I hate spam as much as the next guy, and of all the anti-spam solutions out there, the ones I like the most (although I don’t use them) and undoubtedly the most effective are the ones that employ “challenge-response” technology. Like Spam Arrest.
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This next batch of “spring cleaning” tasks will take a bit more thought, study and consideration. These’ll likely be more work and time than the pretty straightforward ones mentioned in part 1, but well worth the effort, I think.
With categories and tags being pretty easy to generate on the fly, if you’ve got a busy blog, there’s a good chance you’ve got a bunch of categories and tags you no longer need. From those that contain only single (or very few) posts to redundant categories and tags to misspelled ones, etc., they sure can pile up. It’s also very likely that you have two or more categories that you could combine into one, or have categories that would make more sense as subcategories of others.
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The goal is to simplify and make it easier for your visitors to find what they’re looking for. A huge mish-mash of categories and tags does not meet that objective… not with the typical rush-rush-rush visitor anyway. When there are too many options, they just leave.
So, take some time now to clean up and simplify your categories and tags.
I’ve been using a WordPress plugin called Tag Managing Thing to help out with tag reorg’s (it works with categories too). If you do decide to use this, be very, very careful. Backing up your data files first is critical. This is a very powerful tool, and it does not help that the interface is a bit buggy (due to it not being upgraded, I think, for a couple of years now). Workable, but not for the nervous. (Leave a comment, please, if you know of and can recommend a functionally similar but less technically intimidating alternative).
You’ll want to check your blogroll and linkroll for…
While you’re at it, add some new blogs and links. Can’t hurt to tell them you’ve added them too.
You should be doing this constantly, not just once a year. If you haven’t yet, now’s a good time to start.
If you run AdSense, check to see if you can improve on the current ads you’re running. Can you place the ads in better locations? Are there new ad formats you can try? Is Google still feeding you ads that match your content?
The same kind of “optimization” goes for any ads you run and promote as an affiliate. If things are already going great, I say don’t mess with them. But if there’s room for improvement, again, check location, for fresh marketing material, or even for new/better affiliate programs to promote.
If folks pay you to run their ads, check for new “ad space” locations you can sell off or new advertising schemes you can implement (such as text links within your posts). You may even want to review your ad rates.
…to be continued…
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I just got reminded of an old favorite Chinese proverb. Maybe you’ll find it helpful to get you moving and doing what you know you really want to do:
“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago; the second best time is right now.”
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Unedited Guest Article by Serena Lewis
Saying it in rhyme can be a good way to make money writing if you have the knack. Knowing where to sell your verse can put you on the right track.
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Although briefly mentioned in a blogging advice piece I reprinted not very long ago, I got reminded of this plugin by Mike Haydon’s comment on my recent Blog Spring Cleaning Tips and Tools – Part 1 post. Thanks for the reminder, Mike!
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Assessment Writers/Editors — Compensation was not specified. New York editorial company that services major educational publishers seeks freelance writers and editors with math/science/reading assessment experience. Work remotely. Only wants applicants with educational publishing experience.
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Unedited Guest Articles by Holly Lisle
Most successful novelists don’t become successes overnight. They have to overcome obstacles to create the masterpieces we enjoy today. Each one has to deal with the four thinking barriers: Safe, Perfect, Victim and Feel.
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Unedited Guest Article by Serena Lewis
Writing greeting cards for profit is can be a great way to make money if you are the type of person who loves to write poetry.
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Finally, spring is here! I think it’s here, anyway… really hard to tell in the DC area (you sneeze in these parts, and the weather changes). My calendar says the timing’s right, though, so yay!
If you publish a blog, it’s a good time to do some basic blog spring cleaning. Good thing is that it should be a lot easier (and a whole lot less filthier) than that annual top-to-bottom house cleaning thing that many of us winter climate survivors have ritualized.
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