Helping You Rock Out Your Site Like A Rockstar!

Although it is not certain what types of services, Twitter has recently blogged that they have been contemplating on extending their services to include paid areas. Please note, as @Biz has said, they will not charge individuals or organizations money to use twitter.

I think this is great. I know some people might huff and puff, but really, for those like myself who tweet more than 20 times a day (I tweet around 40 times a day on average), that Twitter is very useful and should try to implement a few paid services. They might make obliterate other services, but if there is anything that Twitter can do to make it more convenient to use them instead of many resources already, then that would be great.

Although I am just a lowly blogger, here are my ideas:

• 1. Include services that allow people to change their twitter page like rearranging their page and giving them the ability. Or offer layout templates where they can switch around or add to it.
• 2. Allow users to add something like DandyID does to blogs where people can find their followers-turned-friends on more social platforms.
• 3. Invoke some type of twitter karma where if you have been resourceful or someone just enjoys you, they can give you a kudos.
• 4. Do their own “magpie” type program. I am skeptical about Be A Magpie as I have not seen any come across my stream or my followers and even a lot of followers that answered my question, were not seeing anything. This ability will allow both twitter and the user to make money and giving them the ability to approve or deny tweets as well as limit the ratio of twitter ads posted. This may be a controversial idea, but I am not against people trying to make money. The economy is bad enough. My only suggestion is to approve tweets that are relatable and in a way it will not be obvious that is all you wish to do.
• 6. Paid subscription to increase amount of tweets that can be posts within a certain time.
• 7. Paid subscription to just plainly show your support of twitter. Yearly subscription gets you a special icon on your page that says you are a twitter patron.
• 8. Have Twitter put another type of role in your followers. Not just have a “followers” section, but a “daily” or “friends” section where you can click to make a follower a friend, which will allow you to keep closer tabs instead of surf through a ton of followers.

Some of my ideas may be moot to use, but they are just ideas.

My only worry is that it will allow users to exploit the system. Already there are programs out there to “teach” tweeps on how to get more. That is not an organic way and proof in this is that I have several times tried to intelligently converse with the makers of these “tutorials” and no response. Their streams are filled with chit chat not even deep enough to express their opinion and they constantly plug their gimic. I subscribed to this out of curiosity, but have been unimpressed and disgusted by this activity.

With Twitter contemplating services, I hope that if they do, at least text ads on their part to earn more revenue. They deserve it. I think I have enjoyed Twitter far more than my past involvement running Yahoo ! Clubs (now Yahoo! Groups.)

Would you pay for services offered by Twitter? If not, why? If so, if Twitter decides to offer some paid services, what would you like it to be?

I was surfing by Jem’s site and read about a contest that I thought was great, especially since I am a member of Rev.iew.me. It is a Geek T-Shirt Contest Giveaway. Now, mind you, I have been very guilty of not participating, but I think Rev.iew.me is a great interactive site, especially for those honestly wanting to improve on their site in some way.

The contest is between February 5th and March 5th, 2009 and it is based on the most points you wrack up from reviewing other member websites. If you are a member, I hope to see you there. As I told Jem, I need to get in gear and do reviews as I enjoy visiting sites and the members are great. So far I have had constructive reviews that have not been pushy and were honest opinions. I recommend anyone wanting to improve upon their website to join, especially if you have an open mind. The great thing is that you can get reviewed and give in return. So, if not for the contest, then try Rev.iew.me out for fun.

By the way, I forgot there was a referral link, so if you do join, use me as your referral.

A couple years ago, I started Blogtopsite, but somehow it was getting spammed. With the updates to the script I always enjoyed using for the site, I have now found the time to re-open Blogtopsite.

Here is the difference:

• 1. There are several categories.
• 2. Sites can only be a blog to join.
• 3. Sites that win overrall each month will have their site micro banner ( 88×31 pixel) at the top for the next month (as there will be several winners.)

Sounds fun? Try it out!

I always love nifty things, especially when it comes to more opportunities to check out other search engines. I came across LeapFish, which I thought was pretty cool. When I typed in ‘blondish’ a drop down appeared with possible results and immediately the search engine pulled information from Google. I also noticed that users can select to have their information pulled from other blogs, Yahoo!, Ebay, YouTube, and MSN as a single query. Not only did my own site appear near the top by the time I completed typing, but also other searchs like Yahoo! Answers and possible images and videos. I did all of this without even having to click a button!

LeapFish is boasted to be one of the fastest search engines and has been blogged about by places like MSNBC. With my search being conducted as I type it in, I am convinced it is a great resource, especially when you can also get results from other search engines there too. For anyone else interested in search engines, you can follow LeapFish‘s official blog. Is this the next step in search engines? And for those who like it, I wanted to mention that they have a toolbar you can install as well. If you need more information, take a look at their LeapFish about page.

As a web designer, I sometimes have a rough time with a few clients on getting the project done. Whether it is a lost email or playing cat and mouse on instant messenger, it can be frustrating. Since I have been looking for tools, giveaways and more to feature here at Blondish.net, I came across Nandinih (Twitter User -@nandinih) who sent me to Deskaway. Deskaway is an online task management software site. It allows a group of people who are collaborating on any project to track progress and communicate. This is especially a great tool for web designers and their clients as they can store files and get projects done more efficiently. For those that are freelancers, this might ease the pain of having to sift through spam or check the junk email or worry if you might have lost email.

It is also secure with SSL so your work will not be stolen easily. Deskaway offers several different types of accounts. For those who cannot afford to pay anything, it is free to sign up and there is a free account that allows you to conduct at least 3 projects with a max of 5 users. The free account gives a 15 day project history. The only downfall is that the free account does not come with the SSL Security, and no email reminders to keep you on task.

Well, for those who love contests, Kitty Bradshaw (twitter user: @KittyBradshaw is holding one for a $25 gift certificate to Luv Seals. The contest is comment-based, where the winner will be the person with the most comments on her site between January 26, 2009 and February 9, 2009. Seems pretty easy, right?Go on and try it out!

Kitty Bradshaw’s site is a personal site written through her perspective from her own lifestyle to special interests like movies, food, the news, New York life, and more.

By the way, if you have a contest going on, tell me about it. I like to plug contests and perhaps yours could be featured too. A little help goes a long way!

Today is the official opening of The Listing, a Webdirectory. The only real requirement is that you at least give a text link back to the directory. I appreciate all who will try it out. Those who have a webdirectory, I am looking to affiliate.

For those who did not know, I run Pixelled Listings (please do not submit here as it will be closing) and I host Pamela’s Acid Lemon Listings. However I am finding that I do not like the directory link scripts for either anymore. Also, my hostee Pamela never contacts me, rarely updates, and the script she uses which is SimpleDir is highly unsecure. I also wanted to get away from the long named web directory.

Instead, I created The Listing, A Web Directory. I will be adding all the listees from both lists and contacting them on the update. Pamela, wherever you are, sorry, but I cannot have an outdated script on my server and have been footing the bill for the site and your hostees (which I had not approved) for the last 4 years. I cleaned out 20K spams last night that were in my server mail queue. It was tedious and not the first time I had to do that.

I appreciate those who I have spoken with on the project. I am using Jem’s NinjaLinks. It is simple and easy to configure. Plus, I think Jem is a gal who knows what she is doing when it comes to coding. My only concern is the lack of a captcha, but whether Jem does or I get a chance, eventually that will be a feature I will add.

A while back during a blog update, I mentioned the nifty tool create by Snap.com that allows anyone to sign up their site and install a code to allow a small screenshot to appear when you however over any hyperlink. Of course, I had installed and after a time, I stopped. I found it quite intrusive for blogs that have quite a bit of linkage spread about the page. I had many experiences where I clicked a link too close to another and it set off the preview. I had a hard time getting to the page I wanted. It was almost as frustrating with sites that have bulky pop-ups.

Now, the tool is not a total loss, as it gives a dynamic feel to sites and allows people to get a bit of a visual preview of a site before clicking through to it. The tool also shows up as valid when you put your page code through W3. However, It might be intrusive for those on dial-up who may have to wait or for those days that Snap.com is running a little bit too slow.

My suggestion is when using this tool is to consider the following questions before installing:

• Will it add or detract from your website’s value?
• Do you truly like the tool or are you just going to use it because it is trendy?
• Will your visitor’s like the addition?