Protocolinpractice

Blog Name: Protocolinpractice

Blog URL: http://www.protocolinpractice.blogspot.com

Description: This is a conversation about protocol and how we relate to each other in business and social environments. It is also a forum for people in government, conferences, public relations, marketing etc to get together and talk.

Mostly I just post things I find of interest to me about Durban, South Africa, skills development, government etc.

Wampago Music Videos

Blog Name: Wampago Music Videos

Blog URL: http://www.wampago.com

Description: Offering thousands of music videos, movie,game and music news. Add your own music videos by posting them directly to the site.

Another Point of View

Blog Name: Another Point of View

Blog URL: http://pov-mentarch1.blogspot.com

Description: A middle-of-the-road progressive's opinions and musings on past, current (and even future) events.

April 25 Featured Feeds

The featured blogs this week are Musings from a jam jar and I get a kick out of.... Check them out and leave a comment or two.

The Astonishing Adventures Of Lord Likely

Blog Name: The Astonishing Adventures of Lord Likely

Blog URL: http://lordlikely.blogspot.com

Description: The journals and diaries of Lord Likely, aristocratic adventurer and gentleman of action.

Testing Spicypage

I joined Spicypage two weeks ago and listed Firemind there. I have gotten some traffic and found some interesting blogs. There are a few things about the site I dislike but nothing major.

I just listed BBD and it will be interesting to see how people react to this blog compared to Firemind. I will write a review in the near future.

Welcome to visitors from Spicypage. Have a look around, check out some blogs, and say hello. Thanks for stopping by.

Powell River Books Blog

Blog Name: Powell River Books Blog

Blog URL: http://powellriverbooks.blogspot.com

Description: The Powell River Books Blog focuses on travel and activities on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. Life in a floating cabin on Powell Lake is a source for posts about living off-the-grid. Go quading, hiking, boating, flying, kayaking, and snowshoeing, the opportunities are limitless. Join us in Powell River, the Pearl of the Sunshine Coast.

April 19 Featured Feeds

We are still working our way through the list of blogs for the first time. I work from A-Z for one selection and Z-A for the other. This week's featured blogs are Flotsam and Jetsam and My Irish Football Blog.

Annoying Blog Ads

In-text advertising has to be the most annoying form of marketing used in blogs. It is even worst than paid posts. I can ignore paid posts but sometimes the in-text ad links look like real links. Sometimes when I move my cursor over a page to check something the ad link is triggered and this annoying pop-up obscures what I want to see.

There is another problem with these ads. Quite often they are unrelated to what is being blogged about. Have a look at this screenshot:



According to the ad you can buy 'your blog' on eBay. The ad looks silly and the whole advertising aspect of the blog loses credibility.

If people want to 'monetize' their blogs they are better off producing great content and finding a sponsor.

Webtalks

Blog Title: Webtalks

Blog URL: http://webtalks.blogspot.com/

Description: Webtalks is a blog where we have high level discussions on topics related to Websites.Here we have special focus on guides to Google services like Adsense and Blogger including their tips,hacks and support

Dear Media (Bloggers) - an open letter

I wrote an open letter to the media at Firemind. It also applies to blogs covering the shooting at Virginia Tech.

Blogging: Your First Five Steps

Here are some ideas to help you get started with blogging and keep at it.

1. Blog often and write the best posts you can.

Try to blog daily or at least several times a week. This will get you into the habit of writing and you'll get more of an idea of what your blog is about. The more content you have the easier it is for people to find your blog.

It doesn't matter what you blog about as long as you are comfortable with it. Try to have more original content than quizzes, videos, and similar material. Items like these can be useful when you have writer's block but don't rely on them too much. You should try to add an opinion or anecdote to such items.

2. Leave the blog design alone until you have the time and the confidence to do a good job with it.

The basic template designs may seem boring but they are adequate. Some bloggers spend more time playing with the template than they do blogging. They either make a bad mistake and lose content or end up with a nice design but no content. If playing with the design interrupts your blogging too much stop tinkering for a while.

I have come across a number of dead blogs with great designs and very few posts.

3. Comment on other blogs and respond to comments on your blog.

Comments are a major part of blogging. When we comment or respond to comments we are having a conversation with other people. Comments turn 'writing on the Internet' into blogging. Getting comments tells you that you are being noticed. You aren't alone. Responding to comments makes your visitors feel welcome.

In Blogger I allow anyone to comment and I don't use comment moderation. I do use word verification to stop comment spam. These settings have worked fine for me.

4. Practise good blogging behaviour.

As I said before blogging is a conversation and like any dialogue it has rules.

• Treat others as you wish to be treated.
• Credit your sources of information.
• Don't 'hotlink' to images or videos - that is bandwidth theft.
• Don't use anyone's content without asking permission. Content is copyright protected even if that fact isn't stated.

5. Learn more about blogging.

Blogging may seem a bit overwhelming at first. There are so many ideas to consider and many options to choose from. Things can get frustrating at times but if you are patient and willing to ask questions everything will work out.

There are many forums, blogs, and websites that can help a person out. If you approach these sites with an open mind, and some common sense, you may learn a lot.

Your greatest sources of help are other bloggers. Most are willing to help if they have the time and the right knowledge. You may be expected to help them at a later date. When I help another blogger I always do so with one condition: that the person I help be willing to help another when the time comes.

SportsGuru

Blog Name: SportsGuru

Blog URL: http://sportsguru.eclecticblogs.ca

Description: Recaps of Edmonton Oilers, Manchester United, Formula 1 racing, Edmonton Eskimos plus any other sports items that interest me.

Pericharis

Blog Name: Pericharis

Blog URL: http://pericharis.blogspot.com

Description: The secret diary of a modern Matron.

Don't Modify Blogger's Navbar

Blogger provides a free hosting service in the form of Blogspot. They used to put a single banner ad at the top of the page but eventually settled for the navbar. Many bloggers dislike the navbar and either modify it or delete it. Blogger says:

We consider it a violation of the terms to modify the Blogger navbar.(source)

(Via A Consuming Experience).

In the Blogger Help Group I often come across this issue. While I haven't heard of blogs being deleted over this I still think bloggers should leave the navbar alone.

Google Adsense And Traffic Exchange Programs

Google Adsense Blog has posted a response to queries about traffic exchange programs like Blog Explosion.

We understand that our publishers are always looking for ways to attract interested users to their sites. But using third-party tools or services to increase your site traffic may lead to invalid clicks or impressions and result in your account being disabled. For this reason, we'd like to provide you with some guidance about this. (Read the rest).

If you use Adsense on your blog check out the post and make sure you understand the rules.

My Views

Advertising

I don't use advertising in my blogs and hopefully I won't have to in the future. I have an ad free blog button in my sidebar at Firemind but still get people asking if they can advertise there.

I am used to seeing ads in blogs now and can live with the ones that are subtle and well designed. I hate seeing blogs that have more space devoted to advertising than blogging.

Traffic Exchanges

A few years ago I had to mediate a 'discussion' at one of my groupblogs. Some members were experimenting with Blog Explosion and wanted the groupblog to join. Other members were against the idea. I did some research and decided we would not be joining the program.

I found that traffic exchange programs bring traffic but not readers. People click on your blog to get credit and then leave. Very few seem to stay long enough to read posts and few return.

Another issue was with the types of blogs that joined these programs. People complained about finding hate sites and adult blogs by accident.

The biggest complaint was the sheer amount of bad blogs that one had to spend time checking. Lots of free blog traffic sounds grand to a new blogger. People join before they have learned some blogging basics and end up annoying visitors. Furthermore people join the exchanges and then quit blogging. A visitor then finds a dead link or a dead blog.

The way to get blog traffic is to write well and interact with other bloggers. Post as often as you can and think about what you write. Comment on other blogs and allow comments on your blogs. Join forums, directories, and programs that emphasize blogging rather than traffic or pagerank. Learn to blog and the traffic will come.

Traffic exchange seems like a good idea when you first look at it. If you look closer you can see why it is problematic. Our groupblog never joined any traffic exchange programs and within a year all members had given up on Blog Explosion.

Links And BBD

Some admin posts in BBD don't allow comments. This is to keep things clear and easy to understand. Other posts allow comments but I may delete comments in some cases. For example: I allow comments in the Blog Finding Resources post. After I check a recommendation I may delete it if I am not comfortable with the links provided.

I am rather picky about my sidebar links. If I find a blog that encourages behaviour I don't agree with I will remove the link. If a blog encourages techniques used by spamblogs or advocates violating the host TOS (terms of service) I won't link to it. I want bloggers to learn blogging not manipulation.

There are a number of beginner friendly blogs that I think are useful but I am uncomfortable with. If you have any suggestions or questions feel free to email me.

Reiki Healing-Remote Healings

Blog Name: Reiki Healing-Remote Healings

Blog URL: http://reikiranch.blogspot.com

Description: Remote Reiki energy can heal the body, mind, and spirit at all levels from long distance. Everybody can benefit from a Laser Reiki pain release remote healing.

The Secret is the law of attraction. Those who are in high vibrational energy are abundant. Instant pain release from the neck and back are possible with Reiki.

April 12 Featured Feeds

It's time to change the Featured Blog Feeds again. This time we have two blogs from Canada - one from the west coast and one from the east. The featured blogs are Ocean And Forest Walks and Facing Autism in New Brunswick.

Easter Blogging

I browsed BBD blogs to see what people were posting about Easter. Here are some of the interesting posts I found.

Things started out strange when I visited Popped Culture on Good Friday. Suddenly Last Supper looks at the various ways that famous meal has been portrayed in art. The artwork is interesting and makes one wonder about our modern heroes.

Good Friday was also on Andy's mind recently. Rebirth and rejuvenation are part of our internal processes and sometimes they need a little help. We can never tell when or how our spirits will be lifted but it is nice when it happens.

Some of us live in mild climates but Winter still seems too long. When April comes we often sigh with relief. Archie Whitehall had this to say:

Easter celebrates resurrection, re-birth and new beginnings. It is the epitome of Spring. It is a celebration of nature’s decision to return the life that had died in the fall. Spring is the resurrection of flowers, leaves, crops and so forth. (source)

Residents of Moncton were sighing but it wasn't due to relief. It seems winter was trying to resurrect itself on Easter morning. I wonder if anyone tried making snowbunnies.

Bunnies made of snow aren't as good as real ones. Spring is progressing normally here in Victoria. The weather is mild and we have had some sunshine.

Bunnies are important because they bring Easter eggs. Eating the eggs is fun but first you have to find them. The important thing is to find all of them so you don't discover something 'interesting' in May or June.

My favourite Easter Eggs are the chocolate ones. I have tasted many types but I haven't found any like these ones. I don't think they are edible but they look nice.

Well, that's a little roundup of Easter posts from some of BBD listed blogs. Thanks to everyone for the interesting writing.

Submission Guidelines Update

I have updated the Submission Guidelines and added:

4. Links must point to http://bigblogdir.blogspot.com
5. Links should be in the sidebar, footer, or designated links page - not buried in a post.

This is standard procedure for reciprocal links. #4 ensures that traffic comes to the most important and useful part of this blog. Links to each listed blog are done the same way. #5 is about visibility and fairness. Put the BBD link on the 'page' you want to be linked to - ie your blog's URL.

Linking To BBD

1. Links to BBD are mandatory.
2. Read this post if you need help linking.
3. Text links should read "Big Blog Directory".
4. Links must point to http://bigblogdir.blogspot.com
5. Links should be in the sidebar, footer, or designated links page - not buried in a post.
6. If there is a reason your blog cannot link to BBD let me know. I will make exceptions if needed.
7. When you send in your submission tell me where I can find the link.

I had several blogs submitted recently with incorrect links.

EternaLee

Blog Name: EternaLee

Blog URL: http://eternalee.blogspot.com

Description: The personal, spiritual, social, political blog of a Christian freelance journalist from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

KnotGypsy's Journey of Creation

Blog Name: KnotGypsy's Journey of Creation

Blog URL: http://knotgypsy.blogspot.com

Description: I am a jewelry artist specializing in micro macrame. I write about my jewelry, creativity, beading, etc. I write about anything related to my journey on the path of living a creative life and making a living at it.

New Listings 7

These are the blogs that were listed since early March.

Boating Bitts

A Letter Never Sent

Dwarfed Films

RiteTurnOnly.com

Uncommon Notions

Magick River

SuperMomPreneur

Snippets and Blabbery

My Irish Football Blog

Facing Autism In New Brunswick

I get a kick out of ...

yayacanada

Use Quick Blog Search to view all listed blogs alphabetically or Search This Blog Using Labels to search by topic.

April 5 Featured Feeds

Eco Planet Canada and RedRag blog are the featured blogs for the next few days. Check them out and say hello.

Directories Update

I removed the sidebar links to Blogotion and Blog Intro. I submitted to them over a month ago and still haven't been listed. I'll leave the link to Globe Of Blogs.

I listed BBD with Tom's Top Blogs a while ago and have gotten a few hits. I'm not really a fan of ranking ("top") sites but this one is okay. The sidebar button says 'Bump Me Up'.

Technorati Hacked!

The Technorati logo has been modified by hackers to change with each page refresh. They will strike the tagging system next. Soon everyone's tags will be changed to 'bob' because the 'net needs more references to bob.



Technorati wasn't the only one having a joke. Google is advertising a new ISP called TiSP. The site is quite funny.