Archive for the ‘Sites’ Category
Saturday, May 31st, 2008 |
I like making online as much as the next blogger, but sometimes I’m left scratching my head on some of the ways people go about earning that money. Take, for example, PiggyPrize.com. You create an account and are given a web page with a pig to feed. In order to feed this pig, you must bring readers to your web page. The more visitors you get, the more the pig is fed, the more chances you have of winning money.
So, while I like the idea of winning something, I’m left wondering why wouldn’t someone just focus their efforts to bring visitors to their own web page and benefit that way so they could start selling advertising on the site? But then I remember sites designed to buy a pixel for a dollar or something like that and I realize that it’s not always about benefiting the community. Hey, at least it’s a creative idea.
To improve things, I’d say they could spruce up their home page. Right now it’s not catchy enough in my opinion. It doesn’t need to have flash and mind-boggling graphics, but it’s just too plain and it needs something to stand out. Also, I’m not so sure how people will respond to the emails that people send to get them to visit their page. I get a ton of email everyday and I’m getting to the point of deleting items based on the subject alone. I just don’t have that much time to spend reading through things that don’t interest me.
Maybe PiggyPrize.com is for you and that’s great. But which would you rather do? Discover ways to bring people to a page and win money in the short term, or build your very own blog or site and bringing traffic to it so that you can have a steady flow of income by selling advertising?
Posted in Contests, Sites | No Comments »
Saturday, March 29th, 2008 |
Searching for anything on the Web can sometimes be a challenge. When looking for commercial real estate you could Google for it, but you’re really better off using a search engine designed for just that purpose. CityFeet.com can reduce the amount of time you spend searching, leaving you with more time to actually go out and decide which places are going to work for you.
You narrow your search by selecting the state, then city, then type of use: medical, office, retail, industrial, lofts/showrooms. Other criteria are provided to narrow your search even more, like say by how much you’re willing to spend or square footage.
Then, once you find your dream location online, you can conveniently seek out more details, maps and photos.
Posted in Sites | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 |
In the short time that I’ve known Tish (I think it hasn’t quite been a year yet), I’ve enjoyed her blogs, her wit, and the information she has provided her readers.
Her latest entry into the blogosphere is Blogging Gal which started just a short time ago in December 2007. Before that was BlogsWeLuv, which is co-founded by none other than Mike of ThingsByMike. And before that was (and still is) The Kat House.
Getting back to Blogging Gal, it’s her place to comment about blogging related information. Ever hear of Entrecard? (if you haven’t, where have you been?) Well, then you might be interested in one of her discoveries here where you can drop cards like a butter-fingered businessman.
She’s showing no signs of slowing down either. She recently told us about another domain she purchased and therefore another project in the works. Her secret hasn’t been revealed yet (dangit!), but I’m sure whatever the Blog Partnership Opportunity is, it will be another jewel to add to her collection.
One of the things I like most about Tish — and I’m sure you will too — is that no matter what she writes about, it always seems effortless, which, for me, makes it just as effortless to read. She can write about anything of any length.
Displaying Professionalism in the Face of Personal Attacks really hit home for me, as I know it has hit many a blogger, because we unfortunately have to deal with commenters who lack the discipline to carry on a conversation without badgering someone. Tish doesn’t have that problem at all — she always greets her commenters with a “thanks for dropping by” attitude.
Get to know Tish and her blogs. You’ll be glad you did. 
Posted in Sites | 7 Comments »
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 |
Dr. Jack of Better Health News has a lot of credentials: “…an author, composer, explorer, filmmaker and a freelance medical doctor primarily working in mental health and medical psychiatry.” Busy?
Clearly, she puts all that to her advantage when writing for a blog that delivers information on how to look, feel and live better. Sounds good to me!
Born in July of 2005, Better Health News has provided its readers on topics such as addiction, diet matters, depression, inspiration, stress, product reviews…and a lot more. While a good portion of posts are adorned with photos just for their interest or beauty, others include images about their topic. They add a nice element to what’s written and are used in good taste.
The writing is equally as appealing: down-to-earth, relaxed, yet informative. One post that caught my eye was a recent one: Drugs In Your Drinking Water? Say It Isn’t So! It’s amazing what you find in water in certain cities. Do you live in the city with the most contaminated water?
Are you eating sick beef or care to know 61 Movies That Will Make You Laugh? These are just a fraction of a fraction of the types of things you’ll find here.
I’ve seen a lot of About pages, but never one that’s as informative as Dr. Jack’s. But it’s refreshing to see someone who is so open and has such a diverse array of experience and interests. That all adds up to a blog filled with informative, entertaining and inspirational content. Give Better Health News a try.
Posted in Sites | 2 Comments »
Sunday, March 9th, 2008 |
I like eclectic blogs. I have one myself. It allows me to speak on whatever strikes my fancy. It would seem Dale of Insight of Nothingness knows what I’m talking about because he has a lot on his mind, too.
Take, for example, the category of weird. Very fitting title. One post you may find unsettling (about rats on menus — no, they’re really on the menu), so you may want to scroll down pretty quickly. But that post aside, this collection of “weird” posts will show you the diversity of topics you’ll find on this blog.
Other interesting categories include: celebrities, funny, homefront, news stories, and much more. The funny category is comprised of humorous photos, which always seem to be something somebody else always finds. Where do they (and Dale) find this stuff? Hehe.
The layout is good, the sidebar isn’t too cluttered. Even has the Entercard widget above the fold (way to go, Dale!)
On a serious note, Dale does share a bit of his personal side by writing about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). That’s got to be tough opening up like that. I’m sure people who suffer from it or knows someone who does appreciate his insight.
Insight of Nothingness is anything but as it provides a unique read for us all.
Posted in Sites | 2 Comments »
Thursday, March 6th, 2008 |
I’ve never seen an actual photo of Big Pappa of The Big Bald Blog (though that may be him in the image up top), I’ll take his word for it that he’s bald. 
Perhaps you’ve seen him on Entrecard; he’s one of several blogs whose ad spot is always full — dangit!
I believe Big Pappa found me via Entrecard one day and had a very nice thing to say about a Christmas poem I had written on my flagship blog, MeAndMyDrum. Ever since then, I’ve subscribed to his blog and have enjoyed his posts.
The Big Bald Blog started in April of 2007 (looks like a birthday is coming up!). His down-to-earth writing style is one of the things I think makes his blog so successful. One of his recent posts explains what hotlinking is and how to prevent it (for those of you who don’t know what it is, it’s the naughty practice of linking to someone else’s graphic rather than putting a copy of it on your own server — oh, then that opens up doors to copyright issues, so I’ll stop there).
He has a series called “What I found in my email Mondays“. A post I look forward to each week because they’re uniquely entertaining.
Big Pappa is also very much the contest provider. His latest contest offers the winner a $100 cash prize, thanks to these contributors:
I’ve visited these blogs before and can say that they’re definitely worth frequent visits!
The contest is very simple and as you often see with blogging contests, there are a variety of ways to enter. I’ll let you read the details over at Big Pappa’s blog, but I’m sure you’ll want to make a post about it on your blog because not only does that earn you the most entries, but also helps him and the blogs out by giving a little link love.
Even if you decide not to enter, do yourself a favor and visit The Big Bald Blog and get to know Big Pappa.
Posted in Sites | No Comments »
Thursday, March 6th, 2008 |
Looks like I found somebody who’s as busy as I am what with all the blogs Steven writes for: Vandelay Website Design, PureBlogging, Daily Blog Tips, Daily Bits, and Blogtrepreneur. I’m talking about the author behind Traffikd, an Internet marketing and social media blog that provides information for the blogger in all of us who want to know more about how to improve our online marketing efforts.
Categories include Linkbait, Making Money, Traffic Building to name a few. Looking over his posts, one called 5 Flaws of Social Media Traffic caught my eye. In a format I wish I saw more regularly on other blogs, Steven clearly separates the issue from the solution, so there’s no confusion of what is what. Plus, his solutions make sense.
Another informative post, Keys to Newsworthy Blog Posts, delivers a solid list of characteristics that you see with high-traffic bloggers. Then a list of approaches is offered so that you can walk away and implement them on your own blog. See a pattern here? He’s saying, “Here’s what’s going on” and then “Here’s what you can do about it.” When someone writes that way they’re sure to get through the hype, thus making for more satisfying reading.
And if you’re looking for a selection of social media/networking sites, take a gander at the collection he’s pulled together. Very thorough.
I couldn’t verify the age of the blog, but judging from the number of posts I saw, I’d say it’s relatively young. But even so, I think it’s off to a great start.
Posted in Sites | 2 Comments »
