Big Is The New Small

I am writing an article for an online publication; talking about what it means to be metrosexual, don’t ask me why, the word itself is just funny to me.  By definition metrosexual is: a heterosexual male who has a strong aesthetic and inordinate interest in appearance and style, similar to homosexual males; blend of metropolitan+heterosexual. 

I have some thoughts and a working Top Ten List to know if you are metrosexual; however I would love to get some input from BigIsTheNewSmall readers.  So please complete the sentence below….. everyone has an opinion, please share.  

Bonus metrosexual Definition:  “Manscaping”- The act of grooming, shaving, or trimming hair on various parts of the male body, derived from the word landscaping.    

You are a metrosexual if ______________________________. 

10 Blogging Do’s and Don’ts 

THE DO’S

• Do take a stand on issues

• Do share some Linklove (Link to those who link you)

• Do respond to those who comment on your posts

• Do open-up your comments if you use blogger for non-blogger users

• Do check out Boyd Bettis’ blog today: (He interviewed me, sorry it’s so long he asked the questions, I just answered. :-) Show him some BigIsTheNewSmall love and comment on his blog.)

THE DON’TS

• Don’t write a dissertation (Keep it Pithy)

• Don’t argue with negative commenter’s (Keep it tactful)

• Don’t share another bloggers post without giving them credit

• Don’t be like every other blogger, be original

• Don’t skip days without posting (unless it’s the weekend)

• Bonus: Don’t forget to add BigIsTheNewSmall to your blogroll (Self-Promoter)

Thoughts, discuss!  What are some of your blogging Do’s and Don’ts?

First of all, I want to say that I don’t think you can get a better blog title for search engines to pick up than Google Google Google!  I like to use sitemeter to evaluate keywords and search phrases that bring people to BigIsTheNewSmall.  With my crazy post titles and my blog title being BigIsTheNewSmall, I get some funny, challenged, serious and ridiculous keyword searches to say the least.  I thought I would share some of my personal 15 favorite, recent and not so recent searches.  BTW- These are the only ones that I could share that were appropriate: 

1. the biggest butts ever
2. new small boobies
3. does billy graham eat pork
4. First Black President
5. size does matter
6. “Safe Toilet Syndrome”
7. a sonic restaurant inside of a church building
8. are sex offenders allowed around children
9. big christians make me sick
10. abortion is murder big deal not small
11. alcohol and nudity
12. big women new small man
13. Big Dallas small Anne J ackson
14. black people lifechurch.tv
15. Marriage stinks go to church
16. Bonus: Scott Williams is gay

Which one of these searches is your favorite?  Bloggers please share some of your crazy, ridiculous and funny keyword searches from your blog.

I have some clear blogging goals for 08’ and they simply revolve around the fact that, “I Want More!”  That’s right, I want more:

1. More readers

2. More great links

3. More guest bloggers

4. More adds to blogrolls

5. More readers commenting

6. More blogging friendships

7. More challenging questions

8. More of an overall community feel

9. More random, leadership and thought provoking posts

10. More impressive overall look and feel for BigIsTheNewSmall

What are your blogging goals for 08′, as a reader or blogger?  Share your thoughts! 

I thought I would share some ways to increase your blog traffic, these are a combination of things that I have read and things that I have done.  Here you go:

1. Be Original- Share information that is unique, be an expert on a subject, be funny, be real and make your posts stand out.  Be consistent with your posts, if you don’t post readers will not come back.
2. Blogroll- Add other good blogs to your blogroll, rotate your blogroll, and encourage your friends to add you to theirs. Write challenging/interesting content that encourages your readers to provide links to your blog.
3. Guest Blog- Be a guest blogger for friends and other blogs in the blogsphere.  Make sure that your posts are challenging and hard-hitting.  Allow other bloggers to be featured guest bloggers on your site.  Sahre and link interesting blog posts to yours.
4. Take a Stand- Make sure that some of your posts clearly take a stand on a topic or issue.  Readers will return to a site that has strong, unique and relative opinions.
5. Submit to Search Engines- Submit your site to search engines, submit it to as many as you can, understanding that Google is the “Grand Daddy.”  There are a number of manual ways to submit your site, as well as paid services.  A couple of sites to consider are AdMe    SubmitExpress    TrafficZap   Google AdWords   BuildTraffic   There are many other sites and services to consider.
6. Use Media- Use images, links to images, YouTube videos and graphics.
7. Allow Comments- Allow readers to comment and respond to all comments.  Be prepared to articulately respond to adversarial comments.  Comment on blogs that you read.
8. Add Link Tools- Consider using some or all of the following, one of the new and more popular is Blogrush, you can sign up for Blogrush by clicking the icon to the right of my blog.  Here are some free services, links, communities and tools to consider: Technorati    StubleUpon    DiggThis    Delicious   BlogExplosion   Blogs4God    BlogRush
9. Evaluate- Ask an educated Digerati and fellow bloggers to evaluate your site and recommend necessary changes.
10. Blog About Interesting Topics-  Technology, I-Phone, Religion, Current Issues, “Don’t Taze Me Bro,” Breaking News, Sports, Stupid Stuff, Church Trends and How To Increase Blog Traffic.
11. Bonus: Don’t give up!  You keep writing and people will start reading!

What are some things that you have done to increase your blog traffic?  Share your thoughts! 

For those of you who don’t have a blog, how do you come across the blogs that you read?

Craig posted that they would add those that link their blog to Swerve, to the Swerve blogroll.  That will increase your traffic; read about here.

• Why don’t we pray more often?
• Why are there 97 casinos in Oklahoma?
• Why are angels white and demons black?
• Why do people pay $5 for a cup of coffee?
• Why did the chicken cross the road, seriously?
• Why is blogging and reading blogs so addictive?
• Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
• Why can we swear on the Bible in court, but can’t pray in school?
• Why is it not over until the fat lady sings, and who is she anyway?
• Why is there a church on every corner and not fruit on all the trees?

Share your own “Why” questions, or share your thoughts on any of the above.

Here are 10 Oxymoron’s for your reading pleasure, please share yours. 

• Casual Sex
• Doing Nothing
• Pretty Ugly
• Small Crowd
• Christian Evolutionist
• Income Tax
• Science Fiction
• Waste Management
• Act Naturally
• Butt Head

1. Be Original- Share information that is unique, be an expert on a subject and make your posts stand out.  Be consistent with your posts.
2. Blogroll- Add other good blogs to your blogroll, encourage friends to add you and have interesting content that encourages your readers to provide links to your blog.
3. Guest Blog- Be a guest blogger for friends and other blogs in the blogsphere.  Make sure that your posts are challenging and hard-hitting.  Allow other bloggers to be featured guest bloggers on your site.
4. Take a Stand- Make sure that some of your posts clearly take a stand on a topic or issue.  Readers will return to a site that has strong and relative opinions.
5. Submit to Search Engines- Submit your site to search engines, submit it to as many as you can, understanding that Google is the “Grand Daddy.”  There are a number of manual ways to submit your site, as well as paid services.  A couple of sites to consider are http://www.submitexpress.com/ and http://www.adme.com/ There are many other sites and services.
6. Use Media- Use images, links to images, YouTube videos and graphics.
7. Allow Comments- Allow readers to comment and respond to all comments.  Be prepared to articulately respond to adversarial comments.
8. Add Link Tools- Consider using some or all of the following (Technorati, StubleUpon, DiggThis, Delicious…..).
9. Evaluate- Ask an educated Digerati and fellow bloggers to evaluate your site and recommend necessary changes.
10. Blog About Interesting Topics-  Technology, I-Phone, Religion, Current Issues, Breaking News, Sports, Stupid Stuff, and How To Increase Blog Traffic.