-3 Basic Rules for Bloggers

Searching the internet tonight I came across a very helpful article listing 3 basic rules all bloggers need to pay attention to:

“The 3 Things You Need to Learn About Blogging”

Here’s what BloggingPro writer James Dunaway has at the top of his list as far as blogging essentials:

1. Learn SEO

2. Respect Online Reputation

3. Write by heart

Read what he has to say about each.

‘Writing by heart’ or from the heart is the single best advice that I have ever come across in any article about blogging. If you don’t have some interest or passion about what you are writing about, you can’t expect any of your readers to find anything interesting about what you have to say.

Sometimes I get the impression that some bloggers put a post up on an event or issue merely because it happens to be going viral at the time, not necessarily because they care about it one way or another. If you don’t really care it will show and searchers will bounce out of your post before the end of the second paragraph if not before.            *Top

-Tool: Blog & Website Grader

Ever wonder how your blog or website stacks up against all of the rest?

Here’s a tool that will evaluate your site in a minute or even less: <<Website Grader>>

It’s easy! Just go to the site and enter your URL, add an email address, and then click on the “GENERATE REPORT” button. It is amazing how much you can learn about your site in the comprehensive report that quickly follows.

I have been using this tool for a couple of years now and check up on the progress of all of my sites every 6 months or so. The grader points out all of the strengths and weaknesses of your site. I have found it to be very useful in helping me to see where I can make needed improvements.

See the nifty badge above? This blog scored a ‘92’ this time around –far better than the first time. My best blog scored a ‘99’ –hooray!

HubSpot is the sponsor of the grader and also gives you the opportunity to download a “Free Guide: Introduction to Search Engine Optimization.” The guide is business oriented but the basic principles are useful for anyone wanting to improve the effectiveness of their site.            *Top

-Responding in Love to Difficult Comments

Well sometimes comments can actually ruin your whole day. One of the hardest things to do as a Christian blogger is to respond in love to those who criticize and are down right mean and ornery to you in their comments.

Sometimes when I’m responding to a reader’s comment on one of my blogs, the first thing I think of is ‘how would Jesus answer this one’. On my worst days I have a picture in my mind of Jesus clearing the temple or telling the religious folks that they are really nothing more than ‘white washed graves‘. Then the Holy Spirit kicks in and I see Jesus teaching the ‘Golden rule’ and telling his disciples to love and pray for their enemies. In those moments I pray for wisdom and strength.

Some Suggestions on Responding to Difficult Comments 

1. Believe it or not Prayer does help. (Pray for wisdom and understanding)

2. Sometimes let a day or so go by. (Respond when you’re not quite so angry or hurt)

3. Don’t respond at all. (Some comments are so out-of-line that they hang themselves)

4. If you really did blow it you do need to magnanimously admit it.

5. If they are right –same as #4.

6. Sometimes commenters are just plain wrong and need to be corrected. (With as much love and care as you can muster)

7. Sometimes the best response is the ‘delete’ button. (It might even make your day)

Some of the meanest comments that I have ever received have surprisingly come from fellow Christians who completely forgot about grace. Nevertheless, if you are identified in some way as a Christian on the Internet than you really do need to respond in a way that reflects well upon your faith and your master Jesus.  Blessings.

-Ten Common Grammar Errors That Plague The Web

I know that I have broken some of these basic rules in grammar dozens of times while writing on the Web in the last six years. It occurs to me that if I could use a quick refresher in this area then maybe some of you might benefit from it also.

Here’s an article by Robin Nobles listing 10 of the most common grammar errors made on the Web:

“Top Ten Grammar Errors that Haunt Web Pages”

1. it’s = it is
2. Web site (or page) vs. web site/page vs. Website/website (page)
3. Periods and commas: do they go inside or outside of quotation marks, or does it depend on the sentence?
4. E-mail vs. email, plus what is the plural of e-mail?
5. SEOs or SEO’s
6. Spelling spot check
7. Hyphens
8. Additional spot check
9. Singular vs. plural
10. Commas

Follow the link and take a look at the explanation for each of these common errors. Examples of ‘correct’ and ‘incorrect’ usage are included.            *Top

-The Daunting and Haunting Task of Proofreading

Proofreading is probably a writer’s least favorite task. It is also quite necessary, entirely expected, and all of the ‘rewards’ are negative at best. What makes it particularly daunting and haunting is the obvious fact that all of us fail at it occasionally no matter how many times we re-read and edit our masterpieces.

How many times have you bloggers glanced upon yesterday’s article that you’re so proud of only to find an obvious error that the spell check missed or worse yet you used the wrong ‘their’ there. It happens to me all of the time.

Then what do you do? I go back in and change it. I don’t care if it was written last year and it’s all over the Internet in cached form.The error is going down.

This brings up an entirely different subject. There are some who say that once an article is posted on the Internet it is sacrosanct and should never be altered. Horse pucky! Those folks are just crazy and maybe even a little lazy. All of the best publishers will change their miscues in the 2nd edition even if it is a NY Times best seller.

I actually found today’s topic while reading the newspaper of all things, proving that fish wrap can still be relevant if not amusing. Particularly when it’s consumed with coffee and Cheerios. Stephen Wilbers writes a great syndicated column that appears in The Orange County Register: “Writing For Business”

Here’s a link to his website where you can subscribe and receive his columns every week by email if it doesn’t appear in your hometown paper: Writing for Business and Pleasure

Take a look around the site. There’s lots of good stuff to help you improve your writing and proofreading (look under ‘Contents’). Particularly take a gander at this one and the followup which is on today’s topic:

“How to proofread and never miss a single errror”

My greatest fear is that Dr. Wilbers will actually read this post and point out all of the obvious ‘errrors’ that I somehow missed. There’s bound to be several at least. When you find some let me know.              *Top

-What is Google ‘Panda’ Looking For?

First of all you may be asking- What the heck is ‘Google Panda’ anyway? It certainly is a question I asked when I first came across a reference to it.

‘Panda’ is the name assigned to Google’s latest algorithm. The program that rates everything on the web and determines what gets linked to and decides whether that article of yours is listed on Google’s first page during a search or shows up 2000 links later.

Over the years business folks have spent a great deal of time, effort, and money trying to figure out how to beat the search engine and get their website consistently listed at the top. Most of us who are part time bloggers end up reading an article or two and hope for the best. Usually well written original content wins Google over and rises to the top just like cream.

Then Google makes changes in their algorithm and the process starts all over with folks trying to discover the new golden Google fleece once more. Here’s a timeline of the major algorithm changes over the years including the most recent:

o 2003-05-01 “Fritz” update
o 2003-05-16 “Florida” update
o 2007-01-25 “defused” update
o 2009-02-20 “Vince” update
o 2010-05-01 “Mayday” update
o 2011-02-24 “Panda” update
o 2011-05-10 “Panda 2.1″ update
o 2011-06-16 “Panda 2.2″ update

(Source: ToddNemet.com)

When I started blogging nearly 6 years ago the big deal was getting as many links as possible and the sources really didn’t seem to matter that much. So I bought a automatic program that got my site linked to on 1000 others or so and boom- we had instant Google credibility. I can remember one Christian ministry that would provide your site with hundreds of reciprocal links if you joined their directory for a small fee of $30 or so. I declined on that one.

Then a few months later link farms and unrelated directories became a liability that got your site banned to Google’s version of outer darkness so adjustments had to be promptly made.

What Google is consistently looking for is to be able to link to real information and real content rather than a site with just a bunch of misleading ‘key’ words that fool the search bots.

If you are producing original content and providing real information than most of the time your stuff will rise to the top. Nevertheless, it is always good to know what Google is looking for and what they penalize. Here’s 2 interesting articles by David Jackson with info on Google’s latest:

“Google Panda Update: 11 Important SEO Facts You Should Know”

“Google’s Panda Update: Haters, Cheaters and Consequences”

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-Having and Using Multiple Email Addresses

Practically everyone and everything demands an email address from you these days. Purchase flowers online, book a room or a flight, to access a news site, set up a blog, join a social network, download a new program, leave a comment on a website, or keep in touch with family or friends. Any or all demand your email address.

There was a time when I had just one but now I have multiple email addresses for a multitude of uses and reasons. First of all I found it necessary just to keep up with it all. I compartmentalized my e-life with a separate email addresses for the following:

1. Personal

Friends and family are the only ones with access to this one. Plus a few key financial ties.

2. Business

This one is for work only.

3. Blogs

I have a separate address for each one of my blogs.

4. Social Networks

A separate address for each one. Imperative to keep on top of it all.

5. Ministry

A separate address for use at church and in ministry.

6. False Flag

A ‘throwaway’ address to give when demanded but care less about and don’t want to be bothered.

Here’s a tip for keeping track of it all.

I have nearly a dozen on Gmail alone that I can access and check up on going to just one log-in site: gmail.com. It really doesn’t take that long and is much easier than working with 2 or 3 different addresses like I use too and having to wade through all sorts of unrelated junk mail and spam.

At least now I can determine where everything is coming from a whole lot easier than I use to. Plus I can more readily find what’s really important.    

-Even The Pope Tweets?

For those who continue to make fun of all the Millions ‘Tweeting’ away their lives, now even the Pope tweets. 

Pope Benedict XVI sent out a message on Twitter to publicize the launch of the Vatican’s new website-  News.va, The following was the pope’s first message:

"Dear Friends, I just launched http://t.co/fVHpS9y Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI"

The message was prepared for him a head of time so all he had to do was click and send. The occasion also marked the 60th anniversary of his ordination as a priest.            *Top