Comments on: Content is King http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:07:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Kristi Holl http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3899 Kristi Holl Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:01:27 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3899 Thanks for an understandable and brief description of what defines great content. This is something to print out and post near my keyboard when blogging. I do believe you're right about "giving away the gold," although many disagree. I have never bought anything from the sites that give teasers only for their products, but I've bought several things from your site and listened to Allison's branding/marketing teleseminars with you last year. And it all started with reading your snowflake article! Thanks for an understandable and brief description of what defines great content. This is something to print out and post near my keyboard when blogging. I do believe you’re right about “giving away the gold,” although many disagree. I have never bought anything from the sites that give teasers only for their products, but I’ve bought several things from your site and listened to Allison’s branding/marketing teleseminars with you last year. And it all started with reading your snowflake article!

]]> By: Ted http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3902 Ted Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:03:34 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3902 Kristi - could have been me writing that! Now I just wish I was more entertaining.... It's not fiction but it is free...http://defendyourself101.ca Kristi - could have been me writing that!

Now I just wish I was more entertaining….

It’s not fiction but it is free…http://defendyourself101.ca

]]> By: Beth Goddard http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3903 Beth Goddard Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:24:49 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3903 I have a mac and i publish my website with iweb. I also have a blog through blogger. I'm considering your suggestion to have my blog on my website. The thing is I've had my blog for a while and type in my name and it comes up pretty quickly. If I move it to my website. . .I'm not sure how that would work. My main question is how would I go about hosting my blog on iWEb. I don't know anything about FTP publishing, hence the move to iWEb. LOL OR could I use the blog on IWeb and publish it to my blogger acount. I'm so confused!!! I have a mac and i publish my website with iweb. I also have a blog through blogger. I’m considering your suggestion to have my blog on my website. The thing is I’ve had my blog for a while and type in my name and it comes up pretty quickly. If I move it to my website. . .I’m not sure how that would work. My main question is how would I go about hosting my blog on iWEb. I don’t know anything about FTP publishing, hence the move to iWEb. LOL OR could I use the blog on IWeb and publish it to my blogger acount. I’m so confused!!!

]]> By: Pamela Cosel http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3905 Pamela Cosel Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:58:35 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3905 If I can go back to the topic of a few days ago, briefly, about web sites, and share what's been resolved. You'll recall I posted a warning about clear communication when using a web designer. While I had been very pleased with what mine did for a design (more than I expected), I wanted to have control of it myself. She'd said she owned my site (I was not happy about that, but didn't quite realize that up front). She created the site in Flash, which is not the best choice, for a number of reasons, though my site is very attractive, and it would be hard to make many changes. Randy also says search engines don't do well with Flash sites. I lived with that the past 2 years, and couldn't afford to do much in the way of changes. We all know a site shouldn't sit stagnant (mine was) and Randy gives such good advice here about what to add and how to keep content fresh. At any rate, after the discussion here, I contacted my designer this past week...and she was great, agreeing to copy all my files to a CD and give turn them over to me at no charge. I am so glad. Now I either have to learn Flash, or entirely redo the site in another program to have it be more manageable by me, which will be worth it, once completed. End result is that I now will have control over my own site, so there is a happy ending! It's because of Randy's blog here that I was motivated to see how I could resolve things. Thanks, Randy. www.carouselcommunications.com (if you're curious) http://offthebookshelf.blogspot.com Pam If I can go back to the topic of a few days ago, briefly, about web sites, and share what’s been resolved. You’ll recall I posted a warning about clear communication when using a web designer. While I had been very pleased with what mine did for a design (more than I expected), I wanted to have control of it myself. She’d said she owned my site (I was not happy about that, but didn’t quite realize that up front). She created the site in Flash, which is not the best choice, for a number of reasons, though my site is very attractive, and it would be hard to make many changes. Randy also says search engines don’t do well with Flash sites.

I lived with that the past 2 years, and couldn’t afford to do much in the way of changes. We all know a site shouldn’t sit stagnant (mine was) and Randy gives such good advice here about what to add and how to keep content fresh. At any rate, after the discussion here, I contacted my designer this past week…and she was great, agreeing to copy all my files to a CD and give turn them over to me at no charge. I am so glad.

Now I either have to learn Flash, or entirely redo the site in another program to have it be more manageable by me, which will be worth it, once completed. End result is that I now will have control over my own site, so there is a happy ending! It’s because of Randy’s blog here that I was motivated to see how I could resolve things. Thanks, Randy.

www.carouselcommunications.com (if you’re curious)
http://offthebookshelf.blogspot.com

Pam

]]> By: Charlotte Babb http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3906 Charlotte Babb Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:06:31 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3906 It is amazing how well you can build traffic to a blog just by posting every day, Monday through Friday. My work blog has gone form 68 hits the first month to nearly to over a 1000, during the holidays when there were no new posts and the college was closed for two weeks. Since I have started back in January, we have had almose 2200 hits. Now, this blog is supposed to drive traffic back to our catalog website so people will register for classes, and my boss wants good information about what is going on at the college, and especially in our division. But the fact that it is hosted at wordpress.com means that there are ascpects I don't control, and I have no access to our web catalog at all, so I can't track whether a person who comes through my blog and clicks to the catalog actualy buys something. I also cant' set up any kind of autoresponder. It is important to have access and control of your blog. It is amazing how well you can build traffic to a blog just by posting every day, Monday through Friday. My work blog has gone form 68 hits the first month to nearly to over a 1000, during the holidays when there were no new posts and the college was closed for two weeks.

Since I have started back in January, we have had almose 2200 hits. Now, this blog is supposed to drive traffic back to our catalog website so people will register for classes, and my boss wants good information about what is going on at the college, and especially in our division. But the fact that it is hosted at wordpress.com means that there are ascpects I don’t control, and I have no access to our web catalog at all, so I can’t track whether a person who comes through my blog and clicks to the catalog actualy buys something. I also cant’ set up any kind of autoresponder.

It is important to have access and control of your blog.

]]> By: Sally Ferguson http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3908 Sally Ferguson Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:10:13 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3908 How do you hit a nerve that gets comments on a blog? Feedback is nice, but is it the goal? If there is no feedback, does that mean that noone is connecting with your thoughts, or that what you said is so self-explanatory that it needs no further explanation? How do you hit a nerve that gets comments on a blog? Feedback is nice, but is it the goal? If there is no feedback, does that mean that noone is connecting with your thoughts, or that what you said is so self-explanatory that it needs no further explanation?

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3912 Camille Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:26:09 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3912 I wondered the same thing as Sally. I wonder if Randy would share what his actual hit count is vs the number of posted comments. I bet it's huge. I was worried that Gail Martin was going to get lonely and pull her writing blog (www.writingright-martin.blogspot.com) because very little comments being posted...and why the heck not??? It's full of great writing tips....for free! I started to spread the word about her blog. But she assured me her hit counter - or whatever the techie term for it is - showed plenty of readership. Whew. I didn't want to lose a good, free thing. She's got Randy's give-away-the-gold thing down. I think the fact that she gives away great writing advice will do nothing but help her while it helps others. She has a new book out that complements her blog content, but there's no hard sell. You'll either be interested in it, or not. Like pro wrestling. We might be surprised to learn how many people come through, get what they want and leave without hanging around to interact. Maybe people are interested in the content but aren't interested in socializing. That would be helpful to know, as a blog provider. I wondered the same thing as Sally. I wonder if Randy would share what his actual hit count is vs the number of posted comments. I bet it’s huge.

I was worried that Gail Martin was going to get lonely and pull her writing blog (www.writingright-martin.blogspot.com) because very little comments being posted…and why the heck not??? It’s full of great writing tips….for free! I started to spread the word about her blog. But she assured me her hit counter - or whatever the techie term for it is - showed plenty of readership. Whew. I didn’t want to lose a good, free thing.

She’s got Randy’s give-away-the-gold thing down. I think the fact that she gives away great writing advice will do nothing but help her while it helps others. She has a new book out that complements her blog content, but there’s no hard sell. You’ll either be interested in it, or not. Like pro wrestling.

We might be surprised to learn how many people come through, get what they want and leave without hanging around to interact. Maybe people are interested in the content but aren’t interested in socializing. That would be helpful to know, as a blog provider.

]]> By: Rachael M http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3914 Rachael M Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:19:21 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3914 Hi Randy Thanks for the blog – it’s great… After reading your posts about Simpleology, I signed up and have just completed 101. I’m in the process of mapping out my ultimate life, targets, etc. and have a couple of questions about how you did it. I’ve noticed I can only have ONE short term, mid term, and long term target. Did this really frustrate you? Did you try to ‘get around’ it and add more in each field? Did you decide to go with the flow and truly only pick one target to work on the for whole week. It’s completely unrealistic to me to only work on one target. There’s a lot more I want to do with my life that isn’t related to that target. Eg, if my goal is to write 15 pages per week of my manuscript, what about my goal to go in a triathlon in six months (as a way of losing weight and getting fit)? How did you approach this? I tried reading the forum and a few people had started threads on the same issue. One person suggested choosing an overall ‘umbrella’ key goal that encompasses everything you want to do. I’m not sure where to go from here… Hi Randy

Thanks for the blog – it’s great…

After reading your posts about Simpleology, I signed up and have just completed 101. I’m in the process of mapping out my ultimate life, targets, etc. and have a couple of questions about how you did it.

I’ve noticed I can only have ONE short term, mid term, and long term target. Did this really frustrate you? Did you try to ‘get around’ it and add more in each field? Did you decide to go with the flow and truly only pick one target to work on the for whole week.

It’s completely unrealistic to me to only work on one target. There’s a lot more I want to do with my life that isn’t related to that target. Eg, if my goal is to write 15 pages per week of my manuscript, what about my goal to go in a triathlon in six months (as a way of losing weight and getting fit)?

How did you approach this?

I tried reading the forum and a few people had started threads on the same issue. One person suggested choosing an overall ‘umbrella’ key goal that encompasses everything you want to do.

I’m not sure where to go from here…

]]> By: Rachael M http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3915 Rachael M Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:23:19 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3915 sorry for the completely unrelated comment :) With regards to the topic, i don't really think people worry too much about getting lots of comments if they can see that a lot of people are reading their blog, i know i didn't. It's nice to get a comment but i suppose you realise that it's not that people arent reading it, it's just that you haven't pushed a button with them yet. sorry for the completely unrelated comment :)

With regards to the topic, i don’t really think people worry too much about getting lots of comments if they can see that a lot of people are reading their blog, i know i didn’t. It’s nice to get a comment but i suppose you realise that it’s not that people arent reading it, it’s just that you haven’t pushed a button with them yet.

]]> By: Beth Goddard http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3916 Beth Goddard Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:15:04 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3916 I think i've discovered an answer to my above question of how to get my blog onto my site. It's called an iFrame! Very easy to do. Now my blog is at both blogspot and at my website. I'm still working on the actual look of my blog, etc. but at least I can promote it on my site now:) Beth I think i’ve discovered an answer to my above question of how to get my blog onto my site. It’s called an iFrame! Very easy to do. Now my blog is at both blogspot and at my website. I’m still working on the actual look of my blog, etc. but at least I can promote it on my site now:)

Beth

]]> By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3920 Daan Van der Merwe Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:55:28 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3920 As far as Sally and Camille's question goes, it is in my opinion simply a matter of personal taste. Outside my office I have two passions: relegion and fiction writing. As for the latter, I enjoy Randy's website and I'm crazy about the blog, enjoying to post comments. One of our fellow readers, Gina Conroy, is posting some interesting ideas about Christian religion on her blog. I post comments where I feel that my opinion might be of value to her and her readers. I also visited the blog of Allison Bottke where she had supplied a link to a sermon preached by a Presbyterian Minister and which I have greatly enjoyed reading. Which brings me to my point. Allison's blog is about fun (for which I'm an absolute sucker), faith (which I enjoy), food, family and fashion (which doesn't intertest me, especially that fashion angle). After all, I can't see myself as a Boomer Babe! My rugby-addicted, beersoaking buddies will laugh themselves sick!! As far as Sally and Camille’s question goes, it is in my opinion simply a matter of personal taste. Outside my office I have two passions: relegion and fiction writing. As for the latter, I enjoy Randy’s website and I’m crazy about the blog, enjoying to post comments.

One of our fellow readers, Gina Conroy, is posting some interesting ideas about Christian religion on her blog. I post comments where I feel that my opinion might be of value to her and her readers.

I also visited the blog of Allison Bottke where she had supplied a link to a sermon preached by a Presbyterian Minister and which I have greatly enjoyed reading.

Which brings me to my point. Allison’s blog is about fun (for which I’m an absolute sucker), faith (which I enjoy), food, family and fashion (which doesn’t intertest me, especially that fashion angle). After all, I can’t see myself as a Boomer Babe! My rugby-addicted, beersoaking buddies will laugh themselves sick!!

]]> By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3922 Pam Halter Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:26:16 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3922 Can you talk a little on blogs for kids? I know the basics are the same, great content and all, but I'm thinking about when (see, I'm optimistic) my book comes out for middle grade readers. Not only would I want to talk about the book and its characters, plot, etc. but I'd also like to talk to kids who are interested in writing. Is there anything different I should know about doing that? Can you talk a little on blogs for kids? I know the basics are the same, great content and all, but I’m thinking about when (see, I’m optimistic) my book comes out for middle grade readers. Not only would I want to talk about the book and its characters, plot, etc. but I’d also like to talk to kids who are interested in writing.

Is there anything different I should know about doing that?

]]> By: Ted http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3923 Ted Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:44:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/02/content-is-king/#comment-3923 By far most of my http://defendyourself101.ca visits are from three visitors in New York: hits: isp 3735 66.249.72.201 2856 66.249.65.77 2039 66.249.65.136 and the next highest are in Moscow: 1168 77.91.224.18 1142 77.91.224.8 These numbers are way too high. It messes up my counts. Is there any way to be sure they are spam robots or spiders so I don't ban legitimate people? They are not getting through with spam but they keep pinging me, throwing off my site stats. I have google ads on some pages and they register far less 'impressions' of each ad (times in a day the page they appear on is loaded) giving a more accurate level of activity, I presume. (I've actually made $8.07 since I put up their ads!) It would mean that the hits from the isps in NY and Moscow are not being counted as impressions at google...they give me a total of 4,208 impressions only since start up. I think my counter is a bit useless, perhaps. I wish I got comment so I could track real people... . By far most of my http://defendyourself101.ca visits are from three visitors in New York:

hits: isp
3735 66.249.72.201
2856 66.249.65.77
2039 66.249.65.136

and the next highest are in Moscow:

1168 77.91.224.18
1142 77.91.224.8

These numbers are way too high. It messes up my counts.

Is there any way to be sure they are spam robots or spiders so I don’t ban legitimate people? They are not getting through with spam but they keep pinging me, throwing off my site stats.

I have google ads on some pages and they register far less ‘impressions’ of each ad (times in a day the page they appear on is loaded) giving a more accurate level of activity, I presume. (I’ve actually made $8.07 since I put up their ads!) It would mean that the hits from the isps in NY and Moscow are not being counted as impressions at google…they give me a total of 4,208 impressions only since start up.

I think my counter is a bit useless, perhaps.

I wish I got comment so I could track real people… .

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