Link Building and SEO tips from Pixelhead » Blogcatalog http://pixelheadonline.com/blog SEO, environmental issues and more. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:24:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 BlogCatalog is Using SezWho http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/2008/02/08/blogcatalog-is-using-sezwho/ http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/2008/02/08/blogcatalog-is-using-sezwho/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:36:13 +0000 Pixelhead http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/08/blogcatalog-is-using-sezwho/ I was just on Blogcatalog and noticed that Blogcatalog is now teaming up with SezWho, which is a service that tracks blog comments across the blogosphere. According to SezWho the service is a “comment rating and reputation management platform”.
SezWho Logo
When you comment on one of the blogs that are using SezWho, other visitors will have the ability to rate your comments. However, I believe if your comments are made on a blog that is not tied into the SezWho network, such as this one currently, then the comments will not be tracked across the network.

If you have made comments on a SezWho participating blog, you already have a profile waiting to be claimed. As long as you have used the same email, it will track comments made with that email address.
I just claimed mine,and edited my profile by adding more personalized info such as a web site url, blog url, and another avatar.

Pros of Using SezWho

  • First, whether you enable SezWho on your blog or not, you will be able to benefit from it because BlogCatalog is partnering with SezWho. You don’t need to install a SezWho widget on your blog, but your BlogCatalog Avatar will appear on SezWho enabled sites,and link back to your Blogcatalog profile.
  • SezWho allows people to see your other comments, which should drive traffic to the blogs that you visit and comment on.
  • Enables you to develop a reputation in certain areas of the blogosphere. For example if you regularly comment on Personal Development blogs, you will develop a reputation that carries over into those types of blogs and which can be tracked.
  • Allows you to hide comments that you don’t want others to see on your profile page. This is part of the reputation management system.

Cons of SezWho

  • The main problem I have with SezWho is that when a comment is made on a blog using SezWho, the link love is cut down to zip because the link to the bloggers blog in the url field is first redirected to a SezWho url.
  • Of course, the issue of passing link love could be over come just by the use of links with in the comment. However, many people are unaware of how to put a basic link into a comment form using basic html.
  • If you make a comment that someone does not agree with, or if someone wants to attack you, they can visit the sites you have commented on and vote your “star power” down, much like being attacked on Digg. Could this be called a SezWho Attack?

SezWho for You?

I am not going to use SezWho on this blog at this time, but I will be keeping an eye on it, and the possibility of using it in the future does exist.

What do you think? Will you use it on your blog?

Update: I was just on Andy Beard’s post Blogcatalog SezWho Partnership – Passes MyBlogLog Traffic and learned that there is an option to remain a dofollow blog if you choose. That little bit of information pushes me a little closer to installing SezWho. Check out Andy’s post, as he does a really thorough review of the SezWho program.
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]]> http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/2008/02/08/blogcatalog-is-using-sezwho/feed/ 7 BlogCatalog Vs BlogRush | Apples Vs Oranges http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/2008/01/31/blogcatalog-vs-blogrush/ http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/2008/01/31/blogcatalog-vs-blogrush/#comments Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:02:36 +0000 Pixelhead http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/31/blogcatalog-vs-blogrush/ This is a post in response to comments made on the post Building Blog Traffic with Blogcatalog.

VS

From my experience with Blogrush, it seems that Blogrush does not have a real community behind it. It is described as a Syndication network, but to tell the truth, I am not quite certain how much if any traffic the Blogrush syndication network has sent here. Looking at my stats, the highest referring, site other than Stumbleupon continues to be CourtneyTuttle.com(Thanks Court)…Blogrush has never shown up in the stats.(not that I check my stats all the time)

Two things that the two sites have in common are that they both have a widget, and they both have names that begin with “blog”…that’s it. There is no comparison between Blogrush and Blogcatalog.
Blogcatalog is a social site, Blogrush isn’t.
Blogcatalog is a blog directory…Blogrush isn’t.

Blogrush attempts to send you users by getting you to tweak your headlines so that any readers who happen to see your headline when it appears in the widget on another blog, are encouraged to click your enticing link. The widget must be placed where the blog readers can see it. Blogrush would probably like it above the fold….hmm maybe I should place it right where my feed is.

BlogCatalog, as was mentioned by one of their staff in the previous Blogcatalog post comments, does not require a permanent link back unlike Blogrush. Once you are verified to be the owner of the blog by Blogcatalog, you can take the Blogcatalog link off. I just happen to like the widget that shows the recent visitors avatars.

I hope this post clears up the difference between the two sites. Then again I maybe way off the mark here, so please let me know if you disagree.

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]]> http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/2008/01/31/blogcatalog-vs-blogrush/feed/ 9 Building Blog Traffic with Blogcatalog http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/2008/01/23/building-blog-traffic-with-blogcatalog/ http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/2008/01/23/building-blog-traffic-with-blogcatalog/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:20:02 +0000 Pixelhead http://pixelheadonline.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/23/building-blog-traffic-with-blogcatalog/ This is the second in a series of Building Traffic with Social Media blog posts. The first post focused on Using Mybloglog to build traffic, and ths one will focus on Blogcatalog , which is another great site for using to promote your blog and for developing networks of blogging friends.

Blogcatalog Screenshot

What is Blogcatalog?

Blogcatalog is essentially a blog directory, however, it is without a doubt, one of the largest and best blog directories that is being actively developed.

What features does Blogcatalog Have?

  • a blog directory
  • a blog group directory
  • ability to create groups
  • ability to find and join other groups
  • ability to find and add contacts
  • ability to message other contacts
  • creates a log of blog posts for each listed blog
  • can leave comments about others blogs

How do You Join Blogcatalog?

Blogcatalog, is free to join, after which you may add your blogs provided they have a minimum number of posts and I believe must also be at least 6 months old. I might be wrong on this, but I have had at least one blog not accepted, but then when I resubmitted it several months later, the blog was then accepted.

After joining and before having your blog accepted you will need to place some sort of Blogcatalog Badge or widget on your blog. The widgets are very similar to the Mybloglog widget, so you may opt for just putting on a Blogcatalog Badge on your site.

Blog Catalog Premium services

BlogCatalog has some premium services available which include a nice little logo next to your profile saying you are a Blogcatalog supporter. There is also a premium listing method for the Blogcatalog directory, which will enable your blog to be listed ahead of other blogs in a particular category. There are a limited number of premium listings per category, so you may have to purchase a premium listing in an alternate category. The premium listings are also on a month to month basis, however the prices are pretty inexpensive, and many of the categories in addition to being cached in Google, also have some pretty good page rank.

How do I build traffic?

  1. Blogcatalog has a lot of communities available which can allow bloggers to network with similar types of blogs. After logging on, do a group search using your particular keywords. For instance, for my pet blog, I did a search for pets, dogs, and cats; and then I joined several pet related groups.
  2. Don’t see a group to your liking, Start your own, and then go invite others to join it.
  3. Visit other bloggers profiles that you might be able to network with and invite them to join your group.
  4. Leave blog review comments on the blog pages. This will involve actually going to other blogs and checking them out. You may also want to leave a comment on their blog. (Please don’t leave a “nice blog, check mine out comment)
  5. Another way you can get traffic is by participating in the discussions in the particular groups in a meaningful manner. This could be asking relevant comments, or even asking advice of other bloggers. Bloggers love to be asked for advice.
  6. Start new meaningful threads on groups. Don’t be afraid to start some controversial threads either. But please be nice.

How Else Can You Build Traffic With Blogcatalog?

I am not an authority on Blogcatalog, but this post covers the basics on using it for networking. If any other readers have any other methods for networking with Blogcatalog that I have not covered, please feel free to either leave a comment with your advice or leave a url to any Blogcatalog resource posts that may be helpful.

I am EmperorAnton on Blogcatalog if you’s like to add me.

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