Girltalk Bloggers

Would you like to Co-Admin this site?

2009-10-10T14:04:00.002+08:00

I'm looking for three more people to help co-admin this site, seeing that I can't do this alone (I realize I don't have super powers hehe).

What will happen is that I will share you the email and password to this account. It's not top secret information but I will have to make sure you take care of this information I give you.

Once you have the access, any requests to add or delete sites on this blog will be our shared responsibility.

You must also know how to work with the LAYOUT of Blogspot. Very important above all.

If interested, send an email gtbloggers@gmail.com.

Thanks.

UPDATE IN PROGRESS

2009-09-15T11:44:00.003+08:00

So sorry for the long absence but I'm back in the swing of things now. I will be updating the list with your requests. It will be a work in progress.

If you don't see your blog here, please send an email to gtbloggers@gmail.com for your blog's link. Please also include the link to your GT Profile.

Thanks!

Use Google Trends To Drive Traffic To Your Blog!

2008-11-03T19:22:00.003+08:00

Here's an SEO tool you can make use of. It wasn't previous available to the public, but now Google has made it possible for you to check what the current most searched keywords are at a certain period via GOOGLE TRENDS

So, checking on that at this very minute, Google Trends is telling me that these keywords are high on the searches:

Today's Hot Trends
1. john forsythe
2. lil wayne dead bbc news
3. entourage season 5 episode 9
4. john podesta ufo
5. std website
6. cyrus sullivan
7. did lil wayne die
8. online std carrier database
9. army wives season 3
10. family guy baby not on board

Having that information, I can now pick on any of that and blog about it, using those words in my paragraphs and phrases. Do this regularly and watch how your traffic picks up.

As we've said in this group in the past, traffic is very important as it will drive $$$ to your blog if you're earning based on Google Adsense or CPM.

To further make use of Google Trends and the Insight Search, check this blog: How to Crack into Google’s Servers and Find Search Keyword Gold

More Blogs Added

2008-10-12T20:14:00.001+08:00

For those who've emailed to have their blogs added, please check our newly updated ring. We have over 100 blogs now.

Thanks!

New Blogs Confirmed

2008-09-11T05:10:00.000+08:00

Just wanna advise those who have submitted their blogs in the last three weeks, your blogs are now confirmed and included in the ring.

Please email me if there's any corrections.

Thanks!

Follow Me on Blogspot

2008-09-09T11:21:00.006+08:00

Blogspot has finally come out with their newest feature, similar to that of BlogCatalog, MyBlogLog and other social networking sites.

Have you explored it?

Go to your Blogspot Dashboard. On the bottom, under Reading List, you'll find a section called Blogs I'm Following. Just add the necessary URL's.

To place a badge on your site, go to Layout >>> Add A Gadget >>> and choose Following.

Follow Me! And tell me about it so I can follow you back!

Chrome: The New Google Browser

2008-09-03T13:03:00.003+08:00

Google has released a new browser named Chrome. It's still in Beta and I've recently installed it in my lappie. At first glance, the features seem to be like the features found in the Opera browser --tabbed windows, most visited pages (Speed Dial in Opera), integrated search, and zoom. The speed dial feature is my fave in Opera. With Opera, I can point it to my fave sites. With Chrome, Google will detect your frequently accessed pages and place them in the Most Visited page. In this case, I prefer Opera's implementation.

Of course, it is still in Beta and so we can still expect many improvements on its final release. Speed isn't an issue. It looks quite a fast browser. But looks like I won't be swapping my Opera yet with its array of other helpful features. However, I'll be checking on this new browser from time to time to see its improvements.

If you want to check it out yourself, download your copy here: http://google.com/chrome.

My favorite browser goes Kikay

2008-07-30T02:53:00.001+08:00

I think I've professed my love for the Flock Browser in another blog entry and I'm afraid I'm going to have to gush over it again.

The social networking browser recently came out with their Gloss Edition, which already comes with a special bundle of daily news feeds and bookmarks from around 35 top sites, some of those I browse on a regular basis: Glam, PopSugar, InStyle, ThisNext, DesignerApparel, AllTop, etc.

The Gloss Edition is Flock's Fashion and Entertainment Social Browser. It has integrated fashion, celebrity news, lifestyle, shopping, and magazine websites in one click. All kakikayan. It's so girly, it even comes in pink.

Download the Gloss Edition here.

If you don't like the Gloss Edition, you can get the regular browser. It's the one I'm using and I'm not yet sure if I should switch to the kikay version since I have my Flock already customized.

Or if you don't want too much pink, you might also love it's Eco-Friendly edition, which comes in green and bundles important site news, feeds and bookmarks related to the environment.

I am so loving Flock because it really makes my online browsing activities so much more faster and efficient.

Blogs confirmed, please get your badges

2008-07-15T17:28:00.002+08:00

New blog members added! Please check if I've listed it right. You may get your GT badges now (scroll down) and post it on your sites.

Blog with Tagged Photos

2008-07-09T14:15:00.007+08:00

All of my blogging gigs require at least one photo on every entry.

At first, I thought that this was just purely for aesthetic reasons; that looking at websites must be like looking at a magazine page, with all those colorful pictures.

But do you know that adding photos to your blog posts and tagging these photos help build your website's traffic and ranking?

Google bots don't only scan for your content (text). If you have images and you've been tagging these images, Google will index those, too.

And then you'll find your blog's link on Google Image Search, which will help point your website to people who do their searches using the right keywords.

Read more on this from the blogging gurus:

And like I always say, more traffic to your blog = more $.

Where do you get photos? Most people have the habit of grabbing them online, often without permission. But it's always good to use photos that do not breach copyright.

This is a popular free stock photo site. You can also try Flickr and other photo-sharing or stock photo site. You can also apply for an account at GettyImages, WireImage and other similar sites (for approval). If you have to grab a photo, ask permission from the owners or give them credit or a link back for it.

Another benefit of blogging with Photos

Recently I signed up with Picapp.com, it's similar to photo agencies such as Getty and WireImage. I haven't gotten around to using this because I thought I have enough resources for all my blog's photo requirements. But the site has offered an incentive which kicked off today and will run until August 15. They're giving away $50 in Amazon gift cards if you use their services 20 times on your blog. So, now you see this on my TV blog. :)

Testing Flock's Features

2008-07-08T20:56:00.005+08:00

I've been using the Flock browser for awhile now, I should have posted about this a long time ago.

Flock has integrated everything I need in one browser. I've kissed IE and Opera goodbye because of this. It also integrates some of Firefox's features, so I seldom have to use Firefox, too.

The blogging feature, I just discovered today, when it has been there all along! It will now serve as a back-up to my back-up --- Live Writer.

Flock isn't called THE SOCIAL WEB BROWSER for nothing. Going online and using the internet has been streamlined for me now because of this. Admittedly, it's features are overwhelming at first. But once you've customized your browser to what you need, then everything literally is just one click.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

* Not recommended for MAC users (because it runs sloooooow and I am hoping they've corrected this)

Job Leads: Writing Bloc

2008-07-08T09:17:00.002+08:00

Passing the info along, you may wanna give it a try. I can't verify for this site, though and I'm not familiar with the payment terms.

Assignments may include web content writing, blog work, press releases, etc. As I understand it, these assignments will be emailed to you on a regular basis and if you like the scope, you'd have to reply back immediately to accept the job.

Apply here.

For adding to the blog ring

2008-07-07T16:54:00.002+08:00

Hi ladies...I got your requests, but I haven't done them yet. So, I'm putting this up so I won't forget.

WITH CONFIRMED DETAILS:
http://lalimarie.blogspot.com
http://www.crissylibrary.com/
http://www.crissyzone.com/

WITHOUT CONFIRMED DETAILS (via Girltalk), please provide:
http://www.bluuangel.blogspot.com/
http://ronaweasley.blogspot.com

The Awesomeness that is LIVE WRITER

2008-07-01T16:05:00.004+08:00

I have been using LIVE WRITER for quite sometime now. And I don't forget to say it's awesome every time I use it. I'm pretty sure I'm sounding like a broken record. If my computer could speak up, it will talk back and say, "Shut up with the Live Writer love, already!"

I manage more than a dozen blogs. Most days, I have to prepare entries beforehand. It's a pain to do drafts on the actual sites when it's slow or having issues. Entries could get lost.

Four of my blogs have been down two weeks now because of server issues. But I managed to do my daily entries, offline, via Live Writer. When the sites are fixed, I'm just going to publish away like crazy. It's like I didn't even miss a date of blogging.

Efficient, huh?

Here's an overview of the program:

Windows Live Writer is a desktop application that makes it easy to publish rich content to your blog.

Publish to most major blog services
Including Windows Live Spaces, SharePoint, Wordpress, Blogger and many others. Don't have a blog yet? Writer will help you set one up!

Create a compelling blog easily
Insert photos and videos, maps, tags and lots of other cool content, all in a snap. Powerful editing features include tables, spell checker, and quick hyperlinks.

Preview before you post
Writer shows you what your blog entry will look like before you post it, using your blog's templates and formatting.

Compose your entries offline
Publish them later, when you get back online.

Download LiveWriter here, it's free and easy to use. I've tried it on Wordpress and Blogger (Blogspot). I think it can accommodate other blog platforms, too.

USA Today picked up my TV Blog

2008-06-28T11:33:00.003+08:00

It actually was just simple. Anyone can have their entry up on a major news site.

I tried submitting my blog to BlogBurst for their approval. I had to wait for their notice (usually a day or two) and when my blog feeds have been approved and entered into their system, news agencies like Reuters and in my case, USA Today, are free to pick up my content and put it on theirs.

What that means to me is --- I'm going to get free traffic with it.

If you're trying to gain an audience or building up viewership because you've got to monetize your blog, then BlogBurst helps. I thought of submitting my blog to them, not really knowing if they'd approve it, when another blogger friend of mine got linked up by Reuters for her entries about mental health. She's kinda crazy. LOL.

Although, I did not expect picking up contents from my site by BlogBurst would be this quick. I just had their badge up on my TV blog for less than a week.

I do think that they picked up my content because when I posted that, it was "fresh scoop". None of the other news wires carried it yet, except the original source I've identified.

The USA Today link-up
From my original blog entry

Timing is really everything when you're building up your blog.

The same thing happened to my site when GMA picked up my blog during the Desperate Housewives brouhaha. What happened there was, I was the first one to put up a video of the "controversial scene" and then other blogs linked to me. Minutes later, the press eventually picked up on it. It was my blog and the videos there that were credited for the news. It was my blog that was shown on GMA News for three days straight.

Of course, several videos of it, some even better edited, were up on Youtube hours and days after the news broke out. But I had the first one up.

Unfortunately/fortunately... fame is a two-edged sword. That one drove tons of traffic to me, which raised my $ a few percent. But it also drove people to comment like crazy, that I had to moderate on my hobby blog. I was waiting for the issue to die down so people would stop coming!

Now, I'm gonna sit back, track my stats and see if this new link-up is going to do wonders.

Project Blog # 10

2008-06-22T14:10:00.001+08:00

In our third "What Have You Learned Series"...the topic is:

What are the best things you've learned from children?

* Project Blog is a weekly blogging task. A new task comes up every Sunday. As always, please link back to this post when you've accomplish your project for the week. Thanks!

Project Blog # 9

2008-06-15T06:00:00.000+08:00

Continuing with our What Have You Learned series for the month of June...

The third Sunday of June is always reserved for Father's Day.

Tell us, what are the best life lessons you have learned from the man you call "Dad", "Papa" or "Tatay"?

* Project Blog is a weekly blogging task. A new task comes up every Sunday. As always, please link back to this post when you've accomplish your project for the week. Thanks!

For Entrecard users

2008-06-10T14:23:00.004+08:00

Have you checked this Entrecard widget?

I like that it displays a portion of text from the blogs of your droppers, allowing the widget to become more than just a simple badge.

I've added one for this blog (scroll down).

Project Blog #8

2008-06-08T20:59:00.003+08:00

The blog ring didn't have any projects for sometime, so we're bringing back. To make it more interesting, we're going to do this as a series.

June will be all about our "What Have You Learned" series. For this week...the topic would be all about work.

So, tell us Girltalk Bloggers, what have you learned about work?

You can touch on your present work, or the work you did in the past, or even your work as a parent (the hardest job in the world!). Relate funny anecdotes, insightful posts other Girltalkers can learn from....anything you can tell us about what you do.

I hope many of us would participate (myself included!). It's also one way of getting to know the person behind the blogs in this ring.

* Project Blog is a weekly blogging task. A new task comes up every Sunday. As always, please link back to this post when you've accomplish your project for the week. Thanks!

Blog Changes

2008-06-06T14:39:00.008+08:00

Yep, we've got five of your most recent posts in the feeds now.
Yep, the blogs are listed alphabetically. Every blog is an individual page element, that's how Blogspot works
No, the other feed-type has not been removed, it's just way below the page because that system is still wonky.
Yep, I'd like to hear what you have to say about this new system. Post a comment, leave one in the chatbox below or email me.

Edit:
Forget all that....the blog is fixed and pending blogs added. SET UP ON GOING.....

Muzicons

2008-06-03T21:15:00.004+08:00

I know there are bloggers who love putting a mood icon up and have music playing on their site. Here's another one that combines mood and music. Check it out Muzicons and do the easy to follow instructions:

what to do

* 1. choose icon
* 2. upload music
* 3. choose "look" and color
* 4. get code
and put it in your blog, site or web-page.

I tried it myself. I'm not really into this, but it seems like fun though:

Problem with Adding Blogs

2008-05-29T15:53:00.004+08:00

I've some blogs lined-up for adding to the blog list. Unfortunately, I still am unable to do this following a problem from Blogger itself. This has been going on for more than two weeks and this blog apparently isn't the only one.

So, I ask those who have requested to have their blog listed or changed to please be patient. Adding them right now is a hit and miss thing. Sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't because of the glitch.

Thanks.

20 Blogging Tips

2008-05-24T18:34:00.003+08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates.

I've got a gift to make up for it.

Read this: Twenty Usability Tips for Your Blog

TOTLOL

2008-05-13T07:52:00.002+08:00

Totlol is a brand new community-moderated video website designed to be enjoyed by those between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.

Visit TotLol

It's Youtube for toddlers and pre-school kids. The site is still in private beta so expect some more improvements and changes.

Project Blog #7

2008-05-04T14:29:00.003+08:00

Please read this article from Problogger.

How do you feel about swearing or cursing in blogs? Do you find yourself doing it? Ever do it in person? Do you agree with the article?

Tell us about it by writing something about the topic on your blog.

* Project Blog is a weekly blogging task you may or may not choose to do. A new task comes up every Sunday. As always, please link back to this post when you've accomplish your project for the week. Thanks!