Becoming self conscious can become a critical hindrance. Although others might poke fun at us – we ourselves are always the most critical of our own actions, looks, and performances.

Today I’d like to bring up a topic – which I feel is important. Becoming too critical of your work.

At times it may be difficult to write blog posts – as sometimes we get into a rut – thinking our work isn’t good enough to be published. We dawdle over posts, spending way too much time on any one piece – and productivity is destroyed.

One of the best pieces of advice – which I’ve heard from many individuals in my life – is to practice the art of forgetting. For example, when I was younger – I’d always become distraught at my drawings. I’d spend large amounts of time working on a piece of art – only to feel it looked terrible when I was finished. This was when I’d be adviced to forget. My Aunt said that I should take that piece of art, put it away from sight – and don’t look at it for a few years. Then – later – take the art out, and admire the work you’ve produced. A greater sense of appreciation will be understood.

This should be practiced in the blogging sense also. Although we should always work to increase our skills regarding our writing talents and post quality – we should always remember that our biggest critique will always be ourselves. As you relieve yourself of the stress of perfection – your writing will soon feel more relaxed and readable.

Share your knowledge and passion via your blog – and let your talent shine through your writing.

Remember the cliques and popularity contests that were apparent all throughout High School? PageRank is the same – but this time – we’re fighting for site popularity.

In High School usually everyone was concerned or at least acknowledged the want for popularity. Some made it their life’s work, while others, weren’t as obsessed with gaining respect from their peers and followers. In my opinion – this has become evident in the PageRank community also. Some webmasters overly obsess over the ranking Google sends their way – while others could care less.

What’s important to remember regarding Google’s PageRank is that it isn’t the de facto decider of a blog’s success. Although we should be somewhat concerned with PR (PageRank) – we should be more concerned over the means of obtaining a good PR. Quality inbound links.

How PageRank Works

PageRank is a high-tech, gangly beast – but inbound links generally sums up the method for which PR generates its rankings. From this point on, think of links pointing to your blog as a vote. The more votes cast for your site – the higher your PR will become.

Votes are also weighted by the PR of the site that links to your site. This is where PR becomes confusing – and would take more than just one post to explain to great detail.

PageRank Updated June 2009

Nearing the end of June – Google once again updated it’s PageRanks for all sites across the net. Here at SmartBoyDesigns.com, we’ve gone from a PR of 3 – to a PR of 4. I attribute this mainly to the continued support of readers linking back to my content. I thank you tremendously.

With this latest update – how have you fared?

Conclusion

PageRank is a tricky beast. It’s important to draw that fine line between obsessive and careless regarding the ranking system – as it’s still important in regards to SEO and link building. We must also remember that a blog can still continue to grow and succeed with a low PageRank – as producing content will lead to increased links – and thus, an increased PageRank.

The take away here is that content should be your main focus – and popularity (PR) will soon follow.

Much like in High School – let your deeds speak for you – not your obsession over popularity.

On June 3, 2009 Microsoft released a new search engine to the public, in place of their former Live Search. This new search engine – is Bing.

Bing boasts some new features which it has hoped will push it towards the front of the search engine pack. It incorporates a daily changed background filled with new information, instant answers within its search box, and many webmaster and mobile features.

On first glance of Bing’s homepage I was dissapointed. It’s cluttered with information that isn’t helpful or productive to my daily search needs. In my opinion, when I use a search engine, it’s too find specific information that I’ve already set out to discover. I’m a busy person – and leading me to read superfluous information isn’t beneficial. Google is comforting in its simplicity. I go to Google with a search query in mind – place it in the search box, and I’ve got my answer. All without extra text and photos working as distractions.

Another area where Bing will need improvement is in its search results. Many bloggers (such as Daily Blog Tips) are reporting inconsistent search data and missing listings.

Overall – I will be sticking with Google. It’s simple – and I’ve grown to enjoy the reliablility of the service. I may be biased in that I don’t want to spend extra time on the internet being led to meaningless information – so Bing quite possibily will become substantial for those looking to find entertainment through search engines.

These are just my own personal thoughts – so pick up that mouse, and try Bing for yourself.

Tell us – what do you think of Bing?

I think of myself as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings – working his way through the mystical forests of Middle Earth. Except, in my case, I’m a human – browsing the pages of the internet. Oftentimes Aragorn would find plants with magical properties – or come across a beautiful landscape. Once again, in my case – I oftentimes find a special blog worth sharing.

Thinking to myself – I realized that I need to bring these blogs and communities to the public. Some are well-known, while others, are hidden in obscure corners of the net. Throughout the week I will now be Tweeting links to different blogs across the internet. These blogs will be exemplary of excellent design and/or content – which I hope all will enjoy taking a look at. The blogs I discover – will be known as my “blog finds,” and will also be added to a special spot on the sidebar here at my blog. This combination of Tweets and blog links will bring hundreds of visitors to the blogs I decide to admire.

Feel free to Tweet or email me blogs you feel deserve extra attention – and they just might make the “blog finds” cut.

I now must part, fellow Middle Earth dwellers, it’s time to discover further treasures!

Blogging can be a scary adventure. Many are unaware of the many aspects of blogging – and the great amount of knowledge required to successfully launch and continue expanding a blog from its “birth.” Use the following tips to familiarize yourself with the different avenues of blogging – and you’re likely to have a much more successful blogging experience.

Setting Up Your Blog

• Settle on a blogging platform that fits your style and future plans. Wordpress is thought of as a more stable solution – on a hosted plan. Blogger can also be a valuable blogging platform, as it’s free and indexed quickly by Google.
• Find a good theme/layout that matches your blogs feel and goals. If you’re a business – find a business theme. If your blog is about travel – develop a theme based on traveling the world. Your goal is to establish your blog as a “hangout” for your readers, where they can feel welcome and comfortable.
• Identify what you’d like to write about. I’d suggest finding a topic you have a passion for – as this will keep you from burning out in the long run.
• Make it easy for readers to contact you. A contact page should be linked to and prominent – and your contact information should also be available in your blog’s sidebar.

Blogging On Your Blog

• Vary your writing style, and begin experimenting with post sizes and formats. Most bloggers like to keep post around roughly 300 words, but feel free to experiment with sizes much larger and/or smaller.
• Integrate photos with your posts in order to grab your reader’s attention.
• Develop a schedule for writing posts. Some like to write posts every morning – while others – only blog weekly. In order to give your readers something to look forward to, some schedule must be developed.

Promoting Your Blog

• Be sure to incorporate feeds on your blog – and easy access for readers, as this will become a great way to keep your community updated on your latest content.
• Let your friends and family know about your latest blogging projects. Word of mouth has the ability to travel like wildfire.
• Begin expanding your reach in the social media community. Grab a Twitter account based on your blog, create a Facebook page, and become a leader in your niche. The goal is to become a trusted source in your blog’s topic in order to become reliable and withhold credibility.
• After you post an article on your blog – be sure to update your social media contacts regarding the new content. A quick Tweet or Facebook status update should suffice.

Further Blogging Tips

To continue expanding your knowledge of blogging – I’d recommend subscribing to my feed, as I update often with quick tips and articles related to the entire blogging experience.

Share with us your blogging tips for beginners – and more!

Bloggers oftentimes must do battle with blogger’s (writer’s) block. You’ve got an hour to snap out a quick blog post, you get yourself a drink, nestle down behind your keyboard — and — nothing. Your brain freezes up, and not a single phrase or thought comes to mind.

Use the following, and free up the clutter in your brain – and start thinking up new and exciting blog posts.

1. Take A “Photo” Walk

Much can be gained from a quick walk – especially with a camera in hand. This will leave you feeling creative and motivated – and ready to write your next blog post.

2. Get Some Sleep

Some of the greatest inventions have been dreampt before built. Take a nap if you’re feeling “unworthy” to write, and you’ll soon find yourself flowing with writing juices.

3. Go Out To Dinner

Not only should you go out to dinner, but you should enjoy time with family and friends. Talk to others around you, and open your mind to new ideas and possibilities.

4. Watch A Movie

It seems that some of my greatest thoughts come by way of movie-going. Great plots, excellent footage and lovable characters all help to create an atmosphere of deep thinking.

5. Listen To Music

Music is the gateway to the soul. Listen to your favorite tunes, and try some new ones while you’re at it. Pay close attention to lyrics – they’ll get your brain thinking in new ways.

6. Read Other Blogs

When you’re still craving for some new ideas for your blog – be sure to read the latest posts updated on your chosen feedreader. I prefer Google Reader, and always enjoy reading the latest in content, as it freshens the mind and helps to spark new thoughts.

7. Take A Shower

The shower is the mecca of creativity. Who doesn’t think deeply while massaging their scalp?

8. Call A Long Lost Friend

Pick up the phone, and call someone you haven’t spoken to in years. All the crying and emotional stress will hopefully help in bringing post ideas to your mind.

9. Change Your Clothes

If no thoughts come to mind – change your clothes. This will turn you into a different person, and bring you to a different frame of mind. If you were originally wearing bright clothes – go dark. And viceversa.

10. Read A Book

Sit down and read a good book, whether fiction or non-fiction. This is one of the best ways to develop creativity – and strengthen your writing skills.

11. Go On Vacation

If you’ve been suffering from blogger’s block for many a day – then take a long vacation. It will relieve you from stress, and help to rejuvanate the writing side of your mind.

12. Head To The Gym

Endorphins are released when working out – and magical thoughts are sometimes portrayed when pounding out a 30 minute session on the treadmill. Dig up that old membership – and get to the gym!

13. Cuddle Your Pets

Pets help us connect to the softer parts of our personalities. This is a great way to relax, and bring your mind back to base.

14. Grab The Keys, Go On A Drive

Much can be seen on a short drive. People, animals, businesses, landmarks – all aide in sparking our writing abilities.

15. Window Shop

It wouldn’t be beneficial to drain your wallet everytime you have blogger’s block – so head to your local chain of retail stores, and window shop. You’ll see advertisements, antiques, random memorabilia, tasty food – and much, much more. This will surely help to clear your mind.

16. Stare At A Wall

This might seem boring – but it’s practiced by many. Free yourself from all thoughts, and truly study the wall. The creases, differences in color, dust and paint specks. Finding a better understanding of something so insignificant will make larger tasks seem simple.

17. Use the Keyword Questions Tool

Wordtracker Labs offers an excellent tool. It’s called the Keyword Questions tool. Plug in any keyword related to your blog niche – and out comes a list of questions people ask online related to that specific keyword. A great way to come up with some quick blog post ideas.

18. Clean Your Desk (or house)

Although it might be begrudgingly – pick up that mop and start cleaning. You might even find some interesting items – long forgotten.

19. Visit Twitter Search

Twitter’s search page offers a great list of the latest trends – and is a gateway into a spectacular collection of the human mind. Search your way to a new blog post idea.

20. Stretch The Mind With Yoga

Yoga is all about clearing the mind – and focusing on one specific task. These skills will definately come in handy when it’s time to write.

21. Draw

Pick up a pencil, a piece of paper – and start drawing. The possibilities are endless.

22. Albabetize Your Library

Most of us have a gangly collection of books & movies. Take the time to alphabetize your entire collection. This will force you to read book titles, and spark the mind with new ideas.

23. Look At Old Blog Posts

Pull up your blog archive and browse through your oldest posts. Your first reaction might be one of disgust, but take your old posts – and rewrite them into new masterpieces.

24. Check Your Statistics & Analytics

Analytics programs like Google Analytics offers a list of keywords visitors use to find your blog. Use these keywords to write new blog posts.

25. Read My Blog

If all else fails – which may happen in dire situations – read my blog. I’m sure I’ll have something to offer, in order to battle your blogger’s block. ;-)

How do you battle blogger’s block? Share it in the comments!

Twitter has grown to become one of the driving forces behind social media, and certainly, the king of micro-blogging services. Along with this increased growth – also comes the increased time strains on many users. Twitter, if not watched carefully, can become a tremendous time hog. This leaves bloggers at a predicament, as less time is left for one of our most important of tasks: blogging.

In my experience there has been one tool I’ve found to tremendously lessen the amount of time needed to manage my Twitter activity. This tool, is TweetLater.com. Following, I’ll explain some of the features I use on this free service – in order to quicken my Twitter pace. And no – I’m not affiliated with this service in any way. Just a satisfied user.

Registration & Addition of Twitter Accounts

The first step after registering for an account on TweetLater.com is the addition of your Twitter account. This is very simple, and just requires the input of your Twitter username and password. The area on TweetLater where this can be accomplished is http://www.tweetlater.com/accounts/addaccounts. You have the option of adding a Blog feed, Twitter, Ping.fm, or status feed account. Here, we’ll select Twitter – and input our information.

Once your Twitter account is linked to TweetLater – it’s smooth sailing from then on out.

Auto Welcome DM

The first option I’d recommend checking under your Twitter profile settings in TweetLater is the ability to send out Automatic Welcome DMs. This will allow TweetLater to send a welcome direct message automatically to any of your new followers.

In creating this welcome message – proceed with caution. It’s important that the message is to-the-point, helpful, and not spammy. You don’t want to sell your new follower something, right from the start of your relationship. That’s not a good friendship. My welcome message, for example, looks something like this.

Thank you for following. Looking forward to helping u with any SEO, Design or Blog problems you may have. Message me anytime. – Smart Boy

Auto Follow

The next area in your account settings to check is the Auto Follow option. This will allow TweetLater to automatically follower new followers. For myself, this is an important feature. I have a policy of following back all my followers. I feel that if they’re taking the time to read my Tweets – I’d like to reciprocate and do the same. Although some might not need this feature, it definately takes a chunk out of my Twitter tasks – as I don’t need to manually follow back all my new followers each and every day. Another benefit to the TweetLater system.

Keyword Alerts

Another area in TweetLater I’ve found to be very beneficial is the Keyword Alert digests. (http://www.tweetlater.com/alerts)

You’re given the option to type a list of keywords you’re interested in, and then select how often throughout the day this digest is sent to your inbox. You’re then mailed a list of tweets pertaining to those keywords. This is an invaluable tool, and certainly aides in finding relevant conversations to join in on. One of the greatest ways of producing connectivity and contacts through Twitter is helping others. Implement keywords related to your niche, or talents you’re proficient in – and give advice and input on others problems.

Get Back to Blogging

Bloggers are busy. It’s a guaranteed fact of the industry. Emails must be answered, posts written, products need selling – and social media responsibilities need tending. By using the free services offered by TweetLater, a great boost in social media productivity will be experienced.

Use these tools, loosen your time contrainted belt – and get back to your blog.

When blogging – there are many unknown tricks & tips available to aide in increasing traffic, subscribers & the ability to go viral. One of which I’ll be sharing today, which is releasing blog posts at the peak of your daily blog traffic.

The steps in order to accomplish this task follow.

The Simple Steps

1. Identify Peak Traffic - The first step in this process is figuring out what time of the day your blog receives the most traffic. This is where your blog analytics program will come in handy. Use this tool to identify the hour at which you get the most amount of visitors.

For my own blogs, the hour of peak traffic is generally 12pm PST. With this information in hand – I’m able to plan the release of my blog posts at the perfect time.

2. Post At The Perfect Time - The next step is the release of your blog post. After you’ve discovered your peak hour of traffic – I’d recommend posting your blog articles thirty minutes before that specific hour. This will allow for some leeway “padding” time in case of problems and/or troubles.

3. Promote & Connect - After your blog post has been published to your blog, use the time shortly after to promote that post like a crazed mad man/women. Tweet your new post, send it to Facebook, and whatever else you may be able to do in way of social media and connections. This is where the compounding effect of posting during your peak time will have a beneficial effect on your blog traffic.

Brick and mortar retail stores employ the same tactic. Before peak store traffic, they bring out the best displays, and increase customer service employees – in order to reap the largest rewards from their increased patrons.

Conclusion

As you begin to employ this simple tactic – study your traffic logs and perfect your publishing schedule. Over time you’ll develop a further refined blog, and harness the power of posting at the perfect time.

Photo by Chor Ip

As you’ve made your way across the expanses of internet cyberspace – you’ve most likely come across a myriad of square like structures. They’re small, they’re powerful – and they get their message across. They’re the ever popular – 125 by 125 pixel ad space.

Highly popularized by millions of bloggers, the 125 by 125 pixel ad space has become a recognized icon. Big time bloggers, small bloggers, rich bloggers, poor bloggers – we all use this style of advertising.

Recently, a new company has launched with its focus entirely based on the 125 by 125 pixel ad space. This company, is Performancing Ads.

Hold tight – as I lead you through my review of this latest advertising system.

Ease of Use

The first aspect of Performancing Ads I must mention is its ease of use. Once you’ve signed up for an account (which is open to all publishers), you add your blog. No time-delayed response is needed, as your blog will be automatically accepted as long as you follow the guidelines. Once this has been accomplished – you can add the ad space to your site immediately.

You have the option of including your ad space via a JavaScript tag, Wordpress plugin, or Drupal module. There’s also a handy PHP feature to use as well. Each, increasing the flexibility of Performancing Ad’s entire system.

Flexibility

The user interface for creating your ad space, is in itself, spectacular. It’s incredible simple, and gives you a diaper load of features. You can choose how many ad spaces you want to serve, your blog information, the option of NoFollow for links, and the best of all – your ad space price.

When choosing your ad space area, Performancing Ads gives you the ability to choose your advertising prices. Prices are listed by week – and can be set to however much your heart desires. It’s recommended that you start at a low price — fill your ad spaces — and increase your prices until you find that happy medium.

New Affiliate System

Performancing Ads has just recently released an improved affiliate system. All members who refer new individuals to the company now receive 5% of all ads bought or sold. Their affiliate system is superb, and I recommend all to take a peek. You’d be surprised at how much can be earned using this simple system.

Further Links & Information

There’s plenty of information regarding Performancing Ads on the internet. Use the following list for more information regarding Performancing Ads.

• New Affiliate System
• 10 Reasons To Try Out Performancing Ads
• Performancing Ads Launches

Sign Up Today!

Overall – I find Performancing Ads to be a huge step in streamlining the advertising process of 125×125 ad spaces on blogs. It’s an easy, worthwhile way to make money from you blog - while still enabling a huge payout in earnings from traffic. Although I’m just in the testing phase of this new product here on Smart Boy Designs, I’ve had great success with Performancing Ads on my other sites. Daily I’m amazed at the high payouts, and ability to generate a steady stream of advertising dollars.

Feel free to support this blog by signing up using the following link. The guesture would be extremely appreciated. Sign Up Here!

Share with us – have you tried Performacing Ads?

As for anyone involved in Internet activity – email can become the ultimate time sucker. Customer inquiries, information questions, spam and website notifications.

Today, as the first part in my Boost Productivity set, we’ll be focusing on increasing productivity by turning off email notifications – and setting up a daily task schedule.

Turn Off Notifications

If you’re involved in any social media websites such as Twitter, Plurk, MySpace and/or Facebook – you’re likely barraged by notification emails. Facebook lets you know when someone adds you as a friend, Twitter sends notifications of new Followers, and many other annoying nuisance emails come flying. If you’re anything like myself – there are times when thousands of these emails can come streaming into your inbox on any given day.

For a time – I setup Inbox rules. If any emails came from Twitter or any other social media site – it would be automatically sent to a “social media” folder. Then, weekly, I would go check the folder. I’ve decided though, since that time, that there’s truly no need for these notification emails in the first place.

My reasoning is that they’re completely redundant. When you login to Facebook – you’re instantly met with a list of your latest notifications. If you login to Twitter – your DM’s and new followers are already presented, etc. Taking the time to read and delete these notification emails is a redundant, time sucking waste of time. Wouldn’t it be odd if your family or friends called you up to let you know everytime they went to the bathroom? The same applies here.

In my opinion, the time spent dwelling on new Twitter followers or other meaningless tasks should be put to good use. Instead, take that time and actually interact on your social networks - which will ultimately aid you in building connections faster than anything else possibly can.

In order to stay productive online – I’d recommend turning off all email notifications from your myriad of communities, and then organize a daily schedule.

Develop A Schedule

One important aspect of life is setting up goals and schedules. Each time you logon to your work station/computer in the morning – I’d recommend having a specific schedule to adhere to each day. Make a list of what is needed, and place it in a prominent place. For me, my list would look something like this:

• Check emails
• Read new posts via Google Reader
• Approve and reply to new blog comments
• Check into Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed & Plurk
• Write a blog post

As you can see – it should be simple, and something that can be easily obtainable. Place your list on a sticky note, and slap it on your desk or monitor. This way – you’ll always be sure to take care of your day-to-day business, and not miss anything important. This will rid yourself of the redundant notification emails sent by your communities.

Conclusion

Although not all would agree with my decision to opt-out of notification emails, I believe it’s a worthwhile route to follow. Our lives are important – and time is not a renewable resource. Every second used to engage in useless tasks means less productivity, less success and less freedom.

Take the time today – and turn off your notifications!

Photo by peasap

It’s now official – You DoFollow is now open to the public for DoFollow blog submissions.

I’ve been playing with this site idea for some time, and decided to give the product a go. It’s a standard site directory, but with the catch being that all submissions must have DoFollow enabled on their blog. What’s great about this is that readers and bloggers will mutually benefit from the directory. Readers will now be able to find blogs with high PageRanks, and outgoing DoFollow links – and bloggers will get exposure by being listed on the You DoFollow directory.

What Is DoFollow?

Many might ask – what is DoFollow? DoFollow is a plugin allowing the removal of NoFollow tags from Wordpress blogs. NoFollow tags on links block search engines from following the link to a new location – thus hording PageRank and backlinks to blog links left on comments, blog posts, etc.

Why Use YouDoFollow.com?

Some may ask – why is this directory different? In searching for DoFollow directories across the internet, I realized that almost all required a reciprocal link and/or a payment to be listed. You DoFollow requires no reciprocal linking, and no listing fees. This will enable the directory to remain an unbiased, all-inclusive look at the DoFollow blogs in the internet.

Conclusion

Take the time to check out the new site, submit your DoFollow blog – and spread the word to family and friends. Enjoy!

URL: http://YouDoFollow.com

At the age of 12 I began developing online communities and embarking on web design projects. It was a confusing, time-consuming process. Looking back I wholeheartedly wish I had someone to mentor me – and walk me through the steps of setting up bank accounts, how I could make money online – and many other important topics for an online teen to consider.

Following are a few ways for teens to make money online, as well as the steps needed in order to succeed.

Ways For Teens To Make Money Online

1. Setting Up Accounts – As a teenager, it’s a hard process to setup money holding accounts – as with most, you need to be 18 in order to use their services. PayPal, eBay & Adsense are all examples of the need for being 18 years old. This is where parents come in. If you’re younger then 18 it will be beneficial to get a PayPal account with your parent’s name on it. This way you’ll still be able to use the service, but in a legal sense. Other issues such as taxes, bank accounts, etc…require further counseling my an accountant or other significant figure.

2. Blogging - As the most well-known aspect of the internet, blogging can be an excellent way for teens to make money online. It’s free to setup an account on sites like Blogger.com, and only a small bit of cash is needed in order to setup a hosted Wordpress blog. Many teens will be at an advantage in this area as well – as most are still fresh in aspects of literature, grammar, and other important writing skills. Once a stream of traffic has been built to your blog – an advertising program can be chosen, and income generated.

3. Retailing - For many teens, this can become an incredible way to make money online. Do you know everything about a certain product? Are you a Star Wars fanatic? Do you have a gigantic collection of baseball cards? Many teens have taken this knowledge – and used their skills to develop eBay stores and online shopping carts which bring in a lot of money. If you’re experienced in any field – it may be beneficial to consider what might be sold and bought in that sector.

4. Freelance Projects - There are many ways for teens to take up freelance work on the internet. Many teens have found that they can easily sell articles on Associated Content or as PLR, and rake in a decent income stream. Others, with a strong background in computer technology – have used their skills in web design and marketing to aide clients online.

5. Paid Surveys - Many companies pay handsomely if individuals take the time to fill out surveys. Teens also have a strong market in this area – as many companies are constantly looking for the teen perspective. If you enjoy filling out surveys and questionnaires – this might be an area to look into.

Embark on the Journey

Although teens may not be taken seriously by some – there are still plenty of ways for teens to make money online. Apart from “real-life” brick and mortor jobs – an online job for a teen can be an exciting, interesting experience. With some time, a little know how, and dedication – any teen in today’s world can find incredible ways to make money online.

So, open up that laptop – and get to work!

Photo by borman818

Today – is Mother’s Day. One of the most cherished days of the year – when we take time to honor the incredible women we share our lives with. It’s a day filled with thanks, flowers, and breakfast-in-bed – and we share this passion and affection for the Mother’s of our lives in honor of the greatest gift of all. The human element.

As bloggers it’s oftentimes easy to fall into a bubble-like trap of technology. We share our thoughts through an electronic medium – and without constant consideration, some forget that blogging isn’t about technology, electronics, or the latest blogging platform. It’s about people – and the interaction we share one with another.

Forgetting this crucial element, the human element – will become devastating to any blog.

We must take the time to realize that we’re all individuals – working to better our lives. Blogging is about sharing our passions, our messages, our information – in order to better the lives of those throughout the world.

Mother’s Day will quickly pass us by – but I feel it important that we take this time reevauluate ourselves, our goals, and our blogs – and realign our endeavors with the most crucial element of all. The human element.

How do you connect with the human element on your blog?

Photo by Kjunstorm

A picture is worth more than a thousand words. For any blog, this holds true – and photos can become an integral part of any blogging operation. Photos allow for readers to get a glimpse into a blog author’s life, and makes for the perfect gateway in creating long-lasting connections.

I’d like to take the time now to share with you some of my favorite Wordpress Photo Gallery Plugins – along with some of the most popular plugins amongst the blogging community.

A List of Wordpress Photo Gallery Plugins

1. Flickr Photo Album - This Wordpress Photo Gallery plugin is my all time favorite, as it allows for the integration of your Flickr photos into your own blog. What’s wonderful about this plugin is that it allows for seamless automation of photo gallery creation. As long as your blog is hooked up to your Flickr account- when you post photos to Flickr, new images are added to your blog’s photo gallery. Flickr is a powerful social imaging medium, and using it as a connection tool will bring great benefits to your blog.

2. WP Photo Album - The WP Photo Album plugin is an easy-to-use, simple photo gallery plugin. It gives you the option to setup albums and categories – and upload photos via the Wordpress backend.

3. NextGEN Gallery - Known for being powerful and all-inclusive, the NextGEN Gallery plugin for Wordpress aides in creating great photo galleries within any blog. Along with its many great features is the ability to use a Flash Slideshow option.

4. Fotobook - The Fotobook plugin uses Facebook’s API model to bring your Facebook photos into your blog. This plugin also has the ability to pull images from multiple Facebook accounts – which is helpful for blogs maintained by more than one individual.

5. WP-Gallery-Remote - Throughout the photo gallery industry, Gallery is amongst the best. This plugin allows your Wordpress blog to pull images from a remote Gallery installation. Using this plugin will enable any blog owner to harness the great power of Gallery – while still using a Wordpress based blog.

6. Picasa Photos - This plugin pulls images from a Picasa image account, and displays the images in a Widget within your Wordpress installation. Great plugin for low maintenance photo integration.

7. Flash Photo Gallery - The Flash Photo Gallery creates image galleries much like the one in Adobe Photoshop CS2, and it even allows for integration within Wordpress MU installations. Flash Galleries can be inserted into any page within your blog with a simple code tag.

Conclusion

Images are a powerful blogging tool. They add life and color, create a sense of “belonging,” and stir up the imaginations of readers. It’s important for bloggers to remember that the integration of photo galleries and images within a blog should not be overlooked – as the benefits from using such features can be great.

I know that in my own experiences on the web – I enjoy browsing through photo galleries of my favorite bloggers. It helps me to understand the blogger more as a “person” and not a blog facade.

Share with us how you incorporate photos into your blogging experience!

Photo by fergusonphotography

John Chow, the online money making guru behind JohnChow.com & TTZ Media – has unveiled a ground shattering Twitter product.

This latest product – is Twitter Follower. Twitter Follower is a database of Twitter users who will follow you if you follow them. By following the users in the database, you can quickly and effectively build your list and avoid that dread zero in the follower count. Twitter Follower also has a handy mass unfollow tool – allowing you to unfollow all those that don’t follow you – with one click of a button.

Recently, John Chow took some time out of his busy schedule to answer an interview with us – and the following is what he says about his new product.

Interview with John Chow

How did you come up with the idea for TwitterFollower.com? Was it born recently – or have you been planning on building this site for quite some time already?

I had the idea for it quite a while ago but only recently got around to creating it. The biggest problem was finding a coder who understood the Twitter API.

If a person actively uses Twitter Follower – what do you think the potential could be for increasing follower size?

Everyone on the Twitter Follower database will follow you if you follow them. Right now, there are 24 pages of users and growing daily. Many people who have used Twitter Follower are reporting very good results. The best I heard was 100 new follower in 60 minutes. The number will increase as the site gets bigger.

Do you have plans to continue revising the site with bigger, better features?

Yes, future plan will allow you to better target follower by allowing them to put themselves into categories. Right now, Twitter Follower is one big list. In the future, it will be divided into targeted sections like cars, technology, marketing, etc.

Is there a limit on how many people you can follow daily using Twitter Follower?

The limit is whatever your Twitter limit is. We do not place a limit on how many people you can follow. However, Twitter will limit you to 1,000 per day to a max of 2,000 followers or 110% of your follow count, whichever is higher.

Why is Twitter Follower such an awesome benefit for Twitter users? Does it really work?

Twitter Follow allows you to quickly built a Twitter list so you can avoid negative social proof.  Unlike RSS, Twitter do not allow you to hide your follow count and many people won’t follow users if they have no followers. By using Twitter Follower, you can quickly build a follow list and create positive social proof.

So far, reaction to the service has been very positive. A Twitter search for TwitterFollower.com shows many favorable tweets from people who have used the service.

Is a service such as Twitter Follower frowned upon by Twitter?

I am not sure. However, in order to create the site, we had to get Twitter to whitelist our IP so Twitter Follower could do what we wanted it to do. The fact that Twitter whitelisted us means they at least don’t disaprove of us.

Thank you for your time, John.

Thanks!

Learn More About Twitter Follower

Let us know – what do you think about Twitter Follower?

The internet is seething with information on how to make money online. Thousands of blogs are dedicated solely to the topic, and hundreds of communities actively debate the best ways to make money online. Although there’s a wealth of information offered surrounding the subject – I still get asked, almost on a daily basis, this simple question. How to make money online.

Make Money Online by Selling A Product

An extremely powerful area in which to make money money online is the selling of a product. This can be accomplished with many mediums. Some sell DVD’s, others eBooks, and others even produce a patented product. The choice is entirely up to you – it just depends on how labor intensive you want your new product to be.

Another aspect of selling products online is the auction system, which has grown very rapidly throughout the past years. Sites like eBay and Craigslist make it easy for anyone to setup a store with little or no startup fees. Google also offers easy tutorials and storefronts on how to make money online – through their Google Checkout system.

Make Money Online by Domain Flipping

The art of domain flipping is a tricky one – but can become a lucrative business for making money online. Domain flipping is the purchasing of a domain in order to wait on it, improve it – and then ultimately sell it for a profit. Much like real estate gurus will purchase properties for “flipping,” domain buyers do the same with online real estate. Some domain flippers also operate “parked” pages, which are domains without content – only sitting for the purpose of serving up ads. For many, this can be a very rewarding endeavor. Use the following links for popular places and resources to buy and sell domain names.

• Digital Point Domain Marketplace
• Introduction to Domain Flipping
• Sedo
• GoDaddy Auctions

In order to reap the rewards of domain flipping one must have a complete understanding of search engine optimization, web hosting, and much more.

Make Money Online by Banking with Evil Geniuses

There’s always the option of starting up your own online bank – catering only to the uber-rich evil geniuses of the world. Tried this route once for some fast cash, but it didn’t fair all too well. Maybe you’ll have better luck.

Make Money Online by Affiliate Marketing

The process of affiliate marketing is a form of marketing based on referrals. The affiliate will send a customer to a seller, and if a product is purchased – the affiliate is rewarded with cash funds. If managed properly this form of marketing can become extremely profitable for any website, newsletter, group & blog.

Here are some of the largest, most well-known providers of affiliate systems – which you’ll benefit from checking out. They’ll aide you in how to make money online, in a competitive – bustling world of affiliate marketers.

• pepperjamNETWORK
• Amazon Associates
• Google Affiliates
• MarketLeverage
• Cafepress Affiliates
• LinkShare

It’s easiest to make money online using affiliate marketing through the use of website traffic. Take a look at that section, which follows below.

Make Money Online by Website Traffic

Website traffic is the most recognized, easy-to-access way to make money online. There are many aspects of how to make money online using web traffic, but once traffic is built then there are many routes to follow. Some site owners offer Pay-Per-Click ads such as Google Adsense, others use Affiliate Marketing programs, and others offer a direct line of advertising – where ads can be directly purchased from the publisher.

Although the process of gaining traffic for a website is a discussion worthy of hundreds of blog posts, there are many ways you can look intodeveloping website traffic online. Some of which include:

• Gathering readers via RSS feed.
• Developing a following on social media sites such as Twitter.
• Constantly update your website with up-to-date posts and information. Remember that content is king.
• Create a community based on a hobby or niche.
• Offer a free service to the online community.

Over time traffic is created by using the above tools and techniques.

Make Money Online by Blogging & Freelance

Many individuals have found great success in writing for a living, online. With the growing market of newspapers and news outlets online – articles are always needed by skilled freelance writers. Many blog owners are also willing to pay for blog posts and information that will benefit their readers.

If you’re interested in making a living from freelance writing online, I’d recommend a background in writing – and that you take a look at the following resources.

• Online Writing Jobs
• Online freelance writing jobs
• How to Become a Freelance Writer Online
• 23 Places to find freelance writing jobs and freelance blogging jobs

Make Money Online by Consulting & Offering a Service

Another area in how to make money online is offering your services and consulting to clients on the internet. If you have a talent that is able to be packaged and offered to individuals on the net, you just might be able to make money online by offering your services. Although some forms of consultation require in-person contact, many can be accomplished through the use of online methods.

Conclusion

How to make money online can be a difficult task to accomplish. There are literally thousands of opportunities and paths waiting for us in the world of online development and money making opportunities – yet it’s hard to decide upon which arena to enter.

With the competitive nature of the online world it’s important to stay well educated on the latest trends and money making technologies – as this is where you’ll begin to find your niches in order to produce a profit from an online venture.

Share with us ways how you make money online!

Photo by AMagill

In this blog review we’ll be taking a look at Erasing the Bored, a blog maintained by suZen discussing aspects of motivation and positive living. As the top commentator of Smart Boy Designs for the month of April, suZen has been rewarded with this free blog review.

This is the first “video” blog review featured on Smart Boy Designs, and if they’re enjoyed – I hope to continue delivering them. Please bear with me as I learn how to use my desktop imaging program – and work to develop an intriguing intro – jam packed with graphics and awesome music.

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Be sure to comment throughout Smart Boy Designs – in order to earn yourself a free blog review.

Throughout the development of a blog, it’s oftentimes found that unique idiosyncrasies may occur. Some bloggers will not maintain a blogroll, others use caps and exclamation marks in writing, and some – don’t like the use of photos within text. Each, an example of a blog finding its voice.

In my own blog, I have a unique rule that must be followed. I will never use profanity. It’s important for myself and my blog to maintain a clean image, as I want my blog to be kid friendly and open to readers of all ages. This rule doesn’t only keep my blog “clean,” but it also helps to set me apart – and find my blog voice.

As a blog slowly starts to find it’s voice, and separate itself from others – the small quirks and eccentricities will become recognized amongst a highly competitive field. Take for example the image of celebrities. Bono won’t be seen without a pair of sunglasses, and through this branding you’ve come to recognize Bono by this small quirk.

I’d like to take the time now to pinpoint a few ways in which we can develop our blogging voices.

Develop Your Blog Voice

1. Social Media - Begin developing habits and rules for your social media procedures. Do you automatically follow-back Twitter followers? Will you accept strangers as friends on Facebook?

2. Blog Comments - Set some specific rules for your blog commenting policies. Identify for your readers what you’ll accept as a comment, how many links may be posted in-text, and other quirks which may contribute to your blog’s commenting identity.

3. Email - In what ways do you answer your emails? Do you reply within one business day? Should mailers expect an instant response? The reason for maintaining an email routine is that you want to develop consistency for those who regularly email you. It’s important that they understand what to expect.

4. Writing Style - The writing style within your blog will quickly become recognized throughout the blogging community, if you work towards a consistent approach within all your blogs posts. Some bloggers like to use emoticons, some enjoy many dashes, and others write their blog posts like college essays. Please note that I do not recommend writing exactly the same for every post though – as this will become boring for your readers. Be sure to mix up your post formats and language use.

Keep Singing…

As we’ve seen here – developing a blog voice is an important step in becoming a recognized leader in your blog niche. It’s important for readers to identify with the style and way in which you present your content, in order to further connect with the message you’re trying to share with the online world.

Working towards your blog voice is a worthy task – but all it takes is a little vocal chord stretching.

Photo by eyesplash Mikul

As many already know – I have a passion for dogs. I have four dogs of my own – and enjoy the companionship and bonds owning a dog offers. I’d like to share this love with my fellow bloggers.

At this time I’d like to offer a giveaway for all the dog lovers who follow and read my blog. The first place prize is a $50 Gift Certifcate for use in the Mushers Market – which is an online store featuring dog supplements & doggy treats.

Not only will the winner receive a $50 gift certificate, but every person entering the contest will receive a $5 Gift Certificate for use in the Mushers Market. After the contest the winner will also receive recognition for their blog and Twitter profile.

How Do I Enter the Drawing?

1. Tweet This - In order to enter into the giveaway drawing you must first Tweet some form of the following message.

Smart Boy’s “Blog Dog” Giveaway – Free gift certificate for the Mushers Market. http://bit.ly/CYnFw – #blogdog

2. Post A Comment - The second and final step is to add a comment to this post. Include in the comment your email, as well as your Twitter profile username.

Who Wins?

On Saturday, May 16th at 12 noon PST – the drawing will be closed, and winner announced Monday morning. The winner will be randomly picked from the entries I receive through Tweets and comments. On Monday all participants will also be emailed their $5 Gift Certificate codes for use in the Mushers Market.

I’d like to thank all those that read and follow this blog – and that you take this giveaway as a “gift” for your constant support involvement.

And….may the best dog win!

Photo by wsilver

Much of the talk we hear regarding blogging is related to “connection.” We’re told to connect with our users – through interaction and discussion. Honestly though – do we really know how to connect with our readers? In my opinion, connecting with readers is accomplished through the use of powerful blog emotion.

Let’s start with a little exercise in identifying what emotion truly is.

Think of a special piece of memorabilia or trinket you have from a relative or close friend. For me – an example would be a very old Bible that has been passed down through the family. It’s extremely old, falling apart, dusty, and held together by a ribbon. Anyone to come across such a book would think it junk – but to me, it’s special. It was passed down to my grandmother, whom gave it to me many years ago. Over time, I’ve developed a strong emotion towards this inanimate object – and now I feel connected to it.

According to the dictionary – an emotion is any strong feeling. The greatest of blogs tap into this resource by enticing you to generate a strong feeling for their writing and information. Whether that feeling be one of disgust or praise, they still work with emotion to draw your attention.

How can we use emotion to strengthen our blogs? The following are some of the tools I use.

5 Steps For Generating Blog Emotion

1. Real Life Examples - Use examples from your own life in your writing. Share circumstances where you’ve learned from your mistakes, or ways in which you’ve found success. This allows your readers to become further connected with you, through the use of strong emotion.

2. Develop Controversy - I wouldn’t suggest producing a blog where every post is controversial (although some have found success in this arena), but I would suggest promoting controversy in some posts. This helps your readers to join in on the conversation, and will surely draw some emotions from your readers.

3. Share Your Photo - Although some like to hide in the depths of cyberspace, I’d recommend sharing a few photos of yourself with your readers. This will allow them to place a face with your name, and develop an even further relationship with you and your writing.

4. An Awesome Theme - Choose a theme for your blog that helps to create emotion. Force your readers to fall in love with your “space-on-the-web” by producing excellent content and a kicking design. The fondest of memories – usually have some form of imagery attached.

5. Contemplate Emotion - Before publishing any piece of writing, think to yourself. “How can I create emotion in this blog post?” You’ll be surprised at the wonderful writing you’ll produce – if you keep this goal in mind. The best writers don’t need the use of emoticons or exclamation marks – as the writing is what conveys their powerful messages.

Conclusion

Many of the most successful establishments in today’s society have used emotion to generate a larger reach. We’re emotionally tied to Facebook because of our friends, we enjoy purchasing from Zappos because we follow their employees on Twitter, and many other interesting examples.

Just as I love my antique Bible – I also have my favorite blogs – because of their uncharacteristic, quirky, and entertaining ways of keeping my attention. In it’s purest form – I’m emotionally connected to these blogs.

It’s important that we, as bloggers, must remember that generating an emotional tie with our readers is the only way to establish a long-lasting, viral blog.

Photo by kalandrakas