Help/advice from ebid bloggers

[lodegrundrunner]

Hi all, I've finally added a proper article to my new blog and would appreciate advice/suggestions/critiques from ebid members who have blogs themselves. I have added an article about ebid and would like to get it right before I go onwards.

Please keep in mind that I don't consider myself a writer in any way, shape or form and what I do write is normally too long winded and uninteresting. (IMHO)

If you find it boring, off-topic or incomplete etc please tell me, I won't be offended. Also please critique the design look of the site, colour, text, style etc.

Blog here

[bykimbo]

Hi all, I've finally added a proper article to my new blog and would appreciate advice/suggestions/critiques from ebid members who have blogs themselves. I have added an article about ebid and would like to get it right before I go onwards.

Please keep in mind that I don't consider myself a writer in any way, shape or form and what I do write is normally too long winded and uninteresting. (IMHO)

If you find it boring, off-topic or incomplete etc please tell me, I won't be offended. Also please critique the design look of the site, colour, text, style etc.

Blog here

Pretty good start, I reckon. I wasn't sure what the significance of the headline "takeaway" was, it didn't seem to be explained in the text. I thought three buddy links in close succession looked a bit like that was what you were pushing and may risk devaluing the content. For my taste the look is a bit "messy", it seems to lack a theme, and I know people like pictures so maybe some better illustrations? But that's just cosmetic, the content is pretty good I think, and that's what really matters.

[suesjools]

David, I agree with Kimbo, the content is super. I like your blog, it reminds me a bit of mine, (which I haven't done in a while), need to migrate at some point. Noticed you're on Blogspot, is this a free blog site and are there any restrictions on blog size and/or content? (Language censorship mostly). If not, I may just be joining you in the near future.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[purplestevie]

Hi,

I did realise that pppay was ebid are the fees cheaper than paypal? do customers like to pay via pppay?

[suesjools]

Hi,

I did realise that pppay was ebid are the fees cheaper than paypal? do customers like to pay via pppay?

Hi Stevie; to my knowledge U.S. buyers prefer Paypal, can't speak for others though.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[lodegrundrunner]

Pretty good start, I reckon. I wasn't sure what the significance of the headline "takeaway" was, it didn't seem to be explained in the text. I thought three buddy links in close succession looked a bit like that was what you were pushing and may risk devaluing the content. For my taste the look is a bit "messy", it seems to lack a theme, and I know people like pictures so maybe some better illustrations? But that's just cosmetic, the content is pretty good I think, and that's what really matters.

Thanks Kim, overall it was a fairly rushed effort as I'm at work today. The takeaway section should be up near the top to give the reader an idea of what they should bring away from the piece but wasn't very well summarised. I got the idea from the Tech Republic website where they do that for most articles. I will remove the links leaving only one at the end, that should do it.

I read that pictures can highlight a point in a blog and provide a welcome break from just plain text but the included pictures I used don't provide real context to the piece.

I can't really decide on a proper theme for the blog. That is the third format I've tried, the first 2 being too dark. Luckily I can edit everything before I release it on Twitter. Thank you for the insights Kim.

David, I agree with Kimbo, the content is super. I like your blog, it reminds me a bit of mine, (which I haven't done in a while), need to migrate at some point. Noticed you're on Blogspot, is this a free blog site and are there any restrictions on blog size and/or content? (Language censorship mostly). If not, I may just be joining you in the near future.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

Thanks Sue. Kim's latest article on social networking and a few other independent pieces are the reason for the move to a blog rather than just endless tweets without substance. I will have to set up proper article plans so that the train of thought goes in the right direction while keeping the reader engaged. As long as the content brings people here it will have done it's job.

[bluebedouin]

Perhaps you could do a review/synopsis section for the dvd's you're selling?

[lodegrundrunner]

Perhaps you could do a review/synopsis section for the dvd's you're selling?

I have plans to do review type articles when I am an official business but that is still a little way off. For the moment I need to practice my writing skills so that I am at least easy to follow. I have made several changes since my OP, I think it looks better now but I will still have to add to the text a bit more. I hope to follow this up with another eBid posting (topic yet to be decided).

[suesjools]

Thanks Kim, overall it was a fairly rushed effort as I'm at work today. The takeaway section should be up near the top to give the reader an idea of what they should bring away from the piece but wasn't very well summarised. I got the idea from the Tech Republic website where they do that for most articles. I will remove the links leaving only one at the end, that should do it.

I read that pictures can highlight a point in a blog and provide a welcome break from just plain text but the included pictures I used don't provide real context to the piece.

I can't really decide on a proper theme for the blog. That is the third format I've tried, the first 2 being too dark. Luckily I can edit everything before I release it on Twitter. Thank you for the insights Kim.



Thanks Sue. Kim's latest article on social networking and a few other independent pieces are the reason for the move to a blog rather than just endless tweets without substance. I will have to set up proper article plans so that the train of thought goes in the right direction while keeping the reader engaged. As long as the content brings people here it will have done it's job.

David, thanks for the link, will definitely give Kimbo's article a read. My blog at present is mostly poetry and political commentary, not an advert spot, like my Twitter presence. I'd like to migrate from my present blog locale to open things up a bit; I've resisted a move so far as I have over 300 pages of content at present (will be a challenge to move and I'd need to make sure I had plenty of space beforehand) and no censorship whatsoever, which is important to me as a writer. The free bit is important, too.

Agree with blue, I'd love to see some reviews of DVDs on your blog. You could give them thumbs up/down like Siskel and Ebert used to do.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[lodegrundrunner]

David, thanks for the link, will definitely give Kimbo's article a read. My blog at present is mostly poetry and political commentary, not an advert spot, like my Twitter presence. I'd like to migrate from my present blog locale to open things up a bit; I've resisted a move so far as I have over 300 pages of content at present (will be a challenge to move and I'd need to make sure I had plenty of space beforehand) and no censorship whatsoever, which is important to me as a writer. The free bit is important, too.

Agree with blue, I'd love to see some reviews of DVDs on your blog. You could give them thumbs up/down like Siskel and Ebert used to do.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

Kim is an excellent writer, I might even go so far as to say like a professional. Some very good advice contained within her piece.

You could copy your stuff over to a new home a bit at a time. Just update your articles or add new bits and release them as new Blog entries. I would like to read pieces from other eBid members so yours would be more than welcome Sue.

I will try a few reviews on maybe Blu-Ray titles that I own as that is where my interest lies at the moment and it will probably be my main stock if/when I'm in business,