Writing Advice

I´m one of those persons which enjoys quotes, specially inspirational and about life & love. The other day, while browsing images on Google, I came across the above "writing rules" and think it´s worth sharing with my blogging friends and Night Clicks readers.
Lately, I haven´t been blogging and writing much so the picture above is kind of a "note to self" as well :) It´s also a reminder that improvement generally needs practice.
Now my inner voice is also saying...stop looking at the poster and go write something! :)
See you soon xx

Posting Videos That Fit In Your Blog

Last December, I wrote a short tutorial here in Night Clicks on how to change a video html code so it fits the blog´s posting width.
I wrote this post because, while bloghopping trough EC, I came across a number of blogs with videos which were too big making the blog look a bit messed up.
A few days later, I came across a tutorial for blogger which is more detailed than mine with images and all. This tutorial applies only to blogger platform but if you still have questions on how to reseize a video, check it out at this url:

http://www.dressupyourblogs.com/2011/01/how-to-insert-video-from-youtube-in.html

I´m posting about this topic again because I still see blogs with videos bigger than the blog´s post size. I hope my post can help some of these fellow bloggers.
See you soon xx

Blogging Tips: How to Change a Video Code so it Fits a Blog Post

Hello everyone,
As you know, I blog-hop quite a bit trough EC and other Social Networks. Recently, I came across a few blogs with videos a bit wider than it´s post´s width. Probably, these bloggers haven´t learned yet how to change a Video html code so it fits a blog post so I´ve decided to share what how I do it.

If you copy one html video code from Youtube or any source, to make the video fit your blog´s post all you have to do is replace the numbers in the parameters "Width" and "Height" within the code for lower values.

For example, in a regular Youtube html piece of code you´ll find the following command´s values:

width="640"

height="390"

All you have to do is replace 640, the value corresponding to the video publishing width, for a lower value to fit your blog post, for example, 440.
Some html codes repeat the size command twice (once in the code´s beginning and another near the last commands) so you need to use the same numeric value in both commands to make it work.

To change a video´s height, the process is the same. Just replace 390 in the html code for a lower number, for example 300, if you wish to reduce the video height and for a higher number if you wish to increase it´s height.

See you soon :)

Nofollow Attribute in links, Images or Banners

This post continues the serie of posts I´m writing about links in blogs.
In my previous post about links I distinguished do follow links from no follow links in a simple way.
Once images and banners also contain links, it´s useful to know how to add a ‘Nofollow’ attribute. Basically it´s done the same way as in links.
All you need is to add rel=”nofollow”. Here’s another way to add this attribute in a link or any image/banner:

In a link:

a rel=”nofollow” href="website url”>Anchor text

In Images and banners:

a rel=”nofollow” href=”website url”> img src=”image url"

Take note that I couldn´t add the html opening and closing tags in this example.

Blogging Basics: Two Types of Links

This is the first post of a serie I´m writing about links.
One thing a blogger must know is how to work with links in posts. I´m not a SEO expert, but I´ll share what I´ve learned and my vision of this subject. If you think I´m wrong in any part, please correct me, that way we can learn more.
Generally speaking, there are two types of links: Do follow and No follow.
So, what´s the difference?
For Goggle, each link pointed to your blog counts as a vote. In theory, if you have more relevant/authority links pointed to your blog you´ll have better ranks. Relevant links can be from blogs/websites in your niche with good ranks, from directories with good PR, Article directories, Forums, the so wanted edu links, etc.
When your blog is crawled by Google there are two main type of instructions/tags you can give the robots regarding your blog links:

~ Do Follow links:
Means the robots will consider the link as a valid vote, they will crawl it and give that site your vote of trust and PR from your blog. This are normal links, they look like:

Ex: a href="http://name of the site">Anchor text

~ No Follow Links:
It´s a tag we add to the link that instructs robots to ignore that vote. With this type of links, PR doesn´t pass from one site/blog to another. The link works as normal but because it has the no follow tag, it´s distinguished from other links in your blog and doesn´t count as a vote. A no follow link looks like this:

Ex: a href="http://name of the site" rel="nofollow">Anchor Text

Blog Resources: Free Headers

I found a free three columns template I´d like to use in my blog Netfreesource but I don´t like the header.
In Blogger blogs it´s easy to change the header, all we have to do is upload a picture with the right size, both in height and width.
I can use any image to make a header, as long as it has the right size (you can see your header size in the blog HTML code section, expressed in pixels).
To resize pictures I use a freeware software I downloaded online, but that´s another topic.
I´ve been looking for a header that matches the new template and I came across a few free resources I´d like to share. If you need a header for your blog, check out this websites:

~ http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/03/05/blog-headers-for-free-download/

~ http://100pixel.blogspot.com/ - pr4

~ http://www.headerspot.com/

~ http://www.freewebpageheaders.com/

Adding Sitemaps in Blogs and Websites

In a website it´s important to have a SiteMap but does it make any difference in a Blog?
Maybe it does make a difference, in search engines results. If I add a SiteMap in my site maybe my content is easily found and added in search results.
Well, this are some of the questions I asked myself after reading some articles that strongly recommend the use of a SiteMap in websites.
After Googling the subject I came across a few articles and a tutorial about this topic. To learn how to submit your blog´s SiteMap to Google Webmasters Tools, check out the tutorial provided by Blogger Aid, in:
http://blogger-aid.blogspot.com/
This tutorial helped me understand a little more about this topic.
Google Webmasters tools page also provides information. I think I need to make a SiteMap for my site, and disclosure too, I haven´t done this yet.

Blogging: A Few Search Tips

Hi. This post is about searching Google, in the first part I´ll try to answer a reader´s question and after I´ll share how I perform some searches.
One reader left a comment about Traffic Travis and it´s capacity for PPC results. For this type of search I think a very good tool to use is Adwords itself. You pay a one time fee of $5 (last time I checked) but you get access to all the info on PPC values and lists of high paying keywords.
A good keyword research should include different tools to compare results. Google provides a Keyword search tool that returns the average amount of searches performed by users which is a good indicator to be used to take conclusions.
When you´re searching Google you can use a few tricks to filter results:

~ If you need to know how many websites exist with the exact words you typed, use: "replace with your words". If you use " ", the results will be filtered.

~ To filter results by date, first do a normal search, then add ' as_qdr=d ' to the end of URL in address box and click enter. When you use this trick, you´ll get an advanced search feature that allows you to filter some results.

~ If you type: Link: name of the website, you´ll get some of the links pointed to that website. This option was restricted by G. They don´t list all results anymore.

A good tool I used to check all linking strategie of websites for free was an affiliate scheme tool. If you´re interested I can share that tool, just leave me a comment showing your interest. See you soon.

Blogging Tips: Block The Image Copy Function

Hi everyone, another week started and I´m back to work in my blogs.
Today I´m sharing a little trick I learned while working with images in posts.
If you use your own original images in your blog but you don´t want others to copy it, there´s a little trick you can use to block the copy function.
To block the copy function available in the mouse right button, all you have to do is add a piece of HTML to the image´s link.
Add the code: oncontextmenu="return false" to the image´s link.
It will look this way: img src="image link" oncontextmenu="return false"
That´s it, you´re done.

Blogging Basics: Ask Questions To Your Blog Readers

Hi.
If you want to make your blog a space where readers can participate one thing you can do is use the pool feature provided by Blogger. With this feature you can ask your readers questions and decide the answer options.
You can also decide for how long that pool is going to last. When the defined time expires you can write a blog post about the pool results.
I think the pool feature is useful, you can ask your readers their opinions about specific topics related to your blog and get their answers anonymously. Some people don´t like to comment or identify themselves when expressing their opinions so the pool feature is a good solution.
To have a pool in your blog, all you need to do is go to your scheme pannel, select "add element" and then choose "Blog Pool". A new window will open where you can type your question, answer options, and select the expire time.
After you´ve done, you have to save the new element. After this part is done you can choose where to place the pool in your blog trough the drag and drop feature provided by blogger to arrange page elements.
See you soon.

Blogging Topics: About Images in Posts

Hi.
I´ve been visiting other blogs and I noticed that some bloggers like to use images to complement a post. Some bloggers use images related to the post´s topic, for example, if the post is about PCs they use a correspondant image or some pic related, or pictures about themselves, in case of personal journals.
I think it´s a good idea to use pictures in posts, it can make the post much more attractive to read. On the other hand, an excess of pictures, flashing buttons or banners can distract a reader.
A good starting point to reflect about this topic is trying to answer a few questions, like:
What do you think when you come across a blog filled with flashing banners?
Do you stay there long enough to read a post?
If you post many pictures do you think readers will read your text or only look at the pictures?
Is the picture you´re using really related to your post? Does it add anything?
Why are you using this specific picture?
Do the colors of the picture match your blog?
Once again, it´s up to the blog author to decide if the blog will include pictures or not. If a blog belongs to a company or has a commercial objective this issues also need to be pondered, not only in personal blogs.
Images are powerful, they can provoque different reactions in readers. If you´re not sure what to do, why not try first, or ask your readership. They´re the best blog critics you´ll find.

Blogging Basics: Different Types of Posts

Hi.
In previous posts about blogging basics I mentioned that each blog is unique, like it´s author, among the different categories they can be classified.
A blog that focus on news is very different from a personal journal or a photoblog. We could say that each post has different functions or types.
A post can:

~ Report the last news or events
~ Discuss and analyse current events
~ Consist of an article about specific topics
~ Tell a story, personal or fiction
~ Tell jokes and humorus situations
~ Provide links to resources
~ Provide technical information
~ Review websites, products, or services
~ Describe places and culture
~ Include pictures, video or only text
~ Serve a specific purpose in a blog, like my blogger status posts
~ etc.

So, in a personal journal blog you´ll probably find more posts that describe facts and the author´s personal story or views, while in a news blog you´ll find more posts that report the last events, with a journalistic language. This posts aren´t very long, and focus is answering the questions: Who, what, when, and why.
It´s up to the blogger to decide wich format the blog will follow and which function each post has. Many bloggers define their blog´s topics in the begining. They choose a certain niche (specific topic) and work around it, while others decide to follow the format of a mixed bag. A mixed bag is a blog that posts about many different topics. They generaly have a long categories list and don´t focus anything special.
So, in this imense blogosphere you can find blogs for all tastes. If you´re a blogger trying to decide which format to follow there are a few things you need to consider. The most important of all is: What´s your blog´s objectives?
Are you writing a personal journal, or an informative blog?
It all depends on your answers to this and other questions.
I will return to this topic in future posts, this one´s getting too big.
See you.

Blogging Basics: Tutorials

Hi everyone. Today´s posts continues the section about blogging basics.
Sometimes, when we start blogging we have basic daughts, like, how to add a photo in my post or how to change a template, and so on.
Blogging has a learning curve and how fast you learn will depend on your previous knowledge about blogs and internet experience. The truth is most people that start a blog for the first time without previous knowledge need tutorials and help.
If you´re using a Blogspot Blog you have access to many tutorials blogger itself provides. This tutorials are very helpful for those who are starting because they have images and step-by-step guides.
There are many other websites that offer tips and guides for blogger blogs. Most of this websites are created by webmasters that share their knowledge. I think some of this sites are very helpful because they provide tips, practical solutions and blogging resources, like templates and instructions to install them.
One example is Blogflak.com , a website where you can find some tips and tutorials for blogger blogs.
I´m interested in finding more tutorials and blogging resources like this, so when I find new sites I´ll post about them.
See you.

Blogging: How Often Should I post?

Well, I guess this is a question every new blogger asks at some point. Besides having to decide each post a blogger should post frequently.
Frequently is a subjective word, how much is frequent? Right?
Well, in all definitions of blogs I came across it was mentioned that a blog is a frequently updated webpage. I searched for this topic and the info I found seems reliable.
I think the frequency of posts can be considered depending the blog´s focus. For example, it makes sense that a news blog should be updated every day, often, more than once. A personal journal may not have the same criteria and can be updated less frequently.
When I see a blog that hasn´t been updated in the past 30 days, without any notice from the author, or sudenly has no posts after many months of filled archives, I think to myself: Hey, what happened to this blogger? This blog looks like it was abandoned for some forced reason, etc.I guess there are others that think like me. On the other hand a blog which is updated once every week doesn´t look that way. Maybe this info could be included in the blog´s description or somewhere in the sidebar, like: Weekly Journal of..., or weekly chronicles... recipe of the week, etc.
I have read that the ideal post number is a new entrie three times a week but in a regular way, month after month. I think it´s a good amount of posts, it makes a total of 12 posts each month, with regular intervals, which isn´t that difficult to accomplish.
I also read that blogs that post too many posts can be considered spammy, but I´m not sure about it. At least, it doesn´t apply to news blogs.
Some bloggers don´t post in weekends, others do. It´s said that in weekends Internet has less users, but I also don´t know if this info is true.
Maybe I should search for this type of statistics, it would be interesting to know this type of info, don´t you think?
Well, this post is long enough. See you soon.

Blog Platforms

Nowadays there are different free blog platforms to choose from. Each one of this different platform has it´s own caractheristics and advantages. It´s up to you deciding which one is the best to start your blog.
Like any other internet utility each platform offers different services and additions to your blog. After being confortable with the text editor and the post managing system, you can try adding widgets and enhace your blog with pictures and other tools.
There are free online resources available for each platform, like free templates, comment tools, spam blockers, etc.
The blog platforms I came across were:

~ Blogger.com
~ Wordpress.com/org
~ Typepad.com
~ Bravejournal.com
~ Livejournal.com
~ myspace.com
~ Xanga.com
~ Vox.com
~ Blogsome.com

Blogging in English

The idea of starting a Blog occured me when I decided to show my glass painting artwork. My art Blog is in Portuguese, my mother tong, because I also share information, a kind of step by step manual, with anyone that is interested in starting their own artworks and I could hardly do this in English.
For me, starting a Blog in English is a big challenge. I learned English in school, and I have Cambridge´s "The First Certificate in English", but I finished this course before 1990. Since then, I have practiced my English mostly when I read articles for school. Sometimes language can really become an obstacle.
The main reason I started this Blog in English is because I found that if I didn´t, I would lose a big piece of the action. I mean, with a Blog in English I have the chance to reach a bigger audience and be understood by a huge number of persons.
When you start a blog you have to ponder which is your objective. If your blog is a personal journal for your friends and family then it´s best to write in your mother tong. If you´re looking for bigger audience, english is the language you should focus.
I´ve seen a blog in two languages, english and spanish. I thought it was an original idea to post in both languages but in terms of optimization for search engines I´m not sure if that´s a good option. Don´t SE get confused? Two languages in the same post can be an advantage for readers but I´m curious to know if those pages get indexed. Hummm, nice topic to investigate.
See you soon.

Blogging: The First Steps - Part 2

Hi everyone.
In my last post about the first steps in blogging I made three suggestions. Today I´ll briefly describe the reasons why you, as a newbie blogger, should think about each one of this important blogging topics. Let´s start by the first suggestion I made:

~ Decide which are your blog´s chore topics, your keywords;

Blogging includes understanding characteristic and specialized technical terminology related to this activity (jargons). You´ll probably find many words associated with blogging that you never heard of. A good idea is to do a search on every word you don´t understand, but try not to feel overwhelmed by the ammount of information (sometimes contraditory) you will find. With time, you´ll start to feel comfortable with the blogging dialect.

So, lets start with the first step. I suggested that you should choose your keywords.
Keyword research should be the first thing to do before you start a website or a blog.
Broadly speaking, Keywords are central words to a subject and, when referring to the the Internet, they´re used to narrow down a database search. Keywords are used by Internet users to describe what they want to find when performing a search in a search engine.
When you start a blog you have two options, either:

a) ~ You try to learn Search Engine Optimization (another jargon: SEO) and how to have a good Google Page Rank (PR). Why?
SEO, when properly done, enables blogs to rank in the first pages when people search for keywords related to the blog´s topics. In result, the sites listed (indexed) will get free traffic.
It is well known that those websites that rank in Google´s first page for certain keyword have more traffic than others which appear on the second, or third page of results. So, the intention of applying SEO techniques is to improve a blog/website rank. Webmasters, or bloggers, that earn money online are more interested in this topics than those who just blog for fun.
Yes, it´s possible to work full time online as a blogger, and live of it. Those who work full time on their blogs are called Pro-bloggers. I will post more about this topic under the Blog Monetizing Section I will create soon.

b) - The second option is to forget about all the Internet jargons and keep blogging as you like, without thinking about the SEO science.

I really don´t like huge posts, so, just a few last words for today:
There are many free online resources available to learn about SEO, try searching Google using jargons in this post, you´ll have plenty to read. In a near future I´d like to post reviews of SEO learning resources. See you soon.

Blogging: The First Steps

The first steps in blogging depend on the blogger´ experiences.
If you´re just starting out, and have few technological knowledge, then you´re a "newbie".
As a newbie you´ll have many questions and doughts and, as all other tech activities, bllogging has a learning curve that often can´t be skipped.
So, you started your first blog, now...what to do next?
Here´s a few suggestions:

~ Decide which are your blog´s chore topics, your keywords;

~ Decide how often you´re going to post;

~ Decide if you´re going to include pictures in your posts or publish only text;

After this initial decisions, you´re ready to write and publish your first posts. In my next messages I´ll discuss some ideas related to the three topics above.
See you soon.

How To Start A Blogger Blog

To start a blog, first you´ll need a blogging plan. You need to know, at least, what are your chore objectives and which topics you´re going to focus.
As I mentioned in my first post about blogging basics, there are many different types of blogs. Even if you´re not sure which type of blog you want to start you should decide in which broad categories your blog belongs. Is it a personal journal to stay in touch with friends and family? Is it a sports blog? Or a photoblog where you post your favorite pictures?
Whatever you want to do with your blog, first you need a plan.
A good way to start a blog is having some posts already written and prepared to be posted. If you have a few posts before you start your blog, you´ll be able to plan your editorial duties and have some free time to do other tasks besides writing.
You also need to decide which Blog platform you wish to use.
This blog is a Blogger blog, located in blogspot.com. I´ve been using this platform with no problems. It´s user friendly and easy to edit, ideal for newbies. Once I feel more comfortable with Blogger blogs, I will focus my posts in this platform.
Before you start a free Blogger blog, you´ll need an e-mail and a Google Account. After having your e-mail address you can go to Blogger homepage to start your Google account and your blog.
Blogger blogs are easy to set up. In three steps you´ll have your blog live. The three steps are:

~ Create an account;
~ Choose the name and address of your blog;
~ Choose a model. Blogger provides several templates, which you can costumize later;

After this simple steps, you can publish your first post and edit your blog´s definitions right away.
Are you motivated to start blogging? Ok, you can start your free blog in Blogger Homepage, at: https://www.blogger.com/start

Happy Blogging!

What´s a Blog?

Generally speaking, a Blog is a website, frequently updated, in which new information is shown first. The publisher of a Blog is a Blogger and each message is a post. A Blog can be published by different authors or only by one blogger.
A Blog can have many different forms: A personal journal, a news blog, a photoblog, a political space, a company´s space to reach costumers, a collection of links or a mixture of this types.
Nowadays, there are million different blogs and the rules of what a blog is aren´t very well defined. In most cases bloggers mix text, images, videos and content can be diverse. For example, a blogger can post about news on the Internet and his personal life too.
Most blogs are published trough free platforms like Blogger, which started in 1999, and is owned by Google. There are other free blog platforms available, like Wordpress, Bravenet, Typad, etc.
Most free platforms provide a good service and offer different features to improve a blog. You can add images, text, widgets, change your blog´s template, etc.
After explaining what a blog is in general one can easily conclude that a blog is idiosyncratic, just like the blogger who´s behind it.
See you soon.