Are Your Back-Links Keep Readers Away

There are many articles talking about the importance of back links to generate long term traffic, and then there are an epidemic of articles that contain back links in one's own articles that are as long as the road to Timbuktu. What gives?

I find myself withdrawing away from people whose every new publication included such a long list of their own articles/poems that are not related to the subject. Common sense seems to be missing for the following reasons.

Photo by western dave

Points to Remember

• Ask yourself this: who has time to read one, then continue to click on another, and another on the list?

• Are you the only friend/fan on other people's list?

• Too much self promoting in your own articles leave a bad impression after a while: desperate!
  

• How many people, really, actually click on those links?

• Did you, yourself, click on the links in other people's articles? What do you think when you have just finished reading one and then see a list of their other links?

Back Links Have Their Place

Photo by Karen Eliot

I have no objections on back links when they are used properly, preferably in their related subject, or when they provide more additional information for the same coverage.

Back links are wonderful when you can provide other people's work into your own, or when you come up with a creative way to do it such as when Michele Cameron Drew published Today's Reading List. Not only this poem is fun to read, it is original, and inventive.

When you do back links, remember to be moderate and tasteful! I'm sure there are many people who are tired of looking at those links as much as I do, and that is a dreaded feeling when they see your new articles. Eventually, yours will be pushed to the bottom of their reading list, "save for when more time is allowed" kind of thing!

New Tactics for Views

Now, if you are desperate to get views to your article, what are you going to do? Bookmarking them? Old! Done that! Still not getting more than a couple comments? Well then, time to think of these three tactics as your best way to attack the problem.

(These are not my tactics to get views, nor do I encourage to use them to generate traffic! After reading the comments, I have to clarify this. These are just ways that people sent to my inbox! I guess my sense of humor isn't that great...)

Tactic Number 1: Leave Offensive Comments

Photo by Wizard_Girl

Hey, the new trend is to go hopping from article to article, as many as you can squeeze in, and leave bad comments. You have to say something really offensive so the author and the readers will both be mad enough to go checking out your profile and article.

Don't do it alone! Form a group of friends and tell them to do the same things. Leave unkind, rude, and obnoxious comments on everybody's article that you cross.

Beware though, they might report you to the publisher, delete your comment, and you will be a very lonely person with your bad deed.

Tactic Number 2: Send Messages to Everybody's Inbox

Photo by tolis*

Let's face it, who would not like to get mail, especially the ones that say: "hi i go through your articles, its very informative so you can visit my pages thanks once again. i am world traveller go through my photos!"

You have just stroked their huge ego! Who wouldn't want to return your kindness? You have just gone through a hundred or so of their articles, and the least they can do is to check out a few of yours!

Or you can send a different message like this: "I liked your work so much, I read most of them. I have added you as a friend." Yeah...this should ice the cake, and they will quickly add you back, only you are nowhere to be found.

Tactic Number 3: Help Me I'm New

Photo by ansy

Generally, people are kind, and willing to help! So tap into this area, and send out messages asking for help. Pretend to be friends, and once you've taken off, or during the time that you are correspondent with these people, don't even bother to check out their work! Who cares, you get what you want, right?

Once you've captivated their attention, have their pity feelings for you, commenting on your work, support your wishes, you fall-out until the next moment of "I need help". Remind yourself that you didn't even once comment on theirs, but if you cry wolf, they will come to your rescue!

If you haven't heard of these schemes before, now you do! I have been receiving these messages and like a fool, I did check them out, read and comment. Only the relationship is very much one way, on my part. I have added many people to my friend list by falling for these schemes, and I saw their comments on others, but not once on mine...I guess it is time to remove these leeches!

(Note: this is just my rant and sarcastic vent to deal with this problem, not advice for use!)

Triple Award: Sisterhood, Lemonade, and Best Friends

I have the honored of receiving the Triple Award of Sisterhood, Lemonade and Best Friends from Michele Cameron Drew of Spectrum for Reach Beyond Limits blog and for Wave Weaver blog at Today.com.

Moreover, Lauren Axelrod of Friends' Revolution also awarded Wave Weaver the same badge. It is a warm and fuzzy feeling inside!

Lanne at Crocodile Soup for the Soul, and Geri at Geri's World have also nominated my blog with this triple sisterhood, best friends, and lemonade award!

Here is what the Triple Award looks like.


My best regards and appreciation to all of my friends from Triond, Today, and Blogspot. Without their friendship and support, I would be very lonely and lost.

Here are the rules for the recipients:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

Now is my turn to nominate 10 other friends.

I am trying not to nominate the same blogs twice, and these blogs are the ones that I know

1. Lizzie at Lizzie's Choice
2. Diane at Sabino Canyon
3. Anne at Sunday's Child
4. Mys at MysLykeMeeh
5. Darlene at The Health Exchange
6. Dabrah at Fickle Muse
7. Judy at Seeds4thought
8. Michele at Poetic Expression
9. K Bali at The Fastest Money Making Sites
   
10. Teri at The Beach Writer
    

Well, don't you just love blogging? It is such a nice circle to connect people from all over the world. I feel blessed to be a part of this wonderful, supported, and friendly hearts!

Thanks again Michele, Lauren, Lanne, and Geri for the award! I feel the love!!!

A Collection of Arthritis Articles

Arthritis pain is kicking up, and I found myself very unproductive today. I read and comment as many articles as I can. It seems like a never ending project when every muscle is screaming in vain.

The freezing temperature doesn't help either! Every few hours or so I must go outside to shovel the snow, spread the salt, and make sure there is a pathway for the mailman to walk on.

Photo by Solitaire Miles

Though I have written many articles about arthritis, and for arthritis sufferers, I am unable to shake it today!

Five Things You Can Do to Ease Arthritis Pain

This article was published on January 12th, 2009 by Triond, and well, you've guessed it. There are five things I do to alleviate the pain. However, nothing seems to work out today. The joints in my shoulders are killing me. It feels like someone is sawing me apart, slowly! I even have a massage from my little boy. It counts, isn't it?

Photo by alight

Seven Vitamins for Arthritis

Published on April 21st, 2008, by Associated Content, and listed seven recommended vitamins for arthritis sufferers, and the reasons why they should be taken. If you prefer not to take these supplements, you will also find a list of different foods to substitute them.

Top Five Reasons to Exercise if You Have a Chronic Illness

Associated Content published this article on April 15th, 2008, and this article is for lupus, arthritis, or fibromyalgia sufferers. It pointed out the important of exercise when you have a chronic illness mentioned above.

Photo by gr8pups-BJ

Exercise Choices for Arthritis Sufferers

Published on April 12th, 2008 by Triond, and contained in this article five exercises that recommended for arthritis people. A simple brisk walk can have a great deal of benefits. (Yes, it is so ideal, but with a temperature at below six degree, where can I go for a brisk walk today?)

Five Ways to Deal with Arthritis and Enhance Your Life

Associated Content published this article on April 14th, 2008! Well, as you can tell, I am constantly looking for ways to deal with this illness, easy the pain, and function as normal as I can.

Some days are better than others, but today is the worst!

Movie to Watch: The Duchess

I like Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes as actors in general. Their roles in the movie "The Duchess" were outstanding.

My daughter and I watch this movie together, but she doesn't like it as much as I do. Generation gap has to do something with her decision. She just couldn't take the idea of living a miserable life due to duties or roles.

On the other hand, I can totally understand and feel for the Duchess of Devonshire. She has no choice but accepting her destiny, and lives her life accordingly.

Photo Credit

Keira Knightley plays Georgina, and Ralph Fiennes plays William, the cold, rudeness Duke. The main purpose for their marriage is to have a male heir! The Duchess produces two daughters causing her husband much embarrassment in the society that only valued men.

Though the Duchess is quite a controversial figure who involves in politics and theater, much loved in the public eyes; she lives a miserable life at home with a loveless husband.



In the YouTube above, Princess Diana's life has been linked to this movie, and I found it refreshing with the close comparisons. Watch this trailer to find out if the movie is for you.

She has the quiet strength that I admired, and her endurance is quite remarkable. I don't know if I could take the torments that she had to go through.

I only get to watch a new movie every so often, and the Duchess is a great one to watch, wonder, and think about.

New Year, New Adventure

I first learned about EntreCard.com from Louie Jerome's article "Writers Can Easily Increase Income From Blogs, Articles and Websites". She is a great writer that I've been following for two years, and also a successful author of two books. Click on her name to visit her profile.

My intention for the New Year is to get more traffic to my blog, so I sign up for EntreCard.com and hope to bring in more viewers. I have no idea where to begin though after I signed up. It looks complicated and I was overwhelmed.


Step by Step to Get Around EntreCard

1. Sign up for an account, it is free.
2. Check your email
   
3. Sign in your account at Entrecard
4. Click on Get Code at the top, copy the code, and paste it on to your blog.
5. Down load the eBook instruction, and give it a read. If you don't want to clutter up your computer, then read the eBook thoroughly to have an idea what to do.
   
6. Click on the Dashboard at the top, and you may see some sites that want to advertise on your blog. You can either accept or decline them. Once you accept to advertise the site, it will display on your Entrecard for one whole day, and others will line up for their turn.
   
7. Underneath the Dashboard, Get Code, Campaign, etc...You may find some other people's sites that visit you. Return their kindness by clicking on their avatar and visit their site, locate the EntreCard on their blog, and click Drop.
   
8. Now, to earn some credits, click on Campaign and you will arrive at many different categories. Pick one category and click on that link. Visit these sites, look for EntreCard on their blog, and click drop. Your credits add up very quickly!
   
9. After you rack up some credits, you can buy advertising on other blogs. It is a very economical way to get traffic.
10. Make a habit of checking in to EntreCard to either return visits or collect credits.

Uploading Your Avatar

Choose an avatar for your Entrecard, and make sure your photo is exactly 125x125 in dimension or it will not upload. I am not savvy with photoshop, but I found a free image editor to work with. It is called PhotoScape. I use the Object tool to type in my blog's name, and use Paint in Window to size my photos to the exact measurement.

I like this site so far, and I can see some more clicks on my blog. Hopefully, I can establish some viewers with time. I have seen many wonderful, beautiful, and great Blogspots so far. It is such a huge world of websites out there!

(Keep an eye on this post, I will update it as soon as I learn how to properly use the site!)

Jett Travolta Died of Seizure

Sad news from Reuters spreads across the internet as John Travolta’s oldest son, Jett, died from a seizure on Friday, January 02, 2009 in the Bahamas. My heart fell out of my chest as I read the head line. I was in a stage of doubt and shock! Hundreds of questions rush through my head as the cause of death was followed by a seizure.

Photo Credit

The report indicates that Jett Travolta was 16 years-old, and had a history of seizures. He was the eldest child of John Travolta and actress Kelly Preston. The family was vacationing at their home in the Bahamas, when a caretaker found Jett unconscious in the bathroom.

Photo Credit

Within minutes, Associated Press, Access Hollywood, and US Magazine also run the head line. This is a really sad story for the beginning of a New Year, for a boy so young, for the loss of a son to John Travolta, and Kelly Preston, and for Ella Blue Travolta, a brother.

Other issues had been dug up surrounding Jett’s death, such as Jett had Autism, but was not confirmed by his father, John. Whether it was or not, the Travolta family is going through the greatest pain and sorrow at this time. I wish the press would just leave them alone to deal with their lost.

Photo Credit

According to ABC News, Jett Travolta’s mother, actress Kelly Preston, disclosed his health problem in 2002, when he was two that Jett had the condition known as Kawasaki Syndrome, which can lead to convulsions and seizures, researchers believe.

Photo Credit

Though John Travolta dismissed that Jett had Autism, Dr. Bryan King, director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Research Center for Health Services and Behavioral Research said: “There is a relationship between Autism and seizures; as many as 40 percent of children and young adults with Autism may experience seizure, and adolescence is a particular time of vulnerability.”

Jett’s body will be transferred to Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium in the Bahamas on Monday. I would like to take this opportunity to send my condolences. John Travolta and Kelly Preston are one of my most admired celebrities.

Click on “Photo Credit” underneath each picture for more information, or to read the full report.

Other Resources
• Kawasaki Syndrome
• Give Autism a Voice by Judy Sheldon
• Autism Information Center

Happy New Year

Best Wishes for the New Year to everyone,
and thank you for being a part of my life!