1. Nokia Photo Browser [Free] – The Photo Browser has face recognition, a smart user interface, and a magnifying glass which allow you to thoroughly enjoy your pictures. You can add visual effects to your photos. Photo Browser is a beta application, which means that it can be altered or removed at any time.
2. Raviteq ImageStudio [$4.99] – Imagestudio takes your pictures and transforms them into better images. You can crop and rotate your pictures. You can add sharpness or clipart. Add more functions to your application by downloading ImageStudio plugins.
3. Scalado PhotoFlow [$2.99] – PhotoFlow is a gallery program. You can perform image decoding, smart caching, and file access on your phone. PhotoFlow allows for strange effects and animations. The application will run on nearly any Nokia phone.
4. Snapfish [Free] – Sign up for your free account at Snapfish and share, store, and print your digital photos. With Snapfish, you can also create personalized gifts like photos, books, and calendars.
5. Morpho QuickPanorama Pro [$2.99] – With Morpho’s QuickPanorama Pro, you can easily create panorama photos with your phone. Press the video button for your phone, pan across your landscape, and the application does the rest. There is a trial version of this program available.
6. CamLite [$0.99] – Take pictures at your discretion with the CamLite app. Choose the time and date for your Nokia to snap that important shot. This is perfect for those who want to take midnight vacation pictures.
7. Nokia Image Exchange [Free] – Nokia Image Exchange is a beta stage photo gallery for your Nokia phone. You can upload or download your pictures to a server and distribute them as you see fit. Beta applications can change or be removed at will.
8. Raviteq FaceSwap [$1.99] – If you loved the idea of face in the hole pictures, this app is for you. With Raviteq’s Faceswap, you can create funny situations for your friends and loved ones. You can edit the pictures on the fly, zoom, pan, and take high quality images. If you are not satisfied, you can erase the changes and start anew.
9. Joyeye Light [Free] – Add plenty of distortion, color and stylized features to your photos. If you love black and white photos, you can transform your images into sepialine or black and whites. Have a crazy idea for a wide angled shot? Use the fisheye filter to simulate the lens. This application is perfect for off-the-hip photography.
10. PhotoRite [$2.99] – Add effects directly to your photographs using PhotoRite. Change the lighting, exposure levels, haze problems, and more to built the perfect picture. There is a magic mirror function, so you can slim or expand yourself with just the touch of a few buttons. There are 16 pre-set frames and quite a lot more in this app.
11. Checkers Cam 2 [$4.99] – Create different layouts and shots for your pictures and save them to your personal photo gallery with the alterations. You can save those pictures to your gallery for later transmission.

Create funny photos, alter the brightness and contrast, and print your photos with ease using these applications. There are more applications just waiting to be discovered at the Nokia Ovi store. Try a few and enhance your Nokia experience today.

This post was contributed by James Adams who blogs for Cartridge Save, one of the best stores to buy inkjet supplies in the United Kingdom.

Would you be interested in a project that provides you with hands-on business development assistance?

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As a Founding Member of the Beyond Blogging Project I can tell you that this program is unlike any other available today. This is not a blogging course, teaching you how to write content and load WordPress plugins. This is all about focusing on your business ideas and developing strategies to move forward, developing a lifestyle that you envision. It’s about hard work and the need to take action upon what you learn.

Listen, people are always happy to sell you on those 3-hour workdays while living in paradise and yes, that does happen occasionally. But the truth of the matter is this, many have not told you about the years they worked 15 and 18 hour days to reach their ultimate goals. There are no magic bullets or industry secrets when it comes to building an online business. It boils down to hard work, period!

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The access in and of itself is invaluable, as this serves as a life-time consultancy service. So why continue to stumble around trying to first, identify all of the necessary pieces, then second, assemble them in a way to make your business successful?

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Ready to take the plunge?

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Let take this thing Beyond Blogging!

Most of us just love to go into our local electronics store and marvel at the many gadgets designed to make our lives more convenient or entertain us. They bring much happiness to our lives, but used improperly, can work against us.

I received an email from a great friend of mine, Frazier West, who I am always happy to hear from and since the Holidays are approaching I assumed it contained our usual pleasantries and best wishes. But this email was different, it was alarming in fact.

The content of the email was a warning that applies to our everyday lives, but this was particularly useful for this time of year.

Many people will give and receive gifts in observance of the Christmas Holiday and many of those gifts will be technological gadgets that make our eyes light up with glee. But some of these gadgets can work against you if improperly used.

Allow me to focus in on two gadgets and tell the stories that I received in the email from my friend.

What follows are true stories about how we can be lackadaisical about our security and the awful penalty that this may lead to.

GPS

It all starts with a GPS unit that was left in a car while a couple attended a football game. The GPS unit was clearly mounted on the dashboard in plain sight, making it an easy target for criminals.

The car itself was parked on a lot designated for sporting events, which means these types of parking lots are attractive to criminals because of the large number of opportunities to steal. Keep in mind, everyone does not get to park inside the stadium’s secure areas.

When the couple returned to their car, it had been broken into and the GPS, some money and a garage door opener were all missing.

Were it not for the GPS being left in plain sight, this car may have been passed over by the thieves since there would have been nothing a real value to draw their attention.

Having been victimized and having their day ruined, the couple went home. When they arrived home they found that their house had been ransacked and just about anything of value had been stolen.

The thieves apparently had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They gained entry by simply using the stolen garage door opener. Knowing the schedule of the football game and when it would end provided a window of time for them to clean out the house. With all of the stuff missing from the house they must have had a truck.

This is a hard lesson to learn but one that can be avoided by taking precautionary measures during the initial setup of your equipment.

Do NOT program your actual home address into a GPS unit. Use something nearby like a shopping mall or gas station. You surely know your way home once you get to a certain point, so there is no need to have the unit lead you right to the front door.

I have my GPS set for a highway exit, which is not even the correct one. Yes the unit still says “Home” but the trail ends on exit 21.

Mobile Phones

Many have never thought about this, but many are not sleazy criminals so why would they?

After being victimized a lady has now changed her method for listing names on her mobile phone. You see, her handbag had been stolen with her mobile phone, credit cards and wallet inside.

About 20 minutes later, she called her husband from a pay phone to tell him what had happened. He replies “I received your text asking about our pin number and replied a little while ago”

Of course he then rushes out to pick up his Wife and they then rush to the bank, where they clerk tells them that some money has been withdrawn.

The thief or thieves had used the stolen phone to text the husband from the contact listing and receive the pin number for one of the stolen bank cards, making a withdrawal from the account. In the course of 30 minutes or less, your financial situation can be violated leaving you to clean up the mess.

Do NOT disclose relationships between people in your mobile phone contact listing. Avoid names like Home, Wife, Hubby, Mom, etc.

Additionally, always confirm who you think may be on the other end of a communication when sensitive information is being requested. Call back immediately. The thieves are not going to answer the phone, and that will be your first hint that something may be wrong.

Same applies for text messages asking you to meet someplace. Be certain that it is coming from who you think it is and avoid being set-up for bad activity.

PASS ON THIS INFORMATION TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

Do not allow the wonderful tools of technology to work against you. It is easy to get excited with our new toys and forget about those who seek to bring harm to our lives.

Take the proper precautions up front and protect yourself from the enemy.

I never did have “home” on my mobile phone because I was smart. Only by half… I was not as smart as I should have been because I did have “Wife” listed, which was changed immediately after reading the email from Frazier.

You see, sometimes we think we’ve got everything covered but it is reminders like this that cause you to refocus and tighten up where you need to.

If you have a home alarm system, use it. If you don’t have one, get it.

Take every precaution you can regarding your safety. It’s a tough world out there, don’t be lulled into complacency.

Enjoy the new gadgets folks, but do think about how they are set up initially.

Be safe and keep blogging!

Many accomplishments have been realized and just as important are the many friends and fellow bloggers that I have had the opportunity to network with, building some real relationships of value. This is a critical function of blogging, perhaps overlooked by some.

We are now heading into the final month of 2009, a time to look ahead and plan out the strategies for 2010, if you’ve not done so already. Yeah, this year was great but it is just about in the books now, so it’s time to look ahead.

One thing that I feel is of great importance going into the new year is to clear your slate of things that have been hanging around on your to-do list, or projects that have lingered for longer than they should have.

It is imperative that you get off to a good start, refreshed and stress free. You do not want to start the year off looking at last year’s task. Just the thought of it brings negative energy, because it represents a shortfall in execution. So you have one month to somehow clear away those nagging items or projects.

The key here is to free up your time to be productive, like working on your next product release. So here is what you need to do:

• Get out of that “sole source” mentality and get some help.
• Identify those things that are holding you back and delegate
• Realize that delegation means you’ll have to spend some money
• Weigh the cost of delegation against the cost of your time.
• Commit to the investment and move on, looking toward 2010.

Let me expand upon those just a bit.

The “sole source” mentality

As a blogger and entrepreneur we often feel as though we have to wear all the hats and know how to do everything associated with the operation of our blogs. While this may be a good idea, to actually know what is involved with every aspect initially, the sooner you realize the value in reserving your time for what you do best, the more productive your operation will become.

Identify those things that are holding you back

We all have skill sets that make us who we are, but nobody is good at everything. When you look through your list of things that are not yet accomplished, you will most likely find these items to be things that you are 1, not good at doing or 2, just don’t like to do them anyway.

This had led to procrastination, which is why they remain on the list. Get them off of there and let someone else deal with them.

Take accounting and bookkeeping for instance. Who actually loves to do that? It sucks and you probably suck at doing it so hire someone who has the love for it. These types of tasks will not become any more user-friendly for you tomorrow or the day after. Get them out of your hair and move on.

Delegation means money

Unless you have a family member with the skills to do these task and is willing to do for them for nothing, be prepared to spend some money.

Realize that this is not money lost, but money invested. You are building a business are you not?

Weighing the cost of delegation

If having your books done cost you $100.00 and you are now free to finish off your next product that will bring you several thousand, are you really being smart about this? Do the math.

Commit to the investment

Again, you are “investing” in your business and thereby investing in yourself. Many people say you cannot make money blogging and they are right. You cannot make money blogging – or at anything else for that matter without some investment.

Those who are not willing to spend a little on their businesses are doomed to failure; it’s just a hard fact. Those who are unable to spend at this time need to somehow raise some money to move forward.

There is no need to go heavily into debt by lining the pockets of those credit card companies, but you need to find some means of capital to build your operation.

Conclusion

Having relieved yourself of the nagging things in your business life will have you so looking forward to the coming year and all of the excitement of being productive.

Taking the steps above will bring you that much closer to the day when you will want to delegate nearly everything, because you will be making so much money, it will no longer be an issue.

You will be just where you want to be, bumming around the beach writing a few articles daily and working on money making projects.

Whatever your dream business model, you get my point.

Now go get busy clearing those tasks from your vision, so you can clearly see into the future.

Keep blogging!

Note: Image to the left is a photograph of the black board in the New York Gold Room, September 24, 1869, showing the collapse of the price of gold.

Yes, Black Friday is here at last and retailers everywhere have hopes of raking in big sales and finishing with the ink on their accounting books, in the black instead of losing money and ending up in the red.

But when did this all start and what are the origins of this term?

The earliest occurrence was doing the financial panic of September 1869, when two speculators attempted to corner the gold market, unsuccessfully. This is now known as the Fisk/Gould Scandal.

Then there was the over speculation of the stock market in 1873, leading to a long depression. Gee, history really does repeat itself time and time again.

Black Friday will forever have financial market annotations.

Even today, it’s all about markets, but in a positive way. Shoppers will line up at stores and outlets many hours in advance of the doors opening to have a shot at capturing one of those “Doorbuster” deals.

Many shoppers actually sit down with family and friends and develop a strategy, making sure that they cover the key stops to get the best items and prices on their lists.

I’m not big on these large crowds, but was compelled to line up like others a couple of years ago, snagging a couple HDTVs of considerable size for a near steal.

During that particular outing, I saw many on cell phones talking to others in a network of sorts. There was even one gentleman with a walkie-talkie. Talk about serious shoppers… this has become an annual event for many, likely generating as much excitement as Christmas itself.

The innovative types had nice comfy chairs, blankets and even DVD players to watch movies and pass the time until the doors opened.

This Friday after Thanksgiving ritual is make or break for many retailers. Have you noticed all of the retailers using social media strategies to advertise their wares?

This year’s run-up to Black Friday has been like no other. The game has changed for the intelligent brands that have seen the value in undertaking these advertising campaigns on places like Facebook. Many retailers have now embraced the use of social media.

Jennifer Van Grove has a great article up on Mashable about Brands using Facebook for Black Friday.

On the down side of things, let’s hope there is no repeat of 2008’s tragic trampling of a Walmart employee. I mean c’mon folks, this should not be THAT serious.

Let common sense prevail and enjoy the experience for what it should be. Everyone should have a Holiday season full of fond and loving memories, not nightmares. Don’t let a pair of jeans or a new iPhone ruin the shopping experience.

Be happy and above all, be safe!

Even then, much of what’s on the list of materials may make little sense initially, but you continue to follow the instructions provided in hopes of finding success.

Like any house or structure, it all begins with the foundation. A strong foundation is a must if you want this house to stand up to the winds of blogging. You know these winds will arrive at some point and you cannot have your house begin to lose materials and take on an appearance of shabbiness. If this occurs, people with not want to visit and those that do will not stay very long.

So you continue to build in hopes that this will someday begin to take on the appearance laid out on the blueprint. Early on, you also recognize the fact that you cannot build this alone and that help will be required during the various phases of construction.

After the foundation phase has been completed you turn to the next phase, which is to erect some exterior walls. These are needed to protect what you hope will be your most valued assets, your content and the various systems required to protect it and keep it in good order.

You can now begin to see the formation of the house, as it has started to resemble the blueprint you’ve been working from. At this phase, you’ve allowed yourself a slight smile, feeling that perhaps you CAN actually pull off this construction project, but realizing that there remains so much work to do.

Pressing ahead and having gained a level of confidence, you turn your attention to the roof which will fully enclose the structure and keep out unwanted elements, thereby protecting what lies within. Again, the process is quite slow as you assemble this section piece by piece.

Perseverance and hard work eventually gets the job done and you have a structure that looks exactly like the blueprint. This brings a high level of satisfaction tempered by the fact that you must now turn the page and begin the infrastructure phase.

Once again you reach up to scratch your head as you look at the blueprint, seeing the many elements that will make up various systems to support your house and make it function efficiently. You may even wonder if you will ever complete this project as you realize that there are far more intricacies to this than you ever could have imagined.

Having come this far you press on, but you now realize that this project will never be finished because it is a living thing that requires the continual building of systems and the associated maintenance thereof. This realization however, brings a great sense of accomplishment because you now know that you can handle the job.

As you continue to work on this house of yours, visitors, through various means of feedback, will let you know how you are doing and whether you need to adjust your plan.

This is the great challenge of blogging, having a plan but not truly knowing with absolute certainty if your plan will require some adjustments along the way.

More than likely there will be adjustments which is why bloggers must be both receptive and flexible. Without these traits, your hard work up to this point may well go out the window.

In the end, it was the enjoyment of the challenge that drew us in. Reaching your goals and achieving that sought-after level of success is the reward for taking on the challenges and being nimble enough to conquer them.

Keep Blogging!

Let’s share the journey, please SUBSCRIBE to my RSS feed for updates.

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This enthusiasm is met by a long protracted uphill climb toward recognition and authority. We need not rehash the many challenges of building a brand and gaining the trust of your readership, we all know the drill. But somewhere along that journey, a light comes on. Suddenly the blogger has a clearer vision than ever before with regard to reaching his or her goals.

It’s funny how this transition occurs as it will likely happen during a low point in your blogging career. In the midst of your second and third-guessing your decisions to pursue this craft, a light comes on and suddenly you get it. The light represents a realization, a sudden consciousness of exactly what needs to occur during the remainder of your blogging journey.

When the light comes on

• You’ll realize that you don’t need to type 600 words to say nothing and call it a blog post.

• You’ll discover that less is more; meaning 3 good posts this week beats the heck out of 5 duds.

• It becomes apparent that no matter how pretty and colorful your blog is, no one really cares because that is not the reason they arrived there in the first place.

• You’ll then know that one of the most important things about blogging is to find out what people are struggling with and provide solutions to those problems.

• There will be no need to wonder what you can write about that has not already been written about before. You’ll know that you can expand upon and add to the topic.

• Suddenly you realize that your blog is not at all about you, it’s about your audience and it is their needs and wants that come first.

• The fact that you cannot blog on an island all alone will be made perfectly clear. The importance of relationship building comes sharply into focus.

• You’ll understand the importance of being yourself and allowing people to perceive you as a real, honest individual, which is critical to your acceptance and subsequent success.

• It becomes clear that not only will you have to become a better blogger, but a highly skilled marketer as well.

• You would have learned how to focus and avoid information overload, which is the crippling disease of paralysis on the internet.

• You will have emerged from the darkness of blogging in the blind, hoping that the correct path magically opens before you.

• The values of time management skills are fully understood.

• An awareness that blogging is a real business that must be taken seriously will come over you.

• You’ll also know when to wrap up a blog post, which is about now.

This concludes my inspirational post of the week and I hope that it served as a reminder to some and a guide for others to remain strong in your commitments and stay on point.

Keep Blogging!

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But how exactly is this achieved? It is not the easiest thing to pull off, and too much of one element will surely work against the others.

Spend too much time writing and too little time marketing, no traffic. Too much research and marketing, leaves your blog with limited content. What’s a blogger to do?

Every blog is different of course, but each blog must find the right combination for it’s success. There is no magic formula to follow, but rather, a feeling out process to see what combination brings you the best results. I continue to spin the dials on those locks above in an attempt to get just the right combination.

What we all know is that balance is critically important.

What we don’t know is how to merge the many variables into a cohesive and successful plan early on in the blogging life cycle.

A level of testing and experimenting must occur in order to find out the best approach. This could be many months in the development stage and will likely become a long-term work in progress as adjustments will need to be made along the way.

Let’s have a look at how I’ve broken down my blogging activities in search of that elusive combination. These are not listed in an order of importance as I see them all as equally critical.

• Writing blog post – This of course is the reason for being a blogger, sharing what you know while simultaneously learning from others and most importantly, helping others solve problems. The act of producing content is often an opportunity to learn more on a specific topic which expands your knowledge base. I established a post schedule of 5 per week some time ago and have been able to maintain that. I look to up that rate a notch over the coming weeks as a test to see if traffic increases.

• Reading and research – I use iGoogle where a host of blogs are fed right onto my homepage. This really keeps me in touch with many of the blogs I follow and makes it easy to visit, read articles and comment. The search engine is conveniently located for researching various topics, so this centralized approach is a big plus for me.

• Commenting – This is an activity that I absolutely enjoy, sharing conversations and discovering the many viewpoints of others. I don’t feel that I am doing quite enough of this and plan to somehow find more time to devote. I know how much it means to me when readers take their time and leave a comment and contribute to the conversation, so being supportive of others is what will bring good things to all parties over the long haul.

• Networking and marketing – A good deal of time is spent networking and marketing. I promote the work of others about 90% of the time, which is exactly what I want to do. Since this is an online business blog, I see that as a large part of the mission. I do however; feel that this is an area to be carefully watched in terms of time spent. Time can quickly escape, which cuts into the time available for other critical functions. The other part of networking that is most enjoyable is the social aspect. Meeting other bloggers and sharing industry knowledge and techniques has always been of great interest to me. I’ve always said, if you can make a friend, why not?

Conclusion

Blogging is a craft and the sooner you find your own personal stride and balance, the sooner you can settle into a specific area of expertise and continue to build on what you know to be the right path.

I am now in my ninth month of the rookie season and will continue to work toward that balance, realizing that as long as you press onward a path to success will appear on the horizon.

What have you done (or are doing) to find the right combination?

Thanking you in advance for your feedback!

Let’s share the journey, sign up to my RSS feed for updates.

You can also find me on   and 

The reasons for not having taken the plunge are many, but here are 16 reasons why you should consider employing this strategy. Besides, what do you have to lose other than your business success?

1. Competitive edge – Since there are so many other businesses that have not embraced the use of social media, an opportunity is on the table for you to jump ahead of the pack in your particular niche. One of the largest advantages in any business is to do more than the competition. If you are to gain an edge you’d best get on with it, as this opportunity will not last indefinitely.
2. Go where the people are – Your potential customers are already using this technology to assist them in making buying decisions. With millions of internet users, you need to be in the mix with them. This brings you much closer to having your finger on the pulse of the market and knowing what the current trends are and what people are really looking for in terms of a product or service.
3. You are being passed by - Just what do you think your smartest business competitors are doing? You guessed it, they are already ahead of those who are not using social media marketing and are gaining that competitive edge mentioned in # 1 above. You cannot stand by and watch from the sidelines while potential customers move in another direction.
4. Large corporations are involved - This should tell you something. Large corporations don’t do things because they are trendy or fun, they get involved because they know that these techniques work to move their bottom lines in a positive direction. It’s all about the money.
5. Old school is just that - The old school marketing models are becoming less and less effective as society as a whole embraces the Web 2 technologies. The behavior of your customers has changed and you’ll have to change with them. It’s like a new language, unless you learn how to speak it, you’ll fail to communicate or connect.
6. Your reputation and credibility - As a business operator you have no doubt worked hard to build a certain reputation, a perceived level of professionalism and fairness. When you fail to change with the times you may be perceived as out of touch, which ultimately hurts your reputation and credibility.
7. Be seen as a leader - Living on the cutting edge of technology and incorporating this into your business positions you as an industry leader and someone who knows how to adjust and provide the best services or products. When potential customers have this type of perception of you, they will turn to you as an authority figure and leader.
8. People are talking - Inevitably people will always talk about your business and what you have to offer. Word of mouth advertising, while free, can make or break your business. There will be talk no matter what you do, so have a hand in giving them something positive to talk about like “I see XYZ Company is now advertising online everywhere”. This can only mean good things for your business.
9. Establish your online voice - While the others are talking be sure to establish your voice and the ability to get your message through. This is accomplished by being continually involved in social media circles. When you are a regular, you are then not perceived as someone coming to the party late and trying to speak over everyone else.
10. Develop relationships without the constraints of time – The use of social media provides great opportunities to establish and build relationships. There is no time constraint like offline life where the parties have to be in the same place at the same time. The use of social media tools could not make this situation easier.
11. Conduct product research - With relationships established you can reach out to your potential customers and find out exactly what issues or problems they are having and would like to have solved. This is an ideal way to determine what products you can offer that people are interested in buying.
12. Play traffic cop - With a crafty social media strategy you can drive large amounts of traffic to your website or landing pages to receive your message.
13. Monitor the competition - This is of great benefit to you, as you monitor what your competition is doing to be successful. You will then have to best their offers and give a little more when possible. It’s also a means of staying informed about various industry developments that you may have somehow missed.
14. Share industry news and developments - Sharing information and the latest news and developments within your area of expertise positions you as the go-to person and an industry leader. People are always respectful of those that willingly share valuable information that helps them.
15. Joint venture possibilities - Having a presence online has always been valuable. You never know when someone may have something of value to add to your business. Perhaps they have a product that can be combined with your service or vice-versa, thereby creating an opportunity for a joint venture. This could lead to long-standing business relationships and winning situations for all involved.
16. Increased income - After all, this is the reason you started your business in the first place. When you spread your reach using the power of social media and all of the associated tools, you in effect multiply yourself. You could never physically reach so many with so little effort.

Conclusion

Developing and growing your business is one of the most important things in your life and failing to recognize great opportunities will haunt you for years to come. Be proactive, think outside of the box and visualize the larger picture for your business future.

Social media is here to stay and the sooner you get involved and develop a strategy, the sooner you’ll be reaping the rewards of your efforts. You will someday wonder why you had not gotten involved sooner than you did. It is surely not too late to embrace this marketing model and take your efforts to the next level of development.

Someday, the flood gates will open and the opportunity to gain an edge on your competition may be lost, as everyone will be doing what few are doing now.

Bonus reason – Why not?

What sound reason could there be for not promoting your business and reaching more potential customers? This is today’s marketing model so begin the process of taking action now and good luck to you in your endeavors.

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There are some basic fundamentals that you’ll need to grasp quickly to avoid getting off to a rocky start. Things that are just not cool.

Let’s get right into it.

Poor theme selection – For the new blogger the excitement of getting your blog up and running means that you have arrived. You are now officially on the World Wide Web and although that standard issue WordPress theme may really look fantastic to you, don’t use it. It signals the world that you have just come out of the gate. Finding another theme is your next order of business. Try here, where there are more than 1000 to choose from.

Poor color selection – Okay, you’ve dumped that newbie theme and now you’re a designer – not. Don’t go from one extreme to another, settle for something that is pleasing to the eye and most important of all, readable to your site visitors. Avoid loud, eye-straining colors.

The sound of music – Not the Julie Andrews classic, but that annoying surprise you get when you arrive at some sites. Let’s face it, unless you have a music site, no one really care what you want to hear. No music should be auto-started when visitors arrive. Think of your blog as a library, it should be quiet because people came to read.

Failing to write clearly – Your blog should be easy to read and that includes the manner in which you write. Do not try to impress the world with long-winded dissertations and A+ term papers, write like you speak. The idea is to write in a conversational tone and promote some interaction.

Providing nothing of value – Whether you’re posting as a new blogger or an old vet, always be mindful of your audience and write something that someone, somewhere on the internet can actually use to enhance their lives or solve a problem. Believe me, no one cares a hoot about what you ate for dinner last night.

Not being authentic – Do you know how to be someone else better than yourself? Probably not, and that’s a problem. Relax, be yourself and don’t be a phony. Fish out of water always flop around and show their discomfort. Be for real and write what you know, your readers will love you for it.

Ignoring your readers – You must engage your readers and avoid pitching and preaching to them in all of your posts. Ask some questions, ask for feedback, comments or some other call to action that makes them feel a part of the experience.

Stealing the content of others – Stealing is a strong word and one heck of a charge to put on someone, but if you visit the sites of other bloggers, copy their content and place it on your site as if it were your own work, no accreditation, that’s exactly what you are doing “ Stealing”.

It’s okay to read the content of others and write about that topic in your own words, but be sure to enhance the topic by adding more value to it. If you can’t do that then you need to find another topic.

Failing to give credit – Be certain to give credit to the original author or source of any information you use or refer to, including photos, charts, and statistics. This is the courteous thing to do and shows that you are giving the respect and credit to those sources that have assisted you in creating your post. Link back to these sources when possible.

RSS not easily found – Are you kidding me? Your RSS subscription service is vital to building a following. Be sure this is above the fold in plain sight. Not clear on what it actually does and how to use it? See my article: RSS Feeds – What Are They?

Hiding behind the curtain – You cannot blog in anonymity, so be sure to get an “About” page up as quickly as possible. People want to know who you are and this is no time to be bashful. You are building authority and a brand, get to it.

Missing in action – If you expect to build a blog with a following of loyal readers you’ll need to post regularly. There can be no guessing on the part of your visitors as to whether you have something fresh for them to consume or not. Sporadic posting will lead you to the trash heap of blogging where so many before you have landed.

Establish a regular posting schedule and stick with it. If this means posting 3 times each week, do that consistently. Don’t post 6 times each week for one month, then suddenly cut back to 2 or 3 post over a 10 day period. People will just not bother to even check you out as you’ve built no credible level of dependability.

Failing to proofread – During the course of writing a blog post, there are bound to be some typographic errors, that’s life in the blogging world. Be sure to proofread your articles before publishing to catch as many of them as possible, keeping them to a minimum. Even then, there will be the occasional error that just flat out gets missed. An occasional error here and there shows that you are human and not perfect, but you must avoid the appearance of sloppy work.

Failing to respond to your readers – Your main feedback mechanism is your comments system. Always respond to your readers. They took the time to leave you a comment and they deserve to be recognized for that. There will be comments that oppose your position, and that’s okay, but be sure to respond to them as well. Join the conversation because 1, it’s your blog and 2, this is what you really want anyhow. A good conversation or even a debate is healthy and educational.

Don’t be a jerk commenter – When visiting the sites of others, leave a decent comment that actually adds to the conversation. The old worn out “Good post” and a link back to your site brands you as a spammer and someone who can’t see past their own nose. If you’re in this only for yourself, you’ll be by yourself. Interact with others and be a contributor to the community.

Ask for no handouts – Whatever you do, don’t do the “I like your blog, want to exchange blog rolls?” thing. Do you really want to sound so needy and pitiful?

In the world of blogging you have to establish yourself as someone who really has a passion for this and wants to enhance the online experience for others. This takes time, so be patient and continue to provide valuable content to your readers.

Conclusion

As your blog grows and you become known throughout the community, things will begin to unfold for you in ways that you didn’t anticipate or even imagine. Successful bloggers may not say much to you during the early developmental stages of your career, but people do take notice of the up and comers.

My advice to you is to keep producing quality content and be helpful to others as much as possible. You want to be known as a contributor because when you give, good things will happen.

To my more seasoned readers: What blogging blunders have you to contribute to this list that can help others trying to find their way?

Readers of this article may also find interest in:

15 Blog Design Mistakes to Avoid

Blog Content – How to Post Daily Without Posting Daily

Copywriting – Are You an Easy Read?

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