Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Site changes, categorization
In the first few months of Blogging Network, we'll be making frequent changes as we respond to writer and reader comments, and work through key issues related to the site. One of them has been the issue of categorization.
Categories are a way for the site to organize itself so that readers can easily find blogs that are of interest to them. Successful categorization depends on writers placing their blogs in the most relevant category.
In the past few weeks we've consolidated, renamed and created certain categories. Moving forward, we will create new categories once we have a critical mass of blogs that warrant the creation of that category. For example, the Religion & Spirituality category will be reintroduced once there are enough blogs for it.
Monday, September 23, 2002
Emily Dubberley promotes "Confessions..." & other blogs on newsletter
Writer Emily Dubberley -- of Cliterati fame, "a site which dares to admit that women like sex too" -- is promoting several blogs including Confessions of a porn writer and running an advertisement for Blogging Network on the Cliterati newsletter. Check out the details from Cliterati news No. 18:
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ADVERTISEMENT: BLOGGINGNETWORK.COM
Read respected writers and make money out of your
own writing. Masses to read; sex and relationships,
education and politics plus more. Join personal
and provocative writers posting views from the
UK, US, Pakistan and more. Opinionated and
off-the-cuff, but never boring. Join today
http://www.bloggingnetwork.com/
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Pay-to-view sites
Naughty Bits: Humorous columns from US sex writer
"There I found "Your Guide to Pet Frogs & Toads".
Figuring I'd dated enough frogs and toads (without
successfully finding one that would turn into a
prince), I cracked it open. I found "Tips for
Selecting Your Pet Frog or Toad". Maybe if I followed
these pointers, I'd land a more promising member of
the herpetological family.
1. Good Appetite: Sounds reasonable. Not eating is
often cited as a sign of depression or other forms
of emotional infirmity. So if my date doesn't eat,
that could be a red flag.
2. Eyes Open & Alert: Right. Because it's a total
drag dating a narcoleptic, or a serious stoner -
unless, I guess, you are one, too.
3. Hops When Gently Prodded: I've never thought
about poking a prospective date, but none of my
other screening techniques seems to have done much
good, so why not?"
http://www.bloggingnetwork.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/naughty_bits/
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Confessions of a porn writer: Stuff about shagging
and life in general by one of the Cliterati team
"Being interviewed about masturbation habits is
always an interesting way to spend an afternoon.
A while back, I met a lovely lady who's writing
a book about sex and sensuality. I sorted her out
with some contacts and she asked if I'd mind
being interviewed for the book. Of course, I
was happy to oblige.
Was weird, spending an hour talking about
self-pleasure. I mean, we set up Cliterati
because women needed some free wank material
and wanted to break the taboo about the whole
female masturbation thing. And I do see
masturbation as the great social leveller;
anyone can do it regardless of wealth, gender,
sexuality, colour or political preference.
Plus, how many other things that feel so good
are free?"
http://www.bloggingnetwork.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/pornwriter/
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The Village Idiot: Dating, depression and teaching
in New York
"When I masturbate, I'm usually thinking of some
fantasy. So I, in other words, go to the fantasy.
But with Eileen, it seemed like she was a fantasy
since we met online (we hope to meet in mid-October).
And when we talked on the phone, she suddenly became
real. Realer than real and incredibly stimulating
-- like instead of me going to the fantasy, the
fantasy came to me."
http://www.bloggingnetwork.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/thevillageidiot/
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Alexander Bradley: Very funny and sure to offend
some people
"What I absolutely would not do is make the couple
who found the body wait almost 24 hours before they
notified police. What on earth were they thinking?
"What do you think we should do about that body we
found in the woods Mavis?"
"Tell you what, Stan, leave it for a while - you
know how busy the police are, what with that missing
girl and all."
"You're right Mavis... another scone?"
http://www.bloggingnetwork.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/alexanderabradley/
Blogging Network targeted ads on Google
We are now running a small number of targeted ads on Google. Here is the current ad:
Sunday, September 22, 2002
Writer News: Bill Quick promotes Daily Pundit Premium
Bill Quick -- of Daily Pundit fame, author of numerous William Shatner and other books, and the creator of the term Blogosphere -- continues to promote his Daily Pundit Premium blog on his free blog. His pitch to readers:
DailyPundit Premium is now available at
The Blogging Network. Three bucks a month for all the blogs you can read, unlimited bandwidth hosting for all your own blogs, and you can even make a buck or two with your blogwriting. What could be better? Check it out today!
Saturday, September 21, 2002
Margot Carmichael Lester promotes Naughty Bits to her mailing list
Margot Carmichael Lester (aka fire-eating side show attraction) of Playboy and Match.com fame is publicizing her Naughty Bits blog in promotional emails to her mailing list. This excerpt from "blatant self-promotion, part 886":
my story on dating demographics is on the front page of MSN.com's singles channel (for a limited time only, i'm sure). click here to read all about it: http://love.msn.com/personals/article1.asp
and don't forget my naughty bits (pay-to-play, but only $2.99/month for a daily dose of me!) blog at the blogging network.
Friday, September 20, 2002
Money Available to Writers
For clarity, the previous "annual run rate" number has been removed, and the actual "money available to writers" is now displayed on the home page. Thanks for the input on this!
Thursday, September 19, 2002
Mature Audiences category
It is important that Blogging Network be an open community, as well as a safe place for everyone to visit. As you know, bookstores keep adult magazines and books segregated, often blocked by screens or high shelves.
To allow writers to post erotica or other "adult" content on Blogging Network, while restricting access to minors, we are planning to add a Mature Audiences category where such content must be posted.
If anyone has any concerns about this addition, please add comments to this post.
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Home Page Revision
The revised home page is now live. A new News and Information page links to the new Announcements (formerly News), News and System Status blogs; see the other blogs for details. Thanks to everyone for all the feedback!
Tuesday, September 17, 2002
Name changes
As you may have noticed, we have been changing some things around in the categories. We've consolidated the Technology and Business categories and added Religion & Spirituality. Watch for some very interesting writing in this new category!
Also, the original Blogging Network blog is now named Announcements and will be used for important company and Network announcements.
Monday, September 16, 2002
Home Page Revision (Draft)
People have provided much feedback on what they’d like to see showcased. Check out this this draft revision to the home page, which attempts to incorporate all the feedback. Good? Bad? This site is yours, so speak now!
(Note that the page does not reflect current information, since it is not yet live.)
See the Home Page Revision (Draft)
Here's some more information on the sections you can see in the draft:
- Featured Blog: showcases one popular blog, selected at random. Since one blog is featured at a time, readers can see much of the blog’s description, making it easy for readers to find interesting blogs. Readers can read the blog, or look at other popular blogs.
- Featured Writer: showcases one popular writer, selected at random. This section includes text from the writer’s About Me page, giving readers the opportunity to learn about the writer and their other work. Readers can see the writer’s full About Me page, or learn more about other writers.
- New Posts: highlights the latest post from each of the four most recently updated blogs. A longer excerpt is shown for the most recent post. Readers can read the full post, or find more new posts.
- New Comments: highlights the four latest comments in all blogs. A longer excerpt is shown for the last comment. Readers can read the full text of each comment, or see all the latest comments.
- Blogging Network News: highlights the last news item. Readers can see the full post or look at all the news items.
- Top 10: the 10 most read blogs in the last 24 hours. Readers can read a blog, learn more about a writer, or see other popular blogs.
- Top in (Category): the three most read blogs in the last 24 hours in a category. The category is selected at random. Readers can look at a blog, a writer, or other popular blogs in the category.
