Blogged and Burned

[thewriterslife]

It's actually not hard to get into the number one position in any of the search engines once you follow a certain formula. I'll be teaching a class about this in March....but not to leave you hanging, it's all about getting your links on as many websites as you can and using key search words and phrases and utilizing a certain formula using these approaches. I tried the formula out with a couple of ebooks my writing and group and I gave away. I just wanted to see if the dang thing worked. The first ebook took seven days to get to number one, the second took six, and the last one we did (a Christmas ebook) took one day. And the great thing about it is, you don't have to pay for any of those services that claim they can do it for you.

And blogs are no different. I have about five or six blogs, each for different purposes. Where I write about relationships, I have two blogs for that...as I'm an editor of a writing ezine, I have one blog for that...then I have my boomer chick blog which I talk about all kinds of things that might come back to haunt me later such as rat murders and talking about how my father dissed me as a baby. I'm careful as to what I put up, but I go very near the edge. I want to entertain, but not divulge something that someone is going to take and fly with it.

But, the great thing about blogs is that you would utilize the same formula I was talking about using to sell your books using key search words and phrases and getting the link on as many websites as I can. And you also have to remember when you do blog, pay careful attention to what you use in the title of your post because that's what's going to show up mainly in the search engines. If you are promoting a book say for example and you want to talk about something about your book, make sure the title has your book title in it. Don't be lame and put a title up like "What a good day this was!"...well, that's not good promotion.

A good promoter is going to pay attention to every single piece of promotional literature they send out, whether it's a blog or a press release or an article they have written. Everything shows up in the search engines, so why not use this to promote yourself and climb higher in rankings?

I love blogging. I don't have much time anymore, but I do try to keep up and keep my links coming into the search engines. That should be the main goal of any author.

[GoHarrBarr]

It's humourous how some people believe there will be no ramifications for spilling your thoughts on to a written page. People will be offended. It will happen, guaranteed. It's like having drunken, verbal diarrhea at cocktail party, an unabashed intimate conversation with one million guests that can be replayed over and over and over. Are you ready for that?

Personally, I look at it this way. Some thoughts should be private. Be careful how you expose yourself. After all, would you put a naked photo of yourself on your blog? I wouldn't (unless, perhaps, I sharpen my Photoshop skills). But that's the point, how exposed do you want to be? If you are all or nothing, then I'll back you up, cause I support you, but remember...others will not.

[lastwrites]

[Capitalist_Pig]

Interesting. Hadn't heard about this, since my Feb. edition had myteriously vanished.

I think people would have a little more discretion than that, but maybe I'm misunderestimating mankind. (Oh come on, you know you wanted to say it too!) I've blogged before, though I didn't consider calling it that at the time, and there's this sense of "who the h*ll is going to read this?" that really makes you second-guess writing out your entire address, social security number, and your grandmother's maiden name. I really don't think this is that big of an issue, unless predators start looking for people who are quite obviously inexperienced teens on these things. (Hope I didn't just give someone ideas.)

Anyone who has ever blogged before knows what a slip of the typing, even on a blog of your own personal thoughts, can do to your relations with the world. But really, you can make up an identity, so you could just as easily go off about how your fictional Aunt Robert just call you 'Honey.'

[Mauvekat]

I am not sure whether or not to be worried or not. I think blogging is just another way for people to express themselves. Yes, people can take what someone says TOO seriously or more often be ignored in their blogging. Honestly, I don't mind people blogging. If I want to read it and get offended, I won't read it again. If I like the blog, I will keep reading. It is back to our personal choices and what we want to read. It is like reading an author you really don't like and bitching about it- why in the world are you reading them anyway? It goes with the blogging. I also know that some people have blogged and gotten burned for it, but like any author or artist, it happens. No one can sit around and write a perfect blog entry or idea that will offend no one. It is like writing, it will probably offend someone, and someone won't like it and hate it. But I guess I am all for the freedom to write what we want and if people don't like it, stop reading it. I do mind though people using the blog as a way to attack someone. I guess I just find it petty and silly, but I am just one person.

[Susan]

I do believe people overreact to content on blogs-- unless you are dogging others on your blog, writing offensive, racist material, then where's the harm? Many members here, including myself, have blogs. For me, it keeps me writing about how writing relates to my everyday life.   You just find a blog that fits what you are interested in and leave the rest alone- it's as simple as that.

[GoHarrBarr]

Hi Bob!

Sure, I'd be happy to read your blog. Anytime. I am always willing to support another writer, in any endeavor. Unless, of course, you're insane...oh well, freedom of speech and all.

Harrison
P.S. Is that a photo up a thumb screw?

[lastwrites]

Alright, that's it Harr-i-son! “Insane?”

From now on, you can call me Robert. I know…I know, it's still only two syllables, but I just can’t stand the smug way in which you squeezed all that sarcasm into Bob…. And don't think for a moment, I didn't see the exclamation point.

Sadly, I don’t have a blog. I meant someone else, but thanks for the support dude! Anyone who has a beer cheer is alright with me.

PS: It's a Medieval skull crusher. I call it writing

Robert

[Eightball8018]

Last I heard, this was still a free country, and writing about what you're going through in life was legal. Perhaps we should go as far to say that writer's shouldn't appear on television shows or radio spots, for fear they may say the wrong thing. At least in using a blog as an outlet, the writer is maintaining the avenue through which they achieved success. Anybody who has reached a point of success that puts them in the public eye will come under scrutiny of those watching (or reading), but to avoid something that everybody else in the internet world enjoys simply because you've achieved your dreams would be succumbing to this scrutiny.

[Capitalist_Pig]