Bye Bye 2005: Blogging New Years Eve





Auld Lang Syne

Words adapated from a traditional song
by Robbie Burns (1759-96)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?



CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Meanings

auld lang syne - times gone by
be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two

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Blogging connections: Simplicity




I was talking with a woman the other day who believed with all of her heart that the world was getting so complicated that it was no longer possible for an invidual to cope. She told me that her husband had been laid off his long term job through outsourcing. In their new apartment, following the sale of their house, they knew no one. For their family the world was simply moving too quickly, and they simply were unable to keep up with the turns.

I assured her that her husband would find another job, and that perhaps she could as well. I suggested a few businesses that might be looking for their particular skill sets, and that they might find gainful employment at one of them. She thanked me and went on her way.

Thinking about the incident later, it seemed to me that life is indeed too complex for many people. Unable to maintain a world that is familiar, and cut off from their previous relationships, many people are adrift. The need to simply a complicated world, and to reestablish some personal connections is foremost in their minds. As so often happens, the thought of blogs sprang to mind.



Blogging is all about building relationships, whether for business or for personal reasons. In the modern global village, the blogging technology helps isolated individuals build community. While the initial meeting might be online in the virtual world, the next meeting often takes place in the three dimensional landscape. The blog is the first step toward making personal connections.

The blog also helps to simplify the complexities of modern life. While the rest of the world appears to be spinning out of control, the blog nurtures the voice of simpler and gentler thoughts. Sharing ideas with others, whether they agree with your opinions or not, enables conversation. Communication is the most basic and simplest aspect of interpersonal relationships, whether by voice or written word. The blog establishes that conversation.

A blog can simplify the world and return it to a human scale. Conversations can be started, developed, and helped to grow into strong interpersonal connections. Words are the magic of the blog. The blogger holds that magic in the mouse and keyboard.

As this year of 2005 draws to a close, think about simplicity and building relationships with others. They are probably seeking friends and personal connections just like you.

Let your blog speak to others in 2006.

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Diva Marketing offers Blogger Wish List 2006




The New Year of 2006 is almost upon us. Along with the thrill of putting a new calendar on your wall or desk, is the deluge of 2005 remembrances and 2006 predictions. Well, here's an idea with a twist, or at least a feathered boa.



My good friend Toby Bloomberg, the marketing diva herself of the highly regarded Diva Marketing, has a unique idea for for a 2006 blogging preview. She has asked a number of leading business and personal bloggers to provide one idea for her 2006 Blogger Wish List.



Toby asked me to send a blogger wish too. It is as follows:

I would like to see some technical improvements appearing in both individual blogs and in blogging software platforms. Improvements in how blogs speak to one another via trackbacks would assist bloggers in referencing one another. Perhaps an automated system that included all blogging software platforms would work well in this regard. Improved and simplified RSS feeds would help more novice RSS users add blog feeds to their subscription lists. With greater east of RSS use, and better cross interfaces, more bloggers could reach wider audiences. Better technical blogging systems would not only help individual bloggers and readers, but the blogging industry as a whole.


As you can see, it's kind of boring and technical in its focus. The other blogger wishes are much more interesting to read.

Grab your Diva feathered boa and slip on over to Diva Marketing and read the resst of the 2006 Blogger Wishes.

Toby also invites submissions from other bloggers, so you can join in the fun with your blogger wishes for the blogosphere in 2006 as well.

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Carnival of the Vanities at Chicken Soup 4 The Damned




The 171st and final edition of the Silflay Hraka coordinated Carnival of the Vanities. The longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities is posted at Mike Leung's political blog known as Chicken Soup 4 the Damned.

Thanks to BigWig at Silflay Hraka for starting the ball rolling on the concept of blog carnivals. As a result, bloggers and readers are able to share blog postings and ideas that might have been overlooked in the past. The carnival idea has changed all of that for the better. For everyone.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.

This week's Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, science, medicine, technology, business, culture, comedy, and some featured postings from the past year.

I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Vanities as well.

My post is entitled "E-mail newsletters: Getting more subscribers" where I offer some ideas to help increase the number of readers and subscriptions to your business or organization's e-mail newsletter.

To participate in the Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the other blog carnivals, one of the easiest techniques is to use the all inclusive carnival entry form at The Conservative Cat.

Another participation option is to simply e-mail your entry to the new e-mail address:

cotvmail -at- gmail -dot- com

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

Next week's first edition of the Harshly Mellow coordinated Carnival of the Vanities appears appropriately enough at Harshly Mellow.

In the meantime, head on over to the Chicken Soup 4 the Damned hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

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Blogging gifts to replace the returns

As the paper wrapping from another Christmas and holiday gift giving season are crumpled up and tossed away, it's time to consider the value of the gifts received. As so often happens, the person getting the gift isn't all that excited about it. Often, they take the present to be exchanged.

Perhaps, it's time to surprise those hard to please individuals with a post-holiday treat. That should shock and surprise them. The following ideas might even survive the most ruthless gift exchanger. These ideas also have the advantage of working well for birthdays, blogiversaries, anniversaries, business startups, graduations, and any other occasion or special event requiring a gift. Note that Christmas is not the only time for sharing presents with others.

Bloggers to the gift giving rescue!

Bloggers are very generous people. We all know that.

Bloggers help other bloggers, business people, and website owners (often the same people wear all three hats) all of the time. Offering advice, services, and tons of links, bloggers are simply very giving people.

If you are seeking ways to reach out and give something back to the blogging community, perhaps an idea might be to make an unexpected gift to a blogger. The unsuspecting blog owner might be a new blogger, a long time read of yours, or even a blog selected entirely at random.

Some blog gift giving ideas might include:

* A link from your blogroll.

* A link from a post on your blog, describing another blogger's link (similar to what bloggers do every day) on a topic entirely out of your regular blogging beat.

* A review of another person's blog, written and posted on your blog.

* A guest blog post written for someone else's blog.

* Purchasing a product through another blogger's affiliate links.

* A surprise e-card.

* An e-mail complimenting another blogger on an especially interesting and informative posting.

* An offer to redesign a blog page for free.

* An offer of an SEO service free of charge.

* Offering to interview another blogger, either in a written post or as a podcast.

* Providing advice to another blogger who requests it, with no strings attached.

These are only a few ideas that could be used to share goodwill around the blogosphere, around the internet, and even around the entire world.

And here's one more idea...

* Give someone a gift of yourself, expecting nothing in return.

Who knows, you might receive the greatest gift of all...

A new friend.

Now that's a gift that will last a lifetime!

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Carnival of the Capitalists at Multiple Mentality



This week sees a quotable year end approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists makes a visit to Josh Cohen's eclectic blog known as Multiple Mentality.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national and global economies, and technology.

As you would expect from Multiple Mentality there are many discussions of small business, marketing, and numerous other eclectic topics.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

cotcmail -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!

Another brand new form for sending entries to all of the internet carnvivals is provided by The Conservative Cat. This is a great one stop entry drop, for all your blog post entries, for every blog carnival.

Note as well that Carnival of the Capitalists. has a new URL at http://thecotc.com/. Be sure to update your links and bookmarks.

If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's first Carnival of the Capitalists of 2006 will be at Michael Higgins' economics blog known as Chocolate and Gold Coins.

In the meantime, click that mouse over to the Multiple Mentality hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then Carnival of the Capitalists certainly will offer multiple ways to end the year. (groan)

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Blogging around the Christmas tree



Merry Blogging Christmas and all the best of the holiday blogging season.






Wayne Hurlbert

Blog Business World

Wayne's Derby World

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Santa Claus blogs his journey



In the spirit of Christmas, and to ensure that the entire Christmas Eve global toy distribution journey is blogged, Santa Claus has joined the ranks of the blogosphere.

Merry Christmas!




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Holiday gift giving: Sharing your knowledge

The holiday gift giving season is upon us once again. Along with the festive season arrives that need to offer gifts to friends and loved ones.

When seeking that special gift for someone, consider adding another even more wonderful offering. Share your knowledge with another person. Better yet, help as many people as possible to learn more about how to be more successful in the area of their choice. The information you give doesn't have to be simply that of business. It could as easily be for crafts, hobbies, and health.

Along with your carefully selected present, you could place a gift certificate in a card. The certificate could be for one or more informational sessions, in the setting most convenient for everyone involved. Imagine sharing your knowledge freely to a group of people, knowing that you are helping them succeed. Talk about spreading goodwill to all people!

Another powerful feature of personal idea sharing is it has no religious restrictions. The gift can be offered for Christmas to those of the various Christian faiths; or to non-Christians as a token of your friendship, regardless of season. For that matter, personal sharing can be offered at any time throughout the year. The concept transcends holidays and calendar dates. Helping others is timeless.

Along with your gift giving this holiday season, share your knowledge and ideas with others.

It's truly the gift that keeps on giving.

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The Best of Blogs Awards nominations open



The second annual The Best of Blogs Awards, honouring the best of the lesser known denizens of the blogosphere, are now accepting nominations.

Professional blogger Jim Turner of One By One is once again spearheading this unique concept of shifting the focus to hidden gems in the blogging community. Also sponsoring the event are blog editor and blogging tool company Qumana, with Tris Hussey also acting as a juror; as well as web domain host Wired Hub.

Not only are the nominated blogs off the beaten path, so are the nomination categories.

Best Adoption/Fertility Blog
Best Book/Literary Blog
Best Cooking/Recipe Blog
Best Daddy Blog
Best Education/Homeschooling Blog
Best Knitting/Craft Blog
Best LGBT Blog
Best Mommy Blog
Best Music Blog
Best New Blog
Best Overall Blog
Best Poetry/Photo/Art Blog
Best Sex Blog
Best Sports Blog
Best Weight Loss/Fitness Blog
Biggest Blog Whore
Most Humorous Blog
Most Inspirational Blog
Snarkiest Blog
Best Podcast Blog




Nominate your choices at the official The Best of Blogs Awards website. To make a blog nomination, simply leave a comment including the blog title and URL.

Nominations opened on December 7, 2005; and blogs will continue to be accepted until January 3, 2006.

Be sure to read the official Awards nominations rules prior to recommending a blog for consideration. Note carefully that not all blogs are eligible for entry.

The Best of Blogs is also offering advertising opportunities for you and your clients.

One By One Media, is conducting the 2nd Annual BoB (Best of Blogs) Awards, and is offering sponsorships throughout the 7 week event. The event is set to launch December 19, 2005, and will run through January. There are still a limited number of sponsorships available. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the success of the individual blogger and to provide publicity for those bloggers that are lesser known and not on the A-list of blogs.

The inaugural event was very successful, garnering worldwide attention. The 7 week event in 2004-2005 had 152,000 unique visitors and 2700 nominees in 18 separate categories. Categories included such genres as Best New Blog, Best Mommy and Daddy Blogs, Best Knitting Blog and Best Food/Recipe Blog, as well as many others. We expect this year’s event to eclipse the numbers from last year. This was one of the most talked about blog awards in 2004-2005 and it will be a well-publicized event again.

This is a unique opportunity to expose your clients or company to a very targeted group of personal bloggers and Internet users. We are offering three separate sponsorship packages this year including a Gold, Silver and Bronze packages


For more advertising information, check the spaces and rates offered at the site.

Get those obscure and lesser known blog nomination entries in today.

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Carnival of the Vanities at Ravenwood's Universe




The 170th edition of the longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities is posted at the political and libertarian economics blog known as Ravenwood's Universe.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.

This week's Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, science, medicine, technology, business, culture, comedy, and a sleigh full of Christmas references.

I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Vanities as well.

My post is entitled "What if everything you know is wrong?" where I discuss the importance of keeping an open mind to new ideas. It's especially crucial in an ever changing world of business and economics.

To participate in the Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the other blog carnivals, one of the easiest techniques is to use the all inclusive carnival entry form at The Conservative Cat.

Another participation option is to simply e-mail your entry to the host of the week.

That's what I usually do.

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

Next week's final edition of the Silflay Hraka coordinated Carnival of the Vanities appears at moves to Mike Leung's political blog known as Chicken Soup 4 the Damned.

In the meantime, head on over to the Ravenwood's Universe hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

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Blog visitor traffic: Boost your readership numbers

There are few things that create more initial excitement, than the launch of your brand new blog. You have built the best blog you possibly can, and you’re waiting for the visitor traffic to start pouring right in.

You wait.

And you wait some more.

Something needs to be done to make those visitor counters start clicking; and soon. Waiting for something to happen won't get more traffic. Something very proactive on your part is needed.

Here are some ideas to get some visitors to your blog. While each one, in and of itself, may not bring the thousands of unique visitors you would like, taken together they can add up to some fairly nice totals.

Every visitor helps.

Some online traffic building ideas

Place a link to your website on all of your outgoing e-mails. It sounds simple enough, yet very few people do it. In fact, your website URL should be featured prominently on every piece of paper, including letters, faxes and business cards, that leave your office. Many people will click on your website link, giving you some instant traffic.

One of my favorite promotional ideas, is participation at various message boards and forums, relating to your area of interest. Be sure to be helpful and not blatantly pushing your product. Answer questions fully and politely, and freely provide solid information.

Develop a reputation for being knowledgeable and helpful, and you will be regarded as an expert in your field. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and to start discussions either. There are many other people who will be wanting that same question asked, but are often too shy to do so.

Don't forget to place a link back to your site, in your signature line, sometimes referred to as a sig line. Most forums encourage the use of signature lines. They often provide space, for some additional information on your site, as well. You will be pleasantly surprised at how many people will click on your sig line link.

Add some reciprocal links. Many people are concerned about theming (the practice of search engines downgrading links that are not part of your blog’s overall topic area) but if done correctly, there should only be benefits for you. One technique for link gathering is to find out who is linking to other similar blogs.

Advanced online visitor traffic builders

Offer a free download. Items that can be offered for free to visitors include e-books on your website’s area of expertise, a white paper, or some helpful hints for using your products, or on selecting suitable vendors. Free reports on any topic, related to your website are very good at attracting visitors.

If you don’t have your own download available, or the time to write one yourself, there are many free ones on the internet that you can add to your blog. In the long run, however, it’s better to offer your own exclusive pdf or downloadable files, as they won’t be available anywhere else. If you use affiliate sites, for your downloads, they can be linked to your blog as well.

Write internet articles. Take every opportunity to write guest articles for other websites, newsletters, and blogs. Many bloggers, newsletter editors, and webmasters will happily offer the chance for you to be a guest columnist on their blogs, newsletters, or sites.

Simply offer to write a guest column, or an article for a few bloggers and webmasters. Start with a few people who you know. They are the most likely to agree to your offer. They will appreciate the added content, which will help them to gain more SEO keyword strength, in the search engine rankings. The more keyword phrases, the more searches will find your blog.

Everyone benefits

Be sure to include a short biography of yourself, and your blog URL. Include a live clickable link back to your blog. You will receive a lot of visitors, as people will already be familiar with your advice and expertise, based on the article itself.

Get your blog included in as many free or low cost directories as possible.

An exhaustive list of blog only directories, including various RSS directories, can be found at Robin Good's great blog.

Along with the standard internet blog directories, be sure to include the Open Directory Project (DMOZ) and Yahoo Directory, in your submission plans. Note that DMOZ has become very blog friendly, and has even added a weblog category.

Don’t overlook the very small and specialized directories, related specifically to your field of business. There are also many free blog directories that are a must for all bloggers.

All of these directories are free. They may not provide a lot of traffic each, but collectively can create some welcome added visitors to your blog.

Don’t neglect finding visitors from offline sources

Write a press release for distribution to the news media. If your business is doing anything that could be considered newsworthy, be sure to send a press release, to the appropriate media outlets. News releases could point out new executive additions or substantial increases in staffing, expansion plans, new products, or a business anniversary.

Be sure to write the press release as a news item, and not as an advertisement, if you want it published. Think like a news editor and offer stories that the publication would want to print. Anything that simply reads like an advertisement will be discarded by most editors.

When you send the release, be certain to include all of your business details, about how you can be reached for an interview. Include your blog URL on all of your press releases. As an added bonus, all of your news releases can be archived on your site, as added keyword rich content, for being found by the search engines.

Do some old fashioned face to face networking

Visit with as many groups in your community as you possibly can, prior to joining. Some groups are more educationally oriented, some are mainly in search of volunteers, and others are interested in facilitating business contacts. Learn as much as you can about the group, its support for business networking, the quality of its leadership, and its general tone.

Once you choose the groups you wish to join, become involved in their activities. Sign up as a volunteer on a few of their committees. If at all possible, select one that has some relation to your field of business.

Be seen as a helpful person and a strong business resource. If people view you as an expert, willing to share advice freely in your area of business, they will gravitate towards you for ideas and assistance. It also serves to keep your name and business visible to them.

Be certain that your blog URL is included on all of your business cards, brochures, and other promotional materials. Visitors to your site will follow. You never know who will read your blog URL and visit you as a result of your business printed promotional items.

Use a little word of mouth advertising. Simply tell everyone you know about your website. Give them incentive to tell others by doing a little viral marketing. Have something humorous or interesting, to send around the internet, via e-mail or instant messenger.

People love to spread the word, often to their entire mailing list. Make certain a link to your blog is included as part of the marketing message. Use word of mouth marketing to your advantage. If you write great content, other people will link to it, spreading the word on your behalf.

Watch your blog visitor counter explode with new visitors.

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Carnival of the Capitalists at Coyote Blog



This week sees an ACME sponsored approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists makes a visit to Warren Meyer's small business and economics blog known as Coyote Blog.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national and global economies, and technology.



As you would expect from Coyote Blog there are many discussions of small business, marketing, and other economics topics.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones.

I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Professional Blogging: The Future" where I discuss the short and long term potential for professional blogging. I also discuss the advantages, for many business owners and managers, of contracting a professional blogging consultant to develop, write posts, and maintain a business blog.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

cotcmail -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!

Another brand new form for sending entries to all of the internet carnvivals is provided by The Conservative Cat. This is a great one stop entry drop, for all your blog post entries, for every blog carnival.

Note as well that Carnival of the Capitalists. has a new URL at http://thecotc.com/. Be sure to update your links and bookmarks.

If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists be at Josh Cohen's eclectic blog known as Multiple Mentality.

In the meantime, click that mouse over to the Coyote Blog hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then Carnival of the Capitalists certainly will offer some ways to sponsor an ACME anvil. (groan)

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Blogging the blog makeover: Progress report

The blog makeover is taking some time. It is going somewhat more slowly than some blog overhauls, but is perhaps faster than others. The pace of this blog facelift is leisurely and easy going.

It's a bit like my blogging style.

There is now a photo of me on the blog sidebar. If you haven't seen my picture before, it's there for all to see. It's part of the Blogger profile, and more information should be added to that useful item.

Along with the blog archives section is a listing of the most recent ten posts. The previous version of the template lacked that handy feature. It's now in place, right above the archives listing. I moved the previous posts list around a bit for fun. I finally settled on its current location.

The comments are now Blogger comments with random letter requirements for spam prevention. I have already removed a spam or two from the commenting section. Comments are important, and are necessary for any successful blog. I had been using a third party commenting system. I might place that system back onto the blog; or not. I haven't reached a decision on that issue as of yet.

The Haloscan trackback feature is not replaced as yet either. Bloggers link back system is in place. I don't think it's quite as effective as trackback. We'll see what happens.

I now have the blog post titles as live links, along with the recoded permalinks at the bottom of the post. It's now very easy to permalink any of my posts. There's a hint for everyone!

I'm still not completed my blogging makeover. Much of what I've been doing is experimental, and not cosmetic. I'm busily testing the edges of the Blogger template envelope and we'll see how far it will stretch.

Why am I continuing to use Blogger, you ask?

I'm glad you asked that question.

I use Blogger because it's such a commonly used system. Many new blog owners use Blogger and need assistance. I can offer it to them. Personally, if I were starting a new business blog, I would use TypePad. I recommend TypePad to new bloggers and definitely to my SEO clients. I steer them away from Blogger at all costs. The need for recoding, and the lack of features, is simply too great a problem. That said, I enjoy workarounds, and Blogger certainly requires them.

Anyway.

I'll keep all of you posted on the blog makeover.

Who knows. Maybe, I'll make some radical changes and you won't recognize the place.

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Ho‘ike‘ike Carnival at Talking Story

The first ever Ho'ohana Community Ho‘ike‘ike Carnival on Management and Leadership has been posted at Rosa Say's Talking Story blog. The contributors are the members of Rosa's community, built up through her blog. Through the power of a blog's relationship building, Rosa has assembled a close knit group of bloggers. No...friends...who shared their blogs and their best posts with her.

And with you.




Rosa Say is the author of the wonderfully inspiring business management book titled Managing With Aloha where she blends the traditional wisdom and philosophy of Hawaii with modern business principles. The result is a powerful book that is a must read for business owners and managers everywhere.

Note that the Amazon.com affiliate link is Rosa's.




I have a post in the Ho‘ike‘ike Carnival as well.

My post is entitled "Blogs and Public Relations" where I discuss the potential blogs possess for enhancing a company's public relations campaign. A public relations blog is especially powerful for the business message during a crisis. The blog helps the company be fully accessible, in real time, for the media and the general public.

Be sure to read the posts on offer in the Ho‘ike‘ike Carnival. The writing, as well as the management and leadership advice offered, is simply outstanding.

The members of the Ho'ohana Community are certain to become favourite blogs of yours as well.

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Professional blogging: The future

Professional blogging has a very bright future. Writing blog posts for other blogs is truly a win-win situation for everyone involved. The professional blogger gets paid to post and the blog owner has postings magically appear at predetermined intervals.

As business blogs become more commonplace as a means of communications for marketing, public relations, SEO, and busines relationship building, it seems logical that an increase in the number of professional bloggers will soon follow. While many business and professional firms would like to add a blog component to their online presence, not all of them will be able to maintain a long term business blog.

For the businesses and professional organizations seeking to outsource their blogging activity, there are several good reasons for doing so. Not every blog owner has to write their own blog posts. The reasons for contracting a professional blogger are many and varied.

The business owner might simply lack the available time to research and write regular blog posts. As with many aspects of business, the need to delegate tasks to others also applies to blogging. The soloution might be to assign the blogging duties to someone on staff. Another possibility is to hire a professional blogging firm to write the posts and maintain the blog.

The business owner might not possess enough internet knowledge to create and maintain a business blog. While the more technical aspects of blogging are less than a few years ago, as a result of the development of very user friendly blogging software platforms, many business owners and managers lack the computer skills to employ them. The technical aspects of blogging might be assigned to the company technical staff. On the other hand, a professional blogger can relieve management of sourcing that requirement internally.

A business blog increases company revenue over time through the marketing and relationship building power of the blog. As a result of the additional financial gains, hiring a professional blog writer or team makes financial sense for many business owners and managers. The fees charges by the blogging professional could be much less than the added revenue, the cost of hiring an additional staff member for blogging, or from the time saving from not reassigning blogging duties to a current staff member.

The ability to write effective, interesting, and informative blog posts is a constant challenge for even the best bloggers. For a novice business blogger, finding topics and writing solid posts can be a daunting task. Sometimes, it can prove to be impossible. Instead of struggling to develop posting ideas, outsourcing the entire blog writing operation might prove the best solution.

For business and professional people who want to set up, write, and maintain their own blogs, blog consultants could still prove a cost effective option. Hiring a professional blogger to train staff in writing, developing, and utilizing a business blog to its fullest potential is a powerful investment. The additional value of the blog to the business pays for blogging professional over and over again. The initial fees and perhaps an ongoing consultation agreement can pay real dividends for a company over the near and longer terms.

Professional blogging is here to stay and the reasons for companies to consider hiring blog consultants are many.

Consider professional blogging as a career if you are a writer and blogger.

Consider hiring a professional blogging consultant if you are a business owner, manager, or professional organization. The value of business blogs to a company is simply too powerful an investment to be ignored.

Professional blogging pays off. For everyone.

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Small Business Trends marketing survey

Anita Campbell of the influential Small Business Trends blog is offering a survey on small business. The survey is only available until December 18, 2005.

Anita says about the importance of your assistance with the survey:

The survey focuses on what is working in online and offline marketing techniques. Your answers to the survey will help develop market intelligence about what it takes to sell to small businesses successfully today.





As a reward for sharing your opinions on online and offline marketing techniques, and how they are employed in your business, there is a draw for a copy of The Virtual Handshake by David Teten and Scott Allen.





The survey only requires three minutes to complete. Your opinions are important to help understand which marketing techniques will work best online and offline for your business.

I took the survey. You should too.

Remember, December 18, 2005 is the survey deadline. Complete your survey today.

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Carnival of the Vanities at Multiple Mentality




The 169th edition of the longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities, moves to the eclectic blog known as Multiple Mentality.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.

This week's Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, science, medicine, technology, business, culture, comedy, and a galaxy of television science fiction references.

To participate in the Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the other blog carnivals, one of the easiest techniques is to use the all inclusive carnival entry form at The Conservative Cat.

Another participation option is to simply e-mail your entry to the host of the week.

That's what I usually do.

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

Next week's edition of Carnival of the Vanities appears at the political and libertarian economics blog known as Ravenwood's Universe.

In the meantime, head on over to the Multiple Mentality hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

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What if everything you know is wrong?

There are few things that can shatter a person's view of the world like the discovery that all that was thought to be true no longer holds. To find out that everything one knows is wrong can be devastating news for many people. It doesn't have to be that way.

Many business people are faced with changing market conditions, often brought on by circumstances beyond their control. Suddenly like a being hit by a bolt of lightning, what worked in the past will now lead to failure. The ebb and flow of business cycles and changing tastes will often require a complete revamping of a business plan. In the twinkling of an eye, everything you know is wrong.

The change doesn't have to be as dramatic as waking up in 1929 with the onset of the Great Depression of the 1930s. It can be more subtle and sneak up on you. For example, importers and exporters have concerns with changes in exchange rates; as well as the political stability of their offshore business associates. Overnight, a profitable business plan can transform into a money losing nightmare. The need to change your thinking in a hurry is paramount.

I am in a profession where knowledge can become obsolete at best, and entirely wrong at worst. Search engine optimization is based on educated guesses as to the requirements of the various search engines. Google can and does change its search algorithm overnight. The way it calculates the search engine rankings can turn proper SEO actions one day into disasters the next. In SEO, a person has to always be prepared to admit that carefully learned concepts can suddenly be wrong.

With any business, the ability to change and adapt to various market conditions will lead to succcess. Whether the times are good or bad, the flexible person will do well. Simply clinging to what was the correct business formula in one era, and expecting it to work in all times, leads to financial ruin. Constantly monitoring business trends and adapting your business and marketing plans to the changing conditions is a better approach.

Accepting that one is not infallible and the fount of all wisdom is the most important first step. Often pride or ego prevents that harsh acceptance of reality. As a result, the business suffers some severe setbacks when the old ways aren't effective any longer. As they say about pride, it goeth before a fall.

Instead of letting selfish personal vanity get in the way of your success, step back and consider how the business is being operated at present. The periodic reassessment of current business practice, and possible changes in the business climate, is a healthy exercise for any business. It's especially important when chnage is taking place all around you.

Be prepared to admit that everything you know is wrong. It could be the first step toward making your business cash flow turn out right.

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Free teleseminar: Conversations with experts - Jill Lublin







Conversations with Experts: How to Build Your Business On and Off-line

Hosted by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff of Build a Better Blog System.

Guerrilla Publicity - Practical Strategies to Increase Your Visibility

Wednesday, December 14, 2005, 8:30 p.m. ET - Free

Guest Expert: Jill Lublin, author of Guerrilla Publicity



Let's face it; everyone needs effective public relations techniques in order to be a success. This presentation will help professionals in any industry to get their word out. You'll learn: how to find the belly of your message for the mass market; how to establish yourself as an expert - learn how to pull 'em, hold 'em, and pitch 'em in 30 seconds or less; how to prepare a powerful press release that will get guaranteed response; 7 must knows to developing a guerrilla campaign; what the press says when they speak out - 15 things they love and hate; how to craft an angle so that the press will embrace it, as well as get an in-depth knowledge of public relations to maximize exposure. You will also learn low-cost, powerful, practical, original publicity secrets.

Jill Lublin is the author of two national best selling books, Guerrilla Publicity (which is considered the PR bible and is used in university marketing courses) and Networking Magic (which went to #1 at Barnes and Noble). She is a renowned strategist and international speaker. As the CEO of the strategic consulting firm, Promising Promotion, Jill has created successful techniques that implement bottom line results.

Jill is founder of GoodNews Media, Inc., a company specializing in positive news. She is currently the host of the nationally syndicated radio show, Do the Dream, where she interviews celebrities who have achieved their dreams. Jill has recently been featured in the New York Times, Woman’s Day, and Entrepreneur Magazine, as well as on ABC, NBC, CBS radio and TV national affiliates. Jill is currently working on her third book, How to Connect, and has a new TV show called The Connecting Minute.

Register for this Conversation with Jill Lublin.

www.ConversationswithExperts.com

If you missed any Conversations With Experts, you can become a monthly member of a private blog. As a member, you gain access to the entire Conversation With Experts audio series of guest experts, past and present.

Conversations with Experts is sponsored by Build a Better Blog System.

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Carnival of the Capitalists at SamaBlog



This week sees a birthday approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists makes a visit to Rob Sama's eclectic SamaBlog where Rob is hosting the Carnival as part of his own birthday celebrations.

Warning: Rob has included some photos that might not be for all viewers.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national and global economies, and technology.

As you would expect from SamaBlog there are many discussions of business, marketing, and other eclectic topics.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones.

I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Blogs and Public Relations" where I discuss the power of blogging for public relations. Blogs are especially strong for getting out the company message, to both the media and general public, during a crisis.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

cotcmail -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!

Another brand new form for sending entries to all of the internet carnvivals is provided by The Conservative Cat. This is a great one stop entry drop, for all your blog post entries, for every blog carnival.

Note as well that Carnival of the Capitalists. has a new URL at http://thecotc.com/. Be sure to update your links and bookmarks.

If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists be at Warren Meyer's business and economics blog known as Coyote Blog.

In the meantime, click that mouse over to the SamaBlog hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then Carnival of the Capitalists certainly will offer some ways to celebrate a birthday. (groan)

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Blogging the blog makeover: Continues

The blog makeover is being done at what could be described charitably as a leisurely pace. The job of overhauling this blog won't happen overnight. I have some planning to do, some ideas to formulate, and so on. It's the so on part that takes the time.

I plan to stay with Blogger, despite its obvious weaknesses as a blogging platform. Since many new blog owners enter the system on Blogger, it helps for me to understand their concerns. On the other hand, I recommend that bloggers use TypePad or WordPress for example. As you can see, there are many bases to cover. So many blogs, and so little time.

In any case, I have been examing various templates, and trying them on for size. It's a bit like fitting a new pair of shoes. Some of the nice ones don't fit and some very bad options are the only ones in your size. Our blogs are indeed what they wear.

Since I have made so many hacks, workarounds, coding changes, and placed several third party codes into my template, it's often a problem to get them to carry over to other templates. The movement is not clean. Of course, that can be fixed and repaired. It will just take some time.

The blog repair project is fun to do, and it also serves a few other purposes. The added code on a blog gets reevaluated as to need and service. As a result, some of mine will be dropped, and replaced by updated version or different codes entirely. The housecleaning aspect of blog overhaul work is often overlooked.

One thing that is certain is my links and blogroll will remain on the blog. I like the links to other blogs, and they aren't going anywhere. Links are an integral part of blogging, and they should remain here for the duration. Bloggers are linkers. I am no exception.

Blog repairs have been delayed by business and other activities. They will continue as time permits.

It's fun to play with the blog, and that's why I am doing it myself. It's one of those great life altering experiences that shouldn't be missed.

At least that's what I tell myself.

I'll keep all of you updated as to my blog makeover progress. I'm happy to find so many of my readers interested in the process.

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Auction sale time: Finding bargains

Auction sales are a favourite past time of mine as I have written previously. They are also part of my business purchasing plans. To maintain cash flow, I believe in purchasing vintage and antique items for the business.

Today, I spent an ejoyable day at a consignment antique and household sale. While some items at the sale brought market price, there were many good bargains to be found. Along with business shopping, I bought some fun articles too.

Life is not all business, right?

Last weekend, at another consignment auction sale, I was able to purchase a nicely finished maple dining room table for $5.00 (all prices Canadian) on one lone bid. I use a very similar table for my computer desk. I also bought a complete set of Ridgway China Heritage pattern at the sale for $12.50 on two bids.

Today was prosperous for sale buyers as well, as long as a person was careful in the bidding process. For example, I bought an irradescent glass cake service set for four people at the monumental figure of $1.00 cash. The set included a metal pedastal glass cake plate, four cake plates with cup spaces, and four cups. The set changes colours in the light, and is quite pretty.

I also bought one five piece place setting of Noritake china, Virtue pattern for one bid of $2.00 as no one was looking to purchase china at that moment. It's completely crack and spider web clean as well. I like it a lot.

Business furniture buyers could have purchased a single pedastal oak desk for $1.00 as the desk had a bad coat of paint. A bit of a paint stripping effort and the desk would be very usable in a home office or small business setting. I already have enough desks so it was of little value for me. The same problem existed for a French Provincial style sofa. It brought $1.00 as well, but I have no space for it.

Many other furniture pieces and items that had office value were sold for less than $20.00, with many consignments not bringing $10.00 in bids. Many very nice chairs brought less than $5.00 each, for example. There were bargains galore if one was careful.

As you can see, auction sales offer some tremendous buying opportunities for very little cash outlay. With some close inspections of the items on offer, and maintaining discipline to not make frivolous purchases, many small business requirements can be filled. With low priced articles, a business owner can maintain cash flow while adding much needed items.

Keep an eye on local auction sales and maintain your business cash flow for other business obligations. Purchasing at auction should become part of your business management decision making process. Think vintage, and save.

Auction sales will help your business dollars stretch farther.

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Blogging the blog makeover

Day one of the blog makeover process was one of experimentation. Like many chemistry lab experiments, the outcome was more than one major explosion. There are probably still some pieces of my blog template floating in the nether regions and obscure recesses of cyberspace.

It was back to the drawing board more than once, as a result. As you have already noticed, I haven't made any changes that are visible to the naked eye. For that matter, any of the preferred alterations are still awaiting their additions to the system.

Maybe some day.

The templates that Blogger offers its users are often lacking in the robust needs of the blog user. For example, the templates don't offer trackback capability. That important function must be added as a third party feature. Blogger's off the rack templates require many workarounds, and some of the templates need much more than others.

I am giving serious consideration to shopping around the internet for other template options. I may even try some other avenues of blogging goodness, in an attempt at improvements.

Since these changes are going to take some time, I'll blog the process as I travel the paths of glory. At the end of the journey, a new blog will emerge. Or not. In any case, the exploration of blog appearance changes is fun, and presents a unique challenge to the blogger. So...even if I keep the same old look, at least I'll have considered other options.

Thanks to the commenters and e-mail senders of well wishes on my blog template changes. I hope I don't disappoint you.

In the meantime, back to my regularly scheduled blogging, and leave the template changes for another day.

The blog overhaul continues...

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Blog overhaul: Updating my blog

Blog overhaul time here.

As my readers are aware, there are many blog rebuilds, revamps, and overhauls going on around the blogosphere. There are so many that it's impossible to list all of them. Many bloggers are updating by adding new photographs to their blog, the better to know your blog friends. Right?

Over time, my blog has become a bit of a template nightmare gone Elm Street. The template I've been using is one that Blogger has offered for three years. When I first used it, there were no comments available through Blogger, and almost everything had to be hand coded. Third party code additions were made as well.

It has become necessary for me to upgrade to a newer version of the same template. It's sort of a way station on the road to a better overall blog. I think of it as steps on journey. Sometimes you have to use bridges or detours to reach your destination. In this case, a stopgap blog template will be applied.

I don't know what day the official change will take place, but you should be able to recognize a few subtle changes. Nothing drastic will happen in the way of a new template for awhile. Think of it more like a change of socks for this blog.

In the meantime, I hope that I don't lose any of my links or third party additions. I would really like to avoid having to reconstruct them all from scratch. I'll be copying the old template into several locations as a backup, with a redundant backup, just in case of major calamity.

It may be a few days before you notice any differences. After all, I'll have to give the replacement template a test drive before placing it live on the blogosphere.

Wish me luck.

I'll be needing it.

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Blogiversary celebrations are everywhere



Blogiversaries are rapidly becoming a major feature of the blogging community. It seems like every blog is celebrating a birthday.

And who doesn't love a birthday party!

Bloggers Blog is featuring a list of recent blogiversaries and it's a long one. The list contains several blogs that have gone past their third birthday. A few are even older than that.



The growing number of blogiversary celebrations is a tribute to the long term staying power of blogs. As a communications vehicle to begin a conversation between blogger and reader, they are almost without equal.

Let the blog birthdays continue to grow in volume.

Happy birthday to all the blogs.

Pass the birthday cake!


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Carnival of the Vanities at Denali Flavors




The 168th edition of the longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities, moves to the ice cream and moose themed business blog known as Denali Flavors.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.

This week's Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, science, medicine, technology, business, culture, comedy, and religion.

I have an entry in this week's edition of Carnival of the Vanities as well.

My post is titled "Bloggers are readers: Books are us" where I discuss how bloggers write books and read books, and how blogs and books are very closely related.

To participate in the Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the other blog carnivals, one of the easiest techniques is to use the all inclusive carnival entry form at The Conservative Cat.

Another participation option is to simply e-mail your entry to the host of the week.

That's what I usually do.

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

Next week's edition of Carnival of the Vanities appears at the eclectic blog known as Multiple Mentality.

In the meantime, head on over to the File It Under hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

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Free teleseminar: Conversations with experts - James Roché







Conversations with Experts: How to Build Your Business On and Off-line

Hosted by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff of Build a Better Blog System.

The Inside Secrets to Creating Great Info-Products

Wednesday, December 7, 2005, 8:30 p.m. ET - Free

Guest Expert: James Roché, The Info-Product Guy



If you are an entrepreneur who is tired of slaving away, trading dollars for hours then join us for a one-hour Conversation where the Info-Product Guy, James Roché reveals the inside secrets to creating great info-products.

The fastest way to get off that treadmill and establish yourself as the preferred expert is to skyrocket your passive income (and prestige) by creating highly profitable e-books, audio programs and workbooks. But most entrepreneurs haven’t got a clue where to start.

You'll learn: How to select the right topic; how to develop content fast; how to pick the right price point; the biggest mistakes you can make and how to avoid them, plus much more.

James Roché, the Info-Product Guy has over 3 years of “in-the-trenches” experience producing high quality, results-generating information products. He works side-by-side with his clients to co-create customized, ready-to-market audio program and e-book/workbook…in under 7 weeks. James has the uncanny ability to “coach the product out” of his clients.

Register for this Conversation with James Roché :

www.ConversationswithExperts.com

If you missed any Conversations With Experts, you can become a monthly member of a private blog. As a member, you gain access to the entire Conversation With Experts audio series of guest experts, past and present.

Conversations with Experts is sponsored by Build a Better Blog System.

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Carnival of the Capitalists at Techronization



This week sees a technological approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists makes a visit to Adam Siegrist's business and technology blog known as Techronization.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national and global economies, and technology.

As you would expect from Techronization there are many discussions of business, marketing, and technology.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones.

I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Visitor logs: Helping your readers" where I discuss ways to put your blog's visitor logs to work for you and your blog readership.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

cotcmail -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!

Another brand new form for sending entries to all of the internet carnvivals is provided by The Conservative Cat. This is a great one stop entry drop, for all your blog post entries, for every blog carnival.

Note as well that Carnival of the Capitalists. has a new URL at http://thecotc.com/. Be sure to update your links and bookmarks.

If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists be at Rob Sama's eclectic SamaBlog where Rob is hosting the Carnival as part of his own birthday celebrations.

In the meantime, click that mouse over to the Techronization hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then Carnival of the Capitalists certainly will offer some ways to get with the technology. (groan)

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Blogiversaries: Blogs have birthdays too

Blogs have birthdays. Or is it blogs have anniversaries? In any case, blogiversaries are a rapidly growing phenomenon on the internet. As the blogosphere grows, so too does the calendar of blogging milestones.

It's a frequent occurance to notice a blogger celebrating one, two, three, or even more years in the blogging community. In fact, blog birthdays are becoming a ubiquitous feature of blogging in general. Marking special occasions is now part and parcel with the entire blogging experience. The very nature of blogging, and its emphasis on the personal aspects of writing, lends itself to noticing special occasions.

With the growing number of blogiversaries appearing on a daily basis, it's a great idea to acknowledge the efforts of the celebrating bloggers. Writing posts on an almost daily basis is a lot of work, as well all know. In fact, with the need for new and interesting blog posting ideas, the blogger often experiences difficulty in even getting finger to keyboard. A blank posting box can be very intimidating, and it almost appears to be mocking your best efforts to fill up the blank space. After all, a blogger, in tune with the nature of the universe it seems, abhors a posting box vacuum.

As you pass through your regular daily blog reads, or even if you are talking a blog walk or hop, you will notice many blogiversaries as they happen. Take the time to write a brief congratulatory comment on their blog. Thank them for their year or years of interesting and informative blog posts. Your comments are always appreciated by bloggers. Your noticing of their blog birthday party will be even more special to them.

Blogiversaries are a reminder that blogs have staying power as a new medium of informational exhange. Blog birthdays also tell us that bloggers are now a permanent part of the internet landscape. Perhaps a special Blog Day or Blog Week might become part of the mainstream calendar. As a result of the power of blogs and of bloggers to affect change in almost any aspect of life, such an event is almost certain to happen sooner rather than later.

Thank a blogger today, even if it's not their precise blogiversary date. Who knows, you may have only missed it by a few days anyway.

Blogs are here to stay. They will only collect more birthdays as the years go by in the blogosphere.

Let's make every day a blogiversary celebration occasion. Congratulations to all bloggers who are marking any and all special blogging occasions.

Now all that formality is out of the way, it's time to party!

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