***
I’ll tell ya what, if you think the never ending Do Follow/No Follow debate is madness, then the “How links should open, same window/new window” runs a really close second.

If you’ve been reading blogs for more then 5 minutes, you’ve ran across several debating this issue…maybe even been involved yourself.

On the off chance you have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s the gist…

When a blogger links out in an article, whether it be an internal link to another article on the same blog or an external link to another site altogether, he/she can either set up  the link to open in a new window or leave as is to open in the same window.

It’s a usability issue; what’s easiest/less irritating for the visitor. As with most debates of this nature, the results are almost always split 50/50 or pretty darn close…aggravating, I know.

***

The 3 most common answers are: ALL new windows, ALL same window, OR, “It depends on where in the article the link appears”

The main arguments for *all same window* seems to be how irritating it can be to have new windows popping up everywhere while clicking links, and simply, stop assuming what your readers want (new window lol). Let them decide for themselves (they can right-click link for choices)

The main arguments for *all new windows* seems to be not having visitors taken off site, and newbies might not know the right-click option.

I think “It depends on where in the article the link appears” is the most confusing of all.

The premise there is, for example, if you have a link in the beginning of the article, open it in a new window so the reader doesn’t go off site before finishing the article. If the link appears towards the end of the article, have it open in the same window and hope they back-space to read more articles.

Usability at it’s worst if you ask me, especially for beginners. Either way, it should be all or nothing in my humble opinion.

***

OK so that was perhaps a little more then a “gist”, did you understand it all?

Now then, the main point of this post! How will contextual links open here on DEDC? All New Windows. Sorry Ari, I am deciding for them.

Of course old-hats can right-click links to there hearts content and open them anyway they want.

I however am one of those I mentioned above; I don’t want no one leavin’ my site, lol, plus and more importantly, newbies may not know the right-click trick…my main readership is…..wait for it…..beginners!

***

Your Turn: OK hit me with it, let me know below if you either don’t care or if you’ll never visit again ’cause I gave you pop-up windows.

Also – do you have a relevant new window/same window article debate on your blog? Feel free to link to it in your comment. Please be neat about it and use the proper HTML as follows:

Copy/paste this – <a href=”http://www.ridiculouslylonglink.com” target=”new”rel=”nofollow”><strong>This Is The Anchor Text</strong></a> – just fill in the blanks, URL and anchor text.

D.
Don’t forget the Comment Contest this month!

Related posts:

1. I’m Looking For Launch Partners – $20 OR Three DoFollow Links For You!
2. DEDC Updates – What the (Near) Future Holds for You and I!

***
Back Story:

You may recall a couple weeks ago I wrote about unsubscribing from ALL blogs, in my never-ending plight to streamline my blog commenting efforts.

I told of how all the emails were finally getting to me and were very distracting. I told of my DESPISE for feed readers because I never remember to check them. I told of how I was going to a clickable spreadsheet format…a nice tidy list of all the URL’s all in one place on my desktop.

It would be a lot tidier if I was able to put them in alphabetical order automatically, but I digress.

The Problem:

Sooo I did just that, unsubscribe from all, made my list and it worked well. Really well. Really really well; yep, too well. It was out of the way for sure. I didn’t forget the list was there, but by the time I did start clicking I was several posts behind on all blogs and missed some good stuff…took me quite a while to read/comment.

I came to the conclusion that I needed every article from every blog to come to me, still out of the way of regular mail, still in a way I could check it or not at my leisure,  and still not a feed reader.

The Solution:

Sooo BlogSubscriptions @ Yahoo.com was created. Yep I’ve re-subscribed to (just about) everyone I was subscribed to before…50 in total so far. Go ahead, check your feedburner lists, see if I’m there.

Please do not use that address for email. It is strictly for incoming feeds.

The Spreadsheet:

I still have it! And it’s pretty cool if I do say so myself. Although I no longer use it to read blogs from, it is very handy information so far.

Coming Soon – Part 2: What else my spreadsheet holds and what qualifies a blog’s worthiness for my subscription. You’ll want to stick around for this; what I will be discussing has proved to be a bit controversial up to now.

OVER TO YOU: I have two questions for ya…..

1. Am I subscribed to your blog? If not (and assuming this isn’t our first meeting) be sure to subscribe to not miss part 2.

2. Do you know how to automatically alphabetize a Word doc of URL’s all starting with www. I’d really appreciate the info. lol

It’s actually OpenOffice, but it’s the same all around.

D.
Don’t forget the Comment Contest this month!

Related posts:

1. I am Unsubscribing From Your Blog – Again
2. Must You Title Your Titles?
3. UPDATED – $100 – 10 Winners – Comment Contest! ‘Till Months End…

***

I want your secrets!  – err – I mean my beginner readers want your secrets! Yea yea, that’s what I meant.

Lets be clear here. I’m not referring to overall (home page) blog SEO. Every time you write a new blog article, you optimize it for the search engines, or perform SEO…at least you should be, but that’s another post.

Here’s my list so far, this is what I do *per post*, in no particular order…

1. Linking - Internally to other relevant articles on my blog(s)/Externally to relevant articles on other blogs – I consider both SEO, others might not.

2. Bold/Italic/Underline words & phrases where appropriate – I’ve heard this helps, others may not think so.

3. Change Permalink; removal of unnecessary words.

4. Platinum SEO Plugin. All in one spot I take care of Mata Description, Title, Keywords – Yes, both Google and Yahoo have stated definitively that they no longer use meta keywords for anything, but if I have time I may still input them for smaller engines.

5. Tags. While somewhat separate from keywords mentioned in #5, still very important. Thanks to my good friend CJ for reminding me of this in comments below.

6. Optimize Images as applicable.

That’s about all I do to SEO an individual post, although I feel as if I’m forgetting something. Anyhoo,  What do YOU do…is there more to do?

D.
Don’t forget the Comment Contest this month!

Related posts:

1. UPDATED – $100 – 10 Winners – Comment Contest! ‘Till Months End…
2. Must You Title Your Titles?
3. How Contextual Links will Open On DEDC – My Setup FINALIZED!

***

OK then, an interesting question on a Monday to start your week… To be more specific, Must You Title Every Word In Your Blog Titles?

I see them done many different ways, but it seems the largest percentage, myself included, like to do just that. Others might simply title the first word as in a regular sentence, some go every other word, some leave out the “it’s/and’s/of’s” and so goes the list.

What’s the overall ruling on this? Is there one? How do you prefer to do it?

D.

No related posts.

Updated - I’m still promoting this post through my blog commenting. There are sure to be more articles above, so don’t leave right away!

*****

OK boy and girls, a comment contest is upon us, and it’ll last until the end of March! This one however might seem a little…..different. Read all the way to the end.

Note: Top Commenter plugin can be found on the right in between the two large ad spaces. It looks a little stupid, but remember I’m still building.

The Contest:

Pretty much like any other comment contest, if you’re on the list at the end of the month, you win. You may comment on any post, new or older. Not so tough eh? Well, we’ll see.

The list is set to ten people and EVERYONE on it at the end of the month will win…..$10 each, via Paypal. Pretty straight forward, eh? Well, we’ll see.

Reason For Contest:

This is where it gets a little different. I normally post 1 article at a time, a couple-few days in between for promotion, then post again and so on. I don’t believe in daily or multiple daily posts because I know each one will not get the attention it deserves. This has a negative effect on You and I.

At this time however, I find myself with quite a few articles just itching to be published. Of course as any blogger would, I want each and every one to be absorbed as much as possible. Sooo in the spirit of giving as I always am, I figured I’d sweeten the opportunity for everyone.

The Rules:

My Comment Policy is at the top of that list of articles itching to be published, until then I’ll just hit the highlights…

1. Make your comment worthy of publishing. Yea I know, NO SPAM is said time and time again, but rarely enforced as far as I can see.  I WILL enforce it.  I WILL delete the crap.

2. Place a REAL NAME in the name field. Another one said over and over, yet hardly enforced. FYI – I use Do Follow, Commentluv, and Keywordluv. With all the LUV I share, I promise you I will delete offenders…at the very least I will change your name and give one reply with one more chance.

You have the following TWO choices for the name field – Just your name…..Joe Blow/Jane Doe (OR) Name @ Keywords – Keywordluv links those keywords to your URL as anchor text.

Pretty simple, yes? Well, we’ll see.

BONUS:

I’d REALLY like this contest spread throughout the sphere. Anyone sharing it with proof (Blog post, Twitter, Facebook, whatever), will get TWO links w/anchor text in a Thank You post after the contest ends.

If you’re sharing please be quick, this contest only last ’till the end of this month. If you’re blogging it, feel free to copy/paste this post…if you want to avoid total duplicate content issues, just add a few of your own words.

No matter what, make sure it links back to this post.

Oh, one more thing. Though not a requirement, subscribing would ensure you never miss a comment opportunity. Subscribing by email comes with even more perks that I will blog about again soon.

Everything sounds super simple and sweet, don’t it? Well, we’ll see.

Thanks!

D.

Related posts:

1. How Do You Cover SEO *Per Post*?
2. How Contextual Links will Open On DEDC – My Setup FINALIZED!
3. UPDATED – Here We Go! Theme Customization Part 1 – Your Participation Is Wanted-Needed!

1. Accountability for me. I must get these things done, so I make the to-do list public with adjourning posts for each mission accomplished, if applicable.

2. Some of the things listed will directly impact at least a few of you.

Due to the fact that some of these will in fact have adjourning posts that will need promotion, everything listed may take a week or two or more to get through.

This makes me glad I have unsubscribed from everyone; not having 50 articles per day nagging at me to read and comment on until I’m ready will be quite helpful. Bloggers OCD don’t-cha know.

Here goes nuthin’, and in no particular order…

***

1. Due to an awesome comment on one of my theme customization posts, an important feature of this theme has been altered and will be unveiled. Adjourning post.

2. The introduction of my new designer. Adjourning post ya had to know was coming.

3. The creation and distribution of my blog plug to those agreeing to help.

4. Plugin/Addon updates. Changes, additions, deletions, etc. Adjourning post; possibly a big one, stick around.

5. Contacting the experts agreeing to help me with some keyword research. Adjourning post.

6. Starting some serious SEO aspects and getting things right from the start. The main reason I moved blogs in the manner I did.

7. Beginning to fill-in-the-blanks, regarding my theme customizations. I’ve only just begun. Adjourning post(s).

8. Upcoming article regarding the future of advertising on this blog, coinciding with said theme customizations. You won’t want to miss this, it may surprise you.

9. Guest Posts. As I mentioned before, more then once, I REALLY want to spread some posts around the sphere while I do this behind the scenes work. Adjourning post. I will also be intermittently posting guest posts here.

10. Slowly re-enter social scene. A lot of this coincides with #4 as Twitter will be first and foremost. Adjourning post.

11. Clean, rearrange, organize my hard drive. I’m not sure why this is on the list except to keep the thought in mind, this might take a while. lol

12. Get my own e-commerce site up and running! 2-4 weeks, adjourning post.

***

OK then, my head is spinning quite top like but that is all for now. Check back from time to time as this post is quite likely to be updated as things enter my mind.

Also, if you think you can help with/want to be included in, some of the things I mentioned, please feel free to contact me directly.

***

Please excuse me now as I jab something through my ear to slow the brain a bit, be back soon!

D.

If you like what you see so far and want to stay up to speed, take 2 seconds and subscribe in the header…read why subscribing by email might be the better idea.

Related posts:

1. Blog Updates: New Category-Pages Done, Like It?
2. How Contextual Links will Open On DEDC – My Setup FINALIZED!
3. Welcome Aboard Part 2! All The Info You’ve Been Waiting For…

Are you looking at things wrong? Did you know there was a BIG difference? Leo Dimilo does, and he shows you point by point in an awesome guest post for Kristi Hines, my own personal social media professional. (OK so shes not ALL mine )

***

I must agree with 99% of his article. I had a few words to say about his take on bloggers SEO which you can see in the comments, but other then that he blew me away.

Time to go – check out the article entitled, Unlock Your Marketing Genius to Make Money Online, leave your thoughts, then return here and let me know…

***

Do you agree or no? We’re you confused up to this point? Are you confused now? OR – Did you “get it” all along?

D.

If you like what you see so far and want to stay up to speed, take 2 seconds and subscribe in the header…read why subscribing by email might be the better idea.

No related posts.

Some of you, especially those that are new and haven’t followed me from DSWM, might be wondering why I announce this. There are two reasons…

1. I only subscribe via email, never feed reader. There is an option in your Feedburner account (which I will write about) that enables you to be notified if email subscribers unsubscribe. I know this can be a little nerve wracking, wondering why someone unsubscribed.

2. Between new blog posts, comment replies, regular mail and spam, I wake to 200-500 emails every morning; and that’s just when I first log on, not counting email throughout the day. As I become more and more serious about what I do, this becomes more and more of a PITA (pain in the ass )

Having them right there in my email essentially “forces” me to read ASAP. I don’t want to have them sitting there or ignore/delete them.

I need to do something, sooooo…..

This time around I am not resubscribing to any. STOP CRYING. I am trying something completely different; a clickable spreadsheet. The link to all the blogs I currently subscribe to, will be placed in this spreadsheet; available to me when I need them.

I may not hit every new post as I have been, especially if you post daily, but I WILL be there. No worries.

Wish me luck and don’t worry!

D.

For those wanting to comment about the coolness of feed-readers, please don’t bother. I HATE FEED READERS. While email forces me to read ASAP, feed-readers have the opposite effect…I forget to ever check them; you’d never see me. LOL

Related posts:

1. Blog Feed Subscriptions – The Methods to My Madness – Part 1.
2. Hello & Welcome To The All New – DennisEdell.com/DirectSalesWebMarketing.com Merged – Direct Sales Coaching Blog!
3. Theme Customization Part 2 – What Should Go WITHIN The Blog? This Is The FUN Part!

Seen me write much about it?…other then it’s important. Well, there ya go. lol

This is a quick post. I’m not getting into much here or in the comments. In fact, all I need you to comment with is, yes you can help me or no you can’t…actually no you can’t is pretty much a wasted comment. LOL. We will go on from there privately.

I will choose 3-5 of you (maybe more), and I already have 2 in mind to ask personally. We will work via Email, Yahoo messenger (AIM if it’s a must), and even phone if you wish.

==========================================================

Listen very carefully. I am more then willing and happy to pay you for your time and expertise (cash or otherwise, choice is yours). PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have the chops! I do not want anyone’s time to be wasted.

==========================================================

Thanks!

D.

If you like what you see so far and want to stay up to speed, take 2 seconds and subscribe in the header…read why subscribing by email might be the better idea.

Related posts:

1. UPDATED – Here We Go! Theme Customization Part 1 – Your Participation Is Wanted-Needed!

1. Twitter - I’ve heard the most praise for TweetMeme, but also hear it’s a good hog and can seriously slow down a system. While I’ve always had speed in the back of my mind, never more so then now since some Googler got the bright idea to add it to their ranking algorithm.

Recommendations? (For those still wondering, yes, my next step is to get myself back on twitter so I can re-tweet yours too! )

2. Contact Form – As I mentioned in my last post, I have my email address and Yahoo messenger info there now, but it’s not enough.

I’ve heard the most praise for contact form 7. I need something simple for users, yet features for me, the admin. I’d REALLY prefer NO CAPTCHA attached, but if I have to, I have to…it better be simple. lol

Recommendations?

3. Something to check a blogs do-follow status. I am on the hunt once again for a plugin that enables me to check if a blog is do-follow or not. I was using the NoDoFollow plugin which is friggin awesome! Unfortunately it went dead after upgrading to Firefox 3.6. I hate it when that happens!

Recommendations?

Thanks!

D.

If you like what you see so far and want to stay up to speed, take 2 seconds and subscribe in the header…read why subscribing by email might be the better idea.

Related posts:

1. UPDATED – Here We Go! Theme Customization Part 1 – Your Participation Is Wanted-Needed!
2. Blog Updates: New Category-Pages Done, Like It?
3. UPDATED – $100 – 10 Winners – Comment Contest! ‘Till Months End…