Archive for » June, 2008 «

Jun

I Can’t Read It, If I Can’t See It

Barbara Swafford

193043979 5b392345f4 I Cant Read It, If I Cant See It

I cannot count how many times I’ve landed on a blog, only to click off.

It wasn’t because the blog was laced with profanity, nor was it due to the site sporting too many ads

It was because I couldn’t see the writings.

By seeing the writings, I mean the size of the font.

Today’s Lesson

I’ve changed my theme many times.

Not always because I wanted a change, but on some themes the font was so small I could hardly read what I had written. Since I didn’t understand CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), I would find another theme which offered a sizable font, and links that were easy to see. I knew if I was having trouble reading my blog posts, so might others.

I know…., we can enlarge the size of the text on a page by pressing CTRL plus +, but if someone doesn’t know that, or they’re too lazy, they may leave.

Please, bloggers, take a look at your blog from the eyes of a visitor. Is the font extremely small?

Do the links blend in with the background?

Do you have trouble reading it? How about a person with flailing eyesight?

Remember, we are writing for others, not for ourselves.

Keep your audience in mind when choosing a theme/font.

Don’t give them a reason to click off before they read your great writings.

Today’s Assignment

Do you also have trouble reading some blogs?

Do you continue to frequent those sites or do you just leave?

Photo Credit: Shaggy Paul’s photostream

Category: Archives, Blogging Lessons, Themes, Writing Tips Tags: Blogging, Blogs 50 Comments

Jun

FEFF – How To Get More Hits On Old Posts

Barbara Swafford

It’s Friday, and I’m adding another great freebie to my “Free and Easy Friday Finds”(FEFF)

Last week I found a new plugin called “Random Posts”. It’s quite slick.

Via the use of a plugin (link to follow), you can display posts from the past. What this plugin does is extract random posts which will change each time your page is loaded. So what you see now, will be replaced with new random posts on the next click.

To see it in action, I’ve installed it in my left sidebar below “What Others Are Reading”.

What I like about this plugin is that old posts are now revived without having to manually link to them. Granted, some may not be your best work, but it may get them some attention. (The plugin has options where you can block posts you don’t want displayed)

To use this plugin, it requires downloading TWO plugins.

The first one is called “Post-Plugin Library”

And the second one is obviously called “Random Posts”

Just follow the instructions and you’re set to go.

The plugin author is Rob Marsh. Let’s all give him a round of applause for these great plugins. ///clap, clap, clap\\\\ Also, please note, Rob offers several other plugins on his site, as well.

By the way, next Friday is the Fourth of July holiday here in the States, so I won’t be posting, BUT, on Thursday, I’m publishing my second Monthly Mini Meme (MMM), so start thinking about that one random thing about yourself you would like to share with the BWAB community. I have mine picked out, and it’s rather funny.

Mark you calenders, and have a great weekend.

Photo Credit: Robbie1′s photostream

Category: Archives, Free and Easy Finds, Plugins and Widgets Tags: Blogging 45 Comments

Jun

Bloggers Flunk The Reading Assignments

Barbara Swafford

It’s sad but true, many bloggers may not be reading your posts. They scan your words, may (or may not) find something to comment on, and then click off.

Today’s Lesson

If you read the comments to yesterday’s post, Vered mentioned she had read (possibly on Skellie’s blog) that some bloggers are scanning our posts.

It’s true. The posts you’re working so earnestly on may be not be getting entirely read.

I’ll admit, I’m guilty of this. Not on the blogs that I follow and comment on, but on other blogs I read.

If the post is long, or the blog author has become redundant. I start seeing “blah, blah, blah”. I read the first sentence of each paragraph and decide if I want to read the rest. Sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I skip to the end of the post to get “the answer”.

On those blogs, I normally don’t comment.

It’s really no different than reading the ending of a book before reading the whole book.

And, let’s face it, some posts can be predictable.

I knew this was happening, and asked myself if it bothers me. It used to. But now I realize how little time bloggers actually have to spend visiting other sites, and understand why it happens.

Although I would prefer to have all of my words read, I’m just happy my loyal visitors are showing up.

Today’s Assignment

Do you read every word of every post?

Does it bother you to know some of your visitors aren’t reading all you have written?

Photo Credit: gluemoon’s photostream

Category: Archives, Blogging Lessons Tags: Blogging, Blogs, e book, loyal visitors 39 Comments

Jun

Blog Posts – Are We Our Worst Critic?

Barbara Swafford

On Monday we discussed the importance of your most current post. It was decided our best work may be buried in our archives.

But, how do we know what is our best work?

Is it the post we spent days constructing, editing and reediting until we had it perfect?

Or was it the post we wrote in ten minutes?

Today’s Lesson

I usually spend a fair amount of time writing and editing my blog posts. I preview them many times before I hit “publish”.

I want them to be “just so”.

Sometimes I write a post and KNOW it will be a hit.

It often bombs.

Other days, I jot down my thoughts, do a few quick edits and hit “publish”.

I know it wasn’t my best work, but for some reason, it’s a HUGE success.

Comments pour in, as do kudos.

What gives?

Are we worrying too much about what we post? Are we wasting our time on research and edits?

Are we our worst critic?

Should we learn to listen to those who respond to our posts?

I’m beginning to think so.

I’ve had this same discussion with other bloggers, they feel the same way, what about you?

Today’s Assignment

Do you find this happening with your posts too?

Are you your worst critic?

Photo Credit: re_birf’s photostream

Category: Archives, Blogging Lessons, Writing Tips Tags: Blogging 27 Comments

Jun

NBOTW Needs No Introduction

Barbara Swafford

If you’re part of the BWAB community, you’ll see her commenting.

If you travel through blogosphere, she’s there too.

She’s small in stature, but has a large presence in social networks, as well

In fact, she’s everywhere.

The name of her blog may produce visions of a “mommy blog”, but she rarely writes stories about her kids. Instead, she writes about issues that affect her as a woman, as a mother, as a blogger and as a caring human being, whose children are an important part of her life.

She calls herself the “Queen of Multitasking”, but in her post titled: “Multitasking Reduces Efficiency” she admits she’s trying to change her ways. She writes:

My own first goal would be to sit down with my kids every day when they get back from school and just listen to them, focusing on what they have to say, without attempting to get anything else done at the same time. Unpacking of lunch boxes and washing dishes can be accomplished after I spend at least half an hour, uninterrupted, listening to my kids.

With blogging and commenting often being about self promotion, in “Blogging – Are People Truly Interested In The Discussion, Or Is It All About Self Promotion?”, she observes:

There is a big difference between a community member promoting herself within her community, and an outsider trying to spam the community.

Where she finds them, I don’t know, but she comes up with the funniest “Wordless Wednesdays”. Check these ones out:

Effects of Inflation – $1 Bras
Your Yucky Mommy Body
It’s Never Too Early For Sugary Drinks

You’ve seen her on this blog, you’ve probably seen her on your blog, but for those who aren’t acquainted with her yet, her name is Vered, and her blog is “Momgrind”. She’s a blogger who started blogging in March (2008), but has already made a huge mark in blogosphere.

Everyone, please join me in re-welcoming Vered to the BWAB community, and don’t forget to check out her blog and the posts I’ve highlighted. She’s genuinely appreciative of all of her visitors and would love to see you there.

Hello again Vered!

Photo Credit: powerbooktrance’s photostream