For anyone working with the web or other technology, it really pays off to keep up with current news and trends in your industry. The interesting thing about developing websites is the different aspects that need to be taken in to account to build a successful site: marketing, design, coding, writing, public relations... the list goes on and on. 

I've found these three blogs to be both useful and interesting in my day-to-day work, and I think you will too.

Signal vs. Noise

This blog covers a lot of topics, but it's core is all about business culture. Who you are and what you do are nothing compared to how you treat your customers and how you work together with the people in your company. 

• Favorite article: Apologizing like a human, not a corporation

Mashable

Any news that's even remotely related to social media usually finds its way in to Mashable. While the volume of posts can be overwhelming (expect 20+ Twitter updates per day) there are always a few gems that sparkle through the rough.

• Favorite article: IE6 Must Die for the Web to Move On

Seth Godin's Blog

Seth is a marketing guru and relentless self promoter. He's written a bunch of books and coined some industry terms, but what's interesting are his daily quips on a variety of subjects that all relate to marketing in one way or another. 

• Favorite article: The lesson from two lemonade stands

I just finished reading REwork by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hannson. Quick background: the writers of this book founded 37signals, a company that makes an amazing project management tool called Basecamp. 37signals not only makes great products, they also have an amazing work culture that comes through in their blog and other social media outputs. 

I've already read Getting Real, their previous book (available online for free) which I liked. For me, there's something more satisfying about holding and reading a book than reading on a screen. Either way, here's my top 5 lessons learned from REwork:

5. Ignore the details early on

This is always my problem - I think about all the cool features and tweaks before thinking about the core of whatever I'm working on (usually a website).

4. Emulate chefs

I love that they mentioned Kitchen Nightmares - a great show about running a restaurant with lessons that apply to almost any business

3. How to say you're sorry

Apologizing is something that almost all companies get wrong - "We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused" is the worst way to make your customers feel better

2. Send people home at five

Agreed!

1. Start making something

This chapter inspired me to, well, start making something. Over the past few months I've had a ton of ideas for a project and after reading this chapter I finally started it. Since I'm in the early stages, I'm trying to really focus on the core concepts and leave the details for later. It's tough, but it's happening... and that's better than just planning.

With the recent success of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, it's no surprise to see a retro-inspired Sonic the Hedgehog game in the works. This trailer looks promising:

Just as long as it doesn't include Amy Rose, Jet the Hawk, Storm the Albatross, Wave the Swallow, Froggy, Blaze the Cat, Charmy Bee, Espeo the Chameleon, Mighty the Armadillo, Vector the Crocodile, Cream the Rabbit, Cheese, Vanilla the Rabbit, Eggman Nega, Fang the Sniper, Maria Robotnik, Omochao, Rogue the Bat, Shadow the Hedgehog, Silver the Hedgehog, Tikal the Echidna, or any of Sonic's other "friends".

Knuckles is allowed to join (if he doesn't talk), as it Tails (as long as he stays out of the way).