Fun with RSS - ModernOpinion Stuffs

Slow going today - I looked after AJ, my stepson, today. It was fun but exhausting attempting to get work done with him around. I did manage to get a few things done:

• Created an OblongBox Master RSS Feed.
• Created a ModernOpinion Master RSS Feed.
• Corrected minor errors on the ModernOpinion backpages.
• Created a redirect page for non-Firefox users on ModernOpinion.com

I've got a few more minor updates to do before I head on home for the evening and continue the unpacking and cleaning of the hizzle. Email me with questions and/or comments.

/rizzn

Sarcasm Pays Off

After my post to Text Link Ads, I recieved the following email from them:

Hi Mark,

I am not sure what happened, I have manually approved this site. Please login to your account and go here - http://www.text-... to install the script. Just click on the 'Get Ad Code' link and follow the instructions. Once the script is installed we will take care of the rest.

Thanks!

Libertarian Victories...

Karl Dickey is running unopposed for Florida Senate, and I just got his invitation to his victory party in Deerfield Beach, right by my Florida beachhouse. If you're not doing anything and are in the area, my Floridian Rizznites, go check it out!

Karl Dickey for Florida Senate will hold a Victory Party in western Deerfield Beach tomorrow night from 8-11PM and you are invited!

Come witness the election of the first "branded" Libertarian to Florida State Senate! If you would like to attend or just want to stop by we hope you will shoot a quick email or phone call to Jodi McMasters so she knows how many people to expect and she can give you further details. Her email is jodirmc@bellsouth.net and her phone number is 561-302-5634.

Thank You and we hope to see you tomorrow night!

Text Link Ads Sucks

My site has been around since 1998, and has a very large viewership and a good deal of traffic.

Apparently it wasn't enough to join the TextLinkAds network:

We are sorry but the inventory you have suggested http://rizzn.com has been declined at this time. The main reasons inventory is declined is:

-The website does not have enough link popularity.
-The website does not have enough traffic.
-The website is currently selling text link ads.

*Please note that our algorithm that accepts or rejects inventory submissions can make mistakes and if you feel the above criteria does not accurately describe your website, please reply to this email asking for further review by our editorial staff.

*Please note that you can still make money with Text Link Ads Affiliate Program! Simply follow this link: http://blahbala.com...

So, in my usual sarcastic manner, I replied:

That's fantastic that you declined my site to be a part of your network .... and still allow me the ability to promote your company on my site?

I am sorry, but I decline your offer based on the following reasons:

1) Your site has no reputation with me - I clicked it on a lark to see if there was any actual money to be made with you.
2) I can't in good conscious promote a service that I haven't tried and found to be good.
3) You can't count and/or have arbitrary standards for the terms 'popular' and/or 'enough'.
4) I refuse to destroy one revenue source on the possibility that it will allow me to get another one ("Throw me the idol and I'll throw you the rope." Yeah right!).

Please note that your acceptance algorithm is rude and obnoxious, and doesn't explain itself very well.

Your address to my site can be found below, in case you ever want to visit an interesting and engaging website in the future.

/rizzn

Research and Pablum

As I often do, I've been researching the net scouring for new monetization and publicity techniques, and I came across an article on Steve Pavlina's website. It was supposedly an article from a time-tested pro-blogger. It was referenced in a larger article I was reading about how to get publicity and bring a blog up from absolutely no traffic into a high mega-traffic blog. I know many advanced techniques for how this works, but I'm always on the lookout for new shortcuts and bits of info that can advance my techniques.

At any rate, I read the article with baited breath, until I got to the very end of the article and realized that I had wasted my time - all buildup and no actual information.

I'll summarize the headers from the article:

1. Create valuable content.
2. Create original content.
3. Create timeless content.
4. Write for human beings first, computers second.
5. Know why you want a high-traffic site.
6. Let your audience see the real you.
7. Write what is true for you, and learn to live with the consequences.
8. Treat your visitors like real human beings.
9. Keep money in its proper place.
10. If you forget the first nine suggestions, just focus on genuinely helping people, and the rest will take care of itself.

Essentially, not only does he take the hippy-happy approach to how to build traffic, some of his advice is just plain wrong. Letting the audience see the real you is not always the best solution - SlashDot, enGadget, Gawker... these sites have personality, but it is not a real or true personality, but more of an imalgamation of several people's personalities or a made up set of personalities.

Furthermore, no actual knowlege is purveyed by the article. Writing words into the ether without any knowlege on how to make it found is pointless. There are writing techniques that can be used to make actual impact on traffic. He discusses none of them.

I will probably be posting some information based on my own findings over the next few weeks. I'm writing up some long posts for the ModernOpinion writers on how to better promote themselves, and I'll make it do double duty here on the site.

/rizzn

Heads-up Bluesky Thinking can Alienate Staff

What this article doesn't tell you is that low morale is often good for business. Still - an interesting read:

LONDON (Reuters) - Management jargon can alienate staff and leave bosses looking untrustworthy and weak, according to a survey published Monday.

Managers who spoke of "singing from the same hymn sheet" could find themselves singing solo, the survey by Investors in People said.

Workers said such phrases as "blue sky thinking," "the helicopter view" and "heads up" could lead to alienation and low morale in the office.

Four in 10 of those questioned (42 percent) believed jargon caused misunderstanding about roles and responsibilities.

The survey, carried out by YouGov to mark the 15th anniversary of Investors in People, a government-backed training initiative, found 37 percent of the 2,900 questioned believed jargon led to mistrust and encouraged a feeling of inadequacy.

Bosses seemed oblivious to the dangers, with more than half, (55 percent) believing it to be harmless.

That could explain why workers perceived it to be on the rise, with nearly 40 percent believing it was increasingly creeping into office banter.

Almost two-thirds of employees (60 percent) would prefer no jargon at work.

Cliches such as "getting our ducks in a row" might just be lining up trouble, though.

Nearly 40 percent of workers surveyed believed jargon betrayed a lack of confidence, while one in five thought those who used it were untrustworthy or trying to cover something up.

Nicola Clark, director at Investors in People, said: "Whilst jargon can be useful shorthand at times, managers need to be more alert to when and how they use it.

"Cutting jargon out of everyday communication is clearly a challenge. However, as our research shows, if used inappropriately, jargon can be an obstacle to understanding, which ultimately can impact on an individual's performance and an organization's productivity."

BADASS - New meaning!