So it’s August already (holy cow!) and 2012 is looming ever closer…
The world at large is getting crazier day by day, and there’s plenty of action happening in the blogosphere too (Not least the Social Media ripples caused by the recent launch of Google Plus)
The Ancient Chinese had a saying (more of a curse at the time) which goes:
“May you live in interesting times”
Although we don’t need to build Great Walls anymore, the saying rings true…
Blogger’s Alchemy is still very much ‘under construction’ and I’m really hoping to get the foundations fully laid in during August so I can get back to posting more regularly again.
Twice a week (IMHO) just ain’t enough.
But nonetheless traffic here has been steady since my Alexa rank slid from 120 to 80k in four weeks (after I bought Mavis Nong’s Underground Blogging Secrets course – read my Underground Blogging Secrets Review)
My recent post ‘9 Reasons Why Your Blog is Generic and How to Make it More Unique‘ received a surprisingly warm response, even though I promoted it far less actively than usual. A good lesson in blogging from the heart, and Attraction Marketing in action.
Friday’s ‘Resources and Tools for Bloggers’ series has covered some more significant tools including
- WordPress Spam Comment Prevention
- Tools to Speed Up Your Blog
- CloudFlare: Optimize and Accelerate Your Blog in under 5 Minutes
- Google Plus One Redirect Button
(unfortunately there are some technical issues with the +1 redirects at the moment, but I’m hoping that will be fixed soon (fingers crossed!)…)
Although I am of course grateful to all my visitors and commentators (except the spammers), I’d like to particularly highlight and thank my top commentators over the last two months (since I didn’t get around to doing this at all in June)
Oliver Tausend
Oliver consistently shares his insights into wealth mindset, MLM and the journey of network marketing success over on his blog. He recently posted Blessings Of A Stay At Home Dad – Volunteering
Leanne Chesser
Leanne’s ‘Work at home Moms Solution’ blog offers step by step guidance for home business building, especially tailored to busy parents. Her recent posts include a great series on Self Esteem. Check out her latest post – Discover Your Passions
Elmar Sandyck
Elmar’s blog – Empowered Online Entrepreneurs – presents a cross section of MLM and online marketing training topics, covering tools, strategies and mindset for online marketing success. Check out his recent Marketing Psychology post When Too Much is Dangerous
Jayne Kopp
Jayne just celebrated her 4th anniversary as a ‘work at home mom’ and you can read about her experiences and insights over on her blog. She recently posted Is Self Doubt Duping Your Dreams?
Ilka Flood
Ilka’s ‘Enlightened Networker’ blog is a constant source of tips and tools, and resources for online and network marketers. Take a look at her recent post Use ‘Tweet old Post’ to Revive Your Old Blog Posts
Other Blogging Developments
I’m also proud to be ‘featured’ by Devesh Sharma over on the Blokube Blog Spotlight (are you a member of Blokube yet?)
To top off the activity on my blog the Blogger’s Alchemy Facebook Page and YouTube Channel have just launched, so come connect with me over on those media as well.
The next big upheaval is my imminent change of theme – After tinkering about with a few options I’m currently testing one which looks like a ‘keeper’ and can’t wait to get it up and running for real.
Changing theme feels a bit like moving house – which I’m doing in ‘Real Life’ over the next two weeks as well (so forgive me if I don’t turn up to blog on time OK?)
Over to you – how are you feeling the changes?
How are you evolving and transforming your blog and blogging to stay ahead of the game? Leave me a comment below.
Remember to come join me on both YouTube and my nice shiny new Facebook Page!
To Your Abundance, Freedom and Success…
Image: Francisco Diez – http://www.flickr.com/photos/22240293@N05/4060523800/
Here at Blogger's Alchemy, Jym shares simple tips, tricks, strategies and techniques to make blogs remarkable, successful and exceptional. For a long time, he felt like his blogging career was going nowhere fast. That is, until he learned and implemented the things that you'll learn if you stick around... Get the best from this blog by Subscribing Now
facebook comments:
This is a good way to pay respect to your blog commentators.Appreciable activity.
Azam invites you to read…The 5 C’s of Buying Diamond
I spend my time on SEO and networking.
Hey Jym,
Love watching the changes unfold here and looking forward to seeing what’s coming next.
I am due for some changes.. or rather my business activities are! Just doing a lot of research right now. Be interested to know what theme you go with. I am over Headway although everybody seems to think it’s good.
Great to see so many bloggers featured here that I know. They are all stars to be sure.
By the way what top commentators plugin are you using? I am on to my third and still not found one I really like yet.
All the best with the changes, especially the house moving. You still staying on the island mate?
~Marcus
Thanks Marcus, I firmly believe that change is good – though it can be painful sometimes!
From the outside looking in I love your theme, and I think it works well for your style of blogging – but of course I don’t know what your vision, intentions or experiences are ‘behind the curtain’.
I seriously love the customizability of this theme (Flexibility) but having done so much research on blog speed and optimization I can no longer stick with a theme which isn’t powerfully optimized (it’s OK, but nothing special)
The Top Commentators plugin I’m using right now is ‘Top Commenters Gravatar’ by Agus Suhanto. I’ve tried a bunch, this one does the closest job to what I want! There’s a few simple options you can tweak to your requirements.
Thanks for all the support – I’m not going to escape the island on this move, just heading out of Hobart and to live amongst the Huon Valley possums. Look me up if you’re ever coming this way…
Can’t wait to see what developments you come up with on your blog when the time comes…
Jym invites you to read…How to get More Google Plus One Clicks While You Boost Your Business
hey Jym
frankly speaking i love the way you replaying …in other blogs people just accept the comments and usually 70%of then dont reply them…and one more thing to say your concept of blogging and introducing people is very clear and nice …i love your blog..from next time close eye on your blog..hope for new uploads
Thanks Bobby, kind of you to say so.
To me a huge part of a blog is it’s readership, and the relationship between the blogger and the readers.
Without that, what would be the point?
Jym invites you to read…Free SEO X-Ray Spex? SEOQuake Explored
Jym, thanks for mentioning me! I’m really loving the changes you’ve made and “transforming blogs” is just perfect as your tagline. As others have said, I’m looking forward to what’s coming.
You’re welcome Leanne.
Thanks for all your comments – I appreciate the ongoing support!
The tagline took a while to ‘boil down’ but I’m pretty settled on this one for now. Glad you like it
Jym invites you to read…How to Optimize Your Blog Images for Better Blog Performance
Jym,
I am going through so much of the same journey as you right now, on my blog. New theme, new revisions…etc.
Your’e blog is really really nice!
and that Alexa ranking, wow! you are doing something right!
way to go!
Martin
Martin Dale invites you to read…Online Marketing Expert Tips- Content Is Still King
Change is good Martin!
I look forward to seeing what you come up with mate.
Thanks for the support and great to have you here as ever mate…
Jym invites you to read…Slow Blogs Lose Readers and Rank Lower (Part 1) – How Fast is Your Blog?
Hi Jym,
Wow! I had no idea I made your list. Thanks for featuring me, and in such awesome company!
I know the feeling about changes. For the past three months I’m trying to get a new blog up and running but I can’t even keep up with my existing one. Seems I keep getting busier by the day.
I love your new blog and am looking forward to what kind of theme you are coming up with. Maybe it will help me get off my duff as well
Thanks for always putting out exceptional content!
Ilka
Ilka Flood invites you to read…The Enlightened Networker – Top Commentator Award Winners for July
A pleasant surprise then Ilka?!
I didn’t do a monthly review post last month so I rolled the comment count over from June as well, and your face came up!
New blog huh? Can’t wait… How will you find the time to run it? I know what you mean about getting busier! I’m super excited about rolling out my new theme once all the bugs are properly ironed out.
Thanks for the compliment and your ongoing contributions here, always a pleasure to read your thoughts…
Jym invites you to read…Nofollow? Dofollow? Better Search and Page Rank vs More Blog Comments
Hi Jym,
wow, thanks for featuring me in such great company and congratulations to your progress with your new blog design and theme. I am looking forward to read even more posts from your desk in the future
Thanks for always interesting posts that are fun to read as well.
Take care
Oliver
Oliver Tausend invites you to read…Oliver Tausend’s Blog – Thanks To Top Commentators In July
Most welcome Oliver.
Thanks for your contributions over the last months. I always appreciate having your perspective on the discussions here.
Jym invites you to read…Speed Up Your Blog Without Code – Slow Blogs Lose Readers and Rank Lower (part 2)
Great job!i am so glad that i found this post i learn a lot from here i may kept this for my self and apply in future.but i still need to do a research for additional.thanks for sharing with us.
Hey Jym… wow you have been busy! Great JOb too by the way. Great results on your Alexa Ranking.
Changing Themes is a challenge… that’s why I got Devesh to do it! LOL
I think you have done a wonderful job… although I must say I did like your smiling face on your last header.
I still have to get to Mavis’s Underground Blogging Secrets Course. You know what it’s like when you have too many irons in the fire. It seems as though you have gleaned many new tips from it. (which doesn’t surprise me!
)
Thanks again so much Jym.
Have a lovely night. (Day for me!)
Jayne
Jayne Kopp invites you to read…My 4 Year Anniversary as a Work at Home Mom!
Too busy Jayne!
Sometimes I wonder if it would make more sense to outsource all my customization, but I enjoy the process and want to be able to support others in doing it themselves, so it makes sense to take the longer road…
I’m sure you have a number of friends who are connected to Mavis’ course (including Mavis herself of course) but if you buy it thru the link in my UBS post (in my ComLuv link below) You get my complimentary free ‘Underground Blogger’s Rocket Fuel Report’. Hope that tempts you! (It’s a great course btw!)
Anyway thanks again for your ongoing support and participation here, and don’t worry – my face will be re-instated somewhere on the page again soon!
Jym invites you to read…Underground Blogging Secrets Review – UBS Unearthed