Timing is everything!
What a time to be offline when I have seen so many familiar faces...like on facebook!Ah well, never mind as I am trying to get online asap I will catch up. ;o)
What have I missed then?
Anything new happening?
Sorry it has been a while since I wrote, will start doing more and more often.
Surprised by all those I see on facebook, faces I have not seen in 20 years...in some cases!
That long?
Sheesh...time flies!
Back soon!! ;o)
Labels: general, people, personal
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Rob Sellen @ 8:39 PM, , links to this post
"Stumbleupon stats"
Stumbleupon DOES work and works very well. Here is a snapshot I have done of this blogs traffic when it is stumbled. :o)I have not worked out how to cut the the white space from the bottom of this using the paint program which I did this in, so if anyone can advise me there I would be grateful. :o)
As you can see over 600 hits to one post in one day, thank you stumblers, but each post that is stumbled gives an average of well over 200 hits in a day, JUST from stumbleupon that is.
I am very happy using stumbleupon, there it is, I USE it, not just join and hope!
Maki...of dosh dosh makes a great post on stumbleupon which you should check out, it's explained better than I could do it. :o)
Another great bonus to being a stumbler is you get to find some great blogs and sites you would otherwise never see.
Stumbleupon is much better than people assume it to be.
It is not hard to use, it has a great community that is very diverse.
If you like to stumble this post, go ahead. ;o)
If you have yet to utilise stumbleupon get cracking as you will enjoy it as well as reap the benefit of traffic.
Check out my profile on stumbleupon.
It is I think the best and fastest way to drive traffic to a newer blog.
Labels: blog, newbies, people, stats, stumbleupon, tips, traffic
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Rob Sellen @ 3:01 PM, , links to this post
"Thanks stumblers, for showing me"
Some fantastic pictures, blogs and more.Stumbleupon is great, I like using it and THAT is where it becomes good, when you use it. ;o)
Too many people sign up to this or that and just expect results, yet stumbleupon works for those who at least try it the way it should be used.
Not only have stumblers given me some good visits stats, they have shared some great stuff that I would otherwise NEVER have found.
The name says it all, use it and stumbleupon some great stuff.
The important part is to be active, review things well, post in the right categories and give a thumbs up! ;o)
Thanks stumblers, you are great.
Like this post? Stumble it. ;o)
Or feeling generous? Buy me a beer. ;o)
Labels: blogs, general, people, pictures, stumbleupon, traffic, web 2.0
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Rob Sellen @ 12:23 AM, , links to this post
"The power of the cause"
This weekend is going to very very interesting for two reasons, but first...Fasten your seatbelts!
Get your thinking cap on, keep your notepad and pen handy, maybe create a folder to save stuff too. ;o)
There is a cause I think you can help make succeed, yet you could also learn a thing or two as well...depending on how you look at things. ;o)
Two things are happening this weekend and both may be of interest to you, for now I want to concentrate on the important one...the one that will save kids lives.
Everyone does things differently, like we blog about passions, hobbies, thoughts, life, experiences we have, or just about what we are experienced at. Us bloggers all blog but for different reasons. :o)
The reason behind us doing things has a big bearing on how well we can do too.
A good cause is a powerful reason to succeed.
Saving the lives of children is a very good cause to do anything in life.
And the man behind this cause just amazes me.
I have to do what I can to help him save the lives of these kids.
THAT is the real cause behind this post... if I can help in any way whatsoever it is by sharing the message with you and anyone else I can share it with, if you can also share the message and help the cause then that is great.
My good friend Dr Mani is the man behind the cause, his name is a hint on how much he is behind this cause.
See Dr Mani is a heart surgeon who operates on kids...but not only that he also raises the money to pay for these operations!
Yes, an amazing genuine hard working and big hearted man indeed!
As I said there are many reasons we do the things we do, Dr Mani turned to the Internet early on, realising the power it had in helping the work he does and as that work as so important I don't blame him. ;o)
You see, he turned to the net part time in order to raise awareness, but also utilises everything he does in a positive way and he does this brilliantly, his drive is huge...because of the cause. :o)
Hopefully one day you will see this logo EVERYWHERE on the net...Go on post it too. ;o)
Each year he blogs for 24 hours...a post every 30 minutes to raise money and it's this weekend!
Last year I did a guest post on his blogathon (this blog project) and felt proud to have contributed.
This year it's a little different...YOU can take part too!
Why not take a look and see what you can do to help, the blog of Dr Mani.
Take a look at the "mini blogathon" to see what others are doing too. :o)
If you do nothing else this weekend please keep an eye on that blog. :o)
There is something else too, Dr Mani really knows what he talks about when giving tips...read his blogging tips.
That's what you want the pen and notepad for!! ;o)
Labels: bloggers, blogging, dr mani, health, life, people
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Rob Sellen @ 6:41 PM, , links to this post
"The time, Italian style"
Who needs a watch? ;o)
Labels: fun, general, humour, people, video
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Rob Sellen @ 10:40 PM, , links to this post
"It's still a journey"
We all start at the bottom when we start out blogging, we all take it one post at a time. Everyting takes time and blogging is no different...
You may start off humbly like above... ;o)
With dreams of climbing that success ladder in the hope of something better and bigger.
One step at a time, if we all walk the steps we all take the same amount of steps...but a tip for new bloggers, the faster you start taking the steps, the better and I mean post as much as twice a day for the first few weeks to really get the pace going...before you know it you are half way there. ;o)
Next thing you know, you are at the top, and you never know something like the above could be waiting! ;o)
One step a time... :o)
Labels: blogging, fun, general, goals., newbies, people, pictures, success, tips
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Rob Sellen @ 3:31 PM, , links to this post
"You tell me, I'll listen"
It's been a real summer of reflection and change in some ways and they say people fear change, well I would like to embrace it for what it is, not least because the last 7 or 8 weeks has taught me a huge amount. ;o)
Learning things in ways I wouldn't have expected and yet learning things where I wouldn't have even looked....right under my nose! ;o)
The blogging side of it is no different on that score and what I have gained over that time I couldn't put a price on it in many ways but putting what I have learnt into practice is the key.
That's the aim and it is giving me two feelings, one of slight anticipation and one slight excitement and fear mixed.
One the one hand it's all "go for it" and yet on the other it's "what if goes wrong?"
So who better to ask than you, the reader. :o)
You see there seems quite a divide among bloggers and no-one will please everyone but at least pleasing your own readers is the main thing. :o)
What's this divide?
Monetisation and those who bleat about the so called "cause", which I guess is that blogs are "diary's, personal, not meant for making money with"...the brigade who in my eyes have no place telling others what they should and shouldn't do on their blogs.
If blogs weren't made for monetisation why did Google start AdSense?
But I digress, the fact is there is a divide and to me it's as daft as ya like. ;o)
Blogs are simply dynamic websites, no more no less. ;o)
The easy way to build an online presence...for anyone, and fast.
But it also got me thinking... ;o)
I got thinking about this blog and what I want from doing it as well as what other plans I would like to carry out elsewhere...which way am I going, and where to?
I got thinking about what I can do, now and further down the line.
Well I got some answers from asking...me, but I don't read this blog, I write it so the reader is as important as me in what can be done to improve things, after all that's the whole point and you benefit the most. ;o)
I did get some great tips from a readers view from a discussion board and it made me think too.
I will tell you why too...and I do think it matters.
We all market, we all not all marketers yet we are.
An oxymoron I know but what I mean is it's a mentality, a marketers mentality and it's more so with IM, (Internet marketing).
So while we all blog we need readers and in some way the blogs are marketed to them, even indirectly, if you blog...you market in some way yet you may not actively market.
You don't have a "marketing head on" all the time.
It's a real thing and it can also be an addictive thing but also being exciting, frustrating uplifting all rolled into one it can be a nightmare to stop, to turn that "marketing head" off.
IM is a myth, a mentality, yet a reality! ;o)
But here's the rub, without learning what I have through IM I wouldn't be where I am now. ;o)
But I digress, where was I?
Oh yeah...having stepped out of the IM circle a bit in the last month or so I have had my eyes really opened by stepping more into the blogosphere and the "social network" side of the net...which I always known of just not realised the scope and benefit of it.
The future is there, and we are a part of it already.
But I also now realise who diverse the wider picture is and feel more in line with where I am going and how, just need to act and act the best I can on what matters while also growing in the right direction.
This blog is a big part of that direction.
Lets be straight here and lets say...for instance, as it could be anyone of us bloggers and most of us will have asked themselves at some point, so for example...
It cost £30, or $30 to be online a month, so we can say...
The reality is £1, or $1 a day from this blog keeps this blog going easily, so that's free Internet...not much is it?
But...
Where does that come from?
If I don't get that how can I do that?
And every month?
(Sheesh my IM "marketing head" is partly back on... See... ;o) )
The basics people say are you usually get a 1% response rate, meaning 1 out of 100 will actually give, buy, act in what way gets you the £1 or $1 but...
Only if they have a way for you actually getting that £1 or $1.
It's the last one that's so pleasing to me and THAT is the one I like most. :o)
When I get a beer it does make me feel great and knowing someone gave freely is the icing on the cake. ;o) Maybe it's the supposedly "subliminal messages" here which I can't find! ;o)
But if you did all of above you make your chances better and worse, depending on how you do them...mix and match is what most people do.
So while I was asking myself these questions I realised making money from this blog was never really an intention but it has become a need for now because of that stepping out of the IM circle gave me a slight dip which I has risen above now...just hoping not too late. ;o)
I view the world online a little different to some being deaf it makes the world more communicative. ;o)
More accessible and for that I want to stay online for good.
Re-thinking plans and taking the lessons learnt I have to embrace changes and I will. ;o)
Well I got thinking about how this blog looks, what you get from it and how best to ensure of a £1 or $1 a day thrown in the mix.
Just for the simple reason of making the Internet pay for itself via at least one thing I do and if it's this blog than all the better...
Because I give all in this blog the best I can and want to improve, grow and write under no pressure of the content I put here, meaning it doesn't have to do more than I need it to do money wise, I enjoy writing on here and want to enjoy it more. ;o)
So in all honesty I only need to do ONE thing...for at least £1 or $1 a day I give content that's worth it ;o)
That's why a beer is better than a sell. ;o)
It means what I wrote was worth it to someone who is under no obligations.
I prefer to write longer and better posts if I can give something to someone in some way. :o)
So two or three ideas spring to mind...
Would any of you feel if all but the beer was removed that you would ever buy the beer?
Or would you get me drunk? ;o) ( Not that it goes on beer of course! )
Any thoughts, comments? Please comment.
Wanna share this post?, Please do.
Or even buy me a beer? ;o)
Learning things in ways I wouldn't have expected and yet learning things where I wouldn't have even looked....right under my nose! ;o)
The blogging side of it is no different on that score and what I have gained over that time I couldn't put a price on it in many ways but putting what I have learnt into practice is the key.
That's the aim and it is giving me two feelings, one of slight anticipation and one slight excitement and fear mixed.
One the one hand it's all "go for it" and yet on the other it's "what if goes wrong?"
So who better to ask than you, the reader. :o)
You see there seems quite a divide among bloggers and no-one will please everyone but at least pleasing your own readers is the main thing. :o)
What's this divide?
Monetisation and those who bleat about the so called "cause", which I guess is that blogs are "diary's, personal, not meant for making money with"...the brigade who in my eyes have no place telling others what they should and shouldn't do on their blogs.
If blogs weren't made for monetisation why did Google start AdSense?
But I digress, the fact is there is a divide and to me it's as daft as ya like. ;o)
Blogs are simply dynamic websites, no more no less. ;o)
The easy way to build an online presence...for anyone, and fast.
But it also got me thinking... ;o)
I got thinking about this blog and what I want from doing it as well as what other plans I would like to carry out elsewhere...which way am I going, and where to?
I got thinking about what I can do, now and further down the line.
Well I got some answers from asking...me, but I don't read this blog, I write it so the reader is as important as me in what can be done to improve things, after all that's the whole point and you benefit the most. ;o)
I did get some great tips from a readers view from a discussion board and it made me think too.
I will tell you why too...and I do think it matters.
We all market, we all not all marketers yet we are.
An oxymoron I know but what I mean is it's a mentality, a marketers mentality and it's more so with IM, (Internet marketing).
So while we all blog we need readers and in some way the blogs are marketed to them, even indirectly, if you blog...you market in some way yet you may not actively market.
You don't have a "marketing head on" all the time.
It's a real thing and it can also be an addictive thing but also being exciting, frustrating uplifting all rolled into one it can be a nightmare to stop, to turn that "marketing head" off.
IM is a myth, a mentality, yet a reality! ;o)
But here's the rub, without learning what I have through IM I wouldn't be where I am now. ;o)
But I digress, where was I?
Oh yeah...having stepped out of the IM circle a bit in the last month or so I have had my eyes really opened by stepping more into the blogosphere and the "social network" side of the net...which I always known of just not realised the scope and benefit of it.
The future is there, and we are a part of it already.
But I also now realise who diverse the wider picture is and feel more in line with where I am going and how, just need to act and act the best I can on what matters while also growing in the right direction.
This blog is a big part of that direction.
Lets be straight here and lets say...for instance, as it could be anyone of us bloggers and most of us will have asked themselves at some point, so for example...
It cost £30, or $30 to be online a month, so we can say...
The reality is £1, or $1 a day from this blog keeps this blog going easily, so that's free Internet...not much is it?
But...
Where does that come from?
If I don't get that how can I do that?
And every month?
(Sheesh my IM "marketing head" is partly back on... See... ;o) )
The basics people say are you usually get a 1% response rate, meaning 1 out of 100 will actually give, buy, act in what way gets you the £1 or $1 but...
Only if they have a way for you actually getting that £1 or $1.
- If you rely on Adsense or similar you need alot more than 100 visits to get the £1 or $1 a day.
- If you have good traffic to your blog you could do it with Adsense easy, if it's the action you want and lead them to take.
- If you have something to sell that your readers can buy you may well do it easy.
- If you sell adspace privately you may well do it easy.
- If you have a good readership and a good niche and you are an affiliate you may well do it easy.
- If you have a good following of fans whether due to controversy or other you may well get the traffic funnelled someway to earn indirectly.
- If you give great content freely and people donate to you.
It's the last one that's so pleasing to me and THAT is the one I like most. :o)
When I get a beer it does make me feel great and knowing someone gave freely is the icing on the cake. ;o) Maybe it's the supposedly "subliminal messages" here which I can't find! ;o)
But if you did all of above you make your chances better and worse, depending on how you do them...mix and match is what most people do.
So while I was asking myself these questions I realised making money from this blog was never really an intention but it has become a need for now because of that stepping out of the IM circle gave me a slight dip which I has risen above now...just hoping not too late. ;o)
I view the world online a little different to some being deaf it makes the world more communicative. ;o)
More accessible and for that I want to stay online for good.
Re-thinking plans and taking the lessons learnt I have to embrace changes and I will. ;o)
So where do you come in?
Well I got thinking about how this blog looks, what you get from it and how best to ensure of a £1 or $1 a day thrown in the mix.
Just for the simple reason of making the Internet pay for itself via at least one thing I do and if it's this blog than all the better...
Because I give all in this blog the best I can and want to improve, grow and write under no pressure of the content I put here, meaning it doesn't have to do more than I need it to do money wise, I enjoy writing on here and want to enjoy it more. ;o)
So in all honesty I only need to do ONE thing...for at least £1 or $1 a day I give content that's worth it ;o)
That's why a beer is better than a sell. ;o)
It means what I wrote was worth it to someone who is under no obligations.
I prefer to write longer and better posts if I can give something to someone in some way. :o)
So two or three ideas spring to mind...
- Keep blogging as I do, leaving the blog as is?
- Improve the overall blog layout keeping it clean and simple yet not too different?
- Streamline and clean up alot by reducing the adspace and similar?
- Have only MY income makers and not other peoples, of which is very little anyway?
- Remove all but the beer, keep on giving good content but relying on at least ONE of you a day buying a beer?
- Remove all but the beer and the only time I really share other peoples stuff is in a relevant post?
- A possible addition could be a forum, maybe as a place to also discuss this blogs post, ideas, share tips and more...free or even indirectly helping by a one off charge of a £1 beer? ;o) (It stops spammers! ;o) )
- Other ideas, or another mix?
Would any of you feel if all but the beer was removed that you would ever buy the beer?
Or would you get me drunk? ;o) ( Not that it goes on beer of course! )
Any thoughts, comments? Please comment.
Wanna share this post?, Please do.
Or even buy me a beer? ;o)
Labels: blogging, content, conversation, general, honesty, marketing, people, thoughts, tips, web 2.0
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Rob Sellen @ 12:44 AM, , links to this post
"200th post a few interesting blogs"
Well the 200th post on this blog has arrived!I really had no idea what to do on this post for a while, it's just another post after the 199th really. :o)
Well I had an idea to offer a one way link from this post and I am glad to say some took the offer up...and a bargain they got it for too.
Never one to settle for just doing that I thought I would make it better by way of linking to this very post every so often like when I want to mention blogs to the readers later down the line.
So not only a one way link but a regular dose of exposure too. ;o)
As I plan to do that anyway I wanted to add an extra benefit to everyone.
I will leave this offer open BUT not at that bargain price!
If you would like me to update this post and add your blogs one way link I will for a still great price of a beer...interested?
Well click the beer icon below and pay $5 or £3.
This gets you a one way link AND the short blurb about you or your blog.
Each new link and blurb will be added below the ones already here.
Onto some interesting blogs worth reading. ;o)
========================================
Ritu, a blogger who searches the net for cool applications, software and more.
If you are a mac user you may find you want to keep an eye on this blog and I know you mac users are a passionate bunch.
Check out... worknplay.
========================================
American Ex-Pat Lynda Lippin teaches Pilates and Reiki in the beautiful
Turks and Caicos Islands. Lynda blogs about everything - pilates,
reiki, weight loss, health, living on a small island, judaism, and life
in general.
Check out... Pilates and Reiki In Paradise Blog
========================================
As a parent myself I feel this is a good starting point to keeping up with some things that we parents have concerns with.
Stacey writes about child safety, missing children, items of family interest, like back to school safety - lately she has done a lot about the recent toy recalls.
Stacey's site is Parent traps which you can check out for tips, help and general ideas.
========================================
Janece, a 37 year old mom who is an artist, photographer, environmentalist, food and alternative health researcher and hobbyist shares her lifes moments on her blog which can be seen at no ordinary moment.
A few nice pictures on this blog too.
========================================
Diane who lives not far from myself has a great blog sharing some great skills in the bookmaking dept!
Great close up pictures showing these lovely books, but the blog is more than that.
I personally love the pics on the blog, check it out and have a good look for the "local area" pictures. You will enjoy them.
Dianes blog is called Much of a muchness.
========================================
Labels: bloggers, blogs, general, people, special offer
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Rob Sellen @ 5:59 PM, , links to this post
"A goal reached...I think"
Should have done enough on stay online now, while not certain, it's timing and everything as you know.Anyway, taking a look at things as they have happened and looking at the plans I had made to follow up on, I thought about things I have learned from it all.
What can I take forward with me and what can I lose in order to streamline?
Well I can't share all that obviously but what I do know is certain thing have opened my eyes, you learn alot when you have your back against the wall in any degree.
But I also learn of new opportunities I hadn't seen...
Missing the woods from the trees springs to mind here. ;o)
Interesting to realise I can improve this blog and the focus of it without ruining it in any way. :o)
The blog shouldn't and isn't the centre of things...
I can make it the centre of what I want it to be though. :o)
As for other things I now have an idea or two to capitalise on...see where it goes. ;o)
One bit of advice I can pass on that has got me thinking is the sheer activity in the web.2.0 side of things, social networks etc.
It works, and if you have a newish blog or need to widen your reach then you should become active within web 2.0 networking style sites.
Like bloglog, blogcatalogue and seen in the sidebar... ;o)
Nice people with great blogs, go look at them.
Take an active role with stumbleupon, it works well and return the favour on other blogs you like, add friends etc.
Be active and others are active.
Get involved with discussions etc, use forums.
One thing some may have noticed on blogcatalogue, alot will have missed it but one thing I have done is to change the "top neighbourhoods" say once a week, give everyone a chance for a bit of exposure. ;o)
Members rush to check my profile.... ;o)
It works...look at the "home" page and refresh, as peoples faces change in the widget it makes a difference to the "welcome feel" to it.
Neighbourhood owners will appreciate what I did.
Communicate, be active, touch people and it's returned. :o)
Any thoughts?
P.s I hope I get the connection sorted in time... :o)
Labels: bloggers, blogging, blogs, people, tips, web 2.0
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Rob Sellen @ 11:47 PM, , links to this post
"Almost there"
Funny thing life...Funny thing online life!
Anyway I digress.
A few things have happened and things look slightly up, not quite there, but the right direction, still here, with opportunities, time and effort to utilise.
One step at a time eh? ;o)
Thanks to those who have helped, wittingly or unwittingly. ;o)
So...arse in gear throttle down...away we go.. ;o)
Some good things I notice with traffic stats lately is people are keen and active out there in the wide blogosphere and social network side of the Internet, keen to read your blog and giving you the chance to see their blogs...interesting what you find out there, amazing pictures too. :o)
Funny things where you just know the feeling... ;o)
Ever the watchful (enhanced?) eye I notice something I have had to give thought, the focus of some blogs I see tend to have a theme and a narrowness, and on others they are a mish mash of thoughts, pictures, tips, others purely aim to make money, or give 100% freely, whatever.
Yet all have different expectations as you know, but do you take notice of the anticipation?
All different again? ;o)
Every time you go to certain blogs you have visited often you get a certain expectation and that influences the anticipation...in a big way.
What do you anticipate on a visit to each blog you do?
In most case is "more of the same", no? ;o)
So something not quite expected this time is to peak in some way your anticipation on the next visit?
Concentrate on your readers anticipation and watch their expectations change, hopefully for the better, every so often ;o)
If you have yet to grab the free book as seen on the sidebar here, it touches upon a key example in it's "pillars" which do this. (Every blogger should have that book!)
Problogger Darren does it with his "series" too.
But there are alsorts of ways this is done, and maybe it truly is each blog is as unique as the writer AND reader. Each visit for each person generates a unique reaction, spark, idea, view, inspiration, spark of anger...whatever...all unique.
We all take things uniquely every visit, every word.
So we can never be perfect in any way, why try? ;o)
Just do whatever you are but anticipate your readers anticipations every so often until it's an every time habit.
The truth to me is the focus of a blog is what the readers make it to themselves. ;o)
The writers focus should be purely intent, in whatever form, be it to share, teach, sell, give, spread, annoy, worship, gain as a fan, or a mix in any way.
The writers intent may be different for each post obviously, yet the anticipation and expectation can be the real deciding factor in the level of reaction gained from each post, the aim of the intent.
Do I think about your anticipation then? Of course.. ;o)
I anticipate that some of you are not even here, but saying "wow, great pics", or "yeah, I KNOW I've been close to doing that", some of them may be back.. ;o)
Some of you "older" readers will be here, and thinking, "jeeeesus Rob, your marketing cap has slipped, you lost readers already, some won't be back and not a money button in sight!" ;o)
Some of you "older" readers may be saying "The caps on tight enough for now" ;o)
Some will be saying "Get to the bloody point Rob".. ;o)
Some of you new readers will be saying... "Hang on, start thinking about MY readers expectations and anticipations...then how I influence it hhhhmmm.. that's new" :o)
Some will be saying..."what the heck?" "Is the man nuts?" :/
Some will say..."nothing new here, nothing to see people!, move on" ;o)
It's all good. ;o)
Understanding yourself is the first step to understanding others. ;o)
Any thoughts?
Labels: honesty, marketing, people, stats, thoughts, tips
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Rob Sellen @ 12:59 AM, , links to this post
"Do women make better bloggers?"
My eldest is here...in bed now so I have another chance to post, albeit a quick one. ;o)Been an interesting few days and partly due to a good friend sharing a book of great interest to me and one every man should read....and possibly the ladies for that matter. ;o)
(anyone wants to know what book just ask in comments)
What really got me thinking though was how I could see what the book tells of in life, real life and online too.
So... I ask you...Do women make better bloggers?
I believe they do and the reason is fairly simple, women connect better than us men, to themselves and each other and also to us fellas.
Women are more likely to write openly and that means other people can relate and connect to the meaning clearer and better, deeper.
It's no coincidence that the post(s) I have written from the heart on this blog have had the better responses and more comments, in fact a few have sparked donations via the "beer" icon below the post(s). Always welcome they are! :o)
When you do write from the heart it is open, raw and meaningful...no matter what it's about.
We are emotional beings...not robots! :o)
Inject some heartfelt writing in your blog and give people a better connection to you and your world.
After all blogs were and are still in some way online diaries, personal musings of the blogger.
A way to share your story.
I believe women share better than men do so make better bloggers!
What about you?
Whats your opinion?
Labels: blog, blogger, conversation, general, people
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Rob Sellen @ 11:25 PM, , links to this post
"Creating the blog"
A big welcome to all new readers, great to have you pop by.Following on from the last post I did, where I am just posting in the hope it helps some readers to start blogging, but for some of you new readers, I don't need to advise on starting...oh no some of you have some great blogs going and I will read more... ;o)
But you are very welcome to comment and add to anything. :o)
So... cracking on, now for those who did what was mentioned in the last post will have had some fun or possible frustration.
Either camp's good.. ;o) ...Means you are learning and that curve is already shorter.
So, what now?
First a couple of home truths...what the "big guys" don't tell you in the "ebooks" you see.
1, It's NOT easy, simple yes, not easy but very worth doing.
Anything is simple IF you follow a step by step plan of action and DO.
Nothing really complicated is even needed to take a BIG stride and keep that ball rolling.
Put it this way, it's alot harder to "give up" once you DO have a blog up with a few post and you see it!
The first hurdle...starting is the easiest time to give up!
2, NO ONE will read you blog for a while and it will frustrate you...for as long as you let it!
"Build it and they come" is the myth of which the dream chasers hope for when they buy the "next big thing ebook".
No one will even KNOW about your blog unless you actually DO something to share it...you HAVE to market it in some sense.
To some that's a dirty thing, snake oil sellers... "Internet marketing"...is simply promoting whatever on the web... a blog for instance?
But simply telling your online friends about your blog in IS in a sense "Internet marketing"!
So YES you will have to learn how some things work.
But don't let them discourage you. :o)
Because there is just an easier way now and that is because the web is now how it should be.
Let me explain...
Web 2.0 is simply to me a term for the "more interactive websites and systems"
The more interactive YOU are, the more you benefit...it's PEOPLE not websites... ;o)
But I am slightly ahead of myself here... I'll end that slight diversion on this... you have had by now had a good look around at blogs etc to research your "topic" as in the last post... so you were interactive with them, you were "traffic" ;o) See..you will get the "traffic" aka "people"
But they are PEOPLE first, traffic second yet inseparable.
So start with people in mind and continue with people in mind.
On with the post... ;o)
Before naming your blog you should give some thoughts to keywords or even using branded style if you have in some way a brand of sorts to use...name etc.
Your content will use whatever keywords suit your "topic" etc so a keyword is not essential in the blog name...in my opinion.
But it won't hurt... ;o)
Creating the blog, using blogger from your google account with the by now researched ideas on whatever your topic with bookmarkd sites and blogs to get inspiration from.
You want to use inspiration from what caught your eye, but keep it simple enough to keep on top of and build as you go. I used minima templates as my first one and learnt alot about the code behind html etc...with the new blogger layouts you don't need to know it, just choose wisely. ;o)
Now you should take heed of this... you want to ignore the fact people may not read your blog alot for a while as it will do after a while.
The most important thing is to simply get cracking so now create a post...300 words maybe to get you going if more happens, great.
Don't stare at the blank screen... heres what i want you do to help you out there, whatever the topic...
Imagine I am sitting there with you and you are telling me about your "topic"...
Look at my pic... then sit and write... imagine it.. "hey Rob, I got all these tips on how to maintain a harley davidson"
Me : Oh yeah.. tell me a bout it.. write a list of ten.. ;o)
"Rob... I got these great recipes to share"...
Me:... Great, are they cakes, main meals etc? What Origin...
Oh, just some old english recipes passed down... "
Me: I'll read and use them.... ;o)
Write...write more, don't edit just write write, this creative writing comes flowing from you and the edit mode is later! ;o)
When you run out things to say... (IF you do!), click SAVE NOW get up and go put the kettle on or coffee pot and take a break from it... ;o)
Pat yourself on the back too...not while sipping ya drink though! Doh! :x)
Now you go back and READ your words... dont edit.. just read... make sense of it.
DO NOT put yourself down for any of it.
You just want to capture what "I" would read... ;o) Unedited.
Now you can alter spelling stuff only!
I get amazed at I need to edit less and less as I blog nowadays.. it flows fluidly at times.
Practice makes a massive difference...repetition is a great learning process.
What you will have will most likely surprise you, maybe 440 words... maybe 600... ;o)
More... doing better than most.
Tidy it up some, slightly reword a few things you feel needs doing and PUBLISH !!
That's IT... you have started and you are now a blogger! Ok.. calm down!.. ;o)
Now this is important... try to post at least 3 post a week, more if possible daily being better!
The first week you may only get a few visitors, but now you have a blog up with 3 or more post and it's a ball rolling.
Next, some ideas on pushing that ball better. ;o)
If you like this and it helps... great, up to you what you do NEXT, stumble this, digg it, share with someone, subscribe to my email updates or feed, comment to it, or even buy me a beer! ;o)
After all you are a person...people first traffic second so I leave THAT choice up to you.. :o)
Remember to write it with me in mind, and then come tell me and I WILL read it... ;o)
Off to check stats LOL.. ;o)
Edit to add...on the sidebar here is a report on writing articles which would be a great help if you really stuggle and not only that it could be your FIRST income maker on YOUR new blog! :o)
Labels: blog, blogger, blogging, blogs, content, conversation, general, google, honesty, how do i, how to, newbies, people, tips
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Rob Sellen @ 1:57 PM, , links to this post
"How do I start blogging"
This is something EVERY blogger has thought of at least ONCE. ;o)For the obvious reason we all had to start...somewhere.
I still get asked this question and it is something you are going to HAVE to deal with if you want to blog, so ultimately the easiest way is to just start! ;o)
Ok...then the other questions start...
- "how?"
- "what about?"
- "can I?"
- "nothing to blog about have I?"
- "will anyone read it?"
Spending a few hours getting these answers will do 2 things...
- Tell you if it is worth doing
- If so it will inspire you to DO.
Ok, how?
There is a great thing on the web called Google...and it's ALL you need for everything really and yes I am serious.
Google is more than "Google"... an oxymoron but it's not JUST a search engine. ;o)
Ok, so you want to at least get some answers to..."how do I start blogging?"
An 8 step plan of ACTION, for now... ;o)
Have a Google account?
If not...Grab one here and choose a user name which remember you can use on everything else I tell you, choose wisely, you will have a Gmail account...this is the email centre of your Google account.
Now you are back...you have a web centre to utilise and it's a huge free asset online to have but more on that another post. ;o)
- First step now you have a Google account, create an IGoogle home page.
This is simple yet will be a big benefit to your time and efforts as well as the learning curve.
Most links are at the top of your Google Gmail inbox, one is IGoogle... ;o)
On this IGoogle homepage you can add stuff...alot of this will be stuff you USE, more on that soon. ;o)
- Second step is to set up a blogger account, clicking the link "more" at the top of your Gmail inbox. First just set up some random dummy blog you wont likely use, just so you can see how it all works, post a tester post, publish it and view it, then click "dashboard".
You can create many blogs in this ONE account, that's why I say don't worry about the first dummy blog.
- On your Google home page or Gmail inbox, click "more" once more (there is alot on that more page) you want to find the "blog search" link.
Lets say your "blog topic" will be around your favourite pastime of baking cakes...
- Set up a unique folder in your bookmarks on your PC, call it "cake baking" or whatever your topic to save all your findings.
Go search for "baking cakes" with " " and without ... baking cakes and see what comes up.
Note how many blogs, how many searches made or anything you see that you can take data from.
Bookmark the blogs, when you look at them really take note of what captures your eye and compels you to read more. Save everything, notes and blogs etc.
- Now do the same with Google web search...again with and without " " a tip...while on the blog search page, with the search topics listed click the "web" link in the top left of the page. Instant search on the web pops up, same topics. ;o)
- Now go to this page here and click add it. Now go to your IGoogle "home page".
Now you can see that module you just added on your IGoogle homepage... this will be your online web centre bookmarks once you are rolling. ;o)
Add to that THIS blog you are reading.. ;o)
- Now go to this page and add it. This will be a very good shortcut to your blog hopping and more. Trust me it will save you all tons of time all this and make things so simple.
Add to the reader and this to your IGoogle homepage.
- Now add this to your IGoogle page....Gmail add on! ;o)
Simple and fast, effective. Go look at your IGoogle page now. See it all on there and yet you also have the option of creating new tabs... Even create a cake baking tab. ;o) Save things to it.
Now you have a nice Google center you can access anywhere.
I'll stop there for now because now I am sure you are going to have some play around etc.
Go ahead have a look at the set up and see how simple and streamlined it is.
After you have had a look around, have a good think about what you could blog about and read other blogs on whatever topic you have thought about. ;o)
Any questions or comments feel free to do so below.
Labels: blog, content, general, Gmail, google, how do i, how to, newbies, people, personal, tips
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