Blog Basics 101 - Basic Blog Tips

Tracking Content via IM Bots

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:43:00 +0000

With the help of IM bots (IM bot is a software based virtual IM buddy) one can retrieve a variety of information. We can use them to obtain real-time news bits from different sources, twitter updates and the like.

A few such IM bots (mainly Gmail/gTalk based ones) are discussed here.

If you are a researcher, it is likely that you visit a host of web sites regularly for updating on your subject.

For instance, a business analyst may be keen to obtain the latest happenings in his domain. Visiting each of the relevant sites everyday is certainly not a feasible proposition.

Newsfeeds may be a better solution but one may not always get time to read all of them daily.

A mechanism that pushes relevant content as and when it appears is the best possible alternative. The free service notify.me (http://notify.me/) enables you to do this.

Read More

Blogs and Your Business

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:49:00 +0000

I contribute to the company blog of SEOWhat.com on a fairly regular basis. Recently I wrote about blogging and why it's so important for businesses, big and small, to have a blog attached to their website.

I'd like to pass this post on to my Blog Basics 101 readers:

Why Your Business Needs a Blog

How To Add a Tweet It or Retweet Button to Your Blog

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:46:00 +0000

'Tweeting' on Twitter is a huge social media outlet these days - here's how to make sure your blog is easily 'tweeted by your readers!

Log in to Blogger, go to "Layout" -> "Edit HTML" and mark the "Expand Widget Templates"
Find (CTRL+F) this code in the template:

Immediately BELOW/AFTER that, paste the code for the widget (copy whichever code you like from the post below).

A bigger "Digg It" like button:

CODE:

Add a smaller button:

CODE:

Also, when you / your readers tweet your posts, by using the code below, it will show RT @YOUR_TWITTER_PROFILE instead of RT @TweetMeme and only at the end of the message, it will display (via @Tweetmeme)

Instead of "BloggerStop" use your own Twitter profile, in the code above.

Web Design

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:14:00 +0000

So many businesses today have their own websites and even blogs! Do you think it's easier or better for those companies to create and manage their own sites? Sometimes it is - but anyone who has a website knows that it takes a lot of time to have one run well and look excellent.

This is where web design companies come in and in my opinion, local companies are best. They're easy to find too. For example, if you're in Orange county, CA - all you need to do is search for web design orange county and viola, there they are.

Now, sometimes exactly what you're looking for is not in the very first few results, make sure you browse through a few pages of results. There are often times really great companies buried in the results.

Post to Several Social Network Sites at Once

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:19:00 +0000

Social Media is at an all time high. If you want to promote yourself, blog, website, etc... the best way is through social networking. The problem is, how do you know which sites are best? Once you start checking them out, you will soon realize there are a tremendous amount of social networking sites and you may feel overwhelmed.

Let me suggest Ping.fm With Ping.fm you can post a message, a photo, a link, even create a blog post and send it out to several networking sites. You can send these messages from your computer, via instant messaging or your phone as a text message or an email!

For example, say you really want all your updates to be posted on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Friendfeed and Utterli. Simply create an account with Ping.fm and then choose the social network sites you wish to post to from Ping.fm - Once you do this you can also input your instant messenger information and your mobile information.

After your account is set up, post to Ping.fm from your computer, instant messenger (on your computer or phone) or text message/email and viola! Your message will post to all the sites you have set up an account with.

I do recommend visiting these social sites once in a while, just to do your part of actually interacting with those who are receiving your updates but Ping.fm is an easy way to get your messages out there without al the hassle!

How Long Should a Blog Post Be?

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:37:00 +0000

This seems like a common sense thing - not to long, not too short - but it's not always that easy. As a blogger, there are a few elements you want to make sure you have going for you every time you post. As a reader, you don't want the 'behind the scene' elements to intrude on what you're reading.

A main concern for many bloggers is SEO (search engine optimization) - you want your post to be picked up by search engines as legitimate. It seems that both extremely short and extremely long web pages are not ranked as highly as pages that are of a reasonable length. A reasonable assessment is to have a page of at least 250 words and probably no more than 1,000 words.

Remember, this depends on the topic you're writing on. Writing reviews may create a longer post than say, if you're just reporting a recent news item.

What about quantity of posts? The consensus seems to be that shorter posts mean you will write more posts and writing more posts are better for generating readership with RSS and in Search Engines.

Most importantly, remember reader attention spans. It's fair to say that the typical internet reader has a short attention span. The attention span is less than 2 minutes - on an interesting topic. Keeping posts short, interesting and informative is your best bet!

Using Giveaways to Gain Blog Traffic

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:13:00 +0000

Blogs and website that hold contests and giveaways are all over the internet. People love to get free stuff and that's why, even though there are so many sites that do this, it works for most, if not all of them.

I write for one site that does nothing but promote sites that are holding contests and giveaways - Blogaways.com
Sites like Blogaways and Online-Sweepstakes.com are the kind of sites you want knowing about your contest/giveaway because they will drive traffic to your site.

Today, I ran my first giveaway at my Caffeine Mom blog - check it out: GIVEAWAY! Internet Dating Is Not Like Ordering a Pizza
I posted about this giveaway on Blogaways, a few of my other blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Yuwie and someone posted it at Online-Sweepstakes!

The contest will run for a week and in that week I hope to not only get more people interested in the giveaway but hopefully in that blog as well - to gain some return visitors!

Posting From MyPhone

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:43:00 +0000

Testing this feature - seems simple enough!
Should be easy to post updates while on vacation!
Wonder how pictures post?

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Are You Comfortable?

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:45:00 +0000

If you view blogging as the main staple in your life, whether for work or for leisure, where do you blog from? Sometimes I use my laptop and sit on my sofa, for me that's comfortable. Some people, however, prefer to have a more professional setting when working at the computer.

I would love to have my own office, complete with a cool desk and soundproof walls (to drown out the noise of the kids, hahaha) but I don't. I have a section of our living room that is designated as my office and I have some durable used office furniture in that area which is also comfortable to work at.

Where do you do your blogging at? Are you comfortable? Maybe too comfortable? I know sometimes when I am sitting on my sofa, wrapped up in a blanket using my laptop I actually get less accomplished. I kind of zone out!

Site Loading Slow?

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Of course there are many things that could cause a site to load slow. Large pictures and animations are big culprits. Sometimes certain coding can also cause a site to load slow. here are often times when the Entrecard site is down and because the code to display their widget is on my sites, my sites will load slow. Once their problem is fixed my sites are back to running smoothly.

Recently I noticed my sites were loading extremely slow and I couldn't figure out what it could be - then it dawned on me. I had been using Adoptic to blog network. (Adoptic.com)
Adoptic is similar to other blogging communities where post snippets are displayed on a widget members post on their blogs. These snippets change over time as the web page is displayed. Going to Adoptic and logging in lets you quickly browse the communities and friends posts.

For days now it seems the site has been down. I haven't been able to find any information online regarding the status of the network. However, I did find an email address for one of their support members so I have an email in to him. Hopefully I will have an answer soon.

In the meantime, if you're site is loading slow and you are a member of the Adoptic community, that widget may be what is slowing your site(s) down.

SEO Keyword Basics

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:04:00 +0000

I thought I'd give a little bit of basic SEO information - just the basic difference between two terms in particular; Keywords and Long Tail Keywords.

Keywords: Keywords are the essence of a blog. Search engines analyze blog posts and pick out keywords that they think the blog post is about. They then give the keyword a score and compare it to other sites that rank for that keyword and place the new website on a specific rank in the search engine for that keyword.

Long Tail Keywords: Long Tail refers to keywords that are very specific and usually consist of a few words. Blog is not a long term keyword while How To Create A Blog is. Long Tail keywords receive less traffic basic keywords but that traffic is usually targeted.

Research keywords. I suggest Google's Keyword Tool to start!

Article Writing to Increase Blog Traffic

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 10:27:00 +0000

I have been doing a lot of article writing lately - which unfortunately has caused my blogging to suffer but I hope to rectify that. May people do freelance writing as a way to earn income, at this point I am not earning any income.

My first article was written about wedding favors, you can check it out here: Affordable Wedding Favors
You can see at the end of the article, there is a place where the author can put a short bio. In that bio section I linked my wedding planning blog. Now, when people read that article, they may be apt to click on my source link, which takes them to my blog.

Not only can article writing bring you traffic, it also creates reputable backlinks, which are important to any site!

Win a $25 iTunes gift card at Blogaways!

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:14:00 +0000

clipped from www.blogaways.com

Blogaways is holding its very own contest! We’re looking to spread the word about ourselves and what we do (promote coupons, giveaways and contests to bloggers!), and what better way to do that than to hold an awesome giveaway?

So, would you like to a win a $25 iTunes gift card? Of course you would! As you may know, songs purchased from the iTunes store may be used on any computer or digital music player! And new pricing implemented by Apple ensures that older songs are even more reasonably priced than before.

ENTER TO WIN!

Expanding My Horizons!

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Well, firstly, it seems as though the whole 'text behind a cut' tutorial I suggested DOES indeed work, unless you are reading via an email subscription. Odd. I have even been told by some readers that when I post videos they cannot see them in the email subscriptions. Anyone have any idea what the issue may be?

In other news, I've been studying up on database administration since my husband had to know about it for his job, which may include having to install new software - wonder if he'll get paid extra? I'm usually in my own little world so I've decided it's time to break out of my shell and take a peek into what he needs to know! Better for relationships and all, ya know? Ha!

I've also fallen short on my blogging duties! I think I have too many blogs...over 20 I think - I've lost count by now! Well, there you have it, a personal update of sorts!

How to Put Text Behind a Cut in Blogger - Update and Question

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:33:00 +0000

This post is in regards to my last post, which you may read by clicking HERE

***UPDATE***
It appears the cut does not work properly for email subscriber readers.

It has been brought to my attention that the 'cut' example in my last post is not working for some. I was told that when clicking on the link More... the Blogger log in screen appears.

This is not happening to me. This is what I see:

Here is the initial post:

When I click on the link More... it then turns into the word Hide and below that is the additional text that was behind the 'cut':

Clicking on the link Hide will then 'hide' that additional text and the word Hide turns back to More...

I would love some feedback on this from everyone. Is it working for you or is something else happening?

How to Put Text Behind a Cut in Blogger

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Many Livejournal and Typepad bloggers love the 'cut' feature which enables them to put a large portion of a post 'behind the cut' so that a lengthy post can be shortened, thus not taking up so much room on the main blog page. Those who are interested in reading the entire post can click a link to read it.

Wordpress has a plug in for this but us Blogspot bloggers still need to do this the old fashioned way. There is some simple coding you need to add to your blog template for this to work.

More...

This script adds an expandable post summary feature to your blog. The advantages of this JavaScript approach are

* The hidden text is displayed inline as opposed to opening a new window
* It is applied selectively at the discretion of the author
* It has a toggle feature to hide the text once displayed
* It can be applied retroactively to existing posts

Click Here for instructions and the coding

I hope this was helpful. I know I will be using this 'cut' feature a lot, especially in my mommy blogs, where I post lots and lots of pictures!

URL Tip

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:25:00 +0000

Get your own URL and match it to your blog’s title

I know, this sounds like a no brainer, but...I have seen so many blogs where the URL is noting like the title. In fact, even I have a blog, which still has a .blogspot domain and the title is not the URL at all. Honestly, I haven't changed it because it is one of my very first blogs and so many people already have it bookmarked, etc. I did, however, learn from that 'mistake' and have made all my other blog titles match their URLs.

If your blog title doesn’t match the URL, it will be harder for users to remember the location of your site. It pays to use your own URL. Readers don’t always use RSS to read your blog’s content.

OPEN WEB AWARDS!

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:14:00 +0000

Here is a good source of new, hot and up and coming sites.
You all probably know most of them but it never hurts to check!

LINK

SEO Guide Released by Google

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:02:00 +0000

Google has released a free PDF download: The Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide.

Included in this guide:

Best practice for URL structuring
Site hierarchy and navigation flow
Using a custom 404 error page
Best practice for using anchor text
Link formatting and styling
Correct usage of robots.txt
Offline site promotion
Usage of web site analytics

Obviously many SEO companies have been a bit taken aback by this but really, not to worry. SEO isn't always that easy to understand, even with the basics at your fingertips. Not only that, even if you DO understand SEO, sometimes it's best to hire a professional company like SEOWhat.com to handle SEO for you.

You'll have things done correctly and professionally and if you know a bit about SEO, well then at least you will have a better understanding of what is being done for you.

Click here for the free download

The Benefits of High Speed Satellite Internet

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:56:00 +0000

Satellite Internet access is a service that uses a satellite dish to provide a dedicated high-speed, always-on Internet connection. Many people who live in areas outside of large cities are subscribing to high speed satellite internet and love it.

So what are the benefits? Well, most users can expect download speeds of up to 500Kbps and upload speeds around 50Kbps. While this is slower than many cable and DSL connections, it's about 10 times faster than standard dial-up connection.
High speed satellite internet access is also very handy for temporary applications, such as promotional events where internet connectivity is required in an outdoor location besides the main business premises.

Blogging Situations to Stay Away From

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:33:00 +0000

There are a few things, as a blogger, you should be aware of and some situations you should avoid.

1. Do NOT Neglect the Comments Section

Having the chance to interact with your readers is one of the most important things and it actually what makes blogging special in the first place. Do NOT make the mistake of neglecting the community you can build around your blog through the comments section, you will definitely regret this if you do.

2. Do NOT Disregard Feedback

Many bloggers receive some emails with suggestions on how to improve your blog, and not taking them into consideration would simply be a shame. Think about it, if a reader has taken the time to write you an email and share an idea or two, listening to what that person has to say is the least you could do.

3. Do NOT Take Breaks From Blogging

Okay, I know, that sounds crazy. We all need to recharge our batteries every now and then, but do NOT neglect your bog while taking a break. Write a few blog posts before you leave or before you decide to take a hiatus and schedule them out to be published while you are recouping.

4. Do NOT View Blogging as a Chore

If you are getting 'blogger burnout' then you my consider taking a break. If you are starting to feel as if you HAVE to write an entry and you feel no drive to write, you will crash and burn.

5. Respect Your Readers

When interacting with readers, always be polite and helpful. Don't talk down as though you know it all and they haven't a clue. Remember, treat people the way you want to be treated, no matter what the situation.

Blogging is More popular Than I Thought!

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:26:00 +0000

Wow, I can't believe just how popular blogging is. It's not just a way for people to express themselves or make a little cash on the side via affiliate marketing and such. It's a business!

I was recently to a little trade show and I actually saw trade show exhibits a blogger had set up. Kind of 'selling' himself as a medium of sorts for people. It was something I would have thought unheard of but he was actually busy the day we were there. people were really interested in him but Ii really think it had to do with the exhibit he had set up. It was futuristic, like a 'marketing of the future' type set up.

Spring Widgets

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:17:00 +0000

I have noticed many blogs are using these Spring Widgets as countdowns for Christmas and other events.

STOP THE MADNESS!!

These things are slowing even MY connection down and I'm using cable internet at mach 20!

Entrecard and Networking

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:02:00 +0000

Well, it's been over a week since I removed this blog from the Entrecard system and to be honest, I feel I made the wrong decision. In fact, I removed all of my blogs from Entrecard, all 15 of them - and I have already re-registered them all. All but this one - until now.

While I still stand by what I think of the Entrecard system, I have also come to realize a few things:

I am busy - I am at home with 2 sometimes 3 kids (oldest is in Kindergarten) and while I would love to be able to read more blogs and comment on more blog posts, I just don't have the time. Dropping cards can be time consuming but at least I can multitask - especially now that we have mach 20 cable internet!

I work from home, which takes up a lot of my time - I work for an awesome SEO marketing company - which, I must admit, has fueled my love for blogging and networking BUT because part of my job is to help promote client blogs and websites, the 'networking' I do do, is for clients! This leaves little time for me to promote my blogs in the same fashion.

I have met so many cool people because of Entrecard - Even though I multitask while I drop cards, I still pay attention. If it were not for Entrecard, I would not have gotten to 'know' so many awesome bloggers, like Squeaky and I would not have learned about so many interesting things.

In the long run, I think I'd rather take a chance on some bad 'stats' - including an inflated bounce rate, over losing an easy way to network.
Honestly, no affiliates are looking to advertise on my blogs, heck I don't even use Adsense, so really - making money is not something I am trying to do with these blogs, in that sense anyway.

It comes down to this; I want people to stop by this blog just as I do any other blog of mine. Entrecard gets that aspect going for me. Once I am 'out there' and more and more people are somewhat familiar with me and my blogs, the networking of reading and commenting becomes easier.

I'm back to Entrecard - as long as it remains.

Here's One Good Way to Increase Your Site's Traffic

unbalancedlibra@ymail.com (Unbalanced Libra) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:32:00 +0000

If you have a complaint about a company's product, write up a post on your blog or website about it. Then go to that company's web site and leave the link on their forum if they have one or hit their email from their "Contact Us" page.

I know a few people who have done this and it works - like a charm!