7 Quick Takes: Blogging Tricks and Tips

1. These will probably help no one. Let me use this take to preface with the absolute fact that I know very, very little about blogging compared to many bigger and greater bloggers. Read on at the risk of learning absolutely nothing. Also, these will all pretty much only be applicable to blogspot/blogger bloggers. Not to discriminate but ... to discriminate.

2. Word Verification. Yikes. Pretty, pretty, prettiest please turn this off. Please. If you haven't turned it off -- it is still on and is probably frustrating a formerly willing and enthusiastic commenter right this second. Here is a hilarious how-to. Go forth and unfrustrate your readership.
**update thanks to Janet - you have to switch to the old interface to disable word verifannoying

3. noreply-comment@blogger.com. This is probably one of the most frustrating roadblocks to hit when trying to respond to a comment. Not to beat a dead Mr. Ed but there is an easy, easy fix. Help me help you -- for the infintimillzillionth time.

4. Music. I have faith that there are no blogs left that scare the daylights out of new readers with a poorly curated soundtrack attached to their page. I've come to the conclusion that everyone hates unsolicited tunes after polling an audience of one: myself.

5. Give credit. I haven't seen much content stealing or post plagiarism firsthand but I read a lot of grumbling about both. If you're unsure ... just link to the original source or just think of some original content yourself. You're a bright bulb ... you can do it. (irony here -- I first read about this blogging sin on Kayla's blog -- linking to be safe and not branded a hypocrite)

6. Respond. I appreciate when bloggers take the time out of their busy blogging schedule to respond to my earth shattering comments. Especially when its genuine. I've made some lovely virtual friends this way and I can promise you will too if you take the time to thoughtfully respond.

7. Subscribers. Just for fun, I saw this first on Kayla's blog as well. Maybe everyone already knows how to do this but I didn't. You might have more 'subscribers' via Google Reader than 'followers' via Google Friend Connect.

Make sure you're following or subscribed to your own blog in Google Reader and click on your blog ... like so ... and then click on 'Feed settings' .. a drop down menu should appear also ... like so ...

highlight 'View details and statistics'

and bam. Subscribers!

You might be pleasantly surprised.

And bonus ... because I am incapable of publishing a pictureless post

Here's a pretty one of Julia ... after devouring some Cheerios, obviously.

Go visit Jen for many more interesting takes.