Blogging Gal

According to its About page, ShanKri-la was designed to “disperse information about technology that can make our lives a little bit easier, a little bit more enjoyable, and a little bit more manageable.” Having been an avid reader of the blog for nearly six months, I can testify to the fact that it is accomplishing its mission. It has quickly become one of my favorite destinations on the web.

ShanKri-la is authored by Karthik, an IT professional residing in East Lansing, Michigan. He is married to the lovely Shriya of Spicy Tasty. Today is Karthik’s 30th birthday, so this review is my little way of wishing him a wonderful day!

The ShanKri-la archives date back to October 2006 and are chock full of articles on blogging, web applications, and various other internet related topics. Every now and then, we even get a little glimpse of the man behind the blog. ShanKri-la currently boasts more than 300 RSS subscribers and a PageRank of 4.

I’d like to highlight a few of the many wonderful posts on ShanKri-la.

Top 5 Must Read Blogs - This post introduces some great blogs related to technology and blogging. I can’t believe that Karthik forgot to include Blogging Gal on the list!

Top WordPress Plugins - A list, complete with descriptions, of the more than 65 plugins utilized and highly recommended by Karthik.

Guide to Managing Your Non-essential Passwords - Tips and tools for managing your list of passwords.

I can’t possibly do the blog justice by shining the spotlight on only three posts, so I ask you to check out the wealth of information on ShanKri-la for yourself. The blog is visually pleasing, easy to understand, and frequently updated. It will make a great addition to your feed reader. When you stop by, be sure to wish Karthik a happy birthday!

Happy birthday, K!

In just a few short days, I will be selecting a random winner in the Blogging Gal Contest #1. The lucky winner will receive a blog review as well as a 125 x 125 pixel banner ad spot for the entire month of February. All you have to do to secure your entry is subscribe to my feed and then comment on the original contest post. If you’re already subscribed, that’s great. Just leave a comment to get your entry.

I’ll host a similar contest each month, so if you don’t win in January, you’ll have plenty of other opportunities. Good luck!

I’ve read a lot of great articles this past week, but here are the ones I think you’ll find most useful for your blog.

Socialize Me! Wordpress Plugin - This new plugin gives you a new way to connect with readers from various social networking sites. Supports StumbleUpon, Digg, Facebook, Twitter, Pownce, and others.

10 Tips for Writing Good Content and Attracting Readers - Great advice from Blog Oh! Blog.

Free Search Engine Friendly Wordpress Theme - Garry Conn just released Digs’em, a great tool for getting your content indexed and ranked in the search engines.

How to Make CPC Ads Convert - This article from ProBlogger is a must read for anyone interested in increasing revenue from Cost Per Click ads.

14 Awesome Reasons to Start Blogging Today! - A list of reasons people blog and great examples to go along with each reason.

I was tagged by Jim of U-Turn Ahead to list seven weird facts about myself. In keeping with the theme of this blog, here are seven strange blogging facts about me.

1. I once authored a blog called The Daily Dump. It consisted of nothing but bathroom humor. One regular feature was Defecation Station, in which I reviewed the restrooms of local establishments.
2. I also authored a blog called Find Tish a Boyfriend. The blog was a bust, as was my search for a boyfriend. So yes, Blogging Gal is still on the market! If any of you nice, young geeks are interested, drop me a line through the contact form.
3. I’m a big fan of Minor League Baseball, and I’ve often blogged about my favorite player on my personal blog. In 2006, I got an email from my favorite player’s father! While googling his son, he came across some photos I had taken and posted on my personal blog, The Kat House. He kindly thanked me for being a fan and offered to send me some autographed cards. Since that time, we have become friends and keep in touch regularly by email. And I have a nice collection of autographed baseball cards! My favorite player has since moved to the Major League!
4. I’m the blogosphere’s leading authority on Cootie Brown, and I have an entire category devoted to him on The Kat House.
5. I participated in Blogathon 2007, blogging for 24 straight hours on my blog review site, BlogsWeLuv.
6. I used to participate in a community art project called Half Nekkid Thursday. Participants posted artsy “half nekkid” photos on their blogs each Thursday.
7. My last serious relationship, which ended nearly a year ago, was with another blogger.

I’d like to tag the following bloggers: Andrew, Aaron Cook, Josey, Wm H, and Laura Williams.

I’ve been anxiously awaiting the launch of Blogging Startup, a blog dedicated to providing “support, advice, and warnings for those starting a blog.” The official launch date is today, January 23rd.

Blogging Startup is authored by Jim Lockwood of U-Turn Ahead and SevenActions.com fame. With his new blog, Jim plans to share his passion for blogging and the Internet by posting articles to make the process of starting a blog as simple and painless as possible.

Please take a moment to stop by and welcome Blogging Startup to the neighborhood!

I read a lot of great blogging and technology blogs, but MeAndMyDrum is one of my favorites. Authored by Mark Sierra, the blog features blogging tips and software reviews, as well as information on current events and whatever other topics happen to catch Mark’s attention.

Though Mark may not consider himself a professional blogger, his work is some of the most professional I’ve seen. In addition to MeAndMyDrum, he authors two other blogs - Darn Good Reviews and Family WebWatch. He also contributes to Blog About Your Blog, BlogsWeLuv, and Digital Journal. Yes, he’s a blogging machine! And whether he’s blogging about the latest technology or how to stop stuffing your pie hole, each post is well thought out, exceptionally well written, and a joy to read.

MeAndMyDrum was launched in February 2007. It recently broke into the Technorati Top 10K, currently boasting a rank of 8,420. There are nearly 200 RSS subscribers.

Perhaps the best way to introduce you to MeAndMyDrum is to highlight a few posts that I enjoyed.

Wendy’s Doesn’t Know What I Deserve - Mark reflects on his lunch at Wendy’s, and more specifically, how advertising can influence a person’s behavior.

Twas My Blog Before Christmas - A very clever, creative post that all bloggers can relate to.

How to Find Hot Spots on Your Blog - A review of Crazy Egg, a free product that uses heat maps to display where your readers are looking and clicking on your blog. This information can be used to determine ad placement, thereby increasing your online income.

2 Tips for Eliminating Blogger’s Block - Reviews of Google Notebook and Diigo, two of the tools Mark uses when generating ideas for upcoming posts.

There are lots of other great posts you’re sure to enjoy, so head on over to MeAndMyDrum and give it a look. This blog will make a great addition to your feed reader!

Here are a few great articles to help you make improvements to your blog.

One Simple Way to Generate More Comments on Your Blog - Copyblogger discusses how to write a conclusion that encourages readers to comment.

How to Redirect a Feedburner Feed to Another Feedburner Feed - If you’re considering moving to a new domain, this article by Kyle of Slickmania will help you to smooth the transition for your readers.

Entrecard Review - David Cooley of CyberCoder just started using Entrecard, a link exchange system that is quickly sweeping the blogosphere. He has written about his experience thus far and will report back after a 30 day trial.

How to Run a Successful Competition on Your Blog - Darren Rowse of ProBlogger offers great advice on hosting a blog contest.

PepperJam Affiliate Networking Already Viral - Matthew of Blog About Your Blog posted a great review of PepperJam. If you’re interested in affiliate marketing, PepperJam has a lot to offer.

Every now and then I run across an undiscovered gem in the blogosphere - an absolutely fantastic blog with no regular readers. Most of us would blog even if we had no readers, but let’s face it. Our readers provide an extra incentive. Their comments give us support and encouragement to keep doing what we do best.

Does your blog suffer from lack of readership? Do you post great content that no one actually sees? Building a community is easier than you might think. Here are a few tips for finding your readers.

1. Register with blog directories. Sites such as Technorati, MyBlogLog, and BlogCatalog are a fantastic source of traffic.
2. Promote your blog on the social networking sites. If you have Facebook and MySpace accounts, let them work for you. Add your blog link to your profiles.
3. Comment on the blogs you read. If you don’t comment, no one will know you exist, which could explain why you have no readers.
4. Host a contest. Submitting your contest details to various contest blogs will send a stream of new traffic your way. Check my Recommended Sites page for a list of some great contest blogs.
5. Set up a signature containing your blog URL for all outgoing emails.
6. Do some offline networking. I carry cards to pass on those I discuss my blog with. The cards contain my name, blog details, and contact information. I recommend VistaPrint, as they often offer business cards for only the cost of shipping.

If there are any of the above tips that you’re not utilizing, give them a try. I’m sure you’ll see great results.

I intend to keep Blogging Gal commercial free; however, I recently started writing some paid posts on my personal blog, The Kat House. All of my work has been with SponsoredReviews, which I have found to be an excellent source of income.

The way it works is simple. Just register with the site, and once your account has been approved, you will be able to browse a list of available opportunities. Each opportunity will display a range of bids currently being accepted. Bids can range from $5 to several hundred dollars per post. If you see an opportunity that catches your eye, bid on it. Be patient, as some advertisers take a while to respond. Others respond right away.

Your earnings are posted to your account as you complete your reviews, and your account is paid out via PayPal every two weeks. By writing a few posts every two weeks, you’ll have a steady stream of income.

I’d like to offer a few tips if you are considering using SponsoredReviews.

• Bid only on opportunities that fit the theme of your blog. Don’t put articles about video games on your cooking blog. Personal blogs offer the greatest flexibility.
• Check available opportunities daily. By getting your bids in early, you’ll have a better chance of having them accepted.
• Before bidding on an opportunity, read it in its entirety. Do not bid unless you are certain you want to write the review. SponsoredReviews may suspend your account for not following through on accepted opportunities.
• Consider a site-wide disclosure as opposed to identifying each post as a sponsored review.
• Make your blog details visible to all advertisers as opposed to only the ones you initiate contact with. Advertisers browse through the blog directory and may contact you directly to purchase reviews.
• Install a word count plugin or compose your posts in Microsoft Word to ensure that minimum word count is satisfied.
• Take advantage of the referral program. You can earn up to $175 per advertiser and $90 per blogger referred.

Keep in mind that if you are concerned about your Page Rank, SponsoredReviews may not be for you. Blogs with paid reviews may be penalized by Google with lowered Page Rank. If income is more appealing than Page Rank, I recommend signing up and giving it a try. Good luck!

If you’re looking for a little free exposure for your site, please consider visiting BlogsWeLuv. Mike Wheeler and I co-founded the site in June 2007, and it has since expanded to include several other contributors. We highlight unique and interesting sites by posting blog reviews and conducting interviews with bloggers.

The quickest and easiest way to have your blog featured on the site is by participating in our 10 Question interview. All bloggers are welcome. In fact, many of the blogs we have chosen to review on the site were discovered through the 10 Question interviews. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts on blogging and to promote your site. Even if your blog has already been reviewed on the site, you are still free to participate in our interview for some additional publicity.

We host a contest on BlogsWeLuv each month, with the winner receiving a blog review written by yours truly. You still have plenty of time to get your entry in the January contest. All you need to do is subscribe to the BlogsWeLuv feed and leave a comment on the contest post. One random winner will be chosen at midnight on January 31st. A review of the winning blog will be posted during the first week of February. And don’t fret if you don’t win. As I mentioned, we host a new contest each month.

Speaking of contests, you still have time to get your entry into the Blogging Gal Contest #1. You can win a review of your blog as well as a 125 x 125 pixel banner ad spot for the entire month of February! Good luck!