Random Ramblings

This month’s the review has been delayed quite a bit. I’ve been feeling very lazy and have been procrastinating since a long time. But finally I’ve tried very hard and pushed myself to the limit and finally managed to have this post published.

So lets talk about May. I’ve been buzzing a lot last month (read this post if you’ve not heard about seededbuzz) and I’ve recently been buzzed for the first time too. Its a good method to exchange links and provide readers with other relevant articles to read.

Also you’ve probably noticed the new disclosure policy and some sponsored content recently, what can I say, I hope to make some money to keep this blog online. I’ll try to keep the posts relevant to the blog and publish honest opinions.

* PR Update
I’ve read on a few other blogs about the Google PR being updated on the 4th June and I’m glad that the PR for this blog continues to be 3. How did your blog fare in this update?

Well I don’t really have anything significant planned for this month but its best that you stay subscribed to avoid missing out on sporadic updates of great value.

Happy Blogging!

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Your Comment Is Awaiting Moderation

I’m sure most of you who comment on other blogs have come across this message sometime. Its basically is a setting on WordPress, under Settings > Discussion, that lets the blogger decide whether to publish comments immediately or only after being approved by the blogger.

This is an effective strategy to prevent spam comments as mentioned by Nile Flores but it needs to be used wisely, as by nature most people would like to see their comments published immediately before they move on to surfing something else. But when a comment is held for moderation it kind of leaves that need unfulfilled and may even leave a fellow blogger like Spyros frustrated.

On this blog I’ve set comment moderation off unless the comment contains a link. Besides I always read all comments and try to reply appropriately to them, so that helps to keep the spam clear off my blog and I don’t have to manually approve every comment posted on my blog.

Also another benefit of turning comment moderation off is that it encourages commentator interaction, as people can address issues raised by other commentators and they don’t have to wait for the blogger to come online and run the show.

Well this is just my opinion, what do you think? Do you have Comment Moderation turned on for your blog? Has it helped you or your blog in anyway? Please share your views in comments and I promise they will be published immediately.

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Statistics are to a website, what weight is to a woman.

Although some webmasters may publicly claim that they don’t really care about stuff like Alexa ranking, Google PR, Backlinks etc but these stats are always present at the back of their mind. Right now Alexa Ranking is what has me worried.

Alexa ranks sites based on tracking information of users of its Alexa Toolbar for Internet Explorer and from integrated sidebars in Mozilla and Netscape.
Source: Wikipedia

Visit this post by Jack Nguyen to learn more about Alexa ranking.

Over the last few months my Alexa Rank has been steadily increasing but this month it has started diving, and its diving sharply. It was over 14M and it came up to 500k but is started to fall back and is currently at 609,509. I’m really suprised at this change as the traffic has increased this month after I posted the video about Nokia X8.

I guess my new visitors don’t have the Alexa toolbar installed. Anyway installing Alexa Toolbar on visitor’s Browsers it beyond my control so I won’t bother about it. If you to need to increase your Alexa ranks then read this post by Tycoon Blogger where if shares 5 effective tips to increase your Alexa rank.

Well I can’t use Alexa Toolbar with Opera Mini, but I encourage you to get it, if possible. I’ll try to participate in webmaster forums, any suggestions for some interesting forums with good people to hang out with, do share it with me in the comments.

Besides that I’ll just continue to do what I’ve been doing and focus on getting all kinds of traffic (alexa toolbar or not) and hopefully the stats will take a turn for the good again.

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Blogging is about self expression, but where do you draw the line? Just read a post by Lady Grier, How much is too much to share……. There are some bloggers who blog about everything that happens in their life with photos. Now some of these blogs are nice and you can really connect with the blogger even though you may have never met them in real life and your only contact may have been over the internet. But there are some things that are too personal and should be left that way like Nile Flores say in her post Are There Things Not To Say When Blogging?

Some people place a high priority on their privacy and would prefer not to be in the spotlight. You’ve got to respect the feelings of these people and not mention them on your blog or divulge personal details of people who may not like it.

It may seem wierd to you but some people haven’t really caught up to the internet and find themselves ill at ease with their photo being posted online, especially when its not a pretty picture. You’ve got to exercise discretion when you are blogging about others or even yourself. You might post something which you may regret later, but then it may be too late.

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Everything we do in life affects us in some way or the other. So does blogging. I’ve read a post What Has Blogging Taught You? By Loli and I would like to share my own learnings with you just like Jill who blogs at Musings from Me.

I’ve been blogging for a while now, on My Opera blog and here too, and let me tell you very frankly, Blogging has indeed really changed me. Honestly I’m not the same person I used to be back in the days before I started my blog on My Opera.

I’ve always been a very shy and introvert person. I almost never spoke up in groups. In discussions the leader would literally have to force me to get some inputs or feedback from me. I wasn’t dumb but I wasn’t very comfortable sharing my thoughts and opinions in public.

So how has blogging helped in changing me?

Blogging is a means of self expression. It enables you to voice you opinion. By blogging I’ve been able to connect with people. I read other’s blogs, comment on them, post articles on my own blogs that people comment on. Its much like having an online conversation with on measure of time.

With this experience that I’ve gained I find it a little less akward. Mind you, I haven’t changed completely and turned into a very extrovert person. But I’m less likely to keep to myself in social situations. I often share my ideas in group discussions now and they are well received and appreciated.

Blogging has helped me learn to express myself and connect with people. A truly marvelous gift.

I’d really like to know what have you learn’t from blogging?

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