Typically a tag will be inserted into your blog using a handy tool like Qumana in a standard format as follows:

<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/[TAGNAME]" rel="tag">[TAGNAME]</a>

However, new Technorati guru Janice offers a great tip to convert that tag to a self-searching tag.

What does this do?

Well, instead of tagging your post with a link that will take your readers to Technorati to browse other like-tagged posts, your readers can search like-tagged posts from your archives. Neat, hey?

To convert your tag, simply convert this:

"http://technorati.com/tag/[TAGNAME]"

to this:

"http://technorati.com/tags/[YOURTAG]?from=http://[YOURBLOGURL]"

Your readers will still get pointed to Technorati, but it’s a neat extension.

Let’s try it! (Note, I’m using Blogaholics since my tag archives are larger)

Regular: Tags: tags, tag, tagging ; My posts: Tags: tags, tag, tagging

Today Technorati launched something called Technorati Favorites which lets you create a list of your favorite blogs. There are several ways of adding a blog to your favorites list:

• On any Technorati page, click on the star icon () next to a blog name.
• Use a bookmarklet to add a blog you are reading.
• Import OPML or XOXO files.
• A blog can include "Add you your favorites" buttons that readers can click on.

So, you’ve added a bunch of sites to your list. What now? You can restrict your searches to only your favorite blogs. You can display recent posts from your favorites on your own blog using the Favorites Widget. And, finally, you can share your favorites list with your friends.

I don’t think I’m going to use this feature much. I already keep a list of the sites I like on my feed reader and I don’t need another list to maintain. But what I would really like to see is a reverse listing. That is, I want to see who has added my blog as a favorite. This would help me better understand my readers, by looking at what other blogs they read I could get a better idea of the type of content they are interested in.

Tags: technorati, favorites

The long-awaited PageRank update is under way. Most of my sites will see an increase, but some may go down. Too early to tell. For the most part, this is fabulous news.

Means the b5 crew will have their hands full this next week with getting new ad programs up, but I bet it’s a big cheer all around.

Catch more from Darren.

Tags: google, pagerank, page rank

CoComment is now in open beta. I’m so excited, because I’ve wanted to try it! It’s perfect timing to track the conversations around the new Qumana!

From their blog :

As we’ve communicated before, the past couple of weeks were intended to be a very “soft” launch to test the service stability and scalability, and to get some initial feedback from the closed user group.

(side note, they need to fix up their permalink structure)

What is CoComment?

1. Comment on a blog

2. Click on a bookmarklet (or let Greasemonkey do the work) to…

3. Track the conversation: track replies to your comments as well as all your comments, share these comments on your blog, get an RSS feed of the replies to track the "conversation"

Easy. Useful. Long needed!

Tags: cocomment

If you noticed a traffic change (up or down) about two weeks ago, near the end of January, there is a reason for it. And it’s not your fault.

Although Google has not released a PageRank update, they did update in some fashion.

I have noticed a large change on some blogs. Some of my blogs without PageRank dropped traffic to about half what it was before. These, in particular, are the ones in my Entertainment Channel at b5. Most of the blogs in the channel experienced the same drop.

Some of my blogs, however, have not had any traffic changes - up or down.

I’d really love a way to get my traffic back up while we wait for the PageRank update. In the past, we were slowly nudging up on many search terms, but perhaps we’ve dropped down now. Given the additional annoyance that Technorati stopped tracking our tags about a month ago, it’s been frustrating watching the growth pattern get set back, even if it is only a bit and only temporary.

Did you notice any changes in your own traffic?

Tags: google update, seo

As a part of the beta Qumana launch today (for Mac & PC) at Moosecamp/Northern Voice, Qumana is kicking off a huge contest for bloggers to win a Ski or Surf Vacation:

I really encourage you to give it a shot. It’s so easy to enter - just blog using Qumana (an easy blog editor) then write a post on your tool set. So easy. If I wasn’t organizing the contest, I’d go for it myself. Before you as, we’re not limiting entries to just specific countries - no matter where you are, give it a shot.

The prize for the contest is a vacation for 2 to Whister or to Mexico. Cheers.

Tags: qumana, moosecamp, contest, contests, win, vacation

Not too long ago I signed up for some new ad programs. I got into the zone and signed up for a few:

• Text Link Ads
  • Sites must be approved
  • Text ads
  • Get listed in their marketplace quickly
  • Earnings: good start
• AdBrite
  • Text ads
  • Tag your site into searches of the Marketplace
  • Earnings: nada
• BlogAds
  • invite only by limited sponsors (we’re not a sponsor)
  • good once you can get listed and into circulation for people to actually find you. Best if you can be a part of certain "groups" (yet another application)
  • Earnings: nada
• AdZaar
  • Must be PR 6 to qualify
  • Flat earnings per month, per blog
  • Text links (see below Search on the blog)
  • Earnings: very good
  • (contact me for referral)

So, these 4 new programs (well, the two that actually make money) supplement my current revenue streams with AdSense, AdGenta, and Amazon.

Tags: blog, monetize, money, advertising, ads, blogging

Well, I’ve never heard of this happening before. A blog has been stolen. Not the content. The BLOG.

Here is more info from Tris:

someone got into both her GMail accounts and Blogger accounts … and taken over … and has hijacked her blog.

If you know how to help, please contact Tris on his blog.

This is the worst type of blog theft I could imagine. I would be devastated if it happened to me. Since both Gmail and Blogger are online hosted solutions, I guess your control of either is diminished.

Ok, I don’t know how but I came across this site called "God or Not" and its experiment got me to thinking…

if blogs/bloggers can be temporarily swapped to help each blogger understand the others’ side…

then blogs/bloggers could swap blogs for other benefits too

Primarily, I was thinking of blog swapping as a means to reduce bloggers block?

Bored of your topic? Lacking inspiration? Need a change of pace? Want to expand your reading but don’t know how? I’m sure there are thousands of bloggers in the same boat - why not swap blogs. It sounds exciting to me. Good way to get back in the vibe of writing, to keep your blog alive, and to build community.

What do you think? Do you think this would be a good way to inspire you?

Tags: blog swapping, bloggers block

This is a great visual representation of the world of Web 2.0, done up by Stabilo Boss. Well, most of it, anyway ;)

It’s an impressive array of the changes taking place to communication, to business and to our means of social dialogue. Web 2.0, to me, is a movement. Social change. And the movement is growing, as evident in this visual map.

It’s impressive to me the wide arrange of services I know - and don’t know.

How many of these are new to you? How many do you use or take part in right now?

Tags: web 2.0, web2.0

Grr. I want my PageRank update. It’s been quite some time now. Since November I believe.

Well, I’m waiting. And all the b5 bloggers are waiting. A PageRank update on b5media is big news for traffic and revenue, and as channel editor I totally want it to happen.

I’m also curious about how my own blogs will change ;)

Anyone want to speculate on when it will be?

I was totally convinced the timing was right in January, but it’s February now, so I was off.

Tags: google, pagerank

I guess the 6th time is a charm! My Technorati profile now contains the image I have selected:

I am quite satisfied.

Now, I would like to pass on something I considered when updating my profile. I chose to use our Blogaholics logo for the profile instead of a personal picture.

Why choose a logo over a picture in your Technorati profile?

• A logo is timeless. It does not depend on hairstyles or fashions or even being photogenic.
• A logo scales well. The details are easily recognizable.
• A logo is professional.
• A logo can contain text, like a URL or company name.
• A logo is memorable.
• A logo is not obscured by backgrounds. It’s clean.

Those are my reasons for using my Blogaholics logo - an image, with changing name, that appears across most of our blogs. And a unique name that we are known for. Have you thought about what’s in your Technorati profile?

Of course, the image chosen need not be a "logo" necessarily, but perhaps your blog name or a part of your graphic standards.

Tags: technorati, logo, profile, business, reputation