Who’s Number One? How About the Blog Reader!
If in business, the customer is king…then for blogging, the reader is king. Unless you simply don’t give a damn about who reads your blog or if anyone ever visits, then making the reader king is a must strategy. One way to recognize this principle and make it real on your blog is to create a contract with your users.
I recently found just this thing while visiting Bruce Lawson’s blog. Bruce has been working as a web developer in the United Kingdom for a large business for the past several years. While working on a new website, Bruce decided to put into words his own contract with the website users. He called his agreement A Constitution for a New Website. In Bruce’s own words, “websites designed by committee serve nobody’s interests, especially not the users’.” His Constitution lays out exactly what’s important in developing any website. The Constitution is simply written and clear in it’s message; websites are all about the user, not the owner, not the designer, and not the programmer.
Bruce has already extended an invitation to readers to amend the Constitution for use on their own websites. It’s a great way to keep focus when developing or writing for your blog. Create your own constitution or adapt Bruce’s (with linked credit, of course). And start viewing all you do from the user’s perspective.
[PhotoCredit:Laszlo]
What’s New (or NewsWorthy) in the World of WordPress?
I Want a WordPress Plugin to… - Ever say to yourself, “Self, I wish there was a plugin to…” Well, here’s where you find those plugins. With over 450 listed, you are almost guarenteed to find the plugin you are looking for. Just look up what you want the plugin to do (like podcasts or hair replacement), and go to the list of related plugins.
Automattic WordPress.com 2.5 Essential Training - This video training is the newest release at Lynda.com. You’ve not heard of Lynda.com? Well, that’s another great story…but for now you just need to know that Maria Langer has created a 4.5 hour video training for Lynda.com that covers nearly everything you can do with WordPress 2.5. Some of the introductory segments are free to view, but you should consider the one month, $25 membership. You can watch as many videos as you’d like for 30 days! (No, Lynda doesn’t pay me to say this…but I wouldn’t mind if she comped the one-year membership I purchased.)
Dateless Sniper 2.0 WordPress Theme - With a name like that, it’s got to be….well, I don’t know, but I love this theme! This Courtney Tuttle design is clean, sharp and Adsense ready. Court has even put together a video tutorial for those using this theme. If you’re looking for a high-quality, FREE WordPress theme, be sure to give Dateless Sniper 2.0 a look. I love that name!
Lost At E Minor - This blog is listed here simply because it is the most amazing WordPress site I have seen is quite some time. The design is by Andrew “Whitey” Whitehead, an Australian chap with amazing talent. This pop culture blog is a mixed media extravaganza. Can a blog be eye candy? Visit Lost At E Minor and find out.
WordPress SEO - Or, according to the subtitle, the definitive guide to high rankings or your blog. This Yoast post by Joost is the most, pardon my boast. (Hey, I’m having fun…play along.) Just a few days old, the WordPress SEO is a digestible article on the tricks and tactics for optimizing your site for search engine ranking. I strongly recommend that you read this post and take action… immediately! Your blog deserves Google page one ranking and this is the way to get there.
Protecting Your Content on WordPress.com - I get so frustrated with finding content I wrote used (usually without credit) on other websites. It’s not that what I write would interest a pimply faced Internet scavenger, but there are plenty of lazy, unscrupulous site owners who simply “scrape” blog content and use it as their own. Join me in fighting this battle against lazy S.O.B.s. Read Jonathan Bailey’s post at Lorelle on WordPress about how to find and battle Internet plagiarism.
Test Drives: How to Discover if Blogging is for You
So you’re thinking about starting a blog, but haven’t made the big step yet. Blogging sounds like a lot of fun, but you’d like to test the waters before you take the plunge. Hey, I understand. This is how I got started in blogging. For all you cautious individuals wanting to taste the thrill of blogging before making the full commitment, here’s some ways to test drive the blogging lifestyle:
Write 10 Posts on Your Blog Topic
There is a lot to be done when you publish your own blog, but nothing more important or time consuming than writing for your blog. Hey, that’s why we visit blogs, to read great content. So one way to explore the world of blogging is to pick a potential blogging topic and write 10 posts for that blog. Don’t try to write them all in one day. Take some time, but no more than two weeks. Write about a topic that interests you…one you might want to blog about.
So, how was it? Was it difficult to come up with new ideas? Did you enjoy the writing? Pass on your writing to a close friend or two. Ask for their thoughts and opinions.
Writing the 10 posts is a blogging test run. It gives you an idea what it’s like to write every couple days about your blogging topic. And remember, blogging is a long term commitment. The honeymoon period for blogging usually ends after three to six months. That’s when the writing really becomes a chore. But if you enjoy the subject and like to write, it becomes a welcomed chore.
Oh, don’t forget to hold onto those 10 new posts. They are a great way to start if you do become a blogger. For some great tips on writing blog posts, see Piaras Kelly’s post, Tips on Writing Content for Your Blog.
Guest Blog on an Established Blog
Hey, now that you’ve got 10 great posts already written (you did say they were great, eh?), you can offer your writing services as a guest blogger on an established blog. Your posts can be used as writing samples, and if the blog is on the same topics, you can even use one that you’ve already written.
First you must find a blog where you can offer yourself as a guest writer. If you already frequent a blog or two and are known by the owner, then that would be good place to start. You can also research blogs in your topic area at Technorati or Google Blog Search.
Once you have a blog in mind, be sure to read several posts on the blog until you have a real good feel for the tone and topic of the blog. Contact the owner through their contact page or email address to offer yourself as a guest writer and pitch a few ideas for possible posts that fit their blog. Don’t be surprised to be welcomed with open arms as many blog owners are very busy and would welcome a guest writer.
Oh, by the way, don’t expect to get paid for being a guest blogger. Only the top blogs pay for posts and rarely use unknown writers for guest bloggers. Your experience writing for the blog and seeing the reaction of readers is payment enough. To learn more about how to be a good guest blogger, visit ProBlogger.net.
Microblog on Twitter
Want to go ahead and start your blogging experience without the long term commitment or enormous writing demands? Twitter helped popularize the term microblogging with it’s service to publish very short (no more than 140 characters) “posts” about anything you want. Many Twitterers (hm, is that right?) use the service as a diary and post what they are doing throughout the day. Others comment on current events or share information.
Unlike a blog, you don’t read a Twitter on a single page on the web. A Twitter can be published on multiple websites (in something called a widget), in a desktop applet (like instant messaging), or at Twitter.com. To read someone’s Twitter, you must choose to follow them. To learn nearly everything there is to know about Twitter, read the Big Juicy Twitter Guide by the Queen of Twitter, Caroline Middlebrook.
Twittering will give you a taste of blog publishing without the hassle of setting up a website or the responsibility of writing multi-paragraph posts. You can twitter in just a few seconds and do it as often as you like. It’s not the same as blogging, but it will begin to give you a taste of what it’s like to write for others on the Internet.
Start a Blog on Blogger or WordPress.com
Finally, if you’re nearly ready to take the plunge, but not yet ready to commit money or time to creating your own blogging website, you can start a blog for free at WordPress.com or Google’s Blogger. Both of these services offer free blog sites with nearly all the functions of an independently hosted blog. You can register your account and create your blog in less than 15 minutes.
These free blogs allow you to focus on your writing and not worry about all the hassles of purchasing a domain, finding a web host, loading software and tackling technical problems. You simply write your posts and load your images. It’s definitely more involved than Twitter. Let’s face it, you are no longer test driving, you have now leased a vehicle and are among the thousands of bloggers worldwide.
The only step from here is to “buy the vehicle” by setting up your independent blog on your own domain. But you don’t have to do that to be a real blogger. You can continue blogging at Blogger or WordPress and experience success as many other bloggers have before you.
So don’t think you have to jump into the deep end of the pool when you first consider becoming a blogger. Take some time to sample the experience and consider the ideas I’ve suggested.
[PhotoCredits:Exfordy & Salsaboy]
8 Great New Blogs on Blogging
Since I’ve been away for the past few weeks, you’ve probably been visiting some other blogs in my absence. Hey, I don’t blame you…there are some great new blogs out there. But sometimes the good NEW blogs are not easy to find. So I decided to do a little research on blogs that blog about blogging!
Before I share my list of favorites with you, let me say that not all of these blogs focus entirely on blogging. Several cover the broadly covered “making money online” topics and some post about a variety of other topics as well. My very loose criteria for this list is that the blog must regularly post about blogging or topics important to bloggers. The only other criteria was that the blog had to have been around for less then one year. This is a list of best NEW blogs on blogging, not just a list of the best blogs. So let’s get started…
Search for Blogging - Mert Erkal from Turkey is looking to leave his 9-5 marketing job and join the very small world of self-supporting bloggers. Mert shares with his readers his own thoughts on blogging and a few updates on his own progress toward becoming a full-time blogger. Click on the articles tab and you will find some of the best material available on this site. This blog has been around for just under a year. Recommended Reading: How to Track Your Keywords with HitTail.
Better Blogging for Bloggers - This very new blog is an easy addition to the list. Despite the couple design bugs, this blog is all about content. I highly recommend dropping by Liane’s blog and reading some great advice for beginning and seasoned bloggers. By the way, you may be surprised to find that this blog is hosted on a Google Blogspot site since the theme has been highly customized. Recommended Reading: Make Your Posts More Readable for Your Readers and See the Wonders Yourself.
Blogging Resources - Here’s another blog that’s been around for just a few months but is already off to a great start. The theme is one of my favorite free themes, the WP Premium Theme by WP Remix (Blogger Version). The author, Pradeep, demonstrates solid Internet experience with posts on topics such as whitehat SEO and RSS feed building. Recommended Reading: How to Improve Your Site’s Google Page Ranking and What Not to Do to Improve Your Site’s Google Page Ranking.
JT Pratt’s Blogging Mistakes - How can you not like a blog that teaches you blogging by sharing the blogger’s own blunders? Well, if JT has made some blogging errors, poor content is not one of them. I really like the detailed advice and recommendations that JT gives on everything from building a BANs website to hacking WordPress. The blog does seem a bit cluttered with lots of ads and hard to read post headings, but this is definitely a blog you should check out. Recommended Reading: 5 Key Google Analytics to Watch for Blog Progress.
Butterfly Media Corporate Blog - This is a business blog that covers just about everything related to web media publishing. The information is top quality with some great resources and brief tutorials. This is also one of the best looking blogs on this list; a clean design with great navigation and minimal advertising. The blog has been around since last August, and I certainly hope is will be with us for a long time. Recommended Reading: RSS Syndication - A Quick Tutorial.
Blogger Venue - This blog has a little bit of everything. The blog is published using the wonderfully attractive Options Theme by Justin Tadlock and the writing is conversational and interesting. Hugo Santos, the blog owner has done a great job of creating an excellent blog that touches on a variety of topics related to blogging and making money online. Recommended Reading: Bloggers Stealing Bloggers.
Zero And Up - This is one of my favorite new blogs. Zero and Up, written by a chap named Alan, is a wonderful blog with content added almost daily. Most articles are short, but very well written and great for new bloggers. I really like the custom theme that Alan commissioned. Advertising is nicely integrated and don’t distract from the content. This blog was started in February 2008. Recommended Reading: The Blogger Condition.
One Year Millionaire - Okay, I’m not a big fan of the “get rich quick” motif of this site (or others like it), but I have to say, the content is worth reading. I haven’t found any cutting edge opinion or breaking news on the blog, but the posts do make some solid recommendations for bloggers and Internet entrepreneurs. The owner has done a nice job modifying the K2 theme. This is a very new site started in March 2008. Recommended Reading: The Most Common Internet Marketing Mistakes.
BTW, I’m always looking for great new blogs to write about. If you have a new blog, or find one you like, leave me a comment or drop me an email. It doesn’t need to be a blog about blogging. It can be about anything. I will be posting more lists like this one in the future.
[PhotoCredit:Just-Us-3]
I’M BACK; and Boy Did I Miss My Blogging Friends
That’s right, I’m finally back to the blog and feeling better than ever. The long and unplanned hiatus was due to an overwhelming amount of work at my real job, running a statewide association for family centers in California. But the workload is back to normal, and my evenings are mine again.
So, expect to see the regular pattern of two to four posts a week and hopefully some exciting and informative information for the growing blogger community. I had several projects underway in late April when I had to step away from blogging for several weeks. So I will be picking up many of those tasks in June. Expect to see some great resource lists and more advice for beginning bloggers.
As for my other blogs, I have decided to cut back a bit. I will continue to regularly post on my blog about midlife career change. But I will be doing things differently at the personal change and nonprofit technology blogs. These will be updated less frequently and slowly converted to a more traditional information and resource website.
I am exploring a couple other web projects for the coming months. I have designed a resource website for Dreamweaver users and will be launching it in the next couple weeks. I am also in discussions regarding a regional website promoting outdoor festivals and events.
I’m trying to better allocate my time and resources to those projects that are the most fulfilling…and Blogging Startup is near the top of that list. This is probably my favorite Internet pasttime, and I have really missed all the friends I have made here at BS. But I’m back with more energy and excitement than when I started this blog.
Thanks for dropping by and return soon!
What Happens in Vegas…Gets Blogged About at Megavegalicious.com
What do you do if your a 23 year old living in Las Vegas and looking to start your new life in the United States. You blog! Forget your computer programming life in Romania and embrace the glitz and glamour of sin city. Let the world know about your adventures with a fun and interesting blog called Megavegalicious.com!
Last September Anca Bristena did just that. She started an original and fun blog called Megavegalicious.com. (Which should win some honor for the most creative blog name in some time.) At Megavega, Anca posts about everything from shrimp cocktails to blog reviews. Of course, the continuing thread throughout the blog is Vegas in all it’s glory!
I really enjoy the conversational style of Anca’s writing and the different, sometimes quirky look at Las Vegas life. After having visited Megavega from some time, I’ve decided to write a review of the site. Here’s my thoughts on the blog, the stories and the Vegas adventure.
What I love:
- When someone said that content is the most important aspect of any blog, Anca was definitely listening. The stories and information are well written, entertaining, and often humorous. The posts remind me of conversations at a friend’s house where the topic is usually light, changes frequently, and is never stuffy or pretentious. For a couple recent examples, see My 100th Post! and 10 Things I’ve Learned So Far.
- The simplicity of the design puts the emphasis where it belongs…on the content. The design is simple and the font is large and easy to read. There are not distracting ads or other junk to clutter the page.
- Anca adds videos of Vegas in many of her posts. These videos may show a Vegas attraction or how to make a pizza. But each video is well chosen and I’ve yet to find one that didn’t work.
- Anca creates a community feel at her blog by responding to comments and interacting with readers. She rewards frequent commentors with a “Top Commentors” plugin at the bottom of the page.
- There is always something new to read at Megavega! Anca is one of the most prolific bloggers I know. She reached the 100th post after only 229 days. That’s an average of one post every 2.3 days. Recently Anca has been posting almost daily.
What I would change:
- The graphic and logo for Megavega are begging to be improved. Just like the logo on my own blog, the Megavega logo would benefit from some design work.
- There is no search feature on the blog. Anca could help her readers find posts and Las Vegas topics by adding a search function.
- Several key features are hidden at the bottom of the page. I would move the popular posts, archives and categories lists to the empty right hand column. Currently the column is just wasted space and these features would encourage visitors to discover more of the gems at Megavega.
- With the already long list of posts on the blog, I would love to see an archives page like the one generated by the Clean Archives plugin from iDunzo.com.
Anca, thanks for all your work to bring us Las Vegas from a blogger’s point of view. Keep up the great work and the sense of humor. I’ll definitely be back, and may even plan a visit to the city of lights this summer!