Comment Spam has become a big issue on Balkhis as it is growing rapidly. Even though most people say Akismet does the job, well it does do a job by reducing the thousands that it had, but if the amount is really high then it gets passed akismet. The situation is so bad on Balkhis that if I don’t login for five hours on wp-admin then I have over 50 spam comments. Which is getting pretty bad. Well, so I decided to take an action which cut down the comment spam by a good amount.

So I have mentioned before in my posts that Akismet can do the job, and with Spam Karma it makes the blog very strong. But there is another way that will cut down your comment spam.

That my friend is adding an external no follow in your single pages. If you noticed many big blogs like Problogger, Shoemoney and others are doing that. While talking to John Chow, He also recommended me to do that. But I was being nice and therefore I kept the do follow comments on the comment page. But now I can’t be nice anymore because this is getting ridiculous.

So on every page you comment, it will not be a followed link. But you must remember on most blogs, it is still not a follow link. All Top Commentators are still a follow link, so they get the most out of it. This way I think it will help both the blog and the top commentators because now the spot is worth more.

There are multiple SEO Advantages to do this also because now you are limiting the number of external links on pages that have a lot of comments. I am sure you are eager to know how to add an external no follow to your wordpress blog. I will say if you are getting comment spam, this might be something that you should consider.

First go to the file: /wp-includes/comment-template.php

Find the word external, and add nofollow tag after it. Pretty simple eh. The number of spam decreased significantly. Want to know by how much? Today I only have 13 spam all day.

If you are tired of spam, then take this option.

As you guys know that Balkhis is growing both on the web as well as in the local community. Well a lot of people that I talk to at my university don’t really know what RSS is. Because whenever I am talking to people they are like what do you mean by RSS Subscribers, or subscribe to RSS. So I decided to write about this article as a resource for starters.

What is RSS?

Many people have different definitions of RSS. Well it really stands for Really Simple Syndication. Some people say it is Rich Site Summary, and as one of my teacher said it means Really Simply Stupid. Anyways, RSS is a way for you to get updated on the site that you like to read every day. Millions of internet users use it because they don’t want to stay in old time system where you had to bookmark the site and check them back manually.

Why you should use RSS?

I am sure you value your time just as much as I value my time. I don’t have time to visit each site individually multiple times in a day to check for updates. Instead, I would just like to have all of them at one place, so I can check it all at once rather than wasting my time. So save your time and just use RSS.

Seriously, all it is that you subscribe to a magazine, and it is delivering you the updates. Rather a daily edition of that magazine. Because blogs really are a smaller version of the magazines. So if you like to save time, then start subscribing to RSS feeds. As we say in webmaster niche, Time is Money. So use it wisely, and one way to use it wisely is subscribing to RSS feeds.

Another good part about RSS is that you don’t get to see the annoying ads. You know some sites that you really like the content off, but have really ugly look and distracting ads. Well, this is your solution. Use RSS to subscribe. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to subscribe to RSS. It is really easy. Let me teach you how.

How to use RSS?

All you need is a RSS reader. I myself use Google Reader, and Planetaki. Next thing you need to do is find an RSS Icon on other sites. They look something like these:

Click on them, and try to subscribe through your reader. Some readers just ask you to place the feed url.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/Balkhis – So start by practicing with Balkhis url

Now you can either do that through readers, or you can do that through emails. Email option is very simple. All you have to do is enter your email address, and verify that. Then you will receive emails whenever that site updates. Note: Feedburner does not spam, so you don’t have to worry about that.

This option is also available at Balkhis in the sidebar.

Disadvantages of RSS

The only disadvantage that I can think off is that it gets confusing when you have about 50 websites that you are subscribed to, so my advice is that keep the number to be about 10. You might miss information because I notice that when people have a lot of stuff to go over, they tend to skim through the content. Other than that I don’t see any disadvantage of using RSS.

Tools for Webmasters and Bloggers

RSS is one of the ways that people measure success of the blog. The more subscribers you have the better your blog is considered. To get more subscribers, you need to check the following resources:

Best Design Practices of RSS and Free Icon Collection

How you can find new RSS Subscribers for your Blog

How to add an email subscription box to your blog

This is a beginners guide, so ignore if you don’t like it. Feel free to add your comments because I know this is a very broad topic, and I covered it in a very short post.

As you guys know that I run a web design company, and I have many local / online clients. When I suggested the idea of using wordpress to some of my clients, they were very unsure. Reason being wordpress is an open source software hence insecure. But does it really make it insecure. In my opinion no, but due to the popularity of wordpress a lot of blogs become a target of hackers. Well, you can prevent it by taking the few simple steps.

Steps

1. Stay Updated

   Wordpress come out with new releases all the time. Which means you need to update all the time because if you get hacked using an older version then you can’t blame wordpress. If you guys are going to say well, I don’t know when a new wordpress version comes out. Well subscribe to Balkhis, because I write about it every time. Guys the reason why it is important to stay updated is because when wordpress finds the bug, they fix it, and release the next version. In that next version, they tell the world what was the bug that they fixed. So now the hackers know the vulnerability of your site if you are using the older version. So you just make the job easier for them. So always download the most stable version. It doesn’t take a long time. Stop being lazy and stay updated.

2. Download Database Backups

   I am very sure that almost all of you get new comments everyday even if you don’t write new posts everyday. Well, then keep your database safe by making a backup everyday, so if anything happens you can always restore your site in moments. How do you download database backups. Well if you have cpanel, you go to Backup and download the mysql. But that seems like a lot of work. So you might be better of getting a Wordpress Database Backup Plugin because this will let you schedule backups daily, weekly, monthly or what not. I have it as daily. Then you can chose to download the backup or have it sent to your email. Either one its up to you. But make sure you have database backups daily.

3. Good Web hosts

   Good web hosts make a big difference in the security of your wordpress blog, or heck any site. So you are better of with going with the most reliable names in the industry unless you have your own server. If you ask me which one is the best to run your blog. I will say, Host Gator, or Blue Host should do the job perfectly fine. Because I know that they take care of almost all of their security issues.

4. File Permissions

   Always delete your install folder from your root directory. Because a person can just rerun the install and change your password and screw your site. Next thing you want to make sure is that your wp-config.php is not writeable. If it is then you are technically revealing your passwords to the whole world. And someone can just change it if they really want to. You are better of with keeping all files writable just by yourself (user). A good plugin to have in this case is WP-Scan because it goes through everything and tell your site weaknesses.

5. Comment Spam

   Comment spam is another issue which makes your blog insecure (Not really from hackers but you have spammers on your site trying to get unwanted content on your site). So a good way to protect them is just getting the plugin called Akismet, and Spam Karma. For most people Akismet alone can do the job, but as your blog size increases, Akismet can’t do everything.

6. Change Username

   I know many people just use the wordpress default user admin. It is not a smart idea to do that because hackers know which field it is in the mysql database, so it is wise to make another user with your username, and a strong password give yourself adminstrator controls, and then delete the first user “admin”.

7. Keep Different Passwords

   You need to keep different passwords because a simple hack can turn into something big. Because say if you have a same password for your wordpress and the email. Someone hacked your wordpress, then saw your email listed there. Hacked your email then hacked who know what else… So always have different passwords. And have strong passwords meaning use Capital and Small letters, Numbers, and Characters.

So wordpress even though is an open source software, but it is very secure. It have a lot of plugins that can make your site rock. If you are not using wordpress then use wordpress. If you are using wordpress, then make sure you look at all these tips and protect your blog from hackers.

Alright, this was the second day Keynote at Izeafest 2008 by one of the best speakers that I have sat in presence of. It was no other but the guy behind 43folders.com, Merlin Mann. This speech was very cool, and inspiring at the same time. Reason why? Because he had a voice. Having that said let me jump onto the details of the keynote.

The title of the keynote was: How to Build a Smart Blog for Smart Audience

What to Blog?

• Find an Obsession – something that you can’t stop thinking about. Something you can’t stop talking about. Something that your friends want you to not mention again because you say it so freaking much.
• Something unique – “Hit them where they ain’t”, so in a niche where no one is doing anything, so you can be the first one such as “Lesbians who love croquet”.

When to Blog?

• You either have something to say, share, and contribute to the community.
• When you have ORIGINAL Content which is RARE.
• Do you have a Voice? Well if you do then blog the shit out of it, and stop apologizing for what you say.

What should a Blogger Want?

• You want Respect: status, influence, fame, recognition.
• You want people to recognize you, whether they like you or not is their choice, but recognition matters.
• You want to make money, some money, a lot of money…
• You want to build participation on your blog.
• You want to get better.

How to Blog?

• Write Everyday, but Don’t necessarily post Everyday. “It’s not how many years you play, but its how many hours”. You don’t need to post everything you think about it at the instant second. Sit on it for a while, and see if your thought changes.
• Have five or six posts going on at one time. You can’t write your master piece all at once. You have to work on it step by step with a clear mind. How many of you think that you can write a 2000 word post, by just sitting at one place? I know I can’t because I get frustrated, so I walk around, take a break, or work at something else. Hence why you have 5 other posts.
• Have a Voice – If Content is King, then Voice is queen. Boring content (weak king) can be found dead at the corner of every street, but good content can be only found through the queen’s bedroom (voice). For example, you can find a wordpress tutorial at Balkhis, or at another site, but you liked Balkhis tutorial because you liked the way it was explained. The voice of it. So explain your obsession. If your obsession is writing tutorials, then do it well.
• Edit Everything – I need to do a whole heck a lot of work on this. But edit edit edit as Merlin said. Remove the parts that are crappy. Fix your errors. If your user points the error, then fix it and thank them. (I thank all of you correct my grammar because I know I make a lot of those mistakes).
• Get Better – Don’t just try hard. Try Harder because that is when you produce the best work. Work an hour or two, most people say that is enough. But that is slacking. Come back and work at an hour later, to edit. Don’t get used to of easy snacks (potato chips) because your blog will get fat and ugly.

What to sweat daily?

1. Why am I doing this today? (what good am I doing to my audience)
2. Who am I over serving today?
3. How do I know when I am done here? (Reevaluate why you are blogging every six months)

What not to sweat daily?

1. SEO – If it take times away from being good then don’t worry about it.
2. Traffic – It comes if you are good, so be good.
3. Ads, Design – refine and reflect later.
4. Fame – There is no relationship between talent and fame. “To be famous as a blogger among the blogger is probably the saddest thing.”

Things to stay away from when blogging?

• Making a blog to make money – It is like “learning ventriloquism to meet girls” it happens but it is rare.
• SEO people who just want to trade links
• Being arrogant, or as Merlin says, Being a Dick.
• Shortcuts, they are just like Potato chips. I don’t want to be fat, do you?

Merlin’s Advice

Find your obsession. Every day, explain it to one person you respect. Edit everything, skip shortcuts, and try not to be a dick. Get better.

It took him 4 years to figure that out. So you have it to start with. Isn’t that awesome.

Once again, Merlin runs a blog at 43folders.com. I don’t know how you measure success, but if a guy is a keynote at a nice conference like this. Have 134,000 people reading his blog. He must know what he is talking about wouldn’t you say. Thanks Merlin for the awesome speech. It was nice knowing you. Oo and by the way, the project you inspired me to do, when it is done.. I will link you from there

As I promised you guys, that I will be posting my notes from Izeafest 2008. Well here is one of them that I think was very interesting. This is from the Crazy Jewish Bastard, Loren Feldman. Don’t take me wrong, I have nothing against Jews, you will understand why I made the statement as you read the whole post.

Loren had a one hour session, and it was pretty straight forward. He told us about his experience and gave us the tips on personal and corporate videos. So here are the key points from him with my explanations:

Personal Video

• Know Your Audience – because what you say really matters. If your audience is conservative religious people, then don’t curse. Pretty simple eh.
• Don’t act like an actor – Be yourself. Have you seen people who think they are an actor when they are on a video. It doesn’t quiet work because you can act that way for one minute, but not any longer because you won’t be comfortable.
• Be Sincere, Be Honest, Be open.
• Connect with your Audience – Connect with them as they are your friend. Try to relate to them.
• Its not about the equipment, its about the athlete – People think that the video didn’t turn out good because the crappy camera. Well sometimes that maybe the case, but most of the time it is the athlete which is you.
• Practice to be Better – Look into the camera and not into your screen.
• Talk SLOWLY – Don’t worry everyone have that problem. I had that one as well when I am nervous. Try to be comfortable. RELAX
• Good Background – Find a plain background like a white wall. Otherwise it distracts the audience. But by all means have a different background if it drives the story.
• Imagine that the lens of the camera is your best friend. Look at it as it is a set of eyes.
• Don’t make BS Videos – Don’t make BS Videos. Do what you like and what you are passionate about. If you make BS Videos, it presents you as a BS Person.
• Don’t fall in love with what you do because you are not as good as you think you are.
• Edit, Cut, Cut….. and more cut, and cut, and then cut more.
• Keep the videos between 2 – 3 minutes – Honestly no one have time to watch a video that is all talk unless it is a TV Show.
• Four minutes should be the max, even with Naked Girls.
• Tag all your videos – Title, and Description are very important.
• Build your Video Audience – Don’t make response videos, or seeking out others for flash fame.
• Don’t get discouraged – If you don’t get a lot of views, don’t worry about it. Try again and do it better.
• Being Tall, Dark, and Handsome Helps – Not everyone is that. So don’t feel discouraged. Too bad Loren, I am tall, Dark, and Handsome… I knew I was special
• Always Play Big, and Play like a Winner

Wasn’t that interesting. Certainly I found it interesting. But that is just personal videos. He gave us advice on Corporate videos as well, so check those out.

Corporate Videos

• The money is in corporate video.
• Video connects with audience – If a company thinks they don’t need a video. You are dead wrong because Videos connect and relate better than words.
• Making videos bring personalization to your employees – Would you rather watch a boring director from your company tell you that you are getting a salary cut, or a rather personalized video that tells you that. I wouldn’t like either, but the second one would be better out of the two.
• Use videos as a commercial marketing tool – You can get away with alot. Loren got a company that advertised on his video. They said just go crazy. So at the end of his videos, he say something like, Check out these Crazy Jew Bastard, A credit card company.. Creative, funny, so people remember it.
• Establish Business Relations – Network, Network, Network. That is exactly why you should’ve been at that conference. I hope you will be next year
• Videos rank higher in Search Engines – It is good to have videos because you can notice that google is giving youtube videos authority by ranking them high.
• Ignore Criticism – Do what you feel like. Loren’s word not mine. I say read the comments, then if you like what they say then do it. Otherwise Ignore.
• View Counts – You can have a 1 million views with not a single important one, and have 10 views where 5 were CEO of major companies. Having that said, speak to the higher up. Get important people, because results are important, not numbers.
• If someone steals your video, take it as a compliment and move on. You can watermark your videos, but people who want to steal, will steal.
• Audio is super important.
• Tutorial Videos Rock – How to videos are a big hit.

Recommendations from Loren

Loren gave us some technical recommendations that I shall give you guys.

• Use Casio Camera – He use this one $149 camera from Casio.. Don’t exactly remember the Model Number. Maybe Loren can drop by and tell us.
• 640 x 480 Dimensions. 30 frames per second.
• PC Sucks, Use mac for video editing. iMovie and Final cut.
• I talked to him afterward for PC users, he recommended Adobe Premiere.
• Use Tubemogul.com – you can submit to a lot of the video uploading places rather than just one. Get more exposure

I really liked this session because it was dead honest. The guy came out, and said look here I can’t teach you what to do. But I can tell you how I do it. Because really it is true. Just like I can’t teach you how to make money online, but I can tell you how I make it. And maybe you can learn from it. I hope you do. Hint Hint, why this blog is not a make money online blog…

Anyways that was Loren Feldman from 1938media.com. Lets give him a big round of applause. He make alot of crazy videos. Thanks Loren for the awesome tips. I did learn a lot from your session. If you see this post, I would really appreciate if you can tell the audience that camera type again.