The Feed Reader Debate

“The Feed Reader Debate”

We had a lively discussion in the comment section of a previous post - RSS Reader or Website? The previous post pondered whether you read posts in a reader or whether you go directly to the website? Do you prefer to read the post in the reader? Some bloggers make that decision for you. Some offer only the title of their post in the reader while others will give you a little sneak preview with an excerpt. Of course there is always the option of the full post being available in the reader. This choice is set up by the blogger, not by the reader.

I thought we would further the discussion in another article after a little more research.  I decided I would examine all of the blogs in my reader.  I wanted to get a consensus as to which option is more widely used.

I have 100 blogs in my reader.  I know, how do I have time to do all that reading?  Well a majority of the blogs don’t post on a daily basis.  In my Google reader, the posts are sorted by the most recent update.  As you can see from the following graphic, the name of the blog is first, the title of the post, then the date or time.

I view the title and choose the most interesting ones first.  I have a few blogs that I visit whenever they update.   I click on the title and don’t necessarily even read the excerpt or any of the post.  I like to click straight through to the site.  I like to check out everyone’s site, see what they are doing different and join in the conversation.

Often, I make decisions for my blog based on my own preferences.  I prefer to go directly to the blog to read the posts.  Therefore, I list the excerpt for my post in the reader.  I don’t trust my talent that the title will be enough and I don’t want to list the whole post as I want my readers to come to my blog. I reviewed each blog in my reader and I was very surprised with the results of my research.

Title only ~ 1% of the blogs in my reader list the title only.  No surprise there.  You would have to be overly confident with yourself to list just the title.  The title is the only part bringing your reader to your blog.  For the record, I rarely click through to that site.

Excerpt ~ 11% of the blogs in my reader list just the excerpt of their post.  For the blogs that I read on a regular basis, I click through to the site regardless of the excerpt.  In fact, I don’t bother with the excerpt, I just click through to their blog.  I like to see what, if any, changes they are doing with their design or ads.  It is also a sense of community and I like to join in the discussion if possible.

Full Text ~ 88% of the blogs in my reader list the full text of their post.  To my surprise, an overwhelming number of blogs choose this option.  I have all types of blogs in my reader from beginner to the seasoned pro.  Choosing to use the full text went across the board.  Again, this is neither a benefit nor a deterrent to my routine of reading blogs. In the discussion on the original post ~ RSS Reader or Website? Tsunami and I exchanged a few comments  on this topic.

Tsunami and I were both of the same opinion in regards to using the excerpt.  My thinking is that I hope to use a creative title to get readers to click on my post in their reader then my second hope is that the excerpt is interesting enough to get the reader to click through to my site.  I want to encourage readers to go to the site to build community and hopefully create loyal readers.

I have since changed my opinion of how my post will be listed in a reader based on my research for two reasons.

The first reason is the overwhelming number of blogs that offer the full post.  88%?  That speaks volumes.  In my reader, 21% of the blogs I subscribe to are categorized (by me) as the “A” list.  ALL of them offer the full post.  With the combination of their years of experience and their thousands of readers, I try to follow their lead.

The second reason is the choice of clicking through to my blog should be the readers choice not mine.  The majority of the reason we all write is for people to read our brilliant words, right?  So shouldn’t that be a blogger’s main objective?  If the post is compelling enough, the reader will click through to your site. Wouldn’t it be nice if the reader had control over the option?  Give that option to your reader.

One other interesting “factoid” I discovered - only 17% of the blogs in my reader have ads in their posts.  I thought that was low.

Wow, this post was interesting to research and quite an eye opener.  I am glad we had this discussion on RSS Reader or Website?

What do you think?  Has this research changed your mind?  Do you have any thoughts to add?  Any arguments for or against this debate?  Keep the discussion open!

Toodles - Blog Happy!

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“Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler…”

~ Albert Einstein

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Blogging Success According To My Favorite Guru!

How in the world did I land in the blogosphere you ask?  Well, funny you should ask.

I was searching the internet for “how to make a living online”, not the fast buck but the career type venture.  I tried one scam after another for a year or so.  Ahh, the scam artists paints a pretty picture.  After being stung a few times, I  became a little more cautious.  I scrutinized every detail of every claim!

I landed on some sales page that discussed blogging.  I survived raising three daughters who were all teenagers at the same time.  I will investigate most stories.  I understood blogging a little.  But, this character wanted to sell me some secret that would allow me to gain entry into the blogosphere.

Of course I googled his name.  Surprise, yet another scam!  I was getting very discouraged.  Why do 9 out of 10 (more like 99 out of 100) ventures all have to be scams?  Forget this internet business stuff.  I’ll think of something else.  After all, I am an entrepreneur at heart.

I researched blogging a little further…

I went to the website of Darren Rowse - ProBlogger and I was bit by the blogger bug.  I got it and I got it bad.  I never looked back.

I was so excited, I worked on my site for hours every day into the wee hours of the morning.  Yup, I was going to make some serious money.  Now you know.  I started blogging for the money.  I am not afraid of hard work so I knew I could do this.  I bought my copy of ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income.

As many of you are aware, I am at the 6 month point of my blogging “career”.  This is one of the checkpoints in my business plan.  At 6 months, I evaluated the progress of my goals to date.  Am I where I want to be, where I thought I would be?  Do I need to re-evaluate the plan and adjust?

Being that I had very little knowledge about blogging, my business plan was somewhat vague.  I know how to run a business and how to write a business plan but blogging is a little different then what I am used to.  After 6 months I do have a much better grasp on the reality of blogging.

I originally thought that all I had to do was write a few good posts, put up some ads and wala - I’m in the money.  Doesn’t quite work that way.  I am happy to report that I am not in the blogging business for the money.  It is simply a love affair.  Don’t get me wrong, I still want to make money at blogging but that is secondary.

I am in the process of revising my business plan.  I went to my favoirte Guru for some advice.  I asked Darren Rowse the following questions:

• Do you think a blogger can make a living with just AdSense type ads?

Yes - it’s possible. It really depends upon the type of blog that you start as to what type of monetization works best. Some work great with AdSense, others do better with affiliate programs, others better with direct ad sales. The key is to experiment and see what works best.

• Do you think a blogger can make a living with just one blog?

Again - it’s possible and many bloggers do it - but not all do. Some bloggers take the approach of building a few smaller blogs rather than one big one.

• What do you consider the top 5 picks of Social Media?

Depends a lot on the type of blog you start. The key is to find out where your readers (or potential readers) hang out in social media and join them there. For me that’s been Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn and Digg mainly.

• If you could only pick one avenue or company for monetizing your blog, what would it be?

Really tough question. I’ve made more with AdSense than any other ad network but it depends upon the blog. It’s a good starting point and can work well but in the long term on a successful blog direct ad sales will probably work better.

• What do you consider the one thing that contributes to your success?

Staying at it for the long haul. Posting something every day for 6 years has not been easy but it’s paid off.

I had questions from the answers too but that will have to wait another day.  The one big message I received from this interview is - patience.  You need patience and time to nurture your blog.  6 months is not a significant amount of time to invest in a blog.

You need to test your advertising plan just like any other business.  You don’t necessarily know what works until you try it.  What works for you might not work for me.  It also takes time and patience to build your social network.  Again, the same advice applies to the typical brick and mortar business.  Thank you Darren, for your wisdom and advice.

Is Darren’s advice an eye-opener for you?  Are you more motivated now knowing that success is possible?

Toodles - Blog Happy!

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“I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and
an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen…”

- Frank Lloyd Wright

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Who Reads A Blog On A Cell Phone?

“Who Reads A Blog On A Cell Phone?”

Do people actually read blogs on a cell phone?? I don’t know about you, but my cell phone is barely big enough to read text messages. I cannot imagine reading a whole post on a cell phone.  Come on - I must be missing something!  I actually don’t have internet access with my cell phone.  Well, if I do, I don’t know it.  I know, technically challenged.  Well to the blogosphere I am technically challenged but to my family and people in my little world I am an esteemed computer geek!

So what could be so important that you would read a post on your phone?  Is there really anything  that interesting or compelling?

Probably 10 years from now you will read a post on BloggerNewbie promoting - “Extra, extra, read all about it, get your next BloggerNewbie post on your cellphone today!”

Some people think if the cell phone rings they have to answer it. When I work outside clearing our property, mowing lawns, trimming around everyone of our 100 trees, I always have my cell phone.  This type of activity is my therapy.  Usually there is no one around, I have my loud equipment and large tools.  So why the cell phone in my serene environment of nature?  Well I do have some dangerous equipment I work with so the phone is for “just in case”.  I never answer it during my nature therapy.

Caller ID?  he he.  I know way too many people who can’t stand an unknown number on their phone.  Or if there is a phone number they don’t recognize, they call it.  If you can’t leave a message, then whatever you want (and yeah, most likely you want something) can’t be that important, or you will call back.

I’ve had friends or family members tell me they called, they must have shown up on my caller id, why didn’t I call them back?  Because you didn’t leave a message.  And, this is so and so, call me back, is not a message.

Are we getting just a little too connected?  Do you think access to information 24/7 is a little too much?  I feel inundated now.  I have enough stress without bringing more with me.  If posts are available on your cell phone do you or would you read them that way?

Toodles - Blog Happy!

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“If it is true that there is always more than one way of construing a text,
it is not true that all interpretations are equal…”

- Paul Ricoeur

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What Would You Do Different?

“What Would You Do Different?”

I started a series a couple of weeks ago called Question of the Week? Vote in our Poll! I asked you what questions you would like to see debated in this series.

Rachel from Averagegal.com asked “In hindsight, what would you have done differently when starting your first blog?” Rachel is no “average gal”. She is a forward thinking young lady as well as very ambitious. Rachel has, I believe, three blogs. She is always adding or changing something at AverageGal.com.  Keeping your blog fresh and new will keep people coming back looking for something different.

I couldn’t come up with a poll type question so I decided to just throw the question out for discussion.

What would you have done differently when starting your first blog?

My blog is only a little over six months old so I don’t have a great length of time to review.  I had my brick and mortar business for 20 years so I had an abundance of experiences to review.  I have often contemplated the “what I would have done differently” in regards to raising my children.  In retrospect, with both of these examples there is a significant amount of time to be able to discuss lessons learned.  Once you see the outcome of your actions it is always easy to have 20/20 in hindsight.  Now both of those subjects could each be a book on their own!

Looking back over the last few months I would say one mistake I made would have been joining too many social networks too soon.  If you can’t participate in the social network with good faith then you shouldn’t be there.  If you are there for business purposes only, then you should make that clear.  I don’t think you will get too far but you should be upfront about your intentions.

Another observation is in reference to monetizing the blog.  It is not very productive to have countless sources of advertising.  In hindsight, I would have taken a closer look at advertising and narrowed them down and chosen just a few.

So now over to you - “In hindsight, what would you have done differently when starting your first blog?”

Toodles - Blog Happy!

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“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes…”

- Oscar Wilde

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Let’s Make Lots of Money Blogging!

“Let’s Make Lots of Money Blogging!”

I had a great idea! Not a new idea, but a great idea. My Blog was 6 months old on December 1, 2008! Yeah, Happy Anniversary to me…

I have put countless hours in blogging.  From my design to writing to marketing and promoting.  I love my blog, I like the look and feel.  I am proud of my accomplishments thus far.  I have learned more in 6 months blogging then I think I did the entire time in college!  Maybe not.

I am in it for the long haul because first and foremost, I enjoy blogging.  I adore writing.  The social aspect of blogging is time consuming but the best part.  I have made several acquaintances, a considerable number of peers and some really great friends.  I admit, I started blogging and found blogging as I was searching for ways to make money online.  I am not afraid of work. I have the 5 P’s of a successful blogger.

I am well aware that making money from blogging is long term goal.  I realize that.  Is long term a relative term? Like anything else - Its all relative!

I thought after 6 months, I would be making..

Instead, I am making..

Having said that, I decided it was time to review the plan here!  What’s going on, what am I doing wrong or not doing?  I decided to take a look at the A listers..

I was trying to find something that the “big guys” or “gals” as the case may be have in common?  What is it that makes them successful?  My observation was that they all had the “usual” - passion, creativity, ambitious, longevity, etc.  I have all that.  Well not the longevity.  But that comes with time, literally.  So do I just keep doing what I’m doing and let time take care of itself?

Another conclusion I came to all by myself was that there must be more to making money blogging then by just creating a blog, writing good content, then throwing up a few adsense ads.  I don’t even see the familiar adsense ads on some of these blogs!  What are they doing?  Writing e-books, offering e-courses?  I was going to investigate further by going straight to the source.

My plan was to put together a short list of questions (maybe 5) and ask 5 or 10 of the top bloggers to share their wealth of knowledge and experience in an email interview type format.

I started my draft post, wrote a couple questions, got distracted and started visiting my RSS reader.
Darren Rowse of Problogger wrote a post regarding the very same topic! Can you really make money blogging? He must be reading my mind. It is a great post and you really need to read it and get your reality check. I still have my questions about making money blogging though. I am going to formulate my email interview and will post what information and feedback I receive.

Do you have any questions you would like answered from the A list of blogging? Do you have any secrets about how you make money?

Toodles - Blog Happy!

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“A billion here and a billion there,
and pretty soon you’re talking real money…”

- Everett Dirksen

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5 Tips To Increase Blog Traffic

“5 Tips To Increase Blog Traffic”

Oh No! Not another blogger posting about how comments will increase blog traffic! That has been beaten to death. We all know commenting is somewhat an effective approach to increase blog traffic.  Having said that,  I am not going to include commenting as a way to increase your blog traffic in the “Five Tips” for this post.  This post is a little different from the other assortment of posts in the blogosphere about increasing blog traffic!  Actually, commenting should be part  of any method to increase blog traffic.  It “goes without saying”, so I’m not going to say it.

As part of my research for tips I discovered what track-backs are and how they work.  I know -  hello!  Where have I been?  Well, I just called them something else.

Obviously, there are more than 5 tips to increase blog traffic and these tips might not bring in an onslaught of hundreds of thousands of visitors but… but I would like to discuss the following 5 tips.

1. Use a signature. Subtle but effective. Put a link to your blog or even a post at the end of your email address. When you join forums, end each discussion with your link. When you join social groups, be sure to provide a detailed profile. Tell everyone all about you!
2. Create your reputation. Get people talking about your blog. Give your readers something to talk about. Do you have something unique to share? If your blog has a character of its own, people will talk. Does your blog maybe have a welcoming feeling? Do you encourage your readers to comment? Are your posts conducive to interaction? Maybe they will tell two friends and they will tell two friends and so on and so on.
3. Get discovered. Write.  Write well and write frequently. And write something people want to share and promote. When I first started blogging I would stumble every post I wrote. Bad idea. First of all, you are going to saturate your friends with what will feel like spam even if it is not your intention.  Sorry, every post is not “stumble worthy”, and visitors come in for days on posts that are shared. Think about your own usage of StumbleUpon.  You cannot possibly read and stumble everything sent your way effectively.
4. Collaborate with your peers. Join forces with your peers.  Offer to guest post on their blog or for your peers to post on your blog.  You will gain exposure to new readers and you will have fresh, different writing for your readers.  When you write, link to other relevant posts.  You will be sharing additional information for your readers as well as leaving trackbacks on the blog of the post you are linking to. Trackbacks, in turn will leave an excerpt on the post you are referring to.  Trackbacks and links continue the conversation and add many dimensions.
   
5. Craft your Titles. Let the search engines find you.  Write relevant titles that are timely.  Find out what people are searching for.  Go to Google and ask questions.  Find out how your topic is searched for then craft your title.
   

Comments - I know, I said I wasn’t going to use that as one of my tips to increase blog traffic, but it’s not what you think - read on.  If you are using commenting on other blogs as a way to generate traffic you may be disappointed.  Commenting to simply to leave your link will possibly generate some traffic but not the kind of traffic that you really want.  Leaving a comment should continue the conversation.  Ask questions, add your thoughts, contribute and advance the exchange of ideas.

What do you do to increase your traffic?  What has worked for you?  Do you have any fun or creative ways that you want to share with us?

Toodles - Blog Happy!

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“People with goals succeed because they know where they are going…
It’s as simple as that.”

— Earl Nightingale

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The Elusive Comment

“The Elusive Comment”

Blogs, also known as weblogs, are actually interactive websites. They are typically written by an individual whose thoughts are published in daily posts. The posts are listed in chronological order in a given niche or topic.

The idea behind a blog is for the author to express his or her opinion or authority on a certain topic and then open the discussion up for comments.  The best exchange is when a topic is controversial or causes contradictory positions.   Blogs are a collaborative effort between the author and the reader in the form of comments.

Ah, the elusive comment.  I have many thoughts about comments.  I also have many questions.

How do the numbers make sense?

Some blogs get thousands (I’m talking 5 digits here) of visits a day yet, in my observation, only receive 40-45 or even 60 comments per post on average.  However, there are other blogs that get only hundreds of visitors and receive 10-20 comments on their posts.  That doesn’t make sense.  The numbers don’t add up when you are talking percentage points.  The blogs that receive the large number of visitors are considered the “A-list” bloggers.  A-list meaning more professional?  Older blogs, more experienced?   So having said that, one would think that the A-list bloggers would gather a bigger percentage of comments, yet they don’t.  What is the reason?

Why do people comment?

Is there one main reason why people comment?  I certainly don’t think so.  In my opinion (which is extremely important), there are just as many reasons people comment as there literally are comments.  So why do people comment?  They have an interest in the subject. The topic or the author inspires them to action.  They are passionate about the opinion expressed.  They want to express their passion or sentiment.  Maybe the post makes them angry.  The comment part of blogging is a sense of community.  There are plenty of other reasons people leave comments.  What are some reasons I haven’t listed?

Why do people not comment?

Wow, that is the “big” question.  If I knew the answer I would probably be a kamillionaire!  The subject doesn’t interest or concern them.  They don’t feel like they have anything to contribute.  When I first started blogging I was almost as nervous about leaving comments as I was about publishing posts!  I didn’t want to sound stupid.  I often thought I would get lost in the shuffle of the flurry of comments already added.  Maybe the blogger has already said all there is to say on the subject.  You know, kind of beat the life out of it, so to speak!  Maybe you weren’t invited to comment.  What else, what other reasons do people not comment?

Why do bloggers want comments?

Well, because.  Lots of reasons.  You don’t want to feel like you are talking to yourself!  Bloggers want to connect with their readers.  The significant part of blogging is the interaction between the author and the reader.  Blogging is Community.  Not to mention comments are a great ego booster.  People are reading your “stuff”!  You have something to say and people are interested in discussing it with you.  Life is good.  Comments kind of validate your post.  If you don’t get comments then your post is mediocre, or so you think.  So, why do you want comments?

How do you get more comments?

I wrote a post and it has been published for 8 minutes now and no one has left a comment yet.  It must be crappy.  I can’t do this.  Calm down.  Don’t Panic!  Try to get the news out that you just published a post and announce a little blurb about the content.  The more people that see your post, the more people who will comment (to a certain extent).  You should twitter your post a couple of times throughout the day.  Different people are on twitter at different times.  You know, work schedules, time zones, stuff like that.  If your post is “Stumble” worthy, then certainly submit it to your friends.  It is somewhat unlikely that every post you write is “Stumble” worthy (sorry) so be choosy.  I have found that the social media can be fairly slow at times.  Frequently, I will get comments that trickle in for days after I have submitted my post to the various social networks.  Be patient.   Another approach I use to get more comments is to ask.  Yeah, I know, who would have thought of that?  I’m a genius.  Do you have a creative way to engage your readers to add more comments?

So what are your thoughts?

Do you have secret strategies to entice your readers to comment?

Join in the conversation, I appreciate and respect your opinion - add your comment!

Toodles - Blog Happy!

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“Communication leads to community, that is,
to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing…”

- Rollo May

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2 Steps To Become A Productive Blogger

“2 Steps To Become A Productive Blogger”

There are so many tasks necessary to achieve success as a blogger.  Unless you are organized it will be difficult to accomplish everything you need to do.  You need a plan, a schedule or routine to follow.  I’ve noticed I say that very frequently.  I get stressed if I am not in my comfortable rut and routine.   Otherwise, I get overwhelmed and panic.  Kind of run around in circles.  You know, like the puppy who chases his tail?  Overloaded as it may be, a rut and routine eases my stress.

There are two essential areas of a successful blog.  Writing and Marketing.

First things first: Okay, so you want a blog.  Well what is a blog?

The definition of blog according to dictionary.com;

Blog -noun

An online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog, Web log. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

Dictionary.com needs to update that definition.  Personal diary!  This is not yo’ mama’s blog!

You need to write. Period.

Darren Rowse of ProBlogger wrote an excellent detailed post about Batch Processing and how he organizes his time. I use some of his helpful hints to make myself more productive.

There is no way around the little task of writing.  For me, it is best to start writing in my notebook.  I can’t get my thoughts together while I am writing on the computer.  I literally have to tell myself - step away from the computer - way too much distraction for my undisciplined self! Otherwise, a one hour post would take me three days to write! I can’t help it! I’m weak..

Do NOT try to write under pressure.  Prepare your posts for the upcoming week.  Pick at least 5 topics to write about.  Create a tentative title and start a draft in WordPress.  I write my title first so I can set up the posts for the week in WordPress drafts.  If you don’t like it you can change it but the title will give you a place to start.  Then you can start brainstorming.  If you are a big girl or big boy as the case may be and can write in your draft part of WordPress without venturing off into the never never land of the blogosphere, then good for you.  That will save you a step.

I always put a picture or graphic in each post.  Searching for just the right one can be time consuming.  Set aside some time to get all your graphics for the week.  I also put a quote at the end of every post.  Also time consuming.  I have to have just the right one.  If the picture and quote are added in each draft, even before you are ready to add your content, you will be half way there.  Add your tags and categories and you will have your post nearly done.

Take one day to work on drafts to start.  Let them simmer for a day or so.  Go back and edit them, add to the content, firm them up. You can add some additional tweaks if you like at this time.  You can get them ready to publish.

Now what do you do?

The definition of marketing by dictionary.com

mar⋅ket⋅ing –noun

The act of buying or selling in a market.  The total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer, including advertising, shipping, storing, and selling.

It doesn’t do any good to do all that writing and  make everything look all pretty and fancy if no one comes to visit!  Get out there and strut your stuff or sell your stuff whatever the case may be.  You need to spend some time on the social circuit.  This part is so crucial,so much fun, so overwhelming.  There are a staggering number of choices, it is hard to decide which social media to use.  Obviously you can use more than one, hopefully you do.  How many social sites you participate in is completely up to you.  It all depends on the time you can devote to your choices.

It is important to participate with good intentions. I focus on Twitter with quick blurbs here and there. I try to dabble throughout the day whenever I get a chance. I usually visit twitter for breakfast, lunch & dinner and sometimes when I need a little snack. I also like StumbleUpon to share different posts with different bloggers.  You can show your appreciation for good writing with others who might not have seen it otherwise.  StumbleUpon is where I often meet other bloggers who have the same interest. I have met many people and have made great contacts from MyBlogLog.  That is a fun network and allows you to share a ton of stuff about yourself.

I like to visit and contribute to other blogs as part of  my marketing plan.  Sharing your thoughts with other bloggers is a great way to add community.  it also is a great way for people to get to know you.  I don’t necessarily set aside a certain amount of time to socialize.  I try to dabble throughout the day whenever I get a chance.  I have all my favorite stops in my RSS reader and after I browse the headlines for a topic I think might interest me or that I might just have something to contribute to, then off I go for my visit!

I am just starting to browse forums.  I recently joined Budding Bloggers Network and Bloggeries. I haven’t devoted as much time to them as I would like. I will definitely put both these forums on more or a priority list.

What are your tricks of the trade that keep you on the track to success? What do you concentrate on and consider most important?

Toodles - Blog Happy!

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“Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it…”

- Rene Descartes

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Blogging Is A Journey Of Daily Discoveries!

“Blogging Is A Journey Of Daily Discoveries!”

I just love blogging!  I learn something new everyday.  I know - cheesy!  I can’t help it.  More often than not, though, there is too much to learn and without discipline can lead to the Blogging failure plan.

Half of what I know (hey, could be a lot) about computers or the internet, I learned by mistake.  I bumped the keyboard and found a short cut, I decided to try this even though it didn’t make sense, etc.  Well, that process has not ended.  It’s harder to teach sometimes, but eventually I figure it out.  It is probably my perseverance that has brought me to where I am today.  Actually, not probably, undoubtedly.

We all use plugins on our blogs.  Some you barely notice you have even activated.  Some show up on your blog for the convenience of your readers.  Okay, plenty of plugins are for the bloggers use and benefit.

One of my favorite plugins is CommentLuv.  Do you have the CommentLuv plugin? CommentLuv is a plugin that you install on your blog that enables your visitors to get a little recognition of their last or latest posts when they comment.  Most of the blogs I visit have this plugin and I really like it. Not only do I get to read the current post and comments, but each commenter has the title of their last post after their comment.

What I didn’t know and what I think maybe other people aren’t aware of is the “mouseover”  feature of this wonderful plugin.  You are require to register your site at CommentLuv.com for this awesome feature to show up.  If you aren’t registered then the “mouseover” just shows that you aren’t registered.  If you are registered the mouseover shows how many people clicked over to your post, what sites you left comments on, a little profile and picture of you and your last few posts.  How great is that?

Besides all of that - CommentLuv is sponsoring a contest.