Wow, it took longer than I thought it would, but I’ve finally finished updating and tweaking the layout (thanks to Abhishek Tripathi) and updating/adding all of the plugins I wanted to try, use and/or keep.
I hope some of these will enhance users visits as I’m anticipating. Some of the more notable changes and additions are:
1. Faster page loads – always a bonus
2. Free linking – using the WP-Backlinks plugin, I’m now allowing up to 5 free links on every page of the blog to readers and fellow bloggers out there. Unrelated and SPAM links will be moderated and deleted, but I think it’s important to the social nature of the Web’s current direction to allow readers to suggest other points of interest on topics. You can find these in the left column of the Footer, at the bottom of every page.
3. Do Follow links – again, embracing the social nature of real human readers to my blog (rather than catering and cowering to search engines) I’ve removed the silly “nofollow” tags from comment links on postings. I have taken measures to filter out the SPAM and will continue to moderate comment links, but users who post relevant and topical comments will not have their links branded in any negative way to spiders on this blog.
4. Twitter – I love Twitter! And have added a plugin that displays my friends on Twitter, as well as the latest updates from my Twitter page.
There’s loads more, and some of it I’m keeping quiet about right now because I have some surprises (did somebody say prizes!!!) in store for the future from The Leap, but all-in-all I think the updates and additions (as well as removing a lot of useless garbage that’s been just hanging around) will greatly improve the user experience for the blog.
I welcome and appreciate all feedback on the changes–good or bad.
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I like the new look, and I liked the old one too. I love what you’re doing with sharing the link-luv by offering free links on posts and not using the nofollow tags. Maybe more bloggers will start doing this and the blogosphere won’t continue being controlled and guided by a select few sites anymore. Kudos @}-`–
Scott, just popped in, love the new layout!
XO’s,
Bobbi