Zemanta
Image via WikipediaOver the past week or so, I have been trialing Zemanta, a firefox plug-in. You may have noticed a small orange button at the bottom of my posts that says “Zemified”. That indicates that I have used the program at some point in my post.
Once installed, Zemanta works with certain blogging platforms (including wordpress and blogger) to provide you with suggested images, links, tags and articles which may be related to the topic you’re writing about.
Sometimes the suggestions are quite helpful. For instance, last week when I wrote my “Touch Typing” post, I was able to add an image of fingers typing quite quickly by clicking on an image listed to the write hand side of my screen.
Other times the suggestions are not so helpful. For example, I was writing a post for Lightening Online on the topic of buying new shoes. I fully expected the first image update to contain several options for shoes. Did it? NO! Instead, I got a heap of TRAIN images!!!! What????
The other limitation I’ve found with it is that I’ve only been able to add one of the suggested images to each post. Clicking on a second option replaces the first. Maybe I just haven’t figured out how that side of it works yet.
Every 300 characters that you type brings you a new set of suggestions (as well as anything Zemanta has suggested so far). So, the longer your post, the more options Zemanta will give you. You can also type in a heap of key words to bring you up to the next update and then delete those words without losing your suggestions.
My opinion of Zemanta so far? I LOVE it. I don’t use it for every post but I’m definitely finding it a useful tool to add a dimension to my blog posts. So far I’m finding it particularly useful here on Lightening’s Blogworld where I’ve been wanting to use more images to brighten up posts but don’t have the time to go searching.
I’m sure as I use it more, I’ll learn a little more about how it works. But so far it gets a definite thumbs up from me.
If you use Firefox as a browser and have a blog, I would recommend you give it a try.
Anyone else using it? How have you found it so far? Useful? Worthwhile? Painful?
If you’d like some further reading on what others are saying about Zemanta, here are some suggestions given by the Zemanta program:
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Comments
Thanks for the feedback on how you’re finding it Journeyer. 
It’s definitely better for some posts than others but I’m quite enjoying the benefits it gives to my post writing.
Thanks for giving us a try. We don’t always find best stuff because what is best often differs between people and when you add computers to the mix, it’s even harder.
Having said that, I’ll send your mentioned blog posts about shoes to our engineers and ask them to give it a hard look so for the next iteration this mistake will not happen again.
If you have any question or ideas, we also have great forums at getsatisfaction.com/zemanta or just drop me a mail - jure@zemanta.com
Jure Cuhalev, Zemanta
Wondered what that orange thing was.I didn’t click as i thought I might get more distracted- will give it a try
Looks like you have lots of related reading there too
I’ve found it vaguely useful most of the time, occasionally not very useful at all, but once or twice very useful indeed so I’m keeping it!
I have to admit I’m hooked on Zemanda too… It certainly simplifies getting some additional links (like to Wikipedia or IMDB, both of which I link to regularly) as well as links to other sites. Pretty darned cool!
Jure - thanks for dropping by and for taking feedback on board. All things like this will have their limitations.
Suzie - yes, I went a tad overboard adding links I think. 
But I’d like to make my way through them as well. The related articles feature is great for a blog like this one.
A - a fair enough summary. Thanks for adding your thoughts.
Brian - glad to hear you’re enjoying it. Like most things, I’m finding it more useful the more I use it. The links to wikipedia are good if you want to explain a term without wanting to spend too much time researching for appropriate links aren’t they. Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
I used a few images and links but I found it stalls my typing and slows it down when it updates … a bit annoying at times.
I haven’t downloaded the latest update.
When selecting images, click on your first choice, hold down your control button, then click on your second choice. See if that works.It would be similar to selecting multiple images from my pictures file to email to my friends. Maybe.
I have been looking for ways to easily add images to my posts without “hanging” me up too much. Glad I dropped in
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I’ve been using it since you last mentioned it. I haven’t added many of the images or links to my posts because they’re not always relevant. But having said that, I think it’s a worthwhile tool. It’s fairly unobtrusive as you’re working and easy to use.
I’m going to check out your other links to see if I can pick up some tips to get more relevant suggestions.