Discussions

The Art of Flagrant Self-Promotion

Posted by TheBellyacher • 5/07/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: Advertising, advice, Help, ideas, self promotion, shameless

I’m not going to lie to you, my intentions are purely dishonest. My attempts to gain an audience through organic means have fallen slightly flat. Since its inception, the Bellyacher Blog has continually underwhelmed – both in content and visitors – so now, along with far more devious, covert assailants, I am here to offer some shameless self-promotion.

What’s more, I need advice; where am I going wrong? I’m more than happy to take on ideas, but I have to get some people on board who buy into the Bellyacher vision. If you reckon your Blog is better let me know, I’m not above plagiarism. If like me you’re scrabbling for ideas, please feel free to use this as a forum to share your own blogging angst.

Bellyaching alone is not quite as satisfying as bellyaching to a critical audience. I need opinions to drive forward debate, thus far both have been sadly lacking.

Click, visit, read, think, comment and help!

lifeasabellyacher.blogspot.com/

User Comments

5/07/09

CrystalRaven

oh wow, my first thought was "not black" which is odd as I usually like black.
Get a new header.
Your about is wayyyyyyyyyyy too long, shorten it down and add a [more] with link to the rest
I cannot tell where one post begins and another ends, use an excerpt or limit post add on, increase the dates viability, enlarge the titles or all of the above
Too many ads, get rid of a lot of them and then keep them all in one place, don't spread them out.
Either get rid of that number generator thing or get 2 more stupid gadgets to go with it so they may seem to belong

This is all just my 2 cents sorry

[reply]
1. 5/07/09
  
  TheBellyacher
  
  Fair points all. I've never had the time or the ability to do anything with the design really, but the ads, the black and the header all appear to get roundly criticised - just wish I had time to do something about it.
  
  I think focus and simplcity might be the key points here; the truth hurts. Well I'm going to try and bring it all up to scratch soon, in terms of aesthetics at any rate.
  
  That number counter was going to be used as part of a future blog theme, but so far it hasn't been unleashed, so I take your point - it has to go.
  
  Thanks for your comments.
5/07/09

sciblog

I agree with CrystalRaven on the header, maybe change the contrast of the header in photoshop and I think it would look fine. The about me might be better too if it was a little shorter. But I like the content you have, keep up the great work and check out my blog when you get a chance pittsburgh.scientology-blog.com/

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5/07/09

intarso

I would try using a different layout besides the default blogger one.

Also, definitely switch to a different color background. I don't think I have ever found myself lingering on a blog that has a solid black background.

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5/07/09

TheBellyacher

In an un Bellyacher-like twist, I've bowed to public pressure and have made some of the changes suggested. Sadly I'm not particularly au fait with modern template design, so I have to stick with a generic one until such time that I have the inclination to go out and learn. Thanks again for the comments.

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5/07/09

Stillthinking

Go to bloggerbuster.com

That is where I got my template and they have hundreds. They also have very easy to follow tutorials and instructions as to how to upload a new template.

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