When Dee Ann Rice contacted me about taking the My 7 Links Challenge, I'll admit that at first I was reluctant. But after taking a closer look at the requirements, on second thought, I realized it would be a lot of fun!
“THE GOAL
To unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.”
When I read the goal, and saw that the first three words were “to unite bloggers” I thought to myself, “How could I possibly say “no” to this idea?” I gave Dee Ann the go-ahead to pass the torch to me in her My 7 Links Challenge Post and, with that said, let's just dive right in.
My 7 Links
Most Beautiful post: Bloggers – Time for a Yoga Break has to be my most beautiful post. That post is filled with the love that I have for my fellow bloggers. I know that we all work so hard on a daily basis and I think we all deserve a break and the chance to pamper ourselves. The yoga video I recorded and embedded in the post, was intended to sooth our spirits and put our minds at ease. I love the comment that Holly left when she said “Ileane, your voice is like chocolate and I love the sound effects you make.” That's the first time anyone compared my voice to something so delicious and – beautiful!
Most Popular Post: One of my blogging friends, Joe Hackman, did an interview with Louis Gray last year (fast forward to 29:55 in the audio file). He asked if anyone had questions for Louis and I submitted mine and I was ecstatic when I listened to the interview and I heard Joe say – This question comes from Ileane and she wants to know how come you don't use CommentLuv on your blog. I was really amazed that Louis knew exactly who I was and he commented on how supportive I am of CommentLuv and how it's one of my keywords. LOL! Well Louis didn't take me up on the offer but he was right about CommentLuv being one of my keywords. I shared that little story because, as it turns out, my most popular post by far is How to Install CommentLuv on Blogger.
Most controversial post: Five Popular WordPress Plugins You Need to Ditch Now! It's amazing how attached we are to our plugins. It's as if we are ready to go to battle for them and the mere suggestion that WordPress bloggers remove their beloved Akismet and replace it with GASP did not go over well with some. I had to go to all lengths to demonstrate how Akismet deletes comments and bans users for no good reason. I went so far as to record a video to show graphic proof after some lengthy debates in the comment section. In fact, I'm sure the hardcore Akismet fans still have it installed, but you know that old saying “you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.” 🙂
Most helpful post: The Three C's Needed for Your Blogging Success Is very helpful for both new and veteran bloggers alike. Not only do I put my cards on the table, so to speak, about my blogging success, I also attempt to dis-spell that old myth about Content being King. The truth of the matter is, you can have the “best” content on the internet but if you don't have the right connections or the confidence to promote that content your blog will fail. And you can't get that fantastic content all by your little lonesome – you need to collaborate with other like-minded individuals who help you develop that “good content”. So those are the 3 C's – connections, collaborations and confidence. Besides “good content” is relative and what I think is good content everyone thinks is good content. Just kidding – wanted to make sure you were still paying attention. 🙂
Post Whose Success Surprised Me: Facebook Fan Page Photos Tutorial I knew this post would be helpful to some of my readers, but I had no idea that so many people were searching for this information on the web. I'm not a real fan of Facebook nor am I a fan of keyword research otherwise I would have realized how successful this was going to be. LOL! The other thing that surprises me is that Facebook hasn't changed their policy on this not one bit. Even with the introduction of the new Facebook timeline and the ticker and a slew of other changes, they still randomly rotate the images on Facebook Page headers. So I honestly didn't think this post had any shelf-life because I thought the rules would have changed by now, but it's Facebook, what can I tell ya.
Post that didn’t get the attention it deserved: I know that many people are confused about RSS feeds basically because I was when I started blogging. I always tell the funny story about how I started my first blog because I thought I was subscribing to my daughter's blog by mistake. I have another FeedBurner post on my old Blogger blog that gets more attention than this one.
Post I'm most proud of: Promoting Your Content on YouTube is something I wish I could get every blogger to do. Personally, I'm a visual learner and at times I wish I didn't have to spend as much time reading as I do now. I'd love to just sit back and watch videos all day and I'd even settle for listening to audio podcasts of my favorite content. I'm also proud of this post because I introduced the concept of using video to a lot of my readers who never thought about using it in different formats, for example the website XtraNormal, whose tagline reads “if you can type you can make movies”. Most people don't realize that there are YouTubers out there making a living off of the income they generate from their YouTube channels. But the most important aspect of the post is really the idea of challenging yourself and overcoming your fears.
Yeah! I did it. There's My 7 links and I was right, it was a lot of fun going down memory lane. Now it's time for me to pass the torch to 5 (or more) unsuspecting blogging friends and I hope they don't mind. And the nominees are:But wait, if you want your name to be added to this list, just let me know in the comments below. The My 7 Links challenge is open to bloggers from any niche and hundreds of bloggers have already joined in the fun.
Oh no, have I just been tagged? I don’t have many more than 7 posts total. lol
Actually I’m honored that you thought of me. 🙂 A couple of years ago Kristi Hines tagged me in a similar type of post but I can’t remember what it was called. It was something along the lines of “things you never know about me”. Do you remember that? Anyway, this should be a fun post and, finally, a blog post without a bunch of research. lol
Thanks Ileane, I’m going to make it a point to visit all seven of the posts you listed before I get to work on my post.
Hi Brian! So glad to hear that you are up for the My 7 Links Challenge. I figured most of us are in need of some type of round up post at this time of year anyway. This gives it a nice little twist. Looking forward to your 7 links post. Thank you!
I agree with that akismet thing – It rejects authentic comments and allows some spam. The problem of false negatives is there with it and I don’t want my subscribers not to be able to comment on my blog because of it.
I did this tag in my personal blog and tagged seven more bloggers. What don’t you do that too? 🙂
Hey Raj, I’m glad you got the point about Akismet. Some folks still don’t get it 🙂 I tagged everyone on Google+.
Btw – are you and I connected over there yet? I think so, but I’m off to double check now.
Thanks for your comment Raj!
Great post, Ileane! I have learned so much from your blog. I appreciate you highlighting these posts as I want to re-read some now that I have been blogging for a while.
This is a fantastic idea to support bloggers. Thanks for sharing this!
Hi Carolyn, how did you enjoy the holiday? I’m so glad we didn’t get any snow. I’m guessing we’ll get hit in January though. Thanks for stopping by and l checking out the posts. Enjoy the re-reads!
Hi Ileane,
The 3 C’s shares a super helpful message. I learned this lesson the hard way.
Your content can be spectacular, but if no one is around to see it, it doesn’t do you much good. You need to promote like a fiend..ok, maybe just promote a lot ;)..and you need to cross promote aggressively, to build your network. Keep giving freely, and you begin to receive generously.
Content is the foundation but branching out helps you expand and grow as a blogger.
Thanks for sharing the blog posts Ileane. Great stuff here.
RB
Hey Ryan, I know people mean well when they repeat the “content is king” chant – it’s just that I have run across way too many wildly popular sites that have what I call “lousy” content. Ok, that’s not true – I actually call it pure BS not to mention a total waste of my time. LOL!
Let me give you a classic example. Everyone loves to retweet Mashable stories right. I mean people put them on Twitterfeed and all of that. But if you look at a vast majority of their posts, they are simply an announcement of news from another blog or website that nobody even bothers to read or retweet. My point is their story sucks, but because people are so connected to them they are very successful at what they do.
Anyway Ryan, I know you got my point but I just wanted to get that off my chest.
🙂
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead.
Hi Ileane,
This challenge is funny and entertained too. I missed some of your posts; really I’m behind of several bloggers lately with little time for everything.
I’ll try to continue passing the torch in future. Many thanks for the mention 🙂
Reading the least of your fav plugins and agree with you in all of them. Akismet banned to me for near a month and I don’t want to hear of it never more…
Hope you’re having a great Holiday season and have an Excellent 2012!!
Cheers,
Gera
Hi Gera, It’s funny how plugins can make or break a blogging relationship isn’t it? I think most of us CommentLuv fans tend to stick together. Although we totally commiserate with Akismet users at the same time we’re thinking – that is SO 2009 🙂
I hope you enjoy putting your 7 links together and I know you’ll have a great post for us to read when you’re done.
Thanks for everything Gera!
Blessings Ileane..in the post Christmas lounge I have got a nice cup of herbal and am going to spend a relaxed hr going through your seven posts…and in the same laid back xmas haze I would love you to consider TheNextGoal to be part of challenge (my fellow froggie blogs will love me…)
So let it be written, so let it be done!
LOL! You guys are on the list now. 🙂
LOL..hugs and thanks. Team is going to love me!!
Hello Ileane, I’m new reader of your blog! your 7 posts are awesome
Ileane, your 7 posts are great – but this is a doozy of an idea! I have over 10-thousand individual articles posted since 2001 – over several blogs on five platforms – three of the five no longer exist – I’d be hard-pressed to pick out the best 7 – there are many that never got the attention they deserved as well as a handful of “clunkers” – throwaways that for some reason keep bringing in visitors on a daily basis for no apparent reason.
(Scratches head) – Now, if I had to think of one of the greatest posts I’ve ever read by another blogger it would be… “I’m dead” – this post made me laugh, cry, think and appreciate life and love! http://www.penmachine.com/2011/05/the-last-post
Hi Dave, there was no laughter for me on reading that post. I cried the whole way through, but I’m glad you warned me and I had plenty of tissues.
If you want to take the challenge you can limit the span of posts to include to maybe one blog and 2011. I had to do that in a sense, because I didn’t include any of the guest posts here – I only included my own and I also excluded my 3 other blogs (2 on Blogger and 1 on WordPress.com). Let me know if you want me to add you to the list.
Sure – add me to the list! I’ll get to work on this and should have something up by the weekend…
Nice Idea of passing a torch, It might bring out some best posts around.
Hey, I am also in a group who doesn’t like Akismat, it does some good work but it is bit more conservative. I can allow some spam comment on my blog which I can remove manually but would not like to mark genuine comments to spam.
Hi Sanjeev, thanks for your feedback!
Ileane,
such a great idea for sharing posts that really need to be shared! I am in the middle of a project right now (even though a big part of my would like to take the day after Christmas OFF!), but when I am done, hopefully, I’ll come back here and ask you to add my name to the list of bloggers who want to meet the challenge!
Your list of blog posts is great by the way!
Hope you had a Great Christmas, too!
Sincerely,
Jupiter Jim
Hi Jim, yes I enjoyed the holiday. It’s not like it used to be but still it was nice. I ate too much though 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and keep me posted on your project. Cheers!
Hi Ileane,
This looks like a great list of posts! I don’t have time to check them out now but I am going to bookmark this post so that I can come back to it later when I have the time!
Stacy
Hi Stacy, thanks for stopping by and come back any time to check out my 7 links. 🙂
Just started my own blog linked to my domain, and I’m going use your tips 🙂 Thank u.
Very helpful for bloggers. Anything to help people see that the Internet is very powerful when used the right way.
Hi Robert, great to see you. Thanks for your feedback. Looking forward to chatting with you more in the new year.
Oh most definitely Ileane, I look forward to it and I have some very powerful knowledge I have been preparing.
Also I have not forgotten about the video insights. Have a productive day 🙂
This is a great idea, showing some of your posts like this. And it allows new readers like me to discover great posts (the greatness being seen from different angles).
Definitely a good idea !
Eric, be sure to check out some of the fantastic posts from the guest authors here as well. Thanks!
Ileane, I really enjoyed this! I need to make some time and take this challenge. What a fun and interesting post!
Ok Lisa I “penciled you in” 🙂 I think your readers will really get a kick out of this too. Thanks for stopping by.
Very nice collection Ileane 😀
I really enjoy your posts here. Hope we can see more challenges like this “7 posts” challenge in the future!
Have a nice day.
Duy, thanks for your comment. I’ll keep writing good stuff as long as you promise to keep coming back. ok? 🙂
I have recently started following your blog, so it’s good to see great collection of posts and 7 links challenge looks quite a bit of fun…
thanks for collecting these article in one post….
Welcome aboard Vimal. I’ve been checking out your blog too. Thanks!
Awesome idea, I think I will do something similar, but with a twist since my blog is about hypnosis and the business I am in is hypnosis as well, so it kind of makes sense to go ahead and just do it, you know what I mean don’t you. Thanks for the great idea and I want to add that you have a very nice website.
Wow Ricky, I’ve never been hypnotized before. Not that I know of anyway. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by.
I have a bunch of demo posts to give you a better idea about hypnosis. It is a naturally occurring state. In fact, you even use it and do not know it. I wonder how much more you could do if did it on purpose 🙂 I love the site and the layout by the way.
Loved the links Ileane!
I have read a few, though few of them are still bookmarked presently for a later reading- after the holidays are over 🙂
It sure is a beautiful idea to pass on the torch to other deserving candidates, most of whom I do know except for a few, whom I am going to check out just now.
Thanks for sharing and congratulations on the new achievement 🙂
Hi Harleena, It’s always so great to see you. You bring such positive energy. Thanks for your comment.
Ileane, this is the first post I read from your blog Love the Links! Awesome
Thanks for visiting the links. Hope to see you again soon.
Seems to be interesting challenge. Good one Ileane. all the best.
Hi Atish, are you interested in taking the My 7 links Challenge? Let me know and I’ll be happy to add you to the list. Thanks!
Ileane, what was a wonderful walk down memory lane for you was a great reading and resource for me. Thank you so much for taking up that challenge.
Susan
Hi Susan, thanks for your comment.
Hiya Ileane, it’s me again Matt.
Sorry for my little delay, but promised is promised now back again. How was your Christmas?
Can I also recommend my bosses Australian HR Blog?
And how should I recommend this blog, just e-mail you my bosses HR Blog?
And since I’m getting to know this new CommentLuv world, a question for you :):
“Ileane recently posted..Review of the SEOPressor Plugin For WordPressMy Profile”
… How can I include a review, I need to enter my blog’s URL and it must also have CommentLuv enabled/installed, is this right?
Thanks so much & talk to you soon. Matt
Hi Matt, I already responded to you by email but just to let others know – you need 5 approved comments for keyword name and you can get 10 posts by using social enticements. Google +1 is my favorite at the moment 🙂
Really inspiring, Ileane. The challenge is really a nice way to go back and revisit those really memorable blog posts in the past year. I’ve added them to my reading list so that I can go back to them over and over again. Kudos to you, once again.
Hi Adeline, thanks for your continued support and friendship throughout the year. I appreciate it. 🙂
The pleasure is all mine, Ileane. Your articles here have been really helpful for me ever since I’ve started blogging. Looking forward to reading more and learning more from you. Have a great New Year ahead!
Hi Ileane,
I think this post will be the most useful for me now as I am planning to roll out my new wordpress blog site in January 2012. I have got to know many things about wordpress from several blogs here. I just read the post on “Five Popular WordPress Plugins You Need to Ditch Now!”, its a unique post for me. There are many posts that are about what plugins are the best to use but there are very few about the plugins that should not be used. And I am delighted to say that I am going to use commentluv on my blog.
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for your positive feedback and you’re right I think I should do more posts about tools that people really don’t need on your blog. Especially if it slows the blog down.
You’ll love CommentLuv 🙂
Ileane,
I love your 7 links. I had so much fun going through my old posts and have even more fun reading other peoples posts on their old posts.
I love the Facebook Fan Page Photos post that you did. I read that post very early on in my blogging journey and learned so much. I have gone back to that post so many times when I forget how to do the photos. It was a great blog post and I think my favorite one of your 7.
Thank you for taking the challenge. Great Post.
Happy New Year
Dee Ann Rice
Dee Ann,
I’m really glad you thought about asking me to do this. It was a great way to reflect on the past and I even went back through some of the comments that were left and found a few classics.
Happy New Year to you too!
Hello Ileane… These are wonderful links! All you have stressed have points and I enjoyed reading some old posts too. Happy Holidays…
Hi Diana, Happy holidays to you too. Thanks.
Nice set of links in one place. I particularly like the post about removing unnecessary plugins. Actually it kind of hit a nerve. I don’t know how many hours I spent trying to poke at different kinds of plugins. Sometimes the quest is just to find what is the coolest plugin out there. In the initial days I wasted amazing amount of time tinkering with plugins – time that could have been more productively spent with creating useful content.
Hi Amanda, thanks for your comment here and on the plugins post too. Have a Happy New Year!
Hi Ileane, so am I right in thinking that we can all do a 7 links post and that we don’t actually need an invite, just wanted to be sure, quite like the idea of doing one myself 😉
Oh Slappy, check again because I think you missed your name there on the list….JUST KIDDING!!
I added you just now and I can’t wait to see your list. If I make a prediction I think that one of your Royal Wedding posts will show up somewhere.
Happy New Year Slappy!!
Thank you Ileane, I will get on to working on the posts now 😉
I had so much fun doing my 7 Links Challenge I think bloggers everywhere should have a go. Thanks again Ileane for giving me the opportunity 😉
Hi Slappy, thanks for passing the torch along to Thomas. His post was fab just like yours!
Thank for posting. I’m very fun when read your blog it bring to me many knowledge related to blogging.
Hi Ileane,
I’ve really enjoyed my time here today going through your 7 posts and have learnt loads, thank you. I have of course left comments on the posts I hadn’t read before and shared them for everyone else to come and see.
I simply loved the YouTube lessons and have made sure that I can access it again with ease 😉 Learn and Apply is the moto for 2012, well it’s been my moto since coming to the blogging community 😉
I had great fun taking part in the 7 links challenge and really enjoyed seeing how far i had come since I started. I think the challenge is the best one yet and is a perfect example of going viral by passing the challenge on.
I have a question for you Ileane: The social sharing plugin at the side of your posts, is that Digg Digg? If so how did you manage to get buffer and Facebook share into it?
I’m using Digg Digg but haven’t seen any areas for adding the FB share of Buffer. I do have FB Like but not share.
Thanks Ileane,
Take care, Barry
Hi Barry, you left some awesome comments around here today. It’s been my pleasure reading them all. I’ll try to respond soon, but I wanted to be sure and get to this one asap.
This plugin is called Share Bar and I talked about getting it for awhile and when I found out from Leo that I could add the Buffer button I was really sold. I also wanted a great way to get some exposure on Google+. I didn’t have a Google+ button at all and I wasn’t getting any but since installing ShareBar I have quite a few.
As long as your favorite site has the sharing code you can add the button – it’s totally customizable.
Thanks so much for making the rounds here and over on YouTube as well. Chat soon!
I finally did it!
Hi Ileane,
I think this is an awesome thing to do. I love your site and always learn something. I keep referring back to it whenever I want to try something new. (I will do at least one podcast and one video this year). Wow! I just added another goal for myself!
I really liked this post and it was nice to see posts that I got a lot out of added to the 7 and some posts I haven’t read, but will now. Thanks. Sally
Hi Sally, I’m glad your recovering from your shoulder surgery and getting around on the web again. Thanks for visiting and I hope you come again soon.
Sometimes a spark of controversy can generate a lot of readers as well. It gives people a space to debate.
Ricardus, I didn’t do it on purpose – honest 🙂
Hey Ileane! Great post. All 7 were great post, but I read them already.
Maybe next time you can make a post “7 posts Danny didn’t read yet but really should”.
Can we nominate people for the list? I would like to nominate Atish for the 7 links challenge. 🙂
Danny, thanks for suggesting that Atish take the challenge. I’ll find out if he’s interested. The more the merrier for this challenge. I appreciate you!
Thanks danny and Ileane. I am ready for this 7 link challanege and the post will come soon on techtricksworld.. 🙂
Is the challenge still up? I wonder if there are enough people participating in the said joint endeavor. Is this covered worldwide or just the host’s country, exclusive.
Happy New Year,
Leticia
Hey Ileane,
Thanks for throwing down the gauntlet! I’m taking you up on the challenge. I’ll let you know when the post is ready. 🙂
I’m looking forward to your 7 links Vernessa. It should be really fun to read. Thanks for taking the challenge. Remember there is no time limit but it would be nice if you could do it soon.
Hi my dear, Ilene, I have finally completed my challenge and posted the NextGoal 7 Links > http://tinyurl.com/769xgex. Thanks for the space and it was good to revisit and remember the good ole days. Next goal…video:)
Took a while for the dust to settle – Ntathu has been diligently trying to post this since the start of the New Year, but the frog wasn’t cooperating with his move to a new pond. He’s happy now (I think) and I hope you – everyone here – will come over and read her version of the “7 Links Challenge.” She put a lot of thought and consideration into her picks, and it represents the work of our whole team – a really beautiful post. Thank you, Ntathu (and you, Ms. Ileane, for nominating us and asking her to write it).
Hey Ileane,
This has always been a wonderful post to read; not only because you get to know about your bloggers pick but also because I have so many post to read (in case I missed!)
I did the seven links challenge and I found it so tough! Like a fellow blogger mentioned “it’s like choosing between your babies” ! Will be back to check out your fav seven! or at least those I missed!
Nice idea to unite bloggers. And i am very happy to get the nomination from Atish from techtricksworld.com for 7 Link Challenge. Its Really awesome idea Ileane. Thanks.
Ileane, it’s great to see you take 7 links challenge, I am also soon going to take it on my blog. Best of luck. Wishing you success.
Its a new thing for me. Just got to know about this link challange. Very nice. Liked your all the links here. Gonna read other’s link challanges.
I love the concept of this challenge. To many times bloggers write good content and are not sure how to promote some of their best or often over looked posts. As a blogger’s popularity grows we have a chance to resurrect a couple of oldies abut goodies and we should do so. We should be interlinking to other posts we have written as often as it makes sense.
This helps to increase the “Sticky Factor” as well as reduce the bounce rate. It really brings our readers deeper into the family if you will.
Thanks for highlighting the challenge and sharing your your older posts.
This thing is going good . seen many blogs participating in this !! i would have participated if i had my old blog 🙁
Greate Article Ileane Thanks for the tips!
Wow.this is a great post. It will surely create a network between the bloggers. Goona do this on my blog too.
Nice trick will apply this on my blog too 🙂 Thanks for sharing such a great idea.
Wow, some great tips Ileane! I bookmarked this page immediately so I can come back and re-read your tips when I start work on my new blog. Now I have to read your other posts!
great post ileane and thanks for the links, will be checking them one by one to see the interesting stuuf there. thanks a lot for this post