It seems like everybody has fallen off the face of the map, or maybe they are just not commenting. So, if you are reading this post please comment and let me know that you are alive, and I don’t need to send a search party to find you!
Sphere: Related ContentArchive > November 2007
Worship Network?
I read quite a few worship blogs. Fortunately, I read them through an rss reader so that I don’t have to go to each site to read their content. Even though this is helpful, I sometimes find myself sifting through personal/non-worship related stuff to get to more worship related content.
I am thinking about putting together a site that skims the content from some of the most popular, and not-so-popular worship blogs around.
I am looking for some feedback from my friends in the worship community. Would this type of site be useful to you? One site (and one rss feed) where you can read useful worship content.
Let me know what you think.
Sphere: Related ContentWhy Are Blogs Are So Important?
Check out this article from Network Solutions on why it is so important to use a blog. A blog is a very important element to consider as you develop your online presence:
Sphere: Related ContentIn an online world competing for customers, eyeballs and credit card numbers, every type of business can benefit from having both a Web site and a professionally hosted blog.
I have a Web site, why do I need a blog?
Just as businesses today realize the need and value of having a Web site, they are also beginning to understand the value that a blog, or multiple blogs, can have in connecting with customers and building ongoing relationships. Consider these reasons for adding a blog to your site:
- Change It and They Will Come - Increased TrafficWeb sites generally provide information about a business, its products and services. This information is relatively static - you may update the look and feel of your site or add new products and services, but your customers generally know what to expect to see on your site when they visit it again.
However, a blog, which changes with each new post, gives your customers reasons - even daily reasons if you latch onto a hot topic - to visit your site more frequently. This gives you the opportunity to expose visitors to your Web site more often, which is always a good thing. The more visits to your blog, the more visits to your Web site, the more exposure to potential sales.
- Ask and Receive - Customer Feedback and ResearchEvery business wrestles with understanding what products and services customers truly want, need and are looking to purchase. For example, “Should I add a red widget to my product line or would customers rather have a yellow widget?” A blog makes it easy to quickly pose these questions to customers and prospects and get feedback into what they want - or don’t want. If you have an active blog, you can quickly tap into what is hot and what is not. Blog posters will also often provide you their reasoning behind what they are seeking. Most importantly, customers like to know that you are interested in their needs and that you want to listen to them.
- Blog and Be Found - Search Engine OptimizationBlogs can be used to boost the search engine rankings for your Web site. Search engines recognize that blogs are generally updated more frequently than Web sites, they often contain links, and blogs are rich with relevant content. For a winning combination, make it easy for blog visitors to access your Web site by placing links to your site within your blog.
Blogs can improve search engine optimization through:
- Trackbacks. Trackbacks, or links to your blog from other bloggers, may be seen as valuable recommendations of your site when search engines calculate the relevancy of your Web site. These “referrals” can add credibility to your business in the eyes of search engines.
- Keywords. Relevant keywords, which are vital to search engine optimization, are often abundant throughout your blog postings. With a blog, you can add more keywords when you talk about your company or your products. Once again, you are adding value to both your Web site and your blog, in terms of search engine optimization.
- Navigation structure. Blogs have a defined structure of navigation that can be easily indexed by search engine spiders.
- Viral marketing component. If you can create a buzz among your customers, they will help spread the word about your blog, your Web site and your business. They will even handle distribution for you by sending the links to your Web site and blog to others!
If you don’t have a Web site for your business, don’t delay. Whether you choose to do it yourself, or have a provider do it for you, a Web site and a blog are business must-haves. There are numerous Web site and Web hosting providers that provide solutions to meet every need - big and small - and every budget (big and small).
Worship Musician Magazine
I wanted to recommend a great magazine for worship leaders, musicians, etc… Check out Worship Musician Magazine.
I subscribed a couple of years ago and let my subscription lapse because to be honest I wasn’t finding it very useful. About three months ago I decided to give it another go. What I have found is that WMM has matured as a magazine, and is providing me much more useful content.
The magazine includes articles on worship artists, and what make them tick, practical insight on worship leading, free charts on new releases, and articles on technical issues (this month it was on compression).
Sphere: Related ContentGod And Frustration
Have you ever been frustrated with life, a situation, with people, or with God? Have you felt like you are beating your head up against a wall with no relief in sight? Have you tried to explain it away by attributing it to “God is testing me”, only to be more frustrated?
It the midst of this frustration, how do you deal with it? There is the obvious answer of “take to God”, but I want to know how you handle it.
Please feel free to comment.
Sphere: Related ContentAhhh….
There are times when I am tired, stressed, etc… and all I need to do to escape is walk out and get this view from our backyard.
Comic Relief
I don’t know if any of you have been able to catch Frank Caliendo’s “Frank TV”, or you have seen him do his famous John Madden impression, but check this out. He is the master of impression.
Sphere: Related ContentSite Fixed
Ok, a big apology for those of you who are using Internet Explorer. I didn’t get around to checking/fixing my site, and making sure it worked on IE until tonight. So now you can enjoy my site it in all it’s goodness. But I highly recommend you change to a better and more secure browser like Firefox.
Christmas Card Picture
Christmas Card Picture, originally uploaded by keydin.
Some great looking kids!
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