Archives for the 'Blogging' CategoryBlogging Mistakes that could hurt you
I noticed that it happens a lot more in newer bloggers than not. I noticed this a lot more lately than previously. Actually, I wanted to avoid blogging about this but this seems like the perfect time to do it. Feedburner Reader Count: If you have, oh, lets say 7 feedburner readers, why display that image? Personally, I would not display anything less than 100-150 because it would go to show that you do not know what you are doing, or have not been ‘in the game’ that long. Why would I choose to advertise/comment on a blog that only has 7 readers? Take the reader off. Do not clutter, Clean up after yourself: Sure, we want money. All of us do. However, you should not clutter your blog with 100+ images and ads to do it. If anything, people will find that annoying. Instead of spamming us with redunant google ads, why not try to work on actual content and traffic building? That way, 3 months from now, you can do private ads and make 5x more on private ads compared to what you make with other ad networks on your blog. Added Note: No using glitter graphics (there are some exceptions however), it hurts the eyes. Why do it? Why subject your readers to that? If you are going to blog, blog right. Get yourself a $9/yr domain name and a $4.95/mo hosting package. Do not wanna spend much money on it? I will give you the links to sign up under JUST so you can earn $40 back. Seriously! Use the contact form! E-mail me! I will set you up! hah. There are some blogs that are an exception, but if I usually see Blogspot or Blogger, I skip it. If anything, I drop, then skip it. Templates are the Devil: So you are using a run-of-the-mill template that is seen on the default wordpress or b2evolution. Take a few days and work on a new one. If not get one of your friends to help you who know what they are doing. If anything, get someone to do it for you for a real cheap price. I grow tired of seeing the generic blue wordpress theme (Kubric/Cubric default) on a lot of new blogs. The Age of the Amateur Blogger (Part 2)
I feel like I am some kind of “Save the Wildlife, Feed a bear“ scenario here. However, for those just tuning in, this is a continuation of Part 1. As much as we all love free internet and net neutrality for all, it is cluttering up the internet. I read in magazines that by 2012, the internet will be considered ‘full’ because of all the spam sites that are being created out there. That is depressing. A Message to all Bloggers and Webmasters: Though I may appear a bit off or rude here, it is fact. In no way am I directing this at you, I am just stating that if you do not blog anymore or do not care about blogging, then clean up after yourselves ;). Entrecard Scraper-Blogs Entrecard is becoming filled up with these types of blogs and it is rather sad to see. Half of the blogs in any given category are filled with those that have not posted in over a month. or even checked for a week. With Entrecard continuously growing in popularity since its late 2007 release, it is getting more cluttered as well. Ok.. I was harsh. Forgive Me? Sorry for this bit of rant, but you all know that deep down inside it is true. You have all seen the blogs that are just left sitting in the dust. The majority of blogs do not make it passed 3 months and that is because they were misinformed about blogging. Sure, it can be fun but if you do not like writing, why subject yourself to it on a daily basis? If you do not like being creative in your writing or find a way to contribute or create a community through hard work, why bother? Despite jumping into Blogging with all the ‘great’ information on it floating around the web, one must realize that blogging does take a bit of work to get off the ground. Conclusion: It takes dedication, marketing, and creativity to be above the 3,000,000 blogs created monthly, and it will only get worse. You enjoy the rest of your day now. The Age of the Amateur Blogger (Part 1)
While these new blogs are created, and while 90% of them fail to achieve over 50 visitors daily, it clouds the internet with a thick smoke of utter annoyance. I just saw someone try to sell off a PR0 blog that had *500* visitors monthly for about $200. They took account that they managed to ‘find’ a leeched version of the generic JohnCow.com theme, which they counted towards its ‘unique’ price. It is just getting silly to see. In the Beginning: There was a man with a plan, yadda-yadda-yadda. Guess what, Its over. It is 2008 now and I personally go through about 200 useless blogs daily (I am NOT talking about Entrecard in this case, by the way. Entrecard is Awesome <3). Also, I am not saying that the bloggers who write something important or regularly are useless. I am talking about someone who posts once every 3 weeks and expects to make their weight in gold, then complains about it, or the blogs that steal other people’s posts and call it their own. (Among a few other examples) “Blogging is NOT difficult” …… but its not easy: I often see blogs say that blogging is an easy way to make quick cash. It “could” be if you get the right people looking at it, though generally that is not the case. I see blogs advertising how much they make in the hopes that they follow a step-by-step guide and sign up for the right things to try and make a few bucks. Guess what? Newsflash: A good chunk those bloggers just give you those links, in most cases, to sign up under them. The Internet is full of them: Frankly, blogs can be a great way to share ideas and earn money, but not when sites like Technorati are flooded with over 110 million blogs and counting. What is even more depressing is that a good percentage of those ‘blogs’ can be easily dubbed as splogs (spam blogs) or scrapers. There are so many blogs out there that are inactive and/or spam that it can get pretty tedious to even think about. The Previous Stumbleupon Attacker: You know what, I take back what I said, he did have a right to attack people who do stumbleupon exchanges and he should be congratulated for it. I already see less spam sites on DigitalPoint and I thank him. What he should focus on is filtering good sites vs bad sites, as some of the exchanges done on DigitalPoint are not spam. I personally do not think this blog is spam and should be considered as such JUST for doing an exchange on a forum, either. If you are going to be the royal foot of justice, do it right. Part Two is right here. Blogging: Writers Block and how to Overcome it.
Bloggers Block This is, of course, a bit more blogger-oriented. We have probably all, if not most, been through this as well. You know you want to create a post, but you just do not know what to put on your blog while trying to keep the quality of posts that you normally keep. If you experience this puzzling dilemma, then guess what: you are not alone! Your Blog is a Part of You: Although it is tempting to skim through some e-articles on a few directories to get some ideas, you have to keep in mind to write the articles to your style and flavor. You want your readers to understand your personality and humor while you convey important posts of pure awe-inspiring greatness, right? Stretch your Legs: Why not take a look at what is around you? Check out news sites (I usually check google news), or just read a section of the paper. If you need to be inspired, there is no point in sitting there for an hour trying to force your brain into overdrive. Although I know that you may be focused on writing your own blog or website, but you should really take a look at what other bloggers are writing about. You are on the right track: You are reading this post, which means that you are definitely on the right track *coughs*. However, I did not intend to boast, just so you know. What I mean is, you are out there reading other people’s blog posts, trying to be inspired. So to that, I say, that you are on the right track. I think that focusing on only your blog without seeing what others are doing or writing is bad form. I used to do that when I first started, and looking back at it now, I can see that it was definitely a mistake. I like to read what other bloggers have to say, and I think that they like to read what I have to say. Perhaps that is sugar-coating it a bit though. All I am saying: If you are having a brainfart or ‘bloggers block’ then by all means, do not force it. Take a break from blogging, give yourself a bit of special time just for yourself to let your brain reboot. Whether it be 10 minutes, 25 minutes, or 1 hour. During this time, do not think about your blog post; during this time, let your mind be free of it. When you are back, I am sure you can come up with something; if not, then you can always check what the other bloggers are writing about …. I mean … they DO multiply like rabbits … I am sure you can find a few | |
These are a few mistakes that I have noticed around the ‘Blogosphere’ while trying to succumb to my boredom.
The Near-Extinct “Pro” Blogger:
Seriously, who is counting anymore? We have well over 100,000 new blogs started every day that die off within a month or two. Shocking? Not really. Annoying? Very.
It is true. I know. We have all had it at one point or another. Whether you are a seasoned blogger or perhaps just doing some homework; we have experienced the all painful, “Writers Block”. It is quite common when it comes to writing pretty much anything; so do not worry, you are definitely not the only one who experiences it.