Everyone has different interests and therefore writes about different things. I want to know more about my readers– what do you write about? In your blog, a journal, or diary?

I would like to know what you think! Please share in your comment.

Timeless posts usually feature tips, techniques, thoughts, stories, whereas news posts focus on current news and a certain news event.

News posts can be used for reference in the future, and a few minutes of enjoyment when reading the post. Other than that, it’s going back to the archives.

Timeless posts are timeless; you can have as much time as you want to push it to the front page of a social networking site.

Why you would want News Posts:

1. Grab headlines. The latest news, on the latest posts.
2. Attract new readers. Even though these have an expiry date, you can use these to attract readers by using catchy headlines such as “How name Could have Saved Millions” and including your own views and tips.
3. Be “in”. You don’t want to be all focused on certain topics; a news post to let readers know you’re still connected with the rest of the world may be helpful.
4. Become a reference. Remember the phrase “Oh yes, I heard about it on so and so’s blog!”? Now you can be mentioned.

Why you would want Timeless Posts:

1.  No expiry date. These can be read whenever– in April, in May, in December, after elections– anytime.
2. More chances of making it big. A lot of people have made it big because of one extreme post, and usually those posts are timeless. They also give you a lot of time to work on advertising.
3. More time. Because there is no expirty date, you can take as long as you want to tell your friends or edit it.
4. Help others. Help your fellow bloggers. Help friends. Help, help. When others get better, you do too.

Everyone has a preference– one, both, or something else? Which one would you prefer, and why? Tell me in your comment!

A delayed Monday Linking this week, since I just got back, and I’m still settling in. :)

Dear Adsense: You Broke My Heart- Darren of ProBlogger writes his last letter to Adsense.

Dancing Colours- teddY gives us some edited photos to wash your delayed Monday Blues away!

35 Free Photoshop Actions- Feeling lazy? Use Actions. Or maybe switch to PSP and use scripts.

10 Simiple Productivity Tips for Bloggers- Skellie shares 10 simple productivity tips for bloggers.

Why Write When No One is Reading?- Bush shares the ultimate tip about getting more readers– commenting on other blogs.

How to Get On This List

1. Join my MyBlogLog community and BlogCatalog neighborhood
2. Visit regularly
3. Comment regularly; a big part of this list is chosen from the Top Commentators list
4. Write Quality posts
5. You’re on this list!

Click on image to enlarge.

I stumbled upon this image, which basically explains how some projects go on:

1. Clients find someone to do their work.
2. They get misunderstood.
3. They are assured and talked into feeling good about their decision.
4. They don’t get what they want.
5. They are billed unreasonably.
6. The project was not followed up.
7. They really needed something else.

The way it happens with professionals:

1. Clients find them.
2. They listen and suggest.
3. They talk the client into choosing them.
4. Work is planned out.
5. Work is done.
6. Clients are billed a reasonable amount.
7. Project is supported.
8. Clients leave happy.
9. Clients come back with more work.

The same should happen with blogging:

1. Readers come to a blog they are interested with.
2. They read and contribute.
3. Bloggers make new friends.
4. The content tempts the reader back next time.

People who purchase ads on your website are also clients, and should also be treated the same way; you can offer to make a plan which works for them– weekly ads, monthly ads, or even yearly ads. But if you do not like the client’s suggestion, do not be afraid to say NO. No matter what threats the to-be client makes, if you don’t like it, no, and make another suggestion. Saying NO doesn’t have to involve the word ‘NO’. You can politely drive around it by making a suggestion that’s more suitable, and give reasons.

To sell your service:

Read the rest of this entry »

Feed Readers may need to open in new window to see post.
Break it or Squish it? If you found a good topic to write about, and requires a quite a bit of writing, would you break the topic up into multiple posts or squish it up into one post so readers don’t have to search for the remainder posts?
Vote and comment to share your ideas!

 
When: Saturday, January 5th, 2008 11:30am – 7:30pm
Where: Soho - 45 Spring Street, Tel: 212 334 9391
West Village - 49 8th Avenue (corner of Horatio) Tel: 212 242 2537

Crumpler generally revolves around messenger bags, and this time, they want to help you regift your old gifts. If you have old gifts that you don’t want, take it down to one of two Crumple stores in Manhattan and get 40% off your purchase. Your gifts should be rewrapped, unused, in good condition. They will then be donated to the Salvation army.

You’re helping charity, getting a discount, and getting rid of your old gifts. So if you live in Manhattan, and you visited, be sure to share how it was. If you aren’t planning to go, what do you think about this event?

“A form of expression (not using `like’ or `as’) in which a quality or characteristic is given to a person or thing by using a name, image, adjective etc normally used of something else which has similar qualities, etc.” -Dictionary.com

Or Wikipedia, for those who prefer…

“In language, a metaphor is a rhetorical trope where a comparison is made between two seemingly unrelated subjects.” -Wikipedia

1. Connect with readers.
   You can compare your topic with a common everyday issue, and if your readers are familiar with that issue (you have to be familiar with it too), you and your reader can chat about it or even become friends!
2. Learn something new.
   If you’re not familiar with your comparison, a reader can give you a comment on it, or if they don’t, you at least will leave an impression.
   For example, “Blogging is like climbing up the corporate ladder. You go step by step. And if you slip up, you end up at square one again.” You might not know a lot about the infamous corporate ladder, but maybe it will leave an impression on your readers, and they’ll remember to come back again.
3. Show off, share.
   Most bloggers like this part, unless, of course, you’re shy. If you know a little more about your comparison, you can let everyone know a bit more about it (if the topic comes up) in your comments area.
   *Be careful not to go too off-topic in your post. Readers are reading about your post because of your title; not neccesarily your experience, whether it be good or bad; reserve it for the comments area!

Read the rest of this entry »

First of all, I would like give an apology to those whom I promised updates back in September 2007. I’ve been quite busy over the last few months, and just not in the blogging mood. The new design, if you haven’t already seen it, was put up today.

On a side note, some lucky bloggers, such as Rhys, Steven Snell, Rob O, who has Guest-Blogged here last, got free front-page links for 3 months. Congratulations, and thank you to all the guest bloggers who have blogged for me!

There have been dozens of Blog Catalog members adding me on blog catalog, and I have been getting an overwhelming amount of notifications in my mailbox! Thank you for adding, but I will not be able to add you back anymore, since there are so many requests.

August was a fairly good month; although I was away for all of it. Apologies for infrequent updates! I’ll give you a quick update on what’s happening.

• RSS subscribers gone up 3%. See next point.
• Daily visitors gone down 1%. (Expected.) From nfrequent update; turns into RSS subscriber.
• Revenue went down 10%.
• Darr did a good job managing this blog; thanks Darr! She even left comments “for” me on other blogs linking back here! Your blog will be mentioned when you decide to open one.
• Sidebar switched to other side. Optimized for FireFox. Opinion is welcome!
• The pewter polliwog I won at the Blogathon 2007 from Polli was received a few days ago! Here are some pictures so you get a good idea what I won. Click to enlarge. Images not resized.
  

Everything should be back to regular next week. A side note that I am working on a project just so you know if I don’t blog as often. Thanks everyone for reading!

Sometimes we change things too much with our blogs, and lose sight of what made us successful to begin with. Depending on what we do, we could lose money, rank in search engines, or the worst thing, readers.

So, if you are fearing there has been a change in your blog, here’s a three step plan for how to return to your more creative self.

1. Do Nothing

Are you just being paranoid? Surprising as it may seem Blogging is not the most important thing in the whole wide world. People are able to disconnect from the internet and do other things, often for days on end. So if one or two regulars haven’t posted for a few days, don’t worry. They may have better things to do.

2. Read Previous Posts.

Usually however, your regulars would suggest that they don’t like what you are writing (mine do, in the nicest possible way, the sods). Depending on the vocal nature of the readers, and the amount of them there are, it may be worthwhile to check previous posts and see how they differ from now. Is there a definite niche change? If so, that could explain it. How about if there has been a monetization? Have you started sponsored posts? If so, maybe that doesn’t sit well with your current readership.

3, Don’t Beg Your Readers Back

If people do disappear, and never visit your blog again, forget about them. You can calmly say that what you previously talked about no longer interests me or you have evolved or you have decided to monetize your site to pay some bills, but nothing more than that. They’re gone, probably forever. Just move on and carry on blogging. You did something for a reason, even if it’s a complete change of niche.

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Rhys Wynne is a 5 year blogger who has had thousands of different blogs, most of them rubbish. His current one The Gospel According To Rhys isn’t, as is his project to help you get more traffic at your blog with Fair Review.