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thegoodknife

TOOLS! TOOLS! TOOLS!

Posted by thegoodknife • 10/10/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: announcement, blogcatalog, blogging, resources, tools, widgets

Hey everyone, we just launched a new feature on blogcatalog called Tools! Its a place to rate, review, and share your favorite blogging tools and resources. check it out at:

www.blogcatalog.com/tools/

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User Comments

  1. MissSuzie
    10/10/09
    MissSuzie
    Neat! Does this have anything to do with why BC had been such a pain in the arse as of late?
    [reply]
    1. thegoodknife
      10/10/09
      thegoodknife
      Indeed it has, we've been a bit spread thin trying to launch some these new features and getting everything ready for BlogWorld. hopefully this upcoming week will be smooth sailing.
  2. RecycleCindy
    10/10/09
    RecycleCindy
    Looks like a great idea and a good resource.
    [reply]
  3. timethief
    10/10/09
    timethief
    @thegoodknife
    I checked them out but I must be missing something here. What's the point of rating these tools for BC? If I have problems with 3rd party apps then I will be reporting them to the appropriate 3rd party. I don't get why I should be reviewing them and rating them for BC. Please clarify.
    [reply]
    1. thegoodknife
      10/10/09
      thegoodknife
      you're a ray of sunshine!
    2. timethief
      10/10/09
      timethief
      @thegoodknife

      I don't get what this is all about. Obviously you do know what purposes this Tools section and these reviews and ratings are intended to serve, so please share that information with us.

      Please delete all of the ratings and reviews I submitted. If I have any feedback for third party app providers I will make it directly to them.
    3. clioandme
      10/10/09
      clioandme
      Presumably the purpose is to share tools you find useful, and other people can add their two bits on how useful they find the tools. The usefulness of the feature will depend on how many tools are listed and rated. Dunno if it should include half-hour meals, but I guess that's a gag. Gotta eat to blog.
    4. thegoodknife
      10/10/09
      thegoodknife
      Thank You Mark!

      Any particular reason why you think the HalfHourMeals widget shouldn't be listed in our widgets section?
    5. timethief
      10/10/09
      timethief
      The internet is full of useful blogging tools. The vast majority of which are free. There are many blogs devoted to reviews of useful tools for bloggers, my own included. There are many threads in the Discussion forum searchbox on useful blogging tools. Moreover, we members can create an unlimited number of even more threads to discuss useful blogging tools in.

      The third party providers do want to hear feedback directly from their users, and they are already set up to receive it directly from their users. That's why I don't understand what service/feature BC is aiming to provide me with that I don't already have access to now.

      For example: Software - I run wordpress software on my domain. I'm already a member of wordpress.org. I provide and receive support from the technical support forum which I have bookmarked. I know exactly who to give my wordpress.org, and for that matter, my wordpress.com feedback to. I don't need the "get it" link on that BC page, and I could care less what number other BC bloggers, who choose to rate and review wordpress.org assign.

      Why has this "software" review and rating page been created. What useful purpose(s) it is meant to serve?
    6. clioandme
      10/10/09
      clioandme
      @Daniel: I didn't see it as a blogging tool, but if you blogged food, I suppose it would be. And variety is what you will need to make this a worthwhile resource.

      @timethief: The same purpose as the others. Time will tell if it succeeds.
  4. Theresa111
    10/10/09
    Theresa111
    Wow Daniel! I can only imagine how much hard work went into doing all of this. It looks just fabulous. I am sure you can teach me how to do everything, perhaps with a short tutorial? It looks so exciting and you must be proud. Well done!
    [reply]
    1. TonyB
      10/10/09
      TonyB
      @Theresa, thank you for giving Dan comps. He worked extremely hard on getting the tool section going while doing a million other things for BC and for BlogWorld.
    2. Theresa111
      10/12/09
      Theresa111
      He and Oscar are geniuses.
  5. LolitaV
    10/10/09
    LolitaV
    DAMN!!!! and here i thought this thread was about the tools in the bc forum. LOLITA IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS!!!!!!





    [reply]
    1. crazyTsu
      10/10/09
      crazyTsu
      When I saw "tools" I immediately thot about you
    2. NatetheGrate
      10/11/09
      NatetheGrate
      LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    3. LolitaV
      10/12/09
      LolitaV
      yes, yes. bring on the dildos, and humm.... stuff, and tools.
    4. Agit8r
      10/12/09
      Agit8r
      that come with a tool-belt?
  6. acousticguitarist
    10/10/09
    acousticguitarist
    thanks tig
    [reply]
    1. Theresa111
      10/10/09
      Theresa111
      Red Panda! Isn't is amazing that our feet are kinda facing each other? Look at the globe. You're down under and we're on top. Or do you feel as if you are on the top of the world and we're on the bottom?

      Yes, I think they did such a good job! Cheers!
  7. AngieA
    10/10/09
    AngieA
    Daniel, I think it's awesome
    [reply]
  8. Agit8r
    10/10/09
    Agit8r
    There's no need for name calling...
    [reply]
    1. Theresa111
      10/10/09
      Theresa111
      whispers ..."That was a good name."
  9. Stillthinking
    10/10/09
    Stillthinking
    It looks good and was clearly a lot of work. I have to think that this is more a reference for new bloggers and to give them direction on resources to start a blog.

    As a Wordpress user though, I find that most of the resources and tools listed here don't benefit me at all. I have access to a much better list of tools, widgets and resources on Wordpress.org.
    [reply]
    1. TonyB
      10/10/09
      TonyB
      It could become a good resource for new bloggers to get direction on resources to start a blog and perhaps find tools that they otherwise wouldn't have used without getting some insight from other bloggers who have used the tools. BC's membership has many new bloggers and also receives visitors who are looking to start a blog or have questions about a blogging tool that they want to add to a new blog. Hope it helps them and others and becomes a place to make bloggers more effective than they would be without it
  10. gerryPlanetEarth
    10/11/09
    gerryPlanetEarth
    As a person who knows very litle about blogging this is a great idea and very helpful...
    [reply]
  11. PetLvr
    10/11/09
    PetLvr
    3cents

    1cent / I concur with Mark's assessment above (clioandme) that the Meals widget is definitely not a blogging tool. Although see 2cent comment - if it receives popular reviews

    2cent / I can see what you are trying to do this - to be a resource for bloggers, but I would get rid of the "FEATURED" section altogether before you ruin your own brand - and replace it with "POPULAR" tab - based on the highest reviewed application/tools in the lot. A little blurb at the bottom like
    Want to see your favorite application here? Give a review.

    3cent / you should enable the Tools section to be like groups - meaning anyone can add and submit tools for review and rating - without admin modification/approval .. with perhaps a 'recent tools' tab and if nobody reviews it within 15 days it can go to a final tab called "Tools Resting Home" .. for future bloggers to know it's available, but nobody thought much of it.
    [reply]
    1. thegoodknife
      10/11/09
      thegoodknife
      Thanks for the great feedback!

      The tools section isn't designed only as a resource for beginning bloggers. It's also a directory of widgets and services for all types of bloggers. For example, there are tons of food bloggers who have already added the meal of the day widget to the their blogs. If you have any fun (non-tool) widgets that you use on your blog we would love for you to submit them too!
  12. Friday13
    10/11/09
    Friday13
    I did a review last night. Two things that need to be fixed:

    1) The link for WordPress.com points to WordPress.org
    2) The BlogCatalog "recent readers" widget is linked to http://blogcatalog/widgets
    [reply]
    1. thegoodknife
      10/11/09
      thegoodknife
      thanks for catching those errors.
  13. DollinNYC
    10/11/09
    DollinNYC
    I like that they are all in one place and you can read others experiences with them! Thanks!
    [reply]
  14. cookingasshole
    10/11/09
    cookingasshole
    What a great idea!
    [reply]
  15. LisaNYC
    10/11/09
    LisaNYC
    I also think it's very well done and extremely helpful.
    [reply]
  16. LisaNYC
    10/11/09
    LisaNYC
    I'm having trouble figuring out how to run TwitFeed with my customized search...so far their preview keeps running on my blog instead, and I keep removing it. I guess I'll email their support. I'm a tech idiot.
    [reply]
  17. thegoodknife
    10/12/09
    thegoodknife
    *monday bump*

    keep the feedback coming.
    [reply]
    1. MidwestMom
      10/12/09
      MidwestMom
      @TGK

      Dan, as tools change and new tools emerge, will this list be updated? Can the list grow? I'd like to see a link to the AddThis widget. I find it really useful.
    2. thegoodknife
      10/12/09
      thegoodknife
      Yes we hope the list will grow over time, Users can submit a tool or resource to us at any time.

      also the addthis widget can be found at www.blogcatalog.com/tool/addthis

      If there is anything else missing, let us know, or submit it at: www.blogcatalog.com/tools/submit
    3. MidwestMom
      10/12/09
      MidwestMom
      Thanks, Dan. I reviewed it.

      The tools on the toolbar will be a useful resource, especially for new bloggers. I know I've had to stumble my way through and bug some established bloggers for tips (shout-out to Hart, who has always been helpful). It's great to have resources all in one place.

      Another suggestion: URL shorteners (bit.ly, tinyurl, etc.) are terrific tools.
    4. thegoodknife
      10/12/09
      thegoodknife
      Great idea!

      What do you think makes one URL shortener better than another?
    5. MidwestMom
      10/12/09
      MidwestMom
      Reliability. I've had a bad experience with one -- it redirected my posts to someone else's blog. So, I don't use that anymore. But you could put a few of them in the toolbox and let users weigh in on which ones they like or use.
  18. Theresa111
    10/12/09
    Theresa111
    It would be very helpful if you can list the widgets which will not perform with a wordpress blog, as then it will save me or anyone else the frustration of trying to add the widget, when it won't work, because wordpress will not allow it.
    [reply]
  19. trailofpen
    10/12/09
    trailofpen
    You should categorize the tools and widgets by purpose. Even if you don't have a lot right now, organizing them now will make things a lot easier in the future.
    [reply]
    1. thegoodknife
      10/12/09
      thegoodknife
      we agree, thats why we let user's tag widgets and tools to help better categorize them. try adding some tags to a widget, its fun!
    2. trailofpen
      10/12/09
      trailofpen
      But allowing people to create their own tags doesn't make things easier. One person may tag their tool in one way, when another person tags a similar tag another way. The end result is a whole lot of tags with very little organization. Lay down some order. Everyone will benefit from it.
  20. HandmadeByAnnabell
    10/12/09
    HandmadeByAnnabell
    Too cool. Thank you!
    [reply]
  21. voodooKobra
    10/12/09
    voodooKobra
    Cool. It's nice to know they're there, but I don't think I'll ever use any of them. Personal preferences, that's all. I like to code things myself.

    I'm still holding out to see if the thing TGK had me test like a year ago is ever going to be publicly released.
    [reply]
  22. voodooKobra
    10/12/09
    voodooKobra
    TGK, since you want feedback:

    1. Are you using a weighted rating system or a standard average?
    2. Have you tested the Tools section thoroughly for security holes? If not, would you like me to assist?
    3. Will users be able to submit tools? Nevermind. I'm blind.
    [reply]
    1. thegoodknife
      10/13/09
      thegoodknife
      1. We are not using a weighted system, but will probably make the switch once we have more reviews. Right now its sorted by average rating.
      2. Isn't that why we have you!
    2. voodooKobra
      10/14/09
      voodooKobra
      Right. A weighted system isn't practical when there are a low number of ratings in the system.
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