Saturday was rainy and cool all day. No projects to be done. So I spent the better part of today on the computerS.
Having gotten the new computer up and running. I’ve been back and forth –between both computers reading and updating. There is so much that needs to be done on the blog… but I’m afraid the Green Monster just isn’t up to the task.
I truly didn’t realize how sluggish he’d become. Yes… my computer is a HE; and I’m a namer of things. I haven’t named the new one. I’m sure a name will come… as we become more acquainted. 
I’m letting you know, I’ll be making some changes over the next little bit. In order to keep at this—I’m going to have to become more zealous in advertising. It is a necessary evil!
Before jumping into blogger and just tearing my blog apart… I am researching. I can’t be too cautious; with the SCRAPING that occurred last year and the URL SCARE last month (turned out to be nothing, Thank God) I’ve done some heart searching too.
I have to be genuine. It’s important to you…it’s very important to me.
In my research I came to the realization that my own photos…as crummy as they may be (I’ve made no pretense that I was ever good with a camera) are worthy of my attention and THEY belong on my blog. Most of the time I ask to use another blogger’s photos here. But I’m guilty of using Pinterest images and other Google type images on my blog too.
NO MORE!
I’m going through many of my posts and removing photos and will hopefully be replacing them with a link. This is one example post. Though the piggy bank photo I got from online and doctored—doesn’t currently have a replacement. This is going to take some time. But well worth it!
Blog-Keeping- It’s not all about pretty pictures.
Besides photos, I’m going to be systematically going through my posts, cleaning up broken links, creating a more organized labeling system for my blog. I have some pretty good content here from the last 7 1/2 years. It’s just disorganized.
Staying Connected- Comments
Being able to communicate, with you, my readers is important. With the addition of the mobile advertising, that was added last year—came barriers. For a time I was unable to receive comments from many who used iPads or other mobile devices. I toyed with the idea of threading comments… with that system, at least, I was able to reply to those who left comments that were no-reply comment bloggers as long as they utilized the NOTIFY ME button.
Regarding comments it has come to this. I will be having a full page comments. There is NO ‘notify me’—if you are a no-reply commenter – I’ll not be able to contact you, unless I have your email and know you personally…you know who you are!
If you have a mobile device—then you should from this point on be able to leave a comment.
However, for some of you there is a glitch… I am not notified at all that you left a comment unless I read the comments myself… as if I’m going to be leaving myself a comment! One problem at a time!
In an effort to advertise, monetize…and specialize on the blog; I’m trying to understand the finer points of it all. What better place to learn than from other bloggers. I was able to make a little bit more money last year, with Amazon, Google and PadSquad. But honestly I need to ramp it up a bit—to keep blogging.
This isn’t what some want to hear or read; but then yet… there are those, who, just like me, would like to have an income from blogging and don’t know where to start. Maybe something can come of it—and we can learn together, huh?
In the mean time, here are links to posts I’ve been reading. Perhaps, you have some suggestions.
Direct Linking vs. Landing pages
IFB’s Quick and Easy Blog Analytics Cheat Sheet
‘til next time, be blessed, bloggin’
Patricia
7 comments:
Let us all know what you find out.
I have questions too, so research sounds like a great idea.
You've got a plan!
Good luck with getting everything revamped. To help, this is what I have noticed. When I am on my laptop, your blog is fine. When I am on my tablet, it is almost unreadable with items overlapping each other to the point where I get off and read it on my laptop. I don't know why, maybe it's because I am using a 7" Nexus rather than a larger tablet but thought I would mention it as you research, some are using phones and the screens are even smaller. It's helpful also if the ads don't just pop up over text, I don't know that YOURS do, but so many other sites have pop ups that it gets too annoying to read and we don't visit anymore. That has to affect the money these sites make or people will install pop up blockers so they don't see the ads at all.
The last thing is that you may not get to choose the ads you get. For instance, if you are very religious you might get ads for organizations that would offend your audience. If you are a non drinker, you may get alcohol ads, etc. My husband ran into that when we allowed ads. Some were very contrary to his posts so if you can filter what is allowed, it's good.
Hope it works well for you.
As to the ads, you can usually - especially with AdSense, filter out categories of ads that you don't want. I've done that in the past. In my case, no religious ads or political ads. But everyone's choices are different and you can filter out some unwanted ad categories.
Monetizing is a necessary thing these days. You put a lot of time into uour blog content, into creating posts. You deserve it, Pat.
Knowing you, this new phase will be delightful!
I look forward to seeing how you change things up. I have always been interested in doing something similar but don't know where to start. I'll have to check out some of your links. :)
Google keeps letting me know I have broken links, but I don't know how to fix them. If you do, let me know.
Brenda
she sheepishly hangs her head and giggles as she points to the screen and says "that would be me" :) yep, I know who I am.
I did notice when I left a comment while ago, there wasn't a notify thingy....
this blog game sure does eat up a lot of one's time, doesn't it?
keep on keepin' on girl!
gail
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