Thu
11
Jun
2009

VisualDNA - Amazing Widget/Shop Technology - Competition

(This post was also sent as a newsletter)

I recently had the lucky chance to visit the guys at Imagini in their London office.  I had no idea what to expect.  They showed me their new widget, to say I was blown away was an understatement.   (and you know that this rarely happens)

They are willing to offer all of us a free Pro Account for a month and the opportunity to win big money by simply adding and getting our readers to try out the widgets.  Make sure you read on, the widgets are beyond anything I have ever seen.

They have created a site called VisualDNA that allows us bloggers and site owners the opportunity to show our readers engaging widgets and enable us to earn money while our readers actually see things relevant to them.

The key here is that the reader actually decides what products they will see.  They get to click on various engaging images offering a choice such as would you rather holiday..picture of a city, beach, nightclub etc.. by clicking on the picture relevant to the reader, they are presented further questions and images until they reach a selection of products totally determined by themselves, not us the publisher.

You can even add your own recommended products into your store.

Imagine going to a camera blog, one that you have been reading for years, and there is a widget that asks what kind of photographer you are and eventually presents you the cameras recommended by the blogger for the specific use you have.  I think it offers amazing value for us the blogger and to our readers.

The Competition

As I said before, there are also two prizes available.  No blogging required at all, just get your readers using the widget.

Prize 1 - $500 to one random blogger displaying the widget.  The more blogs you have displaying the widget, the more chance you have of winning - the guys will do a live draw and are talking about doing it from their offices..!

Prize 2 - $500 for most amount of click throughs per thousand impressions. Basically, if you are a small blog with only a few hundred impressions a month, then you get just as much a chance as the big ones with millions. It’s all about the ratio between the two. And folks, any funny business with clicking away thousands of times yourselves and you’ll be caught out, they are clever guys there and have worked all this out!

What should you do to get started?  Simply click on this link (http://shops.visualdna.com/?ref=fuelmyblog) - if you want to win you need to go through this link as it is tracking who is entering the competition, and of course you get the free PRO account.  Watch the two videos narrated by Stephen Fry (yes *that* Stephen Fry) and get your widget and store up and running.  I have a shop up over on the right.

Any questions, just ask below and i’ll make sure the guys respond.

Kevin

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Wed
10
Jun
2009

We are Fuelmyblog: Philip Shrimpton

Time to meet the blogger behind the blog on  Fuelmyblog the friendly community made just for us - the bloggers! When Philip Shrimpton is not cycling he is blogging about it - quite an endurance. Find out how Philip blogs and more about his blog: Travels with my Mule

******

–> What’s your name?

My name is Philip Shrimpton and I live in Beverley in East Yorkshire, England.

–>What the name of your blog?

I have changed the name of my blog a couple of times to try and reflect the content, but it is now called Travels with my Mule.

–>What is the url of your blog?

philipshrimpton.blogspot.com

–>If you don’t mind sharing with us, what is the average of visits to your blog in a day?

I currently have about 10/15 visitors a day but this figure has been steadily creeping up every week with most people returning.

–>How long do you spend blogging every week?

I publish a blog post every Sunday without fail. Initially it would take about half an hour but now I realise that if you want people to read your blog and come back you need to show the same dedication and try and find something for as many people as possible. So now it can take up to four hours.

–>Which part of blogging takes longer - writing or editing?

I think consciously think about ideas all week and jot things down. By the time Sunday comes its more a matter of sorting and editing.

–>What inspired you to blog in the first place?

I first started blogging as a vehicle to encourage team mates in a single charity cycle ride. However some people liked what I wrote and now my blog has just evolved. I try to keep the same thread running all the time. As every cycle ride is a journey the view is always different so inspiration is never too far away.

–>What tips, tools can you give to new bloggers?

I have linked my blog to a number of search facilities and link into other blogs. I do believe that 50% of blog following comes from word of mouth though.
There are fantastic blogs out there, where so much time has gone into layout and content. I think planning is so important. I try not press the publish button too soon, until I think that my post is as good as I can get it. That was my earliest mistake, trying to rush things to get things ‘Out there’ but planning is everything.

–>Can you still see yourself blogging in five years?

I think I will continue blogging for some time I find it cathartic and get great joy believing that I might be making somebody laugh, smile or be inspired.

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Mon
8
Jun
2009

It is all a bad case of Bloggers Block!

It’s always a problem I find after blogging on several blogs that every so often I develop the dreaded “Bloggers Block” a bit like writers block!

And over the last month or so I’ve had a bad case of running out of stuff to blog about, but it’s not only the block that causes problems it’s also the busy schedules of other things such as signing contracts, been addicted to Twitter and lately SpyMaster that hasn’t helped with an already bad situation!

But, what to do when when of these terrible moments rears it’s ugly head, well, I suppose it’s time to take a break for a week or even a month until something crops up and you think to yourself, ooo I could blog about that, but don’t force yourself, let the flow of blogging come naturally, if there’s nothing there, then don’t blog about nothing!

So the call goes out to fellow bloggers, what advice would you give to a fellow bloggers who has the dreaded “Bloggers Block”?

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Sun
7
Jun
2009

Happy birthday @kevindixie

Anyone wondering what’s happening to Kevin Dixie today? He is celebrating another birthday…join him in his new house - if you must throw him a few snacks…I forgot to visit him last night…

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Sat
6
Jun
2009

Fuellers have talent

For those who fear that summer has done a runner we may have to do with the following pictures to remind ourselves that we are in June :)

Thank you to you fuellers for sharing your pictures with the fuelmyblog community. If you have a flickr account why not join our FMB Flickr group?

This week I have admired Daddy P’s Poppies & RemBeatz Ruddlan Castle - felt instantly cooled down by the  shaded forest of RichardBarley and totally fantasized over lis of the north STRAWBERRIES!

A good week!

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Thu
4
Jun
2009

Reviews & festival opportunities for UK and USA

For those who have not received or read our latest newsletter - here is some info that could be relevant to you if blogging from UK or the USA:

–>Butlins TweetUp Bognor Regis - 19-22 June

There is a social “festival” happening soon at Butlins, it could be the start of many more interesting events at the resorts.

For more information, visit www.bigweekends.com & view the tickets and availability - password butlinstweetup99

There are limited tickets and apartments available and the price includes room, breakfast, dinner , some cocktails, wine and fun!

–>This one is for those bloggers based in the UK and USA only.

We have a new site review request in from music publishing giant EMI (Think Black Eyed Peas, Lily Allen, Beyonce!)

They are looking for UK and USA bloggers to review their new website in return for goodies from our EMI treasure chest, there are DVD’s, CD’s, T Shirts etc!

To find out more, please email [help(at)fuelmyblog.com] please do not apply if you are not physically in UK or USA as the site will not be viewable!

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Tue
2
Jun
2009

Blogs that have been noticed on Fuelmyblog

Fuelmyblog’s prime goal is to promote bloggers, the community is growing and with more and more bloggers adding to the site everyday the choice is huge. My eyes scan through hundreds of blogs and yes I get very excited when I come across good content so it makes sense to share it with you here and point out the various blogs that have been selected through the previous weeks as *blog of the day*.

I have also been twitting #blog of the day and there is nothing better than getting an instant reply back. Fuellers if you are on twitter do let us know in the comment box, we will follow you back :)

The following blogs can be found on the fuelmyblog community:

Mad Aunt Bernards  Tortoise Poetry tell us what you make of aunt Bernards, I am wondering whether she is at all related with Susan Boyle?

***

MarieLynn Boutique Blog: a great example of a combined mummy blogger and online boutique owner.

***

um dia, claro…: some amazing black and white pictures, this blog is based in Portugal but is very much visual so no language barrier here. The last few posts have been dedicated to the Serralves Institution.

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Postcards From Miss Igorota: is a great example of a fun collective travelling blog that works - the lay out is cool and blog updated everyday - Miss Igorota has been everywhere!

***

The Tennis News Authority is a good place to stop and discuss tennis results.

***

Ryan’s garden and Fennel and Fern are both my favorite from the gardening category at the moment. If you would like a chance to receive an award or have noticed a special blog here on Fuelmyblog then email us [help (at) Fuelmyblog.com] we are always pleased to hear from you :)

Feedback on blogs selected here are of course welcome - simply use the usual comment box!

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