Since I call this “your blogging classroom on the web”, I decided it was time we talk about homework; or that behind the scenes stuff we often put off.
Today’s Lesson
As many of you have noticed, I decorated my blog for the holidays.
Since I use a theme which has the “custom header feature”, adding the photo was simple. For the RSS widgets I searched for “holiday icons” and then recoded my widgets.
Listed below are a few new (to me) plugins I am testing.
- First is Sexy Bookmarks by Josh Jones and Norman Yung which is visible at the bottom of each post.
The Sexy Bookmarks plugin is easily customizable, looks good, doesn’t take up too much space and is positioned so readers will be reminded to Tweet, Digg, or use StumbleUpon, etc. to share a post.
- The “Follow Me” plugin by WP Burn.com can be seen on the right of the page.
This plugin is to remind our readers they can follow us on Twitter. The customization includes using different colors as well as different Twitter birds images.
- The Wibiya toolbar can be seen at the bottom of the page.
What I like about this toolbar is if you don’t want to clutter up your sidebars with an RSS feed, recent posts, etc., you can include them in the toolbar.This isn’t a plugin, but more of an add-on which requires an invitation. Just go to the Wibiya site and follow the instructions. In a matter of days you should receive an email from them and at that time you can set up an account and customize your toolbar.
- Thanks to the suggestions from both Internet Strategist @ GrowMap and Betsy at Passing Thru I added Zemanta and Apture.
In a nutshell, these two applications which work for all blogging platforms* make blogging easier and faster by suggesting photos, links, related articles, etc. for our posts. (Disclaimer: I’ve only tested them on WordPress.)
Zemanta adds a interface to your dashboard from which you can drag and drop photos and/or links into your post as you’re writing it.
- Image via CrunchBase
Apture adds icons which when clicked on, does the same.
Zemanta also adds a “reblog” feature at the bottom of the post which makes cutting and pasting quotes much easier, plus and an option to add links to other posts which may be beneficial to our readers.
Thus far, the only downside I see to using some of the above applications is they do slow down the page load time.
Today’s Assignment
What are your favorite plugins or applications?
Care to share?
.
Footnote: When using Zemanta on a self hosted blog, the Zemanta plugin must be used. For WordPress, the plugin can be downloaded here.
Related articles by Zemanta
- Do you have a strategy for social bookmarking and crowdsourcing? (socialmedia.biz)
- Manage Your Social Networks In One Place With Pond (100 Invites!) (makeuseof.com)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=1eba33ba-ccc4-4925-94fa-6d64706450da)
Hi. I'm Barbara Swafford and I'd like to welcome you to Blogging Without A Blog. Grab a seat, share your thoughts and join in the conversation. 
It’s been another busy week here at BWAB and for me in my real life. As the week comes to a close, it’s time to recap what we’ve learned.
This week’s posts included:
1) A.S.K. Liz – How do You Inspire Your Readers To Join Your Community
2) New Blog Of The Week – Writer Dad
3) Parties, Spam and Hanging Chads
4) Self Promotion From The Archives
Behind the scenes I’ve been experimenting with the following plugins.
1) Liz Strauss’ Comment Count Badge See mine in the right sidebar.
It’s an easy plugin to download, use and configure. For details and screen shots, check out Lorelle’s blog post titled:My Comment Count Is Bigger Than Your Comment Count
2) The What Would Seth Godin Do (WWSGD) plugin is shown on the top of each post.
It’s a typical download, and once activated the message in the rectangular box and easily be changed. To witness how other bloggers are using this plugin, check out Catherine Lawson’s great ideas.
3) Ozh’s Absolute Comments lets you reply to comments directly from your “comments” screen.
With this plugin you can answer one comment at a time. If you choose to answer more than one, the only way I’ve found to accomplish that is by entering your replies directly on the post screen.
To read more on comments, check our Joanna Young’s post titled: 10 Practical Ways To Boost Blog Comments and Conversation
Today’s Assignment
To start off this weeks “Open Mic”, I have two questions for all of you.
1) Are you more apt to read a blog if the RSS feed reader count shows a high number?
2) With the introduction of Liz’s Comment Count Plugin, would the display of comment counts influence you to join in on the conversations?
The floor is yours. You know the rules.
Questions, comments and concerns are welcome.
Have Fun!
Keep it Clean!
And don’t forget to either check the “subscribe to comments on this post” box, or subscribe to my comments RSS feed (upper right sidebar), so you can follow along.
Photo Credit: El Conde!’s photostream