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Mar

My New Baby – The Unveiling – Enter The Drawing And Win

Barbara Swafford

Life works in mysterious ways.

Sometimes we take a detour on the highway of life, and it’s because we did, we end up in a better place.

Sometimes an affliction we have becomes our platform.

Sometimes we’re in the right place at the right time.

Sometimes that which haunts us, becomes an asset.

My Story

For the first two years of my blogging journey, one of my biggest challenges was learning how to change the header on my blog. I couldn’t figure it out, so I used a generic theme with a nondescript header.

In 2009 when I changed my theme, I “cheated” and chose a header where all I had to do was upload a photo.

Voila! New header art. Like the Staples button, I was able to say, “That was easy”.

But, that didn’t serve me well. I longed to learn how to make what others claimed was a simple tweak. Ha!

I just couldn’t “get it”.

Headers. Oh, how they haunted me.

Ironically, something that haunted me has now become the cornerstone of my new project.

That’s right. My struggle over headers lead me to create a site which is all about headers. All about blogging.

A site which combines two of my passions. A site to showcase my talents, plus yours.

Without further ado, it’s time to unveil what I’ve been working on for the last six months (in my free time).

And as an extra bonus, the launch of my new site includes a drawing.

It’s really quite simple.

Go to my new site, The Blog Boutique, and leave me a comment – there are eleven posts to choose from (See “Freebies” or “Recent Additions” in the lower right sidebar.
Return here and leave another comment letting me know if you want to participate in the contest
All* commenters who ask to be entered into the contest will have their name placed into a random drawing
Six winners will receive 30 days of free advertising on The Blog Boutique – in the area labeled “Awesome Creations by Bloggers” (did you see that in the sidebar?)
The winners will also receive a custom ad (125×125) designed by me. Just pick what you want to showcase – you, a product you offer, or a service (see the ADvatars page for a few examples of what I’ve created.
That’s it.

What are you waiting for?

Head on over to The Blog Boutique. Take time to look around. Click on the links and soon you’ll see what I’ve been up to.

Remember – it’s a new blog so your comment will probably end up in moderation. I’ll be approving them as quickly as I can.

The deadline for the contest is Midnight (PST -Pacific Standard Time), March 20, 2010.

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Now for the back story of my latest project.

As you may have read on The Blog Boutique, I enjoy manipulating photos. When I finally learned how to change header images, I created one for my Observation Mountain blog. It was then the idea hit me. “Why not create headers for other bloggers, too? Why not take two of my passions and combine them?”

Hence, the free headers I offer on The Blog Boutique.

But I wanted that blog/site to be more than just free headers. As an advocate for bloggers, I wanted it to be a place where bloggers could go for anything they needed. Headers. A web host. Premium or free themes. Links to pages which include valuable information about blogging, or a place where they could advertise their blog, their ebooks, their services or their talent.

We all know how hard it is to get our blogs found, let alone that which we offer. so I thought, “Why not create a place bloggers can advertise their work in one central location?” When others comes by to pick up a free header, if they see an eye catching ad, they’re apt to check us out; come by and visit us. Maybe even click on our ads (if we monetize our blogs). Or, they may be looking for a service that we offer. Or, a product.

The Blog Boutique offers free headers, plus links to all things blogging. Granted, the links may be directed more toward WordPress bloggers, but I feel there’s something there for any blogger. As I learn and find more, I will add it to that site. In the meantime, I’ll be updating The Blog Boutique on a regular basis by adding dozens of new headers to the 100+/- headers which I’m currently showcasing.

As a footnote, via The Blog Boutique I will also be offering my services. Check out the “Hire me” page for more details.

P.S. I hope you enjoyed meeting my newest “baby”.

*The Blog Boutique is all about blogging and the ads for bloggers I include on that site will link to blogs which are updated regularly, contain useful content, or link to an ebook or service a blogger offers. Therefore, I will not accept nor advertise links for ads which lead to non blog related sales sites or those which contain nudity or offensive language. I created the site for bloggers who are serious about their work and the ads shall reflect the same. Therefore, don’t waste my time nor yours if your link does not meet the criteria.

P.S.S. If you find any broken links on The Blog Boutique, drop me a comment so I can fix them. Thank you!

Category: Archives, Blogging 65 Comments

Mar

Oh Please, Dont Tell Me I Need To Learn This

Barbara Swafford

Before you spend your time reading this post, I will warn you, we’re discussing a topic many bloggers prefer not to think about. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you want to read this post, or just move on.

You see, we’re talking about making our blogs, “our babies”, safe and secure.

Continue reading, or not….

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crashed my blog call out Oh Please, Dont Tell Me I Need To Learn This
I can still remember when I crashed my blogs.

I stared at the error message on the screen and got sick to my stomach.

Being new to blogging, I didn’t know what to do so I kept refreshing the page thinking it would correct itself.

It didn’t.

In all honesty, I knew it was what I had done behind the scenes that created that error. I “thought” I knew what I was doing.

I didn’t.

Today’s Lesson

It’s one thing when we mess around behind the scenes and crash our blogs. We know who to blame. We know what we did. And we know we can either reverse what we did or call someone and have them fix it.

But, what happens if someone else does that to us?

What happens if someone hacks our blog?

That’s different as we don’t know what “they” did, nor do we necessarily know how to fix “it”.

Hackers will hack any ‘ole blog, because they can. No blog is exempt. Not mine, not yours, not anyone’s.

When his wife’s online jewelry site was hacked and her monthly sales dropped from $1000 to zero, John Hoff of WP Blog Host made it his mission to learn everything about hackers; how they think, how they hack and most importantly, how to secure a WordPress blog against them. With Lindsey’’s site being her “baby”, and her online income helping to support their family, John vowed he would never let that happen again. Not to Lindsey. Not to him. Not to you.

John spent months studying everything he could find. As he learned, he documented his findings.

It is from the knowledge he gained and the lessons John learned, how the “WORDPRESS DEFENDER” ebook was born.

This 150 page guide is like no other. John includes hints, tips, tweaks and plugins we can use to secure out site, all written in an easy to understand language. To make things even easier, he includes 14 step-by-step bonus videos to keep those hackers at bay.

An example of the topics he covers include such things as

How to easily back up all of your files
WordPress upgrades and how to deal with them
Picking, protecting and managing your passwords
The truth about plugins
The best form of FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to use
Login lock downs and firewalls
Writing and using a .htacess file
How intruders find blogs to hack via search engines
What a hack might look like
Plus much more

Although this security guide and videos will set you back $39, it’s a small price to pay when we consider the alternative.

When I crashed my blogs, I lost a day getting my blog back online. When Lindsey’s blog was hacked, it took John, who knows what he’s doing, nearly a week (in his free time) just to figure out where the hack was located. From there, he recreated the site, but before it could be reactivated, he also needed to reload all of the products onto the newly rebuilt site. In the meantime, Lindsey’s page rank plummeted to zero, as did her sales.

Many of us bloggers prefer not to even think about our blog being hacked, let alone having to learn how to secure it. But as our blogs grow, and our traffic and page rank increases, it becomes imperative we either learn to protect our investment, or hire someone to do it for us.

Like many of you, this is an area I also avoid, but with the “WORDPRESS DEFENDER” in my library, I know my blogs will soon be safe, secure and locked down.

For all the work John has done on the ebook and videos, I’ll be forever grateful.

Thank you, John.

Today’s Assignment

Have you ever crashed or had your blog hacked? If so, how did you get it back up and running?

If not, how do you think you would react?

If you’re not a WordPress blogger, how do you secure your blog?

And finally, how often are you backing up your database and/or files? (You are doing backups, right?)

Care to share?

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As a final note. When John emailed this book and video series to me, I told him I’d take a look at it, but wouldn’t commit to an endorsement as I feel the best way to find what works for each of us is to be a smart, informed consumer. However, this book and video series far exceeded my expectations. In fact, when I opened it and started reading, I sent John an email which in part said,

HOLY CRAP! [excuse the language]

I was just reading/skimming your ebook. It’s phenomenal, and I haven’t even gotten to the videos.

All I can say is WOW! WOW! WOW!

P.S.S. Although the links to Wordpress Defender are affiliate links, I would have no problem endorsing this book for free. For all you WordPress bloggers out there, why not buy the book, use some of the hints and tips to begin securing your blog, sign up to become an affiliate, and write a review on your site. With just a few sales, you will have earned the cost of the book back. How cool is that?

Category: Archives, Blog Maintenance, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Security, WordPress 80 Comments

Mar

Be Careful What You Wish For

Barbara Swafford

When we set goals for ourselves, we often neglect to look at the complete picture.

Take for example, actors.

They crave to to see their name up in lights, make big bucks like their peers or predecessors, and may want a life of luxury where anything they ever wanted is well within their reach. In fact, if they achieve fame, materially they can have it all.

But…there’s a flip side to fame.

When an actor becomes well known, others want a piece of them.

Maybe it’s a photo, compromising or other. Maybe it’s their money. Or their friendship.

After awhile, some begin to wonder, whom they can trust. Where they can go to have a moment of peace.

All of a sudden, that which they wished for, becomes more than they can handle and they begin to yearn for the days when life was simple.

Today’s Lesson

When we discussed wanting more comments on our blogs, I remember when I received none, and wished for more.

When readers began to show up and comment, I was elated. In fact, comments are one of the things I enjoy most about blogging. Not just receiving them, but leaving them too.

Comments connect bloggers, reveal more about us as people, help as a learning/teaching aid, and are often the start of a cyber friendship.

In fact, as I’ve shared in the sidebar, it’s in the comment section of this blog where the value truly lies. You, who comment here, have made this blog what it is.

However, with receiving additional comments, comes with what I see as an added responsibility.

Where will the time come from to answer all of our comments (if we choose to)?

What I’ve found is each comment requires an average of six minutes of my time. That includes reading the comment, thinking about a reply and then typing it out.

When I see 20 comments on a post, I know I need to set aside two hours to answer them.

If we’re spending an excessive amount of time answering comments on our own blogs, where will the time come from to visit other blogs?

If I visit another blog, and don’t skim the post, I can spend up to spend 20 minutes reading and then constructing a comment. If that’s the case, I know I’ll have less time to spend visiting others.

If we spend our allotted blogging time on answering comments and visiting the bloggers who visit us, where do we find time to write additional posts, promote our work, communicate on social networking sites, and/or to work behind the scenes?

I’ll be the first to admit, I struggle with finding that balance. Some days I steal minutes from my real life, other days, I have no time for blogging. I now limit the time I spend on Twitter and Facebook, publish less, let emails stack up in my inbox and postpone the launch of my next project.

With a business, a family, a life, and only 24 hours in a day, I know some things will fall by the wayside. I’m okay with that.

Because I enjoy challenges and get so much pleasure from blogging, I don’t yearn for the days when blogging was simple, but from experience, I do know receiving more comments means how we once viewed blogging, changes.

Today’s Assignment

How much time do you spend answering comments?

If the time is excessive, do other parts of blogging suffer?

If you’re not receiving a lot of comments now, but hope for more, have you contemplated where the time will come from to answer them?

I’m looking forward to your answer.

Care to share?

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Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Comments 81 Comments

Mar

Books or Blogs?

Barbara Swafford

Good Day Class,

Today I am honored to introduce Hulbert Lee as our substitute teacher (guest writer). Hulbert, author of the fabulous blog From Bottom Up will lead the discussion on how we gather information for our blogs.

Please join me in welcoming Hulbert to the Blogging Without A Blog classroom.

Hello Hulbert.

The floor is yours.

Hello Class.

Thank you for the warm welcome.

Most of us here own blogs and get our ideas to produce content from different resources.

The traditional way of getting information is from old-fashioned books. But ever since the rise in technology in the last few years, blogs have become so popular that many people have started putting their books down and turning over toward reading blogs.

We all work differently though.

Some people enjoy that feeling of having a paperback in their hands. They like to flip through actual pages and jot down ideas from each individual chapter. Once they have an idea down, they might close that book and go through another book to find an idea, until they have a list of ideas to write about for their blog.

Others function differently. They will leave their books on their shelf and those books will never touched again. Instead, these are the people sign on to Google, open up their reader, and flip through the titles that appeal to them. They will go down the list reading each blog entry that appeals to them and jot down any ideas that inspire them. At the end of reading many blog entries, they will have obtained some ideas in which they can write about in their own blog.

Today’s Lesson

There are pros and cons when it comes to reading books or reading blogs.

The pros to reading books are that the ideas are usually more in depth mainly because of the sheer size of the book, compared to the shorter length of a blog post. It is also easier to read text on paper than it is on a computer screen. This allows us to read for longer periods of time without having to take breaks in between, compared to having to looking away from the monitor from time to time.

Because books are usually more in depth, they usually contain a message that teaches us a more thought provoking lesson about humanity. Reading plays like Shakespeare’s Macbeth or Hemingway’s Farewell to Arms draw the reader into the story where he or she then becomes a part of and wishes to explore until the end. Both of these books bring us lessons of life – one of which murder is never justified, the other of which war is always futile.

I personally read a lot of self-help books because I wish to help myself grow as a person, as well as use this knowledge to influence others in a positive way.

But even with reading books, time doesn’t always allow this. Some of us have full or part-time jobs, some of us have to take care of children, and some of us have different errands that we have to do throughout the day like buying groceries or washing laundry. That’s why reading blogs such as this blog can teach us different lessons on up-to-date information like tips on social media, lifestyle design, and of course, blogging.

Today’s Assignment

Is reading books nowadays less effective than reading blogs for getting ideas?

Which method do you use more often and like better for gathering ideas and creating new entries for your blog posts?

Raise you hand and share your thoughts.

This has been a guest post from Hulbert Lee. He writes about personal development and success at his blog, FromBottomUp. If you haven’t already, make sure you follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his RSS feed to get his blog updates.

Photo Credit:ejhogbin’s photostream

Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons 59 Comments

Feb

S-L-O-W Down – Blogging Is Not A Race

Barbara Swafford

Blogging is defined as a hobby.

You know. In the same category as other hobbies such as scrap-booking, fishing, quilting, collecting, etc…

Take for example, when someone decides to make a quilt. They don’t race to get it done. No. They take time to find a pattern. Then they pick out the perfect fabric. They’ll carefully cut out each piece and painstakingly start making their blocks. When their blocks are done, they’ll arrange them “just so”, stitch them together, etc….. It may be years before the quilt is done. And when it is, they can sit back and enjoy their masterpiece.

Today’s Lesson

When I started blogging I remember the feeling I HAD to get posts published. Why? Who knows except I probably read that’s what bloggers do; publish often to attract readers and the search engines.

So, that’s what I did; published five or more times a week, rushing to get more data “out there” whether others were reading it, or not.

But now I question if that was the right thing to do as I’ve learned our blogs wait for us, as do our readers.

No one expects us to reveal everything in the first month of blogging. In fact, since we continue to learn more each day, if we choose, we could be blogging for the rest of our lives.

And, that’s okay.

That’s what keeps readers coming back. The suspense. The mystery. The surprise of what we might reveal next. The joy of following our journey.

And when we consider the fact how a post we publish today, will begin to get buried as soon as we publish another, we soon figure out our best tips, ideas and observations could go unread.

Today’s Assignment

Did you ever feel like I did, where you felt an urgency to quickly get something published, thinking you only had a limited amount of time?

Or have you come to the realization like I did, that blogging is not a race and you have begun to enjoy the journey?

Care to Share?

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Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Posting, Writing Tips 74 Comments