Successful Blog

SOB Business Cafe 01-12-07

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SB Cafe

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 titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Success from the Nest has a question that could impact our bottom line.

Deep Jive Interests has offers Yahoo! a plan to get their ROI from MyBlogLog.

Solo Business Marketing reminds us of one thing we should be certain to find out.

Workboxers explains how to name a real world business opening online.

Drew’s Marketing Minute has an important ultimatum.

Logic + Emotion gives us a tour of what will soon be the newest and fastest growing habitat of the business world.

Technosailor details a series on the business of podcasting.

Whimspiration has gathered a comprehensive list of non-GMO, natural, heirloom, organic, and CNG seed vendors for gardeners looking to buy products on the Internet

Related ala carte selections include

Scribbit reminds us that not all things should be business.

Creative Think explains the benefit of resting to change and creativity.

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

Cream in My Life

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I've been thinking . . .
In the olden days, even before I was short . . . the milkman delivered milk in glass bottles with cardboard caps. The milk was straight from the dairy just outside of town. It wasn’t homogenized. That meant that it would separate. The cream would rise to the top.

The cream is the wonderful part.

One teaspoon of real cream in a cup of coffee is better than any famous coffee shop can offer. I used to drink real cream in my coffee every morning. But now the store where I live doesn’t carry it. I suppose that’s better for my health. I’m not so sure about my well being . . .

Believe it, compared to one teaspoon of real cream, anything at Starbucks is second best. And Starbucks is also a wonderful part of life to me.

This weekend, I’m going to find some cream. Maybe it won’t be the kind that goes in coffee, but it will be cream just the same.

I might just read a novel.

Or I could take two naps on Saturday.

Maybe I’ll sit at the window and watch the lake.

I’ll watch a favorite movie.

I’ll handwrite a letter to a friend I miss.

I’ll do one thing that’s not electronic, something that is in no way related to working or moving a project forward. I’ll so something that is good for my well being — one teaspoon of rich cream.

The cream is the wonderful part. Can’t have a life without that.

Don’t forget the cream this weekend.

Liz's Signature

The Google Dance: Page Ranks January 2007

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Why Does Anyone Care about Page Rank?

Google uses a numbering system — page rank — to determine how relevant each is blog is. The system is based on a complex algorithm that places weight on how blogs are linked. I explained it this way during the Google Page Rank Update last February.

Page rank determines how relevant your blog is by using linking as a vote system. Google has developed an algorithm that weighs links between blogs A to B to C to A, and also looking also at the importance of the blogs making the links. Quality blogs that are well connected to other quality blogs are considered highly relevant to Google users. Relevant, quality, important blogs receive higher page ranks. Higher page ranks can mean higher advertising payments for blogs that monetize.

Many tools are available to help you query Google’s various data centers to check for any changes in PageRank values for a given URL. During most times the data centers deliver the same rank, however during an update you might get a glimpse of changes URL’s PageRank value. Beaware that the information is only as accurate as the tool you use. I’ve had rankings predictions vary as much as three points between tools.

Google changes their algorithm frequently. This is the tool that I use. Click the image to go there.

Keep in mind that many fluctuations occur and that the dance takes many days before things settle down into their final place.

Also read:
Aaron Wall’s Google PageRank Leakage & Misconceptions on PageRank

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
Google Page Ranks Underway Feb. 2006

The Half-Full, Half-Empty Glass

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Saying the Same Things

I like my intellectual arguments, respectful, thorough, and balanced. But more and more what I see everywhere I look are two sides trying to be so opposite that they’re almost becoming the same. It’s worse than boring. It’s stifling, and at the same time amazing.

I’ve picked up negative comments removed the names and played them back to people I know have a stand. Folks on both sides of an issue have claimed the comments describe their opponent perfectly. Each side is saying the same things over and over. It’s proof that something wrong is going on. Don’t they know?

Read the whole feature in today’s Blog Herald by clicking the logo.

The Blog Herald

It’s about blogging and real life.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
Liz Strauss at The Blog Herald, The Blogging Times, and Who’s One in a Million?

What We Learned About Getting Organized . . .

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Just to Organize Our Thoughts . . .

This week on Tuesday Open Comments Night we talked about 3 important things to do first, 3-ring binders, boxes, chunking time, clean desk policies, CMS (content management systems), duct tape, eat that frog method, energy, files, feng shui, goals, going paperless, junk drawers, junk rooms, leather journals, minimalism, multitasking, notebook and paper, number of emails, online bill paying, organization and the physical, electronic, and mental components, organizers, organizing money, paper and pen(cil), PDAs, perfectionism, pim, posting goals everywhere, productivity, piles vs. files, online shopping carts, spiral organizers, spreadsheets, sticky notes, time management, timers, to do lists, computer workstations and laptops, working at couches vs desks, and writing a series on a blog.

There was also mention of cats, chit chats, funny powerpoint presentations, KitKat bars, Klondike bars, poetry, the Jetsons, and the weather.

We did talk about some cool tools that you may want to check out:

Here’s some of the links we shared:

Thanks for the cool links and for being part of the conversation. I wish I could quote you all, but I know you have an idea of how much time it takes to make that long link summary happen each week. I hate to let it go, but I thought you’d understand.

So, for 2007, we’ll just tell the story and share the links that you bring.

After all, how DO YOU explain Open Comment Night, if you’ve never experienced it?

See you next Tuesday? I sure hope so.
–ME “Liz” Strauss and Sandy Renshaw

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?