As you know, Syed is on vacation somewhere in the wilds of Washington State. This guest post is by Amanda Roberts of WordScrawl.

A few days ago, Chris Garrett posted on his blog regarding critics. Mr. Garrett says that all bloggers should ask themselves a series of six questions (which you can find in his post) before responding to a critic. While I think Mr. Garrett makes a good point, I think there are some things that need to be addressed.

Not all critics are bad: Mr. Garrett states in his post that “critics are often people with chips on their shoulders” who know it is easier to criticize someone one than to create something. While it is true that it is much easier to avoid original thought than create something, I don’t think most critics have chips on their shoulders. Any time you have an opinion, there will be someone out there who disagrees with you, and I think that if they voice it than it should be treated as a serious and valid thought. Just because someone is passionate about something, doesn’t mean they have a chip on their shoulder (or anywhere else for that matter). And while yes, not all critics are trying to help, why can’t we turn it into something helpful?

While the fact that I am criticizing (gently) Mr. Garrett’s post might invalidate me in some of your eyes, I think that as bloggers we all need to be open to the exchange of ideas. Many of us started blogging to get a voice; we wanted to get on our soapbox and voice our opinions, regardless of the consequences. One of those consequences though is opposing thoughts. The internet is one of the last truly free spaces we have where we can voice our opinions with some kind of anonymity, so what better place to voice a conflicting idea? If all of us were to censor or hide from the critics out there, we would just be virtual kindergarteners with our fingers in our ears. So from that perspective, isn’t it our duty as bloggers to allow and respond to criticism?

On the other hand: While I do take all criticisms as valid and try to address them, Mr. Garrett is right that sometimes it is just not worth it to fight back; that is exactly why we shouldn’t. Bloggers and people in general shouldn’t bite back when criticized, no matter how asinine the opinion seems to us. If we truly think we can articulate ourselves well enough to have a blog in the first place, why can’t we articulate our responses better? Sticks and stones dear bloggers; don’t let a conflicting opinion drag you down in the eyes of your readers. It takes ten minutes to sit down and think of a nice way (or nicer way) of saying something; if we can all do that then what is the point of responding badly, or worse, not responding at all, to criticisms?

Visitor comes first. Get more visitors. Get targetted visitors. Well now you have them, but how can you convert them to your loyal readers? In this post I will share my views on this topic. I believe by interacting and initiating the positive relationship with your commentators can get you a strong loyal reader base.

From the past 3 months that I have been blogging regularly on this blog, I have got to know so many people. These people read my blog regularly, they are in my subscriber list, and they also stay in touch with me via email. Now I thought I need to share some of my techniques because I got this question asked multiple times when people recieve my first email. How did I set that up. Yes, I bet you know about that email also. This is the email that gets sent out to my new commentators on their first comment. Basically this email is just a little thank you note I want to tell my users because I really appreciate each and every comment because it is you guys that keep me motivated.

Well if you are wondering how does my blog automatically send out an email to all new commentators on their first comment. Well it is a work of a great plugin by Justin Shattuck (His site is down right now). Basically this plugin send out a message only once to the new users, so it is not a spammy message. The more personalized the better. You guys already know how my message looks like. If you don’t that means you have never commented on this blog before. Try it and you will see.

I believe that Comment Relish is a great way to interact with your commentators because alot of people tend to reply to that email and they either introduce themselves, or ask me some sort of question. Either way, I get to know my readers and get to know what they like. This actually makes my problem easier because I don’t have to go do a big research to find out what my readers like because alot of you guys actually lead me to the right direction by asking me questions and giving me your suggestions and I appreciate it. Coming back to the point, this plugin is a great way to interact with your commentators.

DOWNLOAD COMMENT RELISH

Note: The download is from my server because the original site is down. Justin if you have issues with this please notify me and I will take it off from the download because I think such a nice plugin should not go to waste.

Now I know that there are people who don’t like this plugin for various reasons. For example Vijay of Siteguide wrote a post 3 ways not to use this plugin. Eventhough I respect his views and I understand where he is coming from, I certainly cannot agree with him. It is a personal choice and you have to make one for yourself. Some people like the response while others don’t. I am a type of person who likes to be appreciated. I want to know if I send a message that you recieved it, so an autoresponder actually assures me that you recieved the message, so I am happy with it. As long as you don’t spam me with multiple other emails. With this plugin it only sends out one message not more than one, so it is perfectly reasonable.

The second reason he mentioned in that post is very true. Desperate attempt of publicity. But it is not true for all. Vijay said that some people write in the email describing their blog is great and everyone must subscribe to it. Whereas others just say thank you in the email in a kind way. Now, you can ofcourse abuse this plugin, or you can use it wisely. Using it wisely means simply thank the user. Don’t advertise your other services. Kindly ask them to subscribe in the end of the email if they want to. Don’t say you are missing out on bunch of stuff and you are not cool and so on so forth. Just kindly give them an option to subscribe thats all.

The third reason he mentioned about “Not the best first impression” will vary from person to person. I believe if you mention in your email that this is the last time that user will ever recieve that message and they don’t recieve it ever again that definately means you are trustable. Some people like to be appreciated like me whereas others don’t expect that thank you like Vijay. Once again a personal choice.

I am not saying that Vijay is wrong because alot of people do think like he does. I am saying that it just varis from people to people, and you just have to pick your side. I think it is a great plugin to use if you want to interact with your users.

I know personally that I do check out all my commentator’s sites, or atleast I try. I do reply to comments when I find necessary. If my user email me, I reply to them as soon as I can, and I do my best to establish a good relationship with them. Now if you do all this and the comment relish, you are doing a good job.

So in the keynote, Get Comment Relish
Reply to all comments when necessary (Use Brian’s Threaded Comment)
Leave Quality Comments on your commentator’s blog (If it is a blog)
Check out your commentator’s website if you can.
Always reply to all emails you get from your users.

A good relationship with your commentators can get you alot because these are the people who will spread the words of your blog around the web. They will recommend you to their friends, family and colleagues. I am sure we all can use the mouth to mouth advertisement.

Well like I have been planning for quite some time, I finally visited Microsoft’s office today. I am in Seattle if some people missed it. I am staying at my uncle’s place here and enjoying the beautiful city. Yesterday, I went with him to the corporate office which is about 2 hour drive away.

A little overview of Microsoft for those of you who don’t know. Microsoft is one of the leaders in the technology industry. Their main products are Windows, XBOX, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and many others. This company was founded by Bill Gates who was also the richest man on the planet for quite some time. Like a very successful company, their corporate headquraters are spread over thousands of acres. According to wikipedia it includes more than 8 million square feet.

When I first joined Microsoft Adcenter and Microsoft Affiliates, I talked to their representatives on the phone for quite some time. Once I was done talking, I thought well I should visit their headquarters as they seem like nice people. I asked them if I could visit the Bellevue office and they said no. Then I asked about the Redmond with the redmond area and they said yes I can on business days.

When I was visiting yesterday, I didn’t know where exactly to go, so I ended up around this first building. We went in there and I politely asked her for the tour, and this lady was very rude. I don’t want to put her name down, but the first impression of a Microsoft Employee in person wasn’t pleasant. She said only private companies are allowed to do this, and I told her I am a problogger and the reply from her was “And what does that mean to me?” World from world. I guess blogs aren’t a private business for some people. Any who… I didn’t want to waste my time arguing, so we decided to walk around the place and see how the campus is because it is a huge area.

While walking we were thinking this can’t be right. Maybe we are at a wrong place. There was this sign that I saw Main Entrance, and I am like aha maybe these people can guide me better.

Unlike the other lady at the desk, this one was a bit nice. This building was actually the recruiting center, so they had alot of cool things in their lobby. I asked her for the tour and she said there is one self-guided tour area in building 127 and she gave us some lousy directions. I asked for the address of that place so we can just enter it in the GPS, and she said she can’t give the address for security reason. This same place is actually publicly open. HMMM I wonder whats going on there. Well This lobby had XBOX 360 and other parts of it.

Well we drove around in circles because of the poor directions, but finally made it some how. We ended up this place which is a self-guided tour on only one floor. At this floor there are some cool things that I liked. Like the video that I made which is in this post below.

Also I got badges for me. Fake ones ofcourse there was this computer you can make a badge and send it to your email.

These are the 3 styles that you can make the cards. There was another one which I didn’t like alot. At this place there was a supposebly sound proof gaming room where you can play halo, car racing game and one other game. There was also a corner for their zune products and such. On the second floor, there was a shop.

I suppose if a shop is at the same place which is open for self-guided tour it would be for tourist, but not really. More than half of the things in the shop were for the employees only. Man those things had some crazy discount. Microsoft Office 2007 for only $30. Now this is a $499 software for only 30 bucks. Another thing I found funny was that I saw two guys in the line, and I asked one of them hey do you work here, and he said no. But his cart had about 8 or 9 Microsoft’s office copy, and there was a guy standing next to him. This guy said my buddy works here. Apparently his buddy was hooking him up with some decent softwares for a decent price because the guy said his buddy is buying it for him. Ofcourse he wasn’t nice enough to buy me one, and Microsoft wasn’t nice enough to give me one because of all the publicity they get here lol. Anywayz it wasn’t as good as I expected it to be. I will definately not recommend anyone else to visit their headquarters because this multi-billion dollar company does not know how to treat their guests.

I thought since this company is so big and work with so many publishers, they would atleast have tour guides, but I guess not. With a multi acre property they don’t want you to visit at all. They have a nice store but you can’t buy half the things they sell. I wanted to buy Windows Vista Ultimate edition which was only $40 but I couldn’t. I guess not everyone know how to treat their publishers like Market Leverage. These people are the nicest one to talk to when you have problems, and I am planning on visiting their headquarters also hopefully when I have time because they are not very far away. About the same distance, and I am sure they won’t let me down like Microsoft did. Sorry even though Microsoft is a big company, they will not get my support after today. Perhaps I should try visiting Apple’s headquarter. Maybe I will get a Mac Book Air … lol I want that thing and no one loves me enough to buy me that one.

Anyways I hope you guys saw the inside… There is nothing else they will let you see there. So not worth visiting and wasting the gas.

Well it is that time of the month where I tell you guys if you haven’t subscribed to Balkhis via email your best bet is that you should. Because you will be entered in the drawing to be the lucky winner of the Pimp My Blog Contest. This time I will announce the winner during the first week of June. The reason I won’t announce it on the first of June because I believe we are planning to go on a camping trip in Seattle, and there is no wireless in the jungle, so I don’t think that will be possible on the first day of June, but definately within the first 5 – 7 days. But the cut off point will be May 31st as I will conduct the drawing on the night of May 31st.

Just a review for those who don’t know what Pimp My Blog is. This is a traditional contest that is held at Balkhis every month where one of my email subscriber to this blog recieves a customized wordpress theme for their blog. The blog will contain a link back to my contest page with a cool Pimped Logo.

Two blogs have been pimped so far in this contest.

April 2008 Pimp My Blog Winner – Vol Car Blogs

March 2008 Pimp My Blog Winner – Simon Emery

If you want your site to be custom designed by the Uzzz Group which works under my supervision. Sometimes I personally design your sites also You can look at our portfolio here

Use the form below to subscribe via email to this blog and enter the chance to win. People in my top commentators get more than one entry.

Also the mini-contest at Balkhis will also come to end on June 2nd 2008, so if you want to participate in it be sure that you do.

Today I am heading down to Redmond to see how Microsoft Office looks. Lets hope everything works out. Will keep you guys updated. Don’t forget to enter both contests and win.

MAQ T20 came to an end on Sunday, but I didn’t get a chance to update the blog due to my flight in Seattle and I didn’t have the pictures when I arrived. But now that I have them, I am going to put it up. Well Pakistani Team led by Jawaid Miandad didn’t do so well, and didn’t even make the finals. Neither did the World XI Team led by Azhard Uddin made to the finals. Two teams that made to the finals were West Indies and Canada. West Indies was being led by famous batsman Richie Richardson, and I have no clue about Canadian team because I saw them for the first time, but they were my favorite. I wanted them to win the finals, but West Indies took the lead and won the finals. I wasn’t there on the finals day because I was in the plane to Seattle.

I have taken a few autographs of Azhar Uddin, Richie Richardson on the 4 / 6 signs, so if any one wants to buy it contact me. I also have the bat signed with all superstars that I liked which includes Azharuddin, Miandad, Imran Nazir and all the others. This bat was the bat which Imran Farhat played with. I am not selling this one I don’t have a picture of this one as this is at my house in West Palm Beach. I will put the picture up when I get home.

I had all access. I worked at the desk for a few minutes then I had to take care of the weak security. I loved every bit of it.

Below are some of my pictures with superstars.

This is Faisal Iqbal the captain of PIA Team and is a pakistani international team player.

Me and Imran Nazir.

I am working at the desk above.

This cake was delicious and pretty.

I have videos of the suite which I will put up later on because They still need some editing in it and conversion of the format.

Visit Cricketcouncilusa.com for more updates on the tournament and their next events. Thanks MAQ Group for providing me with a pass.