Unfortunately, some of those comments which make us so happy, can be spam.

In the past, spam comments were easy to spot. They were usually comments filled with links to pharmaceutical drugs or sexual topics, or comments which didn’t apply to our blog topic.

Over the years the spammers must have realized that technique wasn’t working so they’re now playing on our ego; leaving positive comments that look authentic, however the words they choose could apply to any blog or blogger; copied and pasted throughout the blogosphere.

Their hope is to build their sites by receiving more backlinks and rank higher with the search engines and as far as our blog is concerned, they’re only using it as a vehicle to benefit themselves.

Bloggers who treasure comments can have a hard time differentiating between what is a real comment and what’s not.

Today’s Lesson

Since this blog gets thousands of spam comments, I thought I’d share a wide sampling of spam comments which have landed and stayed in my spam folder. (Feel free to skim through the spam comments. )

The words are nice, but the sites they link to are spam.

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So there you have it, comments which look real. but are instead, spam.

Today’s Assignment

Are you seeing a difference in the types of spam comments you’re receiving?

Are you tempted to approve these “positive” comments?

Care to share?

I include a donate page on some of my blogs and am always grateful for those who have used it (you know who you are. ), but…I don’t expect my visitors to make a contribution.

Unless I’m hired to design a custom header or ADvatar, the information I offer is free.

Today’s Lesson

I don’t mind seeing donate buttons considering how blog, plugin and theme authors are providing valuable information, for free. I see it as a way for them to be compensated for their knowledge, talent or services.

But the question is, do they work?

Or, do they make the blog, plugin or theme author seem greedy or needy? Or, make it look like they’re panhandling?

Based on what I’ve seen, I believe donate badges or pages can work, however unless we put the donate link in front of our readers, chances are they won’t see it, nor will a reader realize donating is an option.

I used a plugin named “Buy Me A Beer” which also had an option for “Buy Me A Coffee”. A click on the button would take you to the blog author’s PayPal account where you could enter the amount you’d like to give. (The plugin appears to be retired.)

I liked the plugin, but when I cleaned up my blog, I removed it and opted for a “Donate” page.

If donating is something you’d like to add to your blog, setting up a donate widget would be easy. Just find an image of a glass of beer, cup of coffee, tip jar, or…, add your own copy, code it to link to your PayPal account and voilà, there it is.

Or, set up a “Donate” page and include the link and button PayPal provides.

Today’s Assignment

Do you use a donate page or widget on your blog? If so, are readers using it?

Do you, or would you donate to a blog, plugin or theme author?

Or do you view a donate button/badge as a form of panhandling and ignore them?

Care to share?

P.S. The coffee cup image in this post is free for you to use. Just right-click on it and hit “save as”.

He shared how he had a bad experience with a customer service representative and in trying to resolve the issue, he said, in part (to the customer service representative),

…. its up to you what I’m going to tell all my blogging buddies “about the great guy that helped me out …..when he didn’t have to” or “the total jerk who probably wouldn’t lift a finger for his dying mother even if his job depended on it.” Its up to you, what do you want?

He went on to say,

Amazingly, all of a sudden he found a way to help me out. Just with the threat of being blogged about…..

Today’s Lesson

Daniel mentioned blogging has power. And it does.

If we choose to, we can blog about anything that happens in our life, including negative experiences. Some people name names, not only of the person who did them wrong, but even the name of a business.

Granted, there can be repercussions or even the possibility of a lawsuit if we share  negativity, however once the “publish” button is pressed, the damage is done. For a business, this is the worse type of publicity even if they eventually get the post(s) taken down.

And what about our family members, friends or acquaintances?

What if we blogged about them? What if we shared in detail how “John Doe [fictitious name] was a jerk”. Or how “Jane Doe [fictitious name] scammed us out of money”.

What if we shared how a blogging buddy promised “xyz” in their e-book, but the e-book was a total sham. A waste of money. That the author is NOT and expert in their field and is selling a book full of “fluff”.

With a blog we could name names, share what we believe is the truth about someone else, and attempt to destroy their reputation.

Although most of us don’t, with a blog we can.

Blogs do have power.

How are you using yours?

Today’s Assignment

Do you blog about bad experiences? If so, do you name names?

If you read a blog post and the author states how they had a negative experience with a person or business, are you apt to stay clear of that person or business, as well?

What would you do if someone blogged something negative about you, even if it was true?

Care to share?

P.S. In my travels through the blogosphere, I see how blogs being used mostly to share positive experiences. I like that.

But what does it mean?

Does it mean our content needs to be consistently stellar? Or can some of it be “less than”?

Today’s Lesson

When I started blogging I assumed great content meant I had to produce lengthy posts filled with useful or educational information.

Not being a wordy person, I tried, struggled and gave up trying to do that.

Instead, I decided to publish short “lessons” in which I share what I’ve learned.

Is it good content?

Some will say “no”, but that’s not the purpose of this blog. What’s good and useful on this blog is found in the comments. In the words YOU share.

When I visit other blogs, I rate “good content” as meaning I leave a blog thinking about what was shared. Or maybe I have an “ah ha” moment.

I like posts in which you share what you’ve learned in your life travels, where you showcase your creative writing skills or you engage your readers in the comment section.

I like articles that teach me, as well as posts which only contain photographs.

To me, content is good when you, as a blogger, show me a little more about who you are. Or content where I can see life through your eyes.

King size content can be good, but I feel there are also times when a few sentences is just enough.

What say you?

Today’s Assignment

How do you define good content?

What type of content do you find on other blogs that keeps you going back for more?

Care to share?

Let’s face it. Even though we start blogging believing we’ll never run out of things to say, we do.

When that happened to Chase March he published a post titled, “Nothing”.

I like his originality, however I’ll bet the search engines were confused on how to index it.

Today’s Lesson

Many bloggers have a list of topics to write about.

Some fly by the seat of their pants and post when an idea hits.

And still others have a set schedule and feel obligated to post accordingly.

Truth be told, there is no right or wrong way when it comes to a posting schedule. Do what works for you.

That said, let’s get back to the issue of writers’ block.

The Daily Post (at WordPress.com) has come up with a fabulous idea. They will give us ideas for blog posts, free.

It’s as easy as signing up for their daily updates and voilà, each day a new idea arrives in our (email) inbox.

Here’s a few of the ideas they’ve shared thus far:

1. How do you stay focused?
2. Write about a topic story you’ve never told
3. What would you do if you only had an hour to live
4. What are you looking forward to?
5. Why did you start your blog?

Although some of the ideas may not pertain to your niche, the ideas make a good stepping stone to another idea.

Take for example #5 – We’ve discussed why we started our blogs, but the question, “How do you stay focused?” would inspire me to write about time management as it pertains to blogging; sharing what I do, and asking you to share your ideas.

What about you?

Today’s Assignment

Where does inspiration for your blog posts come from?

Do you ever get writers’ block? If so, how do you get past it?

Care to share?