Over 100 ways to improve your blog but let's just try a few.
June 25th 2007 04:17
Signature Tune
Of course, this is filched from another blogger. That's my job, but it's all right, I give the link so it's no different from you looking up the site yourself. So, why don't you do it yourself? Well, firstly, you've got to find the site, that's my job. Secondly, you need to filter the content to a manageable level, meaningful for your level of development and for re-inforcement of what you already know. That's my job. And lastly you have to read it. That's your job and use the link to see if there is anything else there of particular interest to you. That's your job too. Not too difficult, is it?
And, then you may consider leaving a comment: if you've read it, no doubt you have an opinion, so if you've benefited do let us know. If you haven't, why bother reading it. So, if you have read it, do leave a comment.
So here are the suggestions I think are most useful, at least initially.
# Quality content. This seems to be no. 1. from everyone. I guess the test of that is if one gets enough readers.
# Write more. Well, maybe.
# Read the blogs of those who are more successful than you.
# Learn from your mistakes.
# Respond to comments.
# Share the link love. [??????????????]
# Track visitors.
# Expand your vocabulary.
# Guest post. (maybe)
# Rant. Get angry and tell your readers about it.
# Report news, any type. Break the story.
#Write something interesting.
# Write about your ideas, no matter how crazy they are.
If a tree falls in a forest and no one blogs about it, did it happen? Find that tree (a metaphor for an event, of course) and blog about it.
# Leverage high traffic days and use them to your advantage.
# Reflect. Write about how you go to where you are.
# Last but not least, and yet, once again quality content.
Well, how did the writer do?
Here's the link so you'll know why I filtered this for you.Please click on here for the reference and more suggestions, unfiltered by me.
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Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Man, Ive got that ranting down....
From reading orble Ive learned that you can blog on about any kind of crap and still end up in the top 20. Quality content is not required. Only one thing is required - persistance. Keep at it. On my first day I read most people give up after a few weeks when it takes about 3 months to get noticed. So, persistance and finding friends(real friends with like minded ideas) is what it takes.....
Just take a look around. Everyones writing junk that Im told should not get read by anyone - yet it is.
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Of course I expect to get paid for this [great expectations] but in the meantime which seems perhaps to be forever I defaecate on about it all for virtually free seeing as I don't know whether I'll still be around to collect my google earnings given that one has to reach $100, so I'm savvy enough to be sussing out what does attract the money producers and have even considered defaecating on about movies and sport, I think I could bluff my way through the movies but as I go rarely that would be a bit of a problem and as for sport well I can barely spell the word let alone know the differences between basketball, cricket, tennis and football, let alone assume that esoteric position of knowing what a code is, although they did teach us at University how to work codes out with a matrix [and I think they were talking about codes employed during wartime ), two or three possibilites for blogging there, except that I forget. It was interesting at the time but I had no intention of making a career out of it.
Now what was this comment about again?
Anyway, I've a few animal lovers amongst my readers so that's good and I don't think we'd find anything to argue about there.
Your comment about my content was sweet and of course true, but I have to admit, quality content does have a very wide degree of interpretation.
That said, I'm done, see you next time and not one spelling error.
katyzzz
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
<LOL...> I so know what u mean! I know I've only just started on Orble, but that $100 seems like eons away...! Good thing I do it for the writing...otherwise it'll be pretty unsatisfying <LOL>
Thanks for this katyzzz...those tips were surely helpful, now just to keep plodding...errr, blogging (PATIENTLY) along.
I've been so busy today, that this is the first time I've log in all day...! Hmmm, lots to do...
p/s...I too think that content is subjective...
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
It's lovely to see you and your lovely logo, I really like it.
Yes, it's a good thing to be doing just what you want irrespective of monetary considerations.
This is still a frustration for me, I do sometimes see some interesting google picture ads which I'd certainly like to have a look at if they were on someone else's post, but they appear all too infrequently and before one can blink, let alone wink, they're gone again.
I find this very annoying and when you think of it with more and more bloggers coming on board the same ads have to go around more people except for the very successful ones and I understand there are not many of those and certainly don't have any relationship to what I blog about.
Like most people my time is limited and I don't like wasting it. This is my dilemma. I guess for everyone it's a little different and good luck to those who do get a good return.
I hope you do benefit from this post, it can sometimes be a struggle knowing just what to do.
I feel I gain by doing it, but it's something of an indulgence and I'm not too sure just how long I can go along with that.
katyzzz
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
you said you didn't know how long you could go on with the blogging thang, and I am starting to see your point, albeit I am only a few days old on this site and yet I see some people, who may only rant, have had lots of comments from lots of people every time they have posted!
And I keep getting caught out when I see my inbox and see 20 responses, so I think “well at last a decent amount of people are reading my stuff”...then you find out it is linked pals who are blogging about their own stuff...sigh...I am wondering about it all myself. I don't want to waste my energy struggling to write what I think everyone wants to read...too soul destroying.
No, I write for me primarily, and I think I am a reasonable poet, maybe writer, and hopefully I can rise above this ego bait nonsense, that promises "$$$$$$", when in reality it is promising “¢¢¢¢¢” per day. Unless you are lucky and also write about fashion, movies, sport or are a really lucky ranter!
Bitter am I??? Probably a tiny bit jealous when I read drivel that attracts the masses, considering I have three regular readers, you being one of them…taaa muchly…”wanna be my fwend”...(SFX: pathetic heart string tugging violin). I should have applied for a sponsored site, or whatever, they were offering on Seek.
‘Oh well, pussy is in hell’….no, I do not know what that means, it is a phrase an erstwhile friend of mine used to use, and I adopted it every now and then as a diluted expletive to register resignation to an awful fate…
Think I’ll go watch Wimbledon….love watching that Nadal…sigh…
cya
fog
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Kleo has hit the nail on the head, though. The true key is persistence. Keep writing long enough, and people will take notice of it. There are some posts on Orble that baffle me as to their popularity. I can only assume that it comes from networking and perseverance, which easily carries as much weight in the blogging community as good content.
Fog, I've been where you are. It's a bit of a letdown when you write something semi-literate and no one notices, and someone else gets 100 votes for writing what looks like the random slammings of one's head on the keyboard. Stick with it. It gets better, and if you hold fast for a bit and keep writing quality work, people will find you.
Comment by Connor Wilson
Although you seem to think you're doing your readers a service by filtering the article (and adding your own comments here and there), but there was one thing you didn't get (noted with a series of question marks).
"Link love" is when you link to something, anything for whatever reason because it interested you or whatever, much like you did here.
But for you thinking quality content doesn't matter, you're idiots. Blunt, but true. It's clear why no one reads here... Quantity and persistence mean nothing if there isn't a degree of quality.
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Connor, ouch. Sorry I should rename my post blogging tip for idiots. no 1. work out what quality is and 2. work out what content is.
And, restrict the reading to the idiot here, that is myself.
But, seriously, I liked the link, otherwise I would not have used it and the invitation to read more was there for anyone sufficiently interested but I think there were things there that didn't relate well to Orblers and/or I would not like to use no matter how it increased my readers.
I think perhaps you do not realise that there are many readers that in fact don't register a vote, nor comment and there is no requirement for any others to do so.
To me, blogging is a thing apart, it is not my whole existence. For $ the requirements need to be met by attracting suitable advertisements and then having someone 'out there' respond.
I'm sorry you think we are all idiots, you are,of course, entitled to your views.
I think somehow something has made you angry and I feel sorry about that.
I like my readers, so that has to include you, and I especially like those who leave a comment.
I think I have endeavoured to explain my motivation but not so completely as is necessary but this blog is not about my motivation. As to the link love I think the ideal would be a two way street. I link but I don't have others link to me that I know of. I may well do a post on that. I have already done posts on similar themes and I realise too much at once is not the way to go.
There are certain things that I put up that appeal to me and I think will appeal to others and from my stats it seems my assessment that way is correct.
Once again Connor, I do not really understand your ankst and I hope it will not offend any of my readers. I am the only one who should feel in any way offended but I don't but I am willing to concede 'ouch'
Thanks for giving us your views.
katyzzz
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
I agree with everything you say but some people blog for entirely different reasons than ourselves and just want to let out their emotions or find people of like mind/emotions with whom they strike an accord.
It is not that "Orble will suit everyone" I guess some will decide it doesn't and simply go away.
I came with different expectations than I now have and maybe I even named my domain incorrectly but I am determined that blogging will not cost me any extra money above my internet connections and I'm beginning to wonder about that but my life is in a state of perpetual change and in that scenario it is difficult to make long term decisions.
From that point of view whilever I enjoy what I'm doing I shall continue to do it. At the same time I want to grow my readership but the time will come when I need to make a decision or my time will be so consumed that I do not have time for this.
Until then I just go on from day to day.
There are a lot of people here who like writing for its own sake, enjoy poetry and the outpourrings of emotion and have similar friends, hence the network thing. There are others who barely communicate within the Orble community but just keep posting away and they are very successful.
I know of one who is well paid by anyone's standards but other than that I am in ignorance.
Continue to do what you do and the way you like it. In my opinion you do well.
Thanks for your visit and comments, I always like those, it's good to have some cyber communication other than looking at the stats each day.
What you decide to do at any time is entirely your own option and no-one can complain about that. You're not just here to please other "Orblers"
Some writing suits networking more than others.
Continue to enjoy each day.
katyzzz
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
It's early days, I always enjoy what you have to say and I learn from it.
Surely you may blog in more than one community if you want to?
I agree with what you say and you should not worry about not having too many respondents.
You need to do the reciprocal visiting thing but if people don't respond just give them a miss for another day.
There is a very wide range of interests on Orble, you won't get too many sportsmen or movie buffs respond, it just depends on who is here and who has time and what interests them.
You'll find out in time who is reliable and who is not.
I am reliably outspoken at times which leads to a fair amount of unpopularity. Sometimes, people really misinterpret my sense of fun. I find, on the whole, Orble to be lacking in wit, repartee and humour while some claim a lien on those things.
From the big picture point of view that is fun in itself but I, personally, have had to bear the barbs of spite but at the same time being accused of spite, whereas I don't think I have a spiteful bone in my body.
You will find prejudice in various forms and I think you would understand that better than most.
But the prejudices can be ones you least expect and can be thinly disguised at times.
On the whole it is live and let live and the power base of which some Orblers felt part is being whittled away.
I doubt that in two years' time Orble will bear much resemblance to what it is to-day.
I have been subjected to a couple of long running vicious attacks, and unjustifiably so, but I rise to see another day.
It's a great lesson in itself.
I realise I have not covered all your concerns but I find what you have done is very interesting and appealing and if you like doing it just don't worry about others.
But the guidelines I put up are mainly for those still coming to grips with things as I am.
I do hope others find them useful.
No doubt, people take from them whatever they will.
katyzzz
Comment by Connor Wilson
Define content? Define quality? This isn't a complex issue, but if you really want to include your self in the idiot category, you're doing a good job.
And you lost me on the Orbler thing. I realize it's some kind of social network that either hosts or powers you, but without the seemingly sparse traffic and readers from that, it'd just be the people you link to, 'refining' their posts.
For your CMS (whatever it may be), the "notify me of replies" doesn't work
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
The define etc was meant to be funny, not serious, thanks for the inference that you did not intend for me to be the idiot, but I seem to have made you more angry not less and I'm sorry about that.
Would you like to join Orble? anyone can, that way you'd get a better idea of how it works, the CMS thing is not up to me.
I do appreciate how much effort you put into your work, not everyone requires that amount of information, especially initially, but the link is there for anyone to use , now or in the future.
Please don't think any of my comments were to ridicule you or anything you wrote, just an attempt to pick out what was most helpful and raise a few questions, that is perhaps my lack of skill not yours.
They say all publicity is good publicity so I think you're getting your fair share.
I'll return again to your article and depending where it leads me I may do another post or perhaps you'd prefer that I didn't, I can always choose something else.
It seems to make good use of all your points requires some initial skills which not everyone has.
I don't know what else I can say to appease you. I did find your work interesting and comprehensive, that is why I chose it over others.
katyzzz
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
I feel compelled to say, having read the preceding repartee, that it was a brilliant idea of Katyzzz to make an extracted and distilled list of a larger work, which was meant to inform and help people blog here. And it is commendable that Connor wrote the 'guide' to blogging in the first place.
As for me, my pooter is so slow I avoid huge sites, and since time is limited, I like to see a large list reduced to necessities, and if I need more, I know where to go, just as Katyzzz has so fairly indicated here.
And as far as Katyzzz's site goes, well, I personally find it pithy, informative, creatively unique with her digital artforms and especially to be inclusive, unlike so many bores on the internet, and in life, whom seem to think they can make themselves feel better by excluding, or degrading, others. Eventually these types have an ever diminishing circle of influence anyway.
The other thing about Katyzzz's site, is Katyzzz herself!
Her attitude is wonderful and she is incredibly generous with constructive criticism, as well as praise.
What more could anyone ask of a fellow blogger?
I just visited Connor's site. Yes, I admit there are a lot of interesting suggestions indeed. But, on the down side, there is a lot of jargon that I don't understand and no definition is offered. A footnoted glossary, for the less jargon endowed, would have been nice! As far as it catching the eye, in a creative sense, I was a little surprised it was so artistically perfunctory, considering it is the site of a web designer. But maybe Connor has a particularly exclusive market in mind? No idea, it is not my area.
In closing, I love your artwork Katyzz, and always find your site stimulating and interesting to visit.
Keep up the fabulous work!!
cheers
fog
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
For Fog,
I hear you buddy. Believe me, every single person on this site has been where you are, and if you just keep at it, you will get there. And I mean on Orble itself, not the web. Everyone joined up hoping to make some money but as yet orble is not getting there for everyone and the reason is most of us are writers having spiritual journeys, we care more about developing our skills and sharing our creative ideas than making money, and I think thats obvious by our top 20 list! Ive been incredibly inspired by people here and it reminds me of my high school english class - a creative forum where you can throw things out and brainstorm with like minded people. Its great, its fun, it builds your talent.
That said, I do plan to become a published writer one day, and for that reason I NEVER post my best work. Im too terrified of plagairisim to post anything that actually means anything to me. I like to write stories about my animals because I have no one in my real life who wants to hear it. Here I do, so hence, animal stories and lack luster poetry!
For Winston,
Im so glad we're always on the same page mate! Obviously youve seen the same things Ive seen.....People that write one line posts or whole 10 pages on absolute crap and still make it up there as 'creative expression' and because they have lots of friends. Im guilty, we all are! Its just what this place is all about! If you want to make REAL money, then its quite obvious that most of us arent here to do so!
There was a guy on 'who wants to be a millionare' the other night that is in the top 1000 blogs IN THE WORLD and he says hes still not making 'a living' from blogging. What hope do any of us have then?
Conner,
Are you friends with Ahmed? Im sure it would be love at first sight!
Oh, thankyou. Obviously you dont know me, because I fully acknowledge my own idiocy. I only take offence when hypocrites refuse to realize their own idiocy.
'Quality content' is defined on orble as celebrity and movie reviews and current news. It is in our blogging tips that writing about your life, thoughts on the universe, philosophy and similar subjects are not going to make money. Guess what, some of us do it anyway! Quality content to the readers of my blog is lots of animal pics and a good serve of my poetry or opinion. Im doing it for fun.
Katyzzz,
Blog on darling. I will never forget you were the first one to ever support me, has every day from the very beginning. Even if I felt you were talking down to me at times I saw through it, took it all in stride and now I have the benefit of a true friend.
Orble on, orblears.....