Archive for » January, 2008 «

Testing your blog in more than one browser is not only important, it’s essential. Essential, because all of your visitors will not be using the same browser as you.

Today’s Lesson

Months ago, I was in the market for a new blog theme. My extensive search revealed one, I absolutely loved.

I quickly downloaded it, and put it use.

In my Firefox browser, it was very impressive.

But, when I tested it in IE (Internet Explorer), it totally collapsed.

The sidebars were distorted, parts were missing, and in IE, it didn’t even look like the same theme.

Thinking I had downloaded an older version, I checked the theme author’s website. There was only one version, no updates.

I read the the comment section, and others were encountering the same problem, however, the author did not offer “a fix”.

My continued search lead me to the theme I am currently using.

I actually like this one better (for now)……so all is not lost.

Today’s Assignment

Have you tested your blog theme in more than one browser?

Are you seeing a difference?

Is it something you can live with, or will you have to make adjustments?

Creativity has been on my side. I’m ahead on my posts, and even had them post dated.

That’s been a relief for me, as I’m under a time crunch for the business.

But today, I “stopped the presses”, and changed my posting schedule. All, for a very good reason.

Today’s Lesson

When I was on my mission to find my “New Blog Of The Week”, I spent a considerable amount of time online.

I tried search engines, to no avail. I resorted to clicking on Problogger’s commenter’s links.

It was there, I found Nez.

However, it was also there, that I landed on a blogging “gold mine”.

What I found, I consider to be the most beautifully written blog post, I have ever read.

Rebecca, the author, has been writing for some time, and as soon as I read her blog post, I was hooked on her writing style.

She credits her “style” to editing, however, her creativity far outweighs editing.

To prove my point, her tag line, reads like a micro novel. (Hope you don’t mind, Rebecca)

The early career of a freelance writer can sometimes feel like whirling in circles on a carousel. Here, fantasy novelist and freelance writer Rebecca Laffar-Smith, discusses writing and the writer’s life from inspiration to publication.

I am providing a link to the post of hers, titled: Where Do Ideas Come From, which inspired me to change my blogging schedule.

In this post, she discusses, what she labels as “the waterfall effect”.

It’s a fantastic read, filled with masses of valuable information.

Today’s Assignment

Follow the above link to Rebecca’s site (Writer’s Round-About), and read the post I highlighted.

If time permits, read her post on “Australia Day”.

Come back and share your thoughts.

BTW: Rebecca also found me on Problogger’s site, visited me, and left a very compelling comment on my “Profanity” post.

If you use Google AdSense as part of your blog’s monetization, you can easily set up a “savings account” with Google.

Today’s Lesson

First of all, if you haven’t done so, you’ll need to:

Most of you know, when visitors click on your AdSense ads, you make money. (Do not click on your own AdSense ads!)

Granted, you may not make much, but those pennies will begin to add up.

According to Google’s payment system, when your account reaches $100.00, you will either receive a check, or the money will be deposited into your account via an EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer).

Although $100.00+ check would be nice to receive, you do have the capability of “saving” your AdSense earnings.

Google gives you the option to watch your money grow (interest free, of course).

In your Google account, go to “My Account”.

Click on “Payment Holding”, “Edit”

Check the “hold payment” box, and Google will hold your earnings until you tell them otherwise.

To receive your payment, just follow the same process, and deselect/uncheck “hold payment”. Google will send your money, based on their next payment cycle.

Google states that “changes made to these settings after the 15th of the month may apply to either the current or next payment cycle”.

Today’s Assignment

Were you aware you could do this?

Do you think you will use this feature, or do you want your earnings, asap?

Here’s the announcement you all have been waiting for:

My “New Blog Of The Week”, goes to Nez, of NezSez.com.

Nez’s tag line (motto) is “Using Critical Thinking to Affect Positive Change in Your Life and Society” That sounds like something we can all use.

Check out his blog, leave him a comment, and welcome him into blogosphere!

Anyone who watches soap operas or prime time series, knows how each show ends with a “cliff hanger”.

It’s so compelling, you mark your calender, and watch the show the next time it airs.

Now, that’s not to say, I haven’t landed on a few blogs, that resemble a true life soap opera, but that’s not the lesson for today.

Today’s Lesson

Having studied “how to get more repeat visits to your blog”, I have read many articles about “series posts”.

Writing a “series post”, is like creating a soap opera. You write a post, divide it into several parts, but only post one part at a time, preferably ending each segment, with a cliff hanger.

Some say, by writing a post in a series, you gain repeat visits, and page views.

It is assumed, visitors will come back to read, “the rest of the story”.

The theory makes sense, however, I wonder how well it works.

Would a visitor actually come back day after day?

Or would they come back after a week or so, and read the series all at once?

Getting visitors to subscribe in a reader would help, but……is your “series” compelling enough to get them to do so?

Although this is not a series post, I will try the “cliff hanger” technique.

Tune in for tomorrow’s post, when my “New “Blog Of The Week”, will be announced. To avoid missing the action, subscribe to, or bookmark my site, to find out the latest winner.

Is it working? :)

Today’s Assignment

Have you ever tried writing a series post?

Did it work?

Do you go back to a site, day after day, to read a “series”?

Have your say, and share your thoughts on series posts.

Google’s page rank is an issue that eludes/frustrates most bloggers and webmasters. How it’s calculated, is treated like a “secret sauce” recipe. A few of the ingredients are known, but no one (except Google), knows all of the ingredients. Anyone who could get their hands on the “recipe”, could potentially become a multi-millionaire, overnight.

What if Google reformulated their “recipe, and added in your credit score.

Today’s Lesson

Let’s ponder this one.

Currently insurance companies, in some states, are calculating home owner and automobile premiums, based are individual credit scores. They may call it “insurance scores”, but whatever it’s called, a lower number can result in higher premiums.

This had been taken a step further by employers, who were using credit scores as a pre screening (new applicants) technique. This practice, however, has been tightened, and in some areas, abolished.

The insurance companies are checking to see if you are in debt, your credit history, and if you pay your bills on time.

Those with great credit scores are enjoying a drastic drop in their premiums, however, many others are paying substantially more.

The reasoning behind this, is: if you have poor credit, and/or are deep in debt, you may be “tempted” to file a fraudulent claim.

It is assumed, the higher your credit score, the more responsible you are. And, if you are responsible with your money, you will be more responsible in other areas of your life.

As much as there may be some truth to this reasoning, sometimes extenuating circumstances throw individuals into financial ruin, and their credit scores plummet.

Whether that is this is taken into consideration, I have found no reports that address the issue.

So, back to pondering…..

What if Google were to partially base your page rank on your credit score?

Could Google make the assumption that: A higher credit score means you are less apt to use black hat SEO techniques? Less apt to buy links? More responsible? More trustworthy? Not likely to click on your own ads, or hire someone to? Would they make the assumption that someone with a higher credit score is more apt to create more accurate content?

Today’s Assignment

What do you think?

Would using a credit score air in creating a fairer page rank system?

Would you want Google to have that much information on you? (they probably do already)

Would we see a better caliper of blogs/websites ranking higher in the search engines, if this technique were to be implemented?

If you had a higher credit score, should you also be illegible for higher paying ads?

Do you know your credit score? if not, you should.


See How Lenders See Your FICO Score

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