Prelaunch Blog Review Checklist

Filed Under Blog Review, Checklists, Guest Writer, Successful Blog | 6 Comments

I wrote a post this morning as part of a series at LizStrauss[dot]com. It may be of use to some readers here. It’s for folks who’ve not started blogging. Click the title to access it.

Should I submit this to be an official SOB? I’ll have to ask myself whether I participate enough in the dialogue . . .

Liz's Signature

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SOB Business Cafe 09-01-2006

Filed Under Blog Review, Business Life, Marketing, Successful Blog, Tech/Stats | 9 Comments

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the title shots to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Chartreuse BETA names the new “Catcher in the Rye.”

Bloggers Blog reviews mistakes we should steer clear of.

Seth’s Blog considers the options when folks take advantage of a business’s good faith policies.

Simplenomics is right on the money again.

Publishing 2.0 has a suggestion for emerging blog media moguls.

Related ala carte selections include

Working at Home on the Internet has a toy that spoof Web 2.0.

The ~~Selfish~~ Savvy Giver has the peace chant for 2006.

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like.
No tips required. Comments appreciated.

Have a great weekend!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Great Find: 2 Standalone Trackback Tools

Filed Under Blog Review, Comments, Successful Blog, Tech/Stats | 22 Comments

Trackback Troubles

A few months ago, I was having a problem with trackbacks. It occurred right after a server move. Everything seemed to be working, yet the trackbacks weren’t appearing. I found the situation somewhat distressing. What I was writing was important and incredibly cool — as everything we write is.

This week I am having a problem with my trackbacks again. It just started happening for apparent reason. I haven’t had the time to play detective, but I know the value of well-placed trackbacks.

Trackbacks show other writers that I’ve thought about what they’ve written. They offer my work on the same sujbect to another conversation. People notice trackbacks. Sometimes they even follow one home.

Being without my trackbacks is a lot like being without. Read more

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Great Find: Is Your Design C.R.A.P.?

Filed Under Blog Review, Design, Great Finds, Successful Blog | 7 Comments

This link comes from Cat Morley, of Designers who Blog. It was waiting when I got to my computer this morning. If you know Cat Morley and Mike Rundle, you’ll want to read this article as much as I did.

Great Find: How C.R.A.P. Is Your Design by MIke Rundle
Permalink: http://www.thinkvitamin.com/features/design/how-crap-is-your-site-design

Audience/Topic: Blog and Webiste Design Review
Content: I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike Rundle. I worked with him when Succesful Blog was with 9rules. Mike designed the SOB badge. He’s considered one of the best designers in the blogworld. So when Mike writes about blog design. It’s worth checking, especially when the person who points out the article is Cat Morely, who is also highly recognized for her design skills.

Mike’s article explains a popular design approach and acronym, called C.R.A.P. coined by designer/author Robin Williams. C.R.A.P. stands for

Contrast + Repitition + Alignment + Proximity

In his article, Mike goes beyond explaining each concept. He provides screenshots and reviews the conceptual points in action — when they’re working and when they’re not. Think of this as a multi-page primer of design basics that you want beside you, when you start tweaking at your template. To read the article click on the title shot below.

Design can make reading your blog inviting, welcoming, and easy on the reader. It’s one more form of branding and blog promotion. Great design lets readers see that you have an interest in them and a stake in what you’re doing. The finest content means hardly anything, if no one can get past the design to read it.

Thanks Cat, for pointing us to this article, and thanks Mike, for taking the time to write it.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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A Timely Reminder

Filed Under Blog Review, Checklists, Marketing, Successful Blog | 6 Comments

When was the last time that you . . .

found a new blog in your niche to read? New blogs offer new communities of readers with fresh ideas and new points of view. Join their discussion by leaving meaningful comments and trackbacks. New friends there might read your comments and want to find out what you’re writing.
tweaked your blog description and checked your directory listings? Blogging is flexible and adaptive. How much has your blog changed since you last read your blog description? Have you visited the directories that you listed your blog in? Listings have a way of disappearing over time. Even when they don’t, they might need revising.
organized your archives as your readers would want them? Great archives are super blog promotion. For more on how to think like your readers see Watch What You’re Doing.

What other reminders might we need now that spring is here?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Prelaunch Blog Review Checklist

SOB Business Cafe 09-01-2006