tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post6377915518649147152..comments2024-02-29T16:43:55.241-05:00Comments on Lurking Rhythmically: Comfort ZonesErin Palettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09984632637166408245noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-35967130681953891052011-06-02T03:06:10.196-04:002011-06-02T03:06:10.196-04:00"I'm cute, I'm eloquent, I say "..."I'm cute, I'm eloquent, I say "fuck" a lot and I can tell you anything you'd like to know about Larry Hama-era G.I. Joe."<br /><br />It'd probably get you into the House of Paincakes and goodness knows I'd like another RPG blog around. It feels so lonely...Vonhttp://von-gameover.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-65401162331320240212011-06-01T21:45:03.038-04:002011-06-01T21:45:03.038-04:00I thought you were one of the cool kids. Now I'...I thought you were one of the cool kids. Now I'm sorely disillusioned. ;pJean Bauhaushttp://blog.thetaskwrangler.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-87947443036911815302011-06-01T21:25:22.010-04:002011-06-01T21:25:22.010-04:00I just saw the trailed for 13 Assassins and that m...I just saw the trailed for 13 Assassins and that makes me want to play L5R again. A Mantis campaign's an interesting idea and gets away from the PCs as Magistrates syndrome. I read John Wick's Blood and Honor recently- his take on samurai using his Houses of the Blooded rules. I don't like the system much, but he has some great ideas on cooperative clan building and campaign structures in that book.Edige23http://ageofravens.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-24873126801642247502011-06-01T21:22:38.127-04:002011-06-01T21:22:38.127-04:00These are specific to this blog, as if I was your ...These are specific to this blog, as if I was your 'Web PR' consultant... (none of this is meant to be a personal criticism or anything...)<br /><br />(1) You have a nice color scheme, but experiment with inverting it and move away from white on black for your text.<br /><br />(2) Disqus is weird - consider different handling of comments.<br /><br />(3) Try to avoid a large background image - see if you can create or find something that will keep the 'mood' of what you have but is a small image that can tile, or consider a solid color.<br /><br />(4) Update your header image - the blue marble that you currently have might be better used as the background for an updated header pic. Your current header shows JPEG noise and could've been a GIF file instead. A header pic is a new visitors first greeting.<br /><br />(5) Lose the straight jacket profile pic - a new visitor won't understand that in the context of the color scheme or your writing.<br /><br />(6) Profanity is just a strong flavor, but a lot of instances in every post could be working against you in the swirl of search engines.<br /><br />(7) There is no 'cool kids' table. There are, however, rivers of strange politics and allegiances that go back to the dawn of TSR. No one knows them all. Do your thing and let people pick what they like. I observe that people like downloads, so instead of writing a story and dropping it into a post, it might be better to make a PDF or Word Doc out of it and put it up for download. Personally, I'd like to see you do reviews of game materials. A sharp and smart review is always worth doing.<br /><br />(8) Comments aren't an indication of post quality - at all. A post that has comments, however, is more likely to get more. It's like the ice has to be broken by someone, and then comments are easier for everyone. Go figure.<br /><br />(9) It's usually more useful to link to a larger entity than a small one. When you check your stats, examine the 'traffic sources'. There's always surprises.scottszhttp://coldtextfiles.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-89959130097625532582011-06-01T20:45:17.487-04:002011-06-01T20:45:17.487-04:00OK. I didn't want to just type some tips witho...OK. I didn't want to just type some tips without being sure. A few things in general (I'll have a separate comment for things unique to your blog):<br /><br />1. Treat Google like a lazy parasite - they want you to do their work for them. Make sure you link out to specific posts on other blogs if you find them interesting, or link to a source article. If you're writing about your favorite rifle, link to the Wikipedia page about that rifle.<br /><br />2. Extra care on images - go into the HTML source and add details to 'title' attributes of images on your posts. If the image is of your rifle, add the weapons personal name into the title attribute. You don't have to do this all the time, but Google's image search can work for you.<br /><br />3. Readability - If you like to write long posts, then you might want to avoid the 'white on black' scheme. Remember, us grognards are old, crusty, and half blind with rage. Make sure your font sizes are readable.<br /><br />4. Frequency - Posting frequently is important, overall. It shouldn't be about a 'single theme' - quite the opposite. An artist's personal style isn't about being different from everyone else - it's about trying every kind of art and subject and seeing what is cohesive in all the resultant works. You don't have to surrender the 'diary' aspect of your blog.<br /><br />5. Traffic - Once per week, check out your traffic and see which posts draw the most views. You'll find patterns that often have nothing to do with content.<br /><br />6. Spiders - Many of the tips above have nothing to do with human visitors. A LOT of 'traffic' is automated search 'robots', and keeping them fed is a good thing.<br /><br />7. Writing - Don't just write and hit publish. It's like a knife fight. Take an extra moment or two to think and edit. Don't rush for a fast strike. Google will be (if they aren't already) analyzing grammar and spelling patterns. Remember, they have to find anything possible to differentiate one page from another in terms of their definitions of quality.scottszhttp://coldtextfiles.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-47408504488535712232011-06-01T20:21:17.774-04:002011-06-01T20:21:17.774-04:00Somebody needs a hug! I don't know the magic ...Somebody needs a hug! I don't know the magic answer either; just keep writing about things you're passionate about, and whether you get loads of followers or not, you'll have the right ones.Ernest Muellerhttp://mxyzplk.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-4456207105697664502011-06-01T19:57:34.711-04:002011-06-01T19:57:34.711-04:00 I grew up on Army bases in Europe during the Cold... I grew up on Army bases in Europe during the Cold War. I know a LOT about 1980s military doctrine, most of which is now obsolete.Erin Palettehttp://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-76145326924303145842011-06-01T19:56:17.794-04:002011-06-01T19:56:17.794-04:00 I'm looking for ways to break through this gl... I'm looking for ways to break through this glass ceiling and actually be considered a blogger worth reading without having to devote my blog entirely to one subject.Erin Palettehttp://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-4687712019193976742011-06-01T19:34:00.088-04:002011-06-01T19:34:00.088-04:00Are you asking for blog tips/advice?Are you asking for blog tips/advice?scottszhttp://coldtextfiles.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-3058171072637962322011-06-01T19:30:38.608-04:002011-06-01T19:30:38.608-04:00I think you're at least as cool as Chicagowiz....I think you're at least as cool as Chicagowiz. Alas, no one's as cool as Jeff Rients. James Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-8199133235251787562011-06-01T17:57:00.455-04:002011-06-01T17:57:00.455-04:00Very cool campaign idea. If I were to run a L5R ga...Very cool campaign idea. If I were to run a L5R game again I would be very tempted to steal it. <br />I've never gotten around to starting my own gaming blog, though I keep meaning to, so it might not mean much when I say this, but as far as I'm concerned you are one of the cool kids.GrayPumpkinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-36607321551906078052011-06-01T17:21:19.643-04:002011-06-01T17:21:19.643-04:00Larry Hama G.I. Joe? Wow. I thought I was one of...Larry Hama G.I. Joe? Wow. I thought I was one of the only ones...Higgipediahttp://gamingallover.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-79346332499949838932011-06-01T17:03:27.262-04:002011-06-01T17:03:27.262-04:00As far as I can tell, you need to publish somethin...As far as I can tell, you need to publish something to be at the cool kids table. Hell, I'm not very popular, but what little popularity I have comes from *threatening* to publish something.Talysman the Ur-Beatlenoreply@blogger.com