Submissions Reminder

I'll be catching up with submissions this week. One important reminder: your blog submission MUST have a link to Big Blog Directory (http://bigblogdir.blogspot.com)in the sidebar or designated link area. Blogs without a link will not be published.

There are two issues I would like to address. First of all: I get a lot of requests for link exchanges. This isn't a link exchange service. I want proper blog submissions. The second problem concerns where my link is placed. Please do NOT put the link in with advertisers and/or call it an advertisement on your blog. This is misrepresenting this blog.

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.

Submission Guidelines

What Is Big Blog Directory?

• Big Blog Directory is both a blog and a blog directory.
• Big Blog Directory uses Blogger labels (tags) to categorize blogs.
• BBD Blog contains news, information, and tutorials for bloggers.
• BBD is as much of a community as members want it to be. They can participate in activities or ignore them. They can ask for help with blogging - all I ask is that they help others too.

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.

Submission Process

1. Read Submit Your Blog and follow the directions.
2. If your blog is acceptable AND links to BBD it will be listed in 24-48 hours. Don't wait for an email or comment before linking.
3. If your blog is unacceptable I will contact you and explain why.

What Is An Acceptable Blog?

I don't worry too much what type of blog you write or whether I like it personally. I believe all blogs are equal and worth reading. That being said I won't list blogs that advocate violence, racism, homophobia, or illegal activities.

Blogs with 'Adult' themes may be acceptable as long as there is no pornography. I want to keep BBD accessible to everyone.

If your blog has lots of annoying features like popups, music that starts automatically, or unreadable text: I might not list it. If your blog locks up my browser or sets off my virus scanner it wont be listed. To be listed a blog has to be accessible.

One of the important things to remember is that only current blogs are listed in BBD. Blogs that are dormant for 60 days have their listings removed. Dormant blogs will not be listed.

Updated: April 8, 07

Featured Feed And Changes To Submissions

The new featured feed is "A designer's ramblings". Check it out and leave Peter a comment.

Submission Changes

I have been debating whether to make reciprocal links mandatory. One part of me thinks that "your submission = my content" so no other "payment' is needed. That is fine if you don't care whether your submission actually sends you traffic. I could just collect links and not worry what they are. I don't want this blog to be a dumping ground for links.

I see Big Blog Directory as a place where visitors can find interesting blogs to read. I like to promote new blogs and recognize established blogs with great content. I am not trying to get a high pagerank or anything like that.

If I list your blog I may send someone who becomes a regular reader and contributes to discussion in comments. I hope that someone visiting your blog may find their way to this one. This blog may not be what they are looking for but, then again, it might. Let your readers know you list here.

Making reciprocal links optional seemed like a good idea at the time. Most blog directories require links to their site before a blog is listed. Since starting BBD I have found many blogs that add required links but don't link here.

So far the "reward" for linking has been becoming a "featured blog". That has only been 'featured feeds" but more things will becoming. Ideally all of the blogs listed in BBD should be treated equally. I don't want a two-tiered system.

Linking in WordPress and Blogger is very easy. Normally there is no reason not to link.

Submission Changes:

1. Links to BBD are now mandatory for new listings.
2. If there is a reason your blog cannot link to BBD let me know. I will make exceptions if needed.
3. When you send in your submission tell me where I can find the link.

Update: Submission Guidelines And Coming Events

Submission Guidelines - draft. Feedback is appreciated.

The "Submit Your Blog" page will be updated soon. Basically I am tightening up labels, adding a link to a copyright page, and working on a reciprocal links policy.

Labels:

Minimum = 1. Maximum = 10. I will add 2 Admin Labels.

Labels can describe your content or your location or both.

Avoid similar or repetitive labels. For example don't list every dog breed you have or every subcategory of your hobby.

Avoid labels with more than one word if possible. The label editor prefers one label over another and this makes it difficult to apply new labels or edit old ones. With the number of labels in use BBD this can be a headache.

Blogger Labels can be searched using Technorati (for example) and that may bring traffic to BBD but that is secondary to making it easier to navigate this blog.

Reciprocal Links:

For various reasons linking back to BBD may not be possible so links are optional. As this blog grows I may have to make it mandatory. If you already link to other blog directories then please link to me.

A submission provides me with content and you with a listing and some publicity. If you link back to me you get more support such as being the subject of an article or interview.

New question for Submit Your Blog page: Do you wish your blog's site feed to be posted on BBD Blog Feeds? (This requires a link.)

"Dual" Submissions:

Your blog listing is classed a content and copyright protected. My Creative Commons licence is by -nc - nd. ND means no derivatives so anyone copying the listing cannot change it in anyway.

Suggestion: Don't copy a blog listing.

No Derivatives also means people may have similar ideas to mine but they cannot take my content and change it without permission.

Rule: If someone else starts a Blogger based directory that uses labels to categorize blogs you may not submit a listing that I have published.

If the blog owner contacts me and wants a blog removed I will remove the listing. The listing I published is still copyright protected. Go ahead and promote your blog. Just don't do it at my expense.

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Coming Events:

Canadian Blogs Roundup, South African Blogs Roundup (March?), and possibly features on Photography Blogs and Blogger Hacks.