Archive for » September, 2007 «

What is a favicon?

To quote Wikipedia.org

A favicon (short for ‘favorites icon’), also known as a website icon, a page icon or an urlicon, is an icon associated with a particular website or webpage.

Where do you see a favicon? You will see it at the beginning of the URL (in your search bar), when you land on a page of a website or blog, where one has been created. It’s actually a very small picture, logo, or whatever the author of the site, chooses.

While I was visiting one of my Blogging Buddies, Nelson at Help Desk Geek, I noticed that he had a favicon. Since he is an expert in computers, I asked him if he would share, with the rest of us, how to create a favicon. He graciously complied, and produced an excellent post detailing how to make your own favicon. To read his post, click on this link: How To Create a Favicon For Your Blog

When you are visiting his site, take note of his favicon. It’s a photo of himself.

How cool is that?

So far, I haven’t ventured into the direction of creating a favicon for my blogs, but when the time arises, I know just where to go, to get detailed instructions.

Thank you again, Nelson!

Leaving comments on another blog, is a great way to generate more traffic, to your blog.

How does leaving a comment on another blog, drive traffic to your blog, you ask?

It starts with a short story.

Several weeks ago, I left a comment on Darren Rowse’s blog, Problogger. Asako, of “Before They Hatch” read my comment, clicked on my name, found my blogs, and now visits and comments often (Thank you, Asako). Yesterday, I was back on Darren’s site, and that’s where I found Nelson’s blog, Help Desk Geek.So I left him a comment. Today, he visited me, and left me a comment. Ironically, another “Blogging Buddie” of mine, Henk ter Heide, of See Me Draw, also found me on Problogger. Great minds must think alike. 8)

See how that works.

The process is very simple. Here goes…..

When you fill out the comment form, you are first asked for your name.

Then…your email address.

Then….your website address. This is the important part.

Just type in the URL as it appears when you are on your home page. In my case, my URL is http://bloggingwithoutablog.com

Hint: If you want to link to a specific page in your blog, you will have to type in the complete URL for that page.

After you leave your comment, and hit “submit”, a link to your site is created.

Now, it is said, that leaving a link inside of a comment is “spammy”. But…..If you are leaving a comment on my blog, and you are not comfortable with filling out my comment form, but want to provide a link to your site, just leave a link inside of your comment. I don’t mind. Just give me a way to find you.

In the past I made a typo when filling out my website address, and it created a dead link, so be careful when typing your website address.

With regard to comments, take your time to leave a meaningful comment. Saying “great post”, and nothing else, probably won’t drive visitors to your site. Leave a comment that will intrigue other readers, to find out a little more about you.

As a reminder, for anyone (with a web address) who leaves a comment on either this blog, or my Observation Mountain.com blog, I create a dedicated link to their blog, by adding them to my “Blogging Buddies”.

As of today, 9/21/07, I have 19 “blogging buddies”. Check out the page, and visit some of my loyal readers.

Unfortunately, one of my buddies, has apparently stopped blogging, as I’m getting a 404 error when I click on his link. Sad. He had the start of a great blog. But, I’m going to leave that link in place, just in case, he revives his blog.

So…..take some time, visit other blogs, and find a post where you can leave a compelling comment. Chances are, the author of that blog will come by and pay you a visit, thus generating more traffic to your blog. Sweet!

I love to blog
I love to write
I check the time
It’s past midnight

My eyes are red
My shoulders hurt
My butt is numb
I’m getting curt

I checked my stats
I made a dollar
I want to shout
I want to holler

I like to link
And speak my mind
I never know
What I will find

You can’t blog wrong
Though others say
To do it right
Do it their way

I love to blog
I’m having fun
I check the clock
It’s now past one

Money’s an issue
I’ll make you a bet
But, don’t plan on counting
Your chickens yet

Blogging’s hard work
It’s not for the meek
It’s not for the lazy
And not for the weak

If you want a good blog
It takes lots of time
You make make a hundred
Or only a dime

If you blog to make money
And you don’t love what you do
The dollars won’t roll in
And you’ll feel blue

For blogging is something
You must love with your heart
Money may follow
But that’s not why to start

I love to blog
And so do you
I check the time
It’s now past 2 (a.m.)

Good Night!

Category: Archives, Blog Poetry  Tags:  12 Comments

If you have been blogging for any length of time, are you finding out who really cares about your blog?

Who are your regular visitors?

Are they your family?

Are they your friends?

Do your family and friends visit your blog on a regular basis? Leave comments?

This is what I have discovered……

1) None of my friends or family read this blog. They don’t care about blogging, and have no interest in learning. Some have “popped in” to see what my site looks like, but the content didn’t appeal to them…….visitors….never to be seen again.

2) My second site, Observation Mountain.com, is read regularly by two of my friends. They check it on a weekly basis, and catch up on what I’ve written. Occasionally, other friends and family will drop in, but they are not regular readers. Some will leave a comment, others won’t.

So…………….what I have found is that the majority of my readers on both blogs, are basically cyberspace strangers. Strangers who come to read what I have written.

Now I am developing a network of Blogging Buddies. I can count on my blogging buddies to visit me on a fairly regular basis. They leave comments and compliments. They are my cyberspace friends. They care. And for that, I am grateful.

With that being said, ……..Don’t write to please your friends and family. Write for the whole world. Your readers will come from all walks of life, and from all countries.

Welcome them with open arms.

Leave me a comment, and let me know who your visitors are.

Does your site need an extreme makeover?

Just as humans, strive to look their best, we should treat our blogs, the same way.

Good content could be compared to a good person. A good person may not make a great first impression, but once we get to know them, we see the “inner beauty”. A blog could be compared to that “good person”. We may have good content, but based on that first impression of our site, no one sticks around to find out, that we really have something valuable to contribute to society

As I wrote in my previous post, most of your visitors don’t know the difference between a website and a blog. And…they don’t care to know the difference. After all, if you read my previous post, Without_______, Your Blog Is Nothing, you know why visitors are coming to your site. (Personal, photo and shopping blogs, excluded)

So, if you want your “blog” to be a popular site, treat it like a professional website, and give it an extreme makeover.

Do an experiment.

Split your screen……place your blog on one half, then place a big name website, on the other half. Compare the two. Which would you rather visit? Be honest.

Don’t have the split screen extension? Download it by clicking on the following link:

Does you site look like a blog? Or does it look like a professional “site”.

Is it time to change your theme?

Is your credibility jeopardized, because of how your pages “look”?

Is it time to remove some of those non producing ads?

Is it time to create a site that your visitors can actually read, without having to strain their eyes, or enlarge the page?

Is it time to remove some of those distractions? You know, the flashing banner ads, etc…

Remember…you only have one chance to make a first impression.

If you want to have a blog that stands the test of time, then make it timeless.

Give it an extreme makeover, and turn it into a real “beauty”.

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Category: Archives, Themes  Tags: , ,  3 Comments