Spamtastic Advice for Bloggers!
This is going to be one of my shortest posts, but an important one to all bloggers. I just finished doing regular maintenance on all my blogs and was amazed at the tremendous increase the amount of Spam during the past week. I had over 200 spam comments on this blog alone. That is an increase of 600% over the typical amount of spam I receive.
Sure, I could give the typical (and critical) advice that all bloggers need a top notch spam blogging plugin. But here is some equally important advice:
Don’t just delete spam. Be sure it is tagged as spam!
Askimet, the plugin I use (and recommend) finds 99.9+% of all spam on my blogs, but occasionally something slips through. And when it does, you should be sure that it’s identified as spam according to the procedures of your software. Doing so (at least with Askimet) added that commentor to the larger spammer list shared by everyone using that software. As part of the blogging community, you are doing your part to clean up the Internet graffiti (well, graffiti minus the artistic value).
UPDATE: Wow, there were 44 new spam comments since I wrote this post 10 hours ago! Have you seen an increase in spam on your blog?
[PhotoCredit:BennyYap]
Blog and Website Domains for Sale
I’ve been cleaning out the closet and found a few domains I have that I’d like to sell. They’re sorta like the stationary bike in my garage…I bought them with great intentions, but just never got around to using them. I’m not going to make a big sales pitch because anyone serious about buying these domains will probably already understand their value.
So, here’s the Blogging Startup menu of domains for sale:
MIDNIGHTSOUP.COM ($150) - This domain could be used for a variety of ideas. I was going to use it for a personal blog. Just liked the name.
SOCIALNETBLOG.COM ($150) - Another blog domain I purchased but never acted on. This blog was going to be on the topic of Internet social networking.
SOCIALNETFORUM.COM ($80) - This was purchased at the same time as socialnetblog.com with the idea of starting a forum on the same topic. NOTE: You can purchase both SocialNet domains for $190.
[SOLD] STARTBUTTON.NET ($200) - It was a great website idea….I know this, because Google launched their own version shortly after I purchased the domain. Oh well, there are still some interesting ways this domain could be used. Even as a .net, this domain is appraised better than many of my .coms.
VISIONOFME.COM ($120) - A ten-letter .com that I no longer have a use for. I was going to use it to chronicle my weight loss…my diet diary, so to speak. Well, I’ve lost 30 pounds and the interest in using this domain.
If you are interested in any of these domains, please contact me through the Blogging Startup contact page.
[PhotoCredit:DanielBroche]
Blogroll Series: Don’t Fall for the Biggest Blogroll Myth
I’ve read this myth so many times on other blogs, that I feel it’s critical to shed some light on the truth. Okay, here it is, the biggest myth about blogrolls:
“Blogrolls are not good because they simply lead visitors away from your blog.”
So let’s get right to the truth here. First, if this is a reason for not having a blogroll, then it’s also a reason to not place links in your posts. The reason for having a good blogroll is to give your readers ANOTHER reason for visiting your blog in the first place. Your links, whether in your posts or on your blogroll, are a resource to your readers and a reason for them to visit your site. That is why it is so important to carefully select what links go in your blogroll and to be sure they are relevant and updated.
The idea that you shouldn’t link outside your blog is just insane. The concept reminds me of the stupid strategy of redirecting back page clicks to your own site. Instead of strategizing how to trap visitors on your blog, why not make your blog worth visiting to begin with? Personally, a quality blogroll is one strategy for getting me back to your blog. If I find some good links, I will often back page to your blog to visit the other links you’ve listed. More than one blog has made it to my RSS reader because of their blogroll and other link resources.
So, there it is, my opinion is that not having a blogroll because it leads readers away is a myth worthy of silver unicorns and fairy dust.
Food for thought, the number one and number two websites on the Internet are almost entirely based on providing links AWAY from their website!
[PhotoCredit:Rick]
Blogroll Series: The Number One Blogroll Sin
What could be so terrible that I would label it a SIN? Dead links, thats what. If you’re blogroll has dead links, then get to your local priest and ask forgiveness immediately. NO, WAIT! First, fix those darn links, THEN go see your priest.
I know a couple of you are asking, “Jim, I know dead links are bad…but a sin? Really?” Yep, look it up. In Leviticus 6 it says “The LORD said to Moses [who, by the way, blogged at TwoTablets.com] ‘If anyone sins and is unfaithful…by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him…or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do…he thus sins and becomes guilty” Well, if your blogroll links are bad, clearly you’ve deceived folks, sworn falsely and committed all sorts of sins, eh?
Okay, now that we’ve confirmed that bad links in the blogroll is a sin, what do we do about it? Come on, you know…what’s the first step? Admit you were wrong. Giggle Chick did a great job of confessing in her recent post, simply titled, The Blogroll. Okay, not that you’ve confessed, it’s time to fix the problem. Check each link on your blogroll and either correct the URL (if possible) or delete the link entirely.
Finally, take steps to ensure you never sin again. Well, not this particular sin. Set up a simple schedule (and write it on your calendar) for checking your blog links. Yeah, check ‘em all, not the the blogroll. Heck, while you’re at it, check mine too. I recommend checking the links on your site at least monthly, and preferably more often than that.
Stay tuned for more in the Blogroll Series. In our next post, we will examine the Number One Blogroll Myth. You might even believe this one!
[PhotoCredit:MyklRoventine]
Blogroll Series: If Someone Lists Me in Their Blogroll, Do I Have to Return the Favor?
I recently read a post by another respected blogger that there is an unwritten rule that bloggers must list a blog in their blogroll if that blog has done the same for them. Well, I would say there is a reason this rule is unwritten…because it makes no sense. Imagine if Darren at Problogger.net tried to follow this rule. The popular blogs would have to list Bubba’s Bait Blog in their blogroll just because Bubba’s smart enough to list the top blogs in his blogroll.
So the answer to the question is NO. You are not obligated to put anyone in your blogroll just because they have done the same. Well, unless you agreed to exchange these links beforehand. So if you’re not obligated to put their link in your blogroll, what should you do when listed in someone’s blogroll?
Of course, the first thing you want to do is visit the blog. When you find out that you are linked in someone’s blogroll, visit the site and read some of the content. If you like what you read, then you might consider putting the blog on your blogroll. It’s not an obligation, but there is no reason to not consider adding a blog you really like.
Then, send the blog owner an email (or at least a comment) thanking them for adding you to their blogroll. If there was an unwritten rule, this should be it. Always thank those that link to your blog.
I strongly believe that blogrolls should reflect the blogs that you read and consider among the best. If I like a blog, I will often check out their blogroll in hopes of finding additional blogging gems. So put your favorites in your blogroll as a treat for your readers.
[PhotoCredit:Rusvaplauke]
Blogroll Series: Does My Blog Need A Blogroll?
So, your question is, should your blog have a blogroll (list of links to other blogs)? Well, let’s look at the facts:
- WordPress has an entire section for creating a blogroll.
- Shoemoney has a blogroll.
- Blogroll is listed in the blogging dictionary (well, this version)
- Blogging Startup has a blogroll.
So, all real bloggers have a blogroll, right? Wrong. There is no requirement that a blog have a blogroll. In fact, many of the top blogs had dumped the concept of a blogroll.
Here are some reasons to include a blogroll:
- You have a great list of blogs that you want to share with your readers.
- You want to provide your readers with other resources on the topic of your blog.
- You want to use your blogroll as a tool for promoting your blog (watch for a future post on this topic).
Here are some reasons to not include a blogroll:
- You don’t want to offend anyone by excluding their blog.
- You don’t have a great list of other blogs.
- You do not have space on your blog.
- You just don’t feel like having one.
The bottom line is, having a blogroll is a matter of personal preference. But if you are going to have a blogroll, you want to do it right. This is the first in a series of short posts on blogrolls. Be sure to return and read the next post, regarding the “unwritten blogroll rule”.
[PhotoCredit:MissKaren]