Thursday, November 13, 2008

counting and commenting and a Sombrero




I’ve been away...but now I’m back...a forty eight hour pass from my kids...unfortunately I had to attend a funeral in Auckland to get the pass...but it was worth it.

Sometimes life gets so hectic around here, stepping away feels like heaven....


Jumping back into the fray... It’s Blog day Thursday.


A few posts ago I said that I’d talk about stat counters...

A Stat Counter is a little link that counts how many of your web/blog page loads are being looked at by other computers.


Fifi Colston is right... they are addictive. If you have stat counter (a nice little free service) you set up a little account and check it regularly and find out that all sorts of people around the country and around the world have stumbled over your musings. There is lots of information you can find out that will help you especially if you are using your web site to sell anything.


For instance key words... the stat counter website will tell you what key words were used to find your web/blog.

In terms of marketing this is invaluable. People looking for Ruth Paul, children’s books, the tomorrow code and Melinda Szymanik have all found my blog. I hope they enjoyed it.

I’d like to say Hi to all the people from the States that have popped in, and Dubai, as well as the many from New Zealand.


The other little piece of info that is invaluable is how your readers have found you through other web/blogs. Readers of Fifi, Melinda and Tim have come on over to see what I’m saying (with any luck it’s as interesting as what they post.)


Commenting on other blogs and web sites is great for getting your blog/web site noticed. There is a group of US kids lit bloggers (who attended the blogosphere conference earlier this year) who are having a 21 day challenge....comment on five blogs a day for 21 days and look at the traffic that results from your efforts.

I won’t be joining them at the moment I’m still trying to get on top of the mountain of laundry waiting for me after my forty eight hour pass.(writing... what’s that???)

All though I did get my space fix in yesterday with three presentations of my solar system/ nebula/galaxy, power point slideshow at school yesterday. It went down a treat and I hope I have inspired some eight year olds to think about getting out there and doing some exploration in space.


maureen

pic is the sombrero galaxy...voted the best picture the hubble space telescope has ever taken...Isn't it amazing!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Meeting Stacy across the Blogosphere



A couple of posts ago I said 'go on, just try reading some blogs and commenting on a few that interest you.'


I did this last week on Stacy Nyikos’s blog where I learned that she was writing a book called Pelorus Jack. Stacy lives in Oklahoma and has just had her first mid grade novel, Dragon Wishes, published. She is a member of the class of 2k8.

Stacy announced that she was coming to New Zealand to do some research. I wrote back telling her what the weather was and if she was in Wellington to shout out.


Stacy Nyikos is in Wellington now researching at the National Library before she goes down to D’Urville island. We met over coffee in the library cafe yesterday. What an interesting lady...I had lots of questions...I still have lots of questions about the state of publishing in the US. How 2k8 works...

I learned lots of things. I laughed, was moved, all in all, 90 minutes flew by.


Welcome to the Blogosphere.


Dip your toe in and get the chance to meet and share with people from all over the world so that when you do finally meet them for the first time... they are old friends.


The world needs more communication among ordinary people.


I know that Stacy is going to love the ‘Sounds.’ I am sure that they will love her back! (witty... charming...)

Welcome to New Zealand, Stacy!

One day I hope to turn up in the US and enjoy a coffee with an online friend I met over the world wide blogosphere. I know it will be just as amazing as yesterdays meeting with Stacy Nyikos in Wellington New Zealand.


Maureen...(you know how I hate gushing...I’m not gushing...I’m not...I’m just knocked out by the surreal experiences I have with blogging...)




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