Blogging Bugaboos

Clearly, I'm no professional blogger here nor do I deem myself as a "writer" (in any way shape or form). I have, however, learned a few things about blogging over the past year and half or so from some pretty legit bloggers and have deemed it necessary to share them with y'all. Some things you may know, some things you may not know and other things, well, just might be my humble opinion. Anyways-it's my job as a fellow blogger friend to fill you in on these things so-here goes:

1. Music on the blog. You know what I'm talking about...that little playbox at the verrrrrry bottom of someone's blog? The one where you have to scroll allllllllll the way down just to hit "PAUSE" so you can actually concentrate on what you're reading? Yea-let's just do away with those all together. Call me A.D.D. but if I wanted to feel like I was at a club in New York City, I'd go. I'm here to read your blog...not bust out with the crypt-walk. K. Thanx. Bye.

2. Shorten your links. (This mainly pertains to Twitter users but I've seen some stuff on blogs and thought I'd make a general announcement.) It's called "bit.ly" and you should use it. That's it. No "www". No ".com". Just "bit.ly". Here-let me make this easier...just click here if you still don't get it. It shortens your links so when you want to post a link on say, Twitter, it needs to be shortened...I mean...my URL would take up the entire 140 character space alone.

http://thehowardsbeautifulmess.blogspot.com/2011/08/cellular-device-dump.html

vs. 

http://bit.ly/ruhLNp

3. Photos. POST THEM. ALL OF THEM! The good. The bad. The ugly. I read your blog because I want to know you. I don't want to see someone else's picture that you copied of the world wide web. I don't read your blog to look at a page full of words. If I wanted to do that, I'd read the Wall Street Journal. (Gag) Also, if you're telling about a product you like...take a picture WITH it! (Example of  myself below modeling Mario Badescu's Silver Power) Even if you don't show your face, take a picture of just your hand holding it or pointing to it...I still wanna see what color nail polish you're sporting, what flavor Michael Kors watch you have on or how big your rock is.Yes-I'm that nosey.

4.Giveaways. Host them all you want but pretty please don't make "Liking" on Facebook a rule. If you've read my bio, you know by now I don't have a Facebook and it would have to take an act of Congress for me to be the only one who's a non-Facebooker so therefore, by making readers "like" something on Facebook, you're losing entries (not to mention...I'm missing out on all the free shizz.)

5. Word ver-i-fuc*ation. GET RID OF IT. If you still have this activated and are wondering why the heck you're not seeing any comments...heeeeere's yer sign...

6. "Follow" button. Get one. If you don't have one, why?? How am I supposed to follow you and keep up with your daily musings if I can't easily follow you by the click of a button. No. I don't want to "add" you to my RSS feeds...I want to click one button and be done with it. That's all. No follow button=no follow. (& that's not me being rude...I honestly don't know how to follow people who don't have the big blue button and therefore, I don't.)

7. Don't be a beggar. Really?? Don't ask people to follow you. Ever. It's not cool. It's like begging someone to be your friend. Stop making yourself look pathetic...write something worth my while, post ridiculous photos of yourself (see above photo if you need an example), don't play music while I'm trying to read and duh-of course I'll follow you!

In conclusion, class, if your blog contains candid photos, short links and follow buttons whilst refraining from jukeboxes/word verification/beggars...I promise I won't quit you!  ;)

And now that you've seen me in all my mime-like glory, I guess you could pretty much say that sums up my rant.