Link Love Should Be So Easy...Why Isn't It?

Class: It's Friday and probably the last thing you're thinking about is homework, right? Not to worry lil darlings. Today I'm not giving you anything but HOT BLOGGING TIPS (SEEDS) which I'm planting into your blog-brains before I put on my itsy bitsy polka dot thong and head off to the beach.

I would like you to consider Sowing More Link Seeds. What is this you ask?

And I will gladly 'splain it to you, but first I must preface my explanation by sharing some of my thoughts this past week upon linking to others. Of course, we can't possibly link to everyone in the whole blogosophere which might now be larger than last I heard of nearly 75 million bloggers! However, we don't need to be such tighta**** with our links either! I often receive emails from others (such as today) by someone who wishes to link to me, and I'm really loose with my links, but when I went to check out the blog, I was shocked! What kind of blog do they think the Blog-Blond is anyway?! I naturally couldn't link to THAT kind of blog! Which brings me to this: there are appropriate blogs to link to and inappropriate blogs to link to. So yes, some discernment is required.

With all that said, I still feel many are Link Stingy! Why is it so hard for them to give a little Link Love? It's not as if Google is going to ban them into permanent exile on another planet far, far away! It's not as if there isn't enough to go around, and they've got to hold onto their links or they'll starve like they're doing in Darfur with millions dying! Keep things in perspective. It's not as if you are spending your last penny on adding a link! The bottom line is that it won't hurt you, and it will help you! "Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves," wrote James Barrie. Tis true! Listen to your Blondalicious Teacher and Share The Link Love.

I'll leave you with this thought to chew over the weekend. Loosen up with more Link Love! Whatever we put out always comes back to us for good or worse, so you might as well put out a little more Link Love and get some back! We could be having so much more 'delight' if we link.

Have a Happy Easter!

And no one knows this better than Mr. "Humor-blogs.com"!

Link Love Should Be So Easy...Why Isn't It?

Class: It's Friday and probably the last thing you're thinking about is homework, right? Not to worry lil darlings. Today I'm not giving you anything but HOT BLOGGING TIPS (SEEDS) which I'm planting into your blog-brains before I put on my itsy bitsy polka dot thong and head off to the beach.

I would like you to consider Sowing More Link Seeds. What is this you ask?

And I will gladly 'splain it to you, but first I must preface my explanation by sharing some of my thoughts this past week upon linking to others. Of course, we can't possibly link to everyone in the whole blogosophere which might now be larger than last I heard of nearly 75 million bloggers! However, we don't need to be such tighta**** with our links either! I often receive emails from others (such as today) by someone who wishes to link to me, and I'm really loose with my links, but when I went to check out the blog, I was shocked! What kind of blog do they think the Blog-Blond is anyway?! I naturally couldn't link to THAT kind of blog! Which brings me to this: there are appropriate blogs to link to and inappropriate blogs to link to. So yes, some discernment is required.

With all that said, I still feel many are Link Stingy! Why is it so hard for them to give a little Link Love? It's not as if Google is going to ban them into permanent exile on another planet far, far away! It's not as if there isn't enough to go around, and they've got to hold onto their links or they'll starve like they're doing in Darfur with millions dying! Keep things in perspective. It's not as if you are spending your last penny on adding a link! The bottom line is that it won't hurt you, and it will help you! "Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves," wrote James Barrie. Tis true! Listen to your Blondalicious Teacher and Share The Link Love.

I'll leave you with this thought to chew over the weekend. Loosen up with more Link Love! Whatever we put out always comes back to us for good or worse, so you might as well put out a little more Link Love and get some back! We could be having so much more 'delight' if we link.

Have a Happy Easter!

And no one knows this better than Mr. "Humor-blogs.com"!

Blog Review of Ja Kel

Class: it's me, your Blondalicious Teacher, showing up with yet another post on the weekend! Do miracles ever cease?!

The reason I'm re-appearing so soon ( abnormal I know!) after my last post is this: a blogger has offered a link-exchange-review gig which I simply can't resist! The deal he offered me is write a brief review of his (fairly new) blog, and then he will do the same for me. Now this may not seem like winning the big lollapalooza lottery, and I'm taking a risk because I don't know Jake (even though his babysitter's cousin dated my gardener's uncle who then married my manicurist's masseuse) , but then there is always method to my madness.

I remember what Madonna said to me a long time ago which became widely reprinted in the media. It went something like this: any press is good press.

And as part of my blogging ministry, it is imperative I reach out to my congregation/readers. Plus since my My Blog Log photo popped up on Jake's sidebar as I was surfing around, he easily tracked me down and inquired if I would be interested in doing a review/link exchange. Since I don't have the heart to say no more than fifty times a day, I said yes! I give Jake of Ja Kel Daily Dot Com high marks for being industrious, brave, diligent, and daring. Yes, daring! Imagine his 'cojones' asking ME for a review!

With those compliments out of the way, I will launch into my review. Please turn away if you can't stomach my critique. (Just kidding! I'm like the pussycat in the photo above compared to some other reviewers who've devastated some of my favorite blog friends with their stupid reviews. Such bad karma for these reviewers who hide behind proxy email, fake photos and such! Play nice. Be kind. Be gentle. Flop your ear a bit over young bloggers!)

First, here's what I like about the blog Ja Kel Dot Com and Jake's blogging style:

Jake is a smart cookie. He writes, "Reward your top commentators by acknowledging them with a top commenting section in your side bar and prizes to the top commentator within a specified time frame when available to give." Hey, bribery is a brilliant idea. He even offers a tip how to put commentators on the sidebar with the Wordpress platform he uses. I like this idea so much I'm puzzling how to do the same with my Blogger! I wonder what the prizes are. If he listed the prizes, this would make his offer more alluring!

Second: Jake checks out our mugs in the MyBlogLog widget on his sidebar and connects with them. Thus, he doesn't let opportunity pass him by. He's goes for it. And if he follow his own advice and walks his talk, he will comment on other's posts.

Third: this blog is easy to navigate and offers good content.

Now here's what I'd do if I did a Make-Over:

He has a photo with a red Ferrari and his adorable wife hidden away under the topic header "About". He would bring a LOT more attention to his blog were he to take down the header with the photo of the fence and the subtitle which is too wordy and confusing, "Life's Boundaries Greener Grass or Unexpected Cliffs". Who wants the fence feeling? Not me! I prefer the red Ferrari and cute wife vibe, don't you? How do you think one of Jake's idols, John Chow, made his blog so popular? By parking back- to- back expensive sports cars smack dab at the top of his blog for one thing!

My strong (and not humble-at-all) opinion: copy the masters! Do exactly as they do! The masters know trends-- what motivates people-- and they demonstrate how to succeed. How do you think they became masters?! To conclude: people want to view sexy, expensive cars--not chain link fences with the impending sense of doom attached to cliffs. People want to look at yummy food, hot girls & guys, cute kids, ritzy items, and adorable baby animals. (This is why I added the photo of the cat and dog at the top for one very obvious reason.)If you are dressing your blog, let the first impression be of one of these items. First impressions count!

My second criticism: is there any way Jake could move the ads over to the side or somewhere else, at least at the beginning of his post? This would make The Blond so happy! His good content is diminished and scrunched by these annoying ad placements. Does he have any control over this placement? If not, I'd say get rid of them. If you can't control your own blog-look and the advertiser's have taken over, then this sends a message to your readers, ya know?!

Third and last: where are the links? I like links! No one knows how to do links better than Mr. Humor-blogs. Check out his cunning method.

Blog Review of Ja Kel

Class: it's me, your Blondalicious Teacher, showing up with yet another post on the weekend! Do miracles ever cease?!

The reason I'm re-appearing so soon ( abnormal I know!) after my last post is this: a blogger has offered a link-exchange-review gig which I simply can't resist! The deal he offered me is write a brief review of his (fairly new) blog, and then he will do the same for me. Now this may not seem like winning the big lollapalooza lottery, and I'm taking a risk because I don't know Jake (even though his babysitter's cousin dated my gardener's uncle who then married my manicurist's masseuse) , but then there is always method to my madness.

I remember what Madonna said to me a long time ago which became widely reprinted in the media. It went something like this: any press is good press.

And as part of my blogging ministry, it is imperative I reach out to my congregation/readers. Plus since my My Blog Log photo popped up on Jake's sidebar as I was surfing around, he easily tracked me down and inquired if I would be interested in doing a review/link exchange. Since I don't have the heart to say no more than fifty times a day, I said yes! I give Jake of Ja Kel Daily Dot Com high marks for being industrious, brave, diligent, and daring. Yes, daring! Imagine his 'cojones' asking ME for a review!

With those compliments out of the way, I will launch into my review. Please turn away if you can't stomach my critique. (Just kidding! I'm like the pussycat in the photo above compared to some other reviewers who've devastated some of my favorite blog friends with their stupid reviews. Such bad karma for these reviewers who hide behind proxy email, fake photos and such! Play nice. Be kind. Be gentle. Flop your ear a bit over young bloggers!)

First, here's what I like about the blog Ja Kel Dot Com and Jake's blogging style:

Jake is a smart cookie. He writes, "Reward your top commentators by acknowledging them with a top commenting section in your side bar and prizes to the top commentator within a specified time frame when available to give." Hey, bribery is a brilliant idea. He even offers a tip how to put commentators on the sidebar with the Wordpress platform he uses. I like this idea so much I'm puzzling how to do the same with my Blogger! I wonder what the prizes are. If he listed the prizes, this would make his offer more alluring!

Second: Jake checks out our mugs in the MyBlogLog widget on his sidebar and connects with them. Thus, he doesn't let opportunity pass him by. He's goes for it. And if he follow his own advice and walks his talk, he will comment on other's posts.

Third: this blog is easy to navigate and offers good content.

Now here's what I'd do if I did a Make-Over:

He has a photo with a red Ferrari and his adorable wife hidden away under the topic header "About". He would bring a LOT more attention to his blog were he to take down the header with the photo of the fence and the subtitle which is too wordy and confusing, "Life's Boundaries Greener Grass or Unexpected Cliffs". Who wants the fence feeling? Not me! I prefer the red Ferrari and cute wife vibe, don't you? How do you think one of Jake's idols, John Chow, made his blog so popular? By parking back- to- back expensive sports cars smack dab at the top of his blog for one thing!

My strong (and not humble-at-all) opinion: copy the masters! Do exactly as they do! The masters know trends-- what motivates people-- and they demonstrate how to succeed. How do you think they became masters?! To conclude: people want to view sexy, expensive cars--not chain link fences with the impending sense of doom attached to cliffs. People want to look at yummy food, hot girls & guys, cute kids, ritzy items, and adorable baby animals. (This is why I added the photo of the cat and dog at the top for one very obvious reason.)If you are dressing your blog, let the first impression be of one of these items. First impressions count!

My second criticism: is there any way Jake could move the ads over to the side or somewhere else, at least at the beginning of his post? This would make The Blond so happy! His good content is diminished and scrunched by these annoying ad placements. Does he have any control over this placement? If not, I'd say get rid of them. If you can't control your own blog-look and the advertiser's have taken over, then this sends a message to your readers, ya know?!

Third and last: where are the links? I like links! No one knows how to do links better than Mr. Humor-blogs. Check out his cunning method.