I also want to know what blogging tools you use.

As an incentive, the best answer (via the comments section, blog post or Facebook entry) will win my favorite Flip Ultra 120 HD 120 minutes! Thanks to Flip Camera Manila Distributor for sponsoring the prize for the contest!

My Top Blogging Tools

• Blog Hosting: Typepad Pro

Typepad is a managed hosting service that has the easy blogging interface of Blogger and the sophistication and nice template of Wordpress. I love Typepad because I don't need to worry about hosting, bandwidth and security of the site. I've been using Typepad ever since I started. And Seth Godin also uses typepad.

• Digital Camera: Canon 20d 17-40mm L Lens

Ninety-five percent of the photos you see in OAP are produced using my Canon 20d. I love Canon -- this has been my camera ever since I started. What makes the food shots crisp in OAP is the fine 17-40 L lens by Canon. The other 5% is produced by my back-up camera (when my Canon is in the shop for repairs).

• Video Blogging Camera: Flip Ultra HD Camera 120 minutes

I love Flip because you can shoot a video and immediately upload it to YouTube in a matter of minutes. The video is HD quality and the audio is quite good already in a relatively quiet environment. For blogging, use the Ultra HD version and not any other version if you want to publish the video in your blog.

• Mobile Phone and Subscription: iPhone 3G with Globe

These days, you already need a GPS-enabled camera so that you can participate in location-based services like Four Square. I like the simplicity and seemless integration of the iPhone with my Mac and other online services.

I'm a proud Globe subscriber ever since -- 0917-LOVEOAP (5683627).

• Laptop and Blogging Client: MacBook Pro with ECTO

I love Mac! It is easy to use, especially for blogging. I specifically use a Macbook Pro version so that it can handle my simple video editing needs.

There is a special blogging client called ECTO (for MAC only) where you can blog offline and just publish your post when you are online. Also, ECTO can manage multiple blogs in multiple platforms.

• Photo Editing, Watermarking and Hosting Tool: Lightroom 2.0 with Flickr.

After 5 years of blogging in OAP, I now have 78,841 photos, and they all need to be managed. I have all my photos managed by Lightroom, which automates a lot of the post-processing like cropping, renaming the filenames, placing the watermark, and automatically uploading it to Flickr.

I would recommend you also use a separate photo hosting tool like Flickr instead of just uploading your photos to your own server or hosting platform.

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That's it! Now it's your turn. What are the top tools you use for blogging?

To officially enter the contest, just put your answer or link your answer in the comments section of this blog post. Deadline for the contest is on July 25, Sunday, 11.59pm. :)

And the winner is...

Thanks for all the great entries! It was actually very very hard to choose. I didn't expect a lot of people to join so thank you all for joining!

I learned a lot from the entry of the winner and it made me rethink the webhosting I use and the putting watermarks on my photos. You should read the winning entry.

The Geekette Speaketh's My Blogging Tools

Congratulations Charo, you just won a Flip Ultra HD Camera!  To claim, just email my wife rachediaz@gmail.com and we will arrange a meet-up :)

As a runner up, I need to mention this post because I like it:
Cher Cabula's Mindbox My Top Blogging Tools

Live an Awesome Life,

 
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Disclosure: We are distributors of the Flip Ultra

The Flip Ultra HD camera selling price is at P9,995. Yes, it is now locally available in Manila! Just email my wife at rachediaz@gmail.com or text/call her +63917 5318949 if you are interested. Ask for the special OAP friend discount. :)

P.S. Join Maven Secrets 4: A 90-day Internet Marketing and Professional Blogging Program!