Article by Wendy McCance
Every now and then, I like to check in with my readers and update you with new information I have gathered or new ideas I am implementing on this site.
First I would like to mention the survey that is popping up when you first get to this site. I am always looking for ways to improve your experience when you stop by, so I would like to know what types of articles you enjoy reading most. I want to make sure this site doesn’t disappoint and that you find whatever it is that you were hoping to read about. If you would take a second to check off what type of article you want to see most, I would really appreciate it.
I tend to get a bit restless and like to shake things up a bit so that this site always has something extra that might thrill you. My question to you is, what would make your day? Would you like a place to shout out about your own blog? Would some sort of contest make you happy? Perhaps you would like a question and answer session on all things blogging? I would love to hear from you. If there is something that would make this blog a better experience for you or just give you a thrill, please let me know in the comment section below.
If you haven’t stopped by our new Facebook page, you might want to take a peek. What I love about having a Facebook page is that I can quickly share links to some terrific information. Instead of reading through an article to get a question answered, you can quickly scroll down the Facebook page and pick out the links to articles that answer the questions you might be looking for.
Another bonus to having a Facebook page is that I can more easily communicate with you. Have questions? please ask. I’d be happy to answer whatever I can. Just want to say hi? I would love to hear from you and get a chance to chat.
Finally, I would like to point out that I have removed the Comment Luv plugin. I loved having a plugin that would help each commenter get some traffic back to their own site. The problem with the plugin was that I was not able to control spam links because of the way that Comment Luv is set up. It can also mess up my Google ranking. Apparently if comments are short and meaningless (Great Blog!!) for example or Google sees spam links, it can wreak havoc on your site.
I am now looking for a new way to lend a hand to my readers so that you can get a little help promoting your site without the worry of how Google will interpret it.
As always, thank you so much for the continued support and wonderful comments. I feel very lucky. My readers are the best!!!
Stop by and say hi at: https://www.facebook.com/searchingforthehappiness If you like what you see, I would be thrilled if you would like us on Facebook.
Thanks so much!
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Wendy McCance
To contact Wendy McCance about a writing or social media assignment, interview or speaking engagement, please email her at: [email protected]
Latest posts by Wendy McCance (see all)
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I know Wendy. Sometimes, it’s so hard to really know which advice to take — seems everyone has a different take. Trial and error, I guess. Have a great weekend.
Thanks for the comment. Hope you have a great weekend too!
Hi Wendy…I just came across another blogger who writes about Comment Luv in a way that makes sense to me. You can read it here if interested: http://seohour.com/seo/does-commentluv-links-affect-your-blogs-seo/ I have comment luv on my site and I do it because I think it is a great way of returning the favor to other bloggers who visit my site and comment. I do it for link and relationship building and think that is more important to me than Google Page Rank. However, after reading the link I supplied above it appears that the biggest problem (if any) with Comment Luv is that it can increase your spam comments. However, I have a couple of spam filters that work wonderfully-I require everyone who wants to leave a comment to register and by using the plugin “Invisible Captcha” I never get any comment spam. And I also use the Wangguard plugin that helps me identify and remove sploggers on my wordpress user list and of course I use Akismet. For the time being I’m staying with Comment Luv….like I said, I think it is an excellent way to connect with other bloggers, link similar sites and make GREAT new friends! ~Kathy
Hi Kathy, thanks for the link, I’ll check it out. I have askimet myself, but don’t like all of the additional things to fill out to leave a comment. A lot of times it frustrates me if I have to spend extra time just to leave a comment so I just don’t leave one. That’s why I try to keep it as simple as possible on my site when you leave a comment. As far as page ranking and Google is concerned, they are marking you down if the comments aren’t solid. Things like “good article,” or “I enjoyed this post” don’t rate well. A lot of people will leave meaningless comments just so they can put in their link. It’s another reason I have given up on CommentLuv. I am glad you are having a good experience with it, though.
Hi Wendy…check out the plugin Invisible Captcha….you don’t even know it is there-and I’ve been using it for over a month and it works great. Nothing extra to do…and maybe you are reaching a much different audience than I am but I NEVER have just those throw-away comments that are clearly spam. While some of them aren’t more than a sentence or two-if they don’t refer to content you can always just delete them. (I always approve my comments). Anyways, I think it is always helpful to compare notes so thanks for letting us all know what you discover….Kathy
Okay, I’ll check out the plugin. Thanks for all of the advice. I’m always up for learning something new. 🙂
Hi Wendy….Thanks as always for the update and the great information about blogging that you share so freely with all your fellow bloggers. AND I know that you’ve been nominated for this award before -but I couldn’t participate without including you in my blogging family 🙂 So please accept a second award for “I Am Part Of A WordPress Blogging Family.” I’ve linked you and posted the info here: http://smartliving365.com/yay-ive-been-nominated-for-the-i-am-part-of-the-wordpress-family-award/ Thank you for being an inspiring and helpful blogger. I appreciate your work and accept the help you offer to so many of us when “searching for the happiness.” ~Kathy
Kathy, your words mean the world to me. Thank you so much.
I am not a fan of Comment Luv either. I like it better without 🙂
Why were you turned off by it?
I am making some changes as well. We are all trying to improve as we progress on this blogging journey. I just completed the importing of all the blog posts on Geek Girl USA to Grandmother Diaries. That way only one blog to be concerned about. 🙂
wow, that is a big task that you have been working on. Juggling multiple blogs would be an incredible amount of work. Looking forward to seeing what the blog develops into.
Of course I liked you on Facebook what isn’t to like you are bloody amazing……….if you get two comments from me it is because I had to change browsers anyway I was saying something about you thinking me the best honestly I now have a crying baby and can’t remember what I was saying so I am posting now and going to feed said baby.
Aw, give the baby a kiss for me. Thanks for the nice comment.
Hi Wendy - (resending comment again) - thank you for the good information. That’s interesting about CommuntLuv. 🙂
You’re welcome. I’m bummed about Comment Luv. I really thought it would be a great plugin to have.
I know Wendy. Sometimes, it’s so hard to really know which advice to take — seems everyone has a different take. Trial and error, I guess. Have a great weekend. 🙂
Thanks so much, you too.