Archive for » January, 2008 «

28
Jan
Does Your Blog Resemble A Soap Opera

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.

Category: Archives, Blogging Lessons, Increase Traffic, Posting  Tags: ,  13 Comments
25
Jan
What if Google Added “This” To Determine Page Rank

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

Category: Archives, Blogging Lessons, Page Rank  Tags: , , ,  13 Comments
24
Jan
Can Feng Shui Improve Your Blog

I’ve read several books about Feng Shui, (pronounced “fung shway”) and how it can affect the Yin and Yang in your home.

For those who haven’t heard of Feng Shui, (literal translation is wind and water) it is an ancient (5000 years old) Chinese philosophy that deals mostly with understanding relationships between nature and ourselves. Bu using it, we may find more harmony in our lives/homes, by examining how qi or ch’i (chee), (energy) flows through it.

I recently got to thinking, if Feng Shui can affect our homes, could Feng Shui also be applied to a blog?

Today’s Lesson

I wanted to see what the experts claim are the basics of Feng Shui. I found a site named:Chart Planet.com where they list the following seven points to basic Feng Shui, “General Home Care”.

They are:

1. Make your home a welcoming place for guests, especially if you don’t have many guests and want to attract some.

2. Pay special attention to your front door. The condition of your entrance tells your guests if they’re welcome or unwelcome.

3. Let light flow to every place in your home. This welcomes positive ch’i into your life.

4. Fresh air bears positive ch’i. Welcome it into your home every day.

5. Live plants and flowers attract positive ch’i. Put some in every room.

6. Don’t allow your house to become cluttered – not even one room in it. A cluttered home means a cluttered, stagnated life.

7. Treat your home as if it is your ideal self. If you live in the ideal environment for you, your life will become more ideal.

If you were to replace the word “home”, with the word “blog”, and “front door” with “home page”, in the above blockquote, it begins to make you think.

Personally, I know how clutter (#6) affects my concentration and attitude. If I have too much clutter around me, I begin to get irritable. If I declutter, my outlook changes, almost immediately.

Although some call Feng Shui a pseudoscience, believers claim it can create a more harmonious home, aid in better sleep, encourage wealth to “enter your life”, and even help in your personal relationships.

Often you will read, by not using Feng Shui, negativity could result, and good health and/or wealth may elude you.

Not to sound like I believe in superstition ( I generally don’t), I did start analyzing both of my blogs. I looked at my homepage to see if it’s welcoming, uncluttered, and an ideal environment for me.

Hmmm! After decluttering a bit, I think I’m beginning to feel more positive ch’i. :roll:

If you have never studied Feng Shui, it is an interesting concept. Thousands of home owners and businesses practice Feng Shui, but whether it works or not, that’s up to you to decide.

Even if Feng Shui were to be classified as “snake oil”, the above seven points may be worth practicing…..not only with your home, but with a blog.

Today’s Assignment

Read the above seven points.

Apply each one to your blog.

Could your blog use a little Feng Shui?

Have you visited other blogs that don’t have positive ch’i?

Or….do you think Feng Shui is just hocus pocus?

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Category: Archives, Blog Maintenance, Blogging Lessons  Tags:  10 Comments
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