Here’s what is due at the start of class next week: Answer these five questions for three of your best digital ideas.

• What pressing problem are you solving or opportunity are you addressing?
• How are you solving this problem or tapping this opportunity?
• Who are your customers and how will you make money?
• What makes your product special?
• Who do you compete against?

Each of your three ideas should get about half a page to a full page.

Post a link to your tumblr site in the comments area below.

Read the first 100 pages of the ProBlogger book.

Post 10 things you learned from the ProBlogger book to your tumblr site.

Here are a bunch of sites we’re going to look at in class tonight:

http://www.desmoinesisnotboring.com/wordpress/

http://www.karriwells.com/

http://www.myballard.com

http://www.livingdowntowndesmoines.com/

http://westseattleblog.com/blog/

http://www.socialmediaclubdesmoines.org/

http://desmoinespubliclibrary.pbworks.com/

http://iowagirleats.com/

http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/

http://www.younghouselove.com/

http://drakeafterclass.com/

http://www.chicagonow.com/

http://www.gopensacola.com

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/8035

http://iowastatefair.bxs.mobi/preview

Here are the four books we’ll read this semester:

• ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
• Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust
• Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation
• The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)

Welcome to our Drake University entrepreneurial journalism class.

I’ll use this blog to keep you updated on readings and assignments throughout the semester.