Successful Blog

Spring Cleaning Your Blog

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Spring Comes Twice a Year

I highlighted this post last October, when it was spring in Australia. Still, I think the information is worth bringing forward now that it’s spring in North America. It’s an article by Duncan Riley from the Blog Herald called, Quick spring cleaning tips for your blog. Here’s what I take from Duncan’s article and pass on to you.

    1. A splash of paint–Add some new color or something colorful. Curb appeal is great promotion for your blog, your business, and your brand.

    2. New header–If you haven’t noticed, new headers are sprouting like spring flowers.

    3. Clean up your links–Sad to say some of those folks on your blogroll may no longer be blogging.

    4. Edit old posts–Update old posts and add references so folks will go read them.

    5. Take a walk around the blogs. Spring walks are always invigorating and inspiring.

Duncan also suggests signing up for an affliliate program. I don’t see any reason not to . . . It just didn’t feel very springy to me. 🙂

Got any to add to my list, since I already have the mop and bucket out?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles

Blog Review Checklist
Blog Archive Promotion To Do List
GAWKER Design: Curb Appeal as Customer-Centered Promotion
Blog Promotion: Checking Out Curb Appeal

Sunday Night Blog Discussion

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For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week, tonight I offer a Blogging Discussion.

This one’s serious.

Here you go. . . .

This week the Blog Herald reported that WashingtonPost.com has turned off comments on its blog . . .

“Because a significant number of folks who have posted in this blog have refused to follow any of those relatively simple rules, we”ve decided not to allow comments for the time being,” Jim Brady, executive editor of Washingtonpost.com, wrote on the subject.

In August, Aaron Wall of SEO Book fame, was sued for comments left by someone on his blog . . . a good discussion is covered at The Intuitive Life Business Blog ( which I found via the Blog Herald) in which writer Dave Taylor says

“I’m well aware that legal precedent holds that if you moderate, edit, or prune comments on your online forum — or blog — in any way at all then you stop being able to defend yourself as a common carrier and become a publisher who is, indeed, liable for the content that they publish.”

My question is this.

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Successful Duncan Riley

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By now you must have heard about the secret auction held to sell the

Blog Herald Logo

to an as yet to be named new owner for what is being reported at over $70,000 USD.

Congratulations Duncan Riley on building an enterprise and a brand valued so highly. I think that officially qualifies you as an SOB–a Successful and Outstanding Blogger. I hereby award you with the badge of honor and your name on this blog forever.

SOB Button

Duncan’s Blog Herald has been on my reading list almost since the day I started blogging. It’s a one-of-a kind read that holds the niche of understanding the blogosphere and reporting on blogs around the world. I’ll miss reading Duncan’s take on things. I’ll miss having Duncan around.

On the other hand, it couldn’t happen to a better guy.

Duncan shares some of his reasons and reflections on the sale at these links, which I’ve tried to place in chronological order.

Twas The Blog Herald that’s been on the market

David Krug spends time with Duncan Riley

Duncan answers questions on The Blog Herald sale

Duncan talks to Site Sales about what he would look for in a blog

Duncan and Darren discuss the sale and using a broker

Seriously, Duncan all badges aside. I’ll miss reading you at 2:30 a.m. up here by Lake Michigan. So once you guys get b5 going strong, I’ll be looking for your new blog.

Best of Luck Always.
Liz