Don’t know why, but I always seem to get the itch to either develop or buy a custom theme for my blog. I’m not sure why I get these notions, but I start seeming more blogs with the free theme I found and I want to differentiate myself I guess.
I’ll honestly admit that it may be partly ego too – after all I’m only human. I’ve spent enough time with my current theme that I’ve really customized it quite a bit. It’s obviously “Misty Look” (eh, look v3.4 is out) by Sadish Bala – a great theme designer. My customizations are mainly on the sidebar, creating some custom widgets for things that I want on my blog. Another one is adding a feed link in the header for my Link Blog in Google Reader.
I have to admit that I’ve learned a LOT about PHP and WordPress code using this theme and how to customize it. I’m just a sidebar away from getting it widened out to accommodate a second sidebar – their tricky pieces, at least for me.
So I’ll try to keep from changing themes, I’ve made it through my “spring fever” attempt to change my theme and have stuck with Misty Look for many months. We’ll try to keep with one look for awhile.
🙂
An online community is no different than the one you live in. It’s built on the same principles and it’s citizens require the same kinds of social interaction. As human beings we’re naturally social creatures, and so require some kind of interaction.
While online communities are different in the physical aspect, they connect us in ways that our physical communities can’t. This, of course, has been talked about for a long time. However, as social networks mature you see new uses of them, and the adoption by the (gulp!) mainstream. This is inevitable.
So to get the most out of a social network, you have to put a lot into it. Look at the people who are gaining the greatest value today. Are they just lurkers? No – they actively update their status, post pictures, trade pokes, and engage in conversations. They don’t hold back and treat their online persona and friends in the same way they act and interact in real life.
If there is a negative perception of social networks, it’s in the eye of the beholder. Mostly I suspect it’s because many are afraid of participating. Either because of their own perception, their unsure of how to start, or what their friends peers would say.
I’ve often wondered why it’s so hard for people (especially tech geeks) to get themselves a site on the web. For many it comes down to time as much as anything, but for several, it’s also about anonymity.
I guess that I shouldn’t be surprised by this, it’s human nature not to expose too much information or place yourself in a position to be noticed. While we all may feel that way to a certain degree, I’ve often wondered why tech people are sometimes the worst at this.
Maybe it’s because they understand the technologies and capabilities inherent in the Internet. Maybe they are scared off by the possibility that there is someone out there smarter than they are, and that they may not be able to adapt quickly enough.
Whatever the reason is, it bothers me that several talented people don’t leverage their skills and promote their brand. There are so many possible things to promote yourself that it’s silly not to. Create a web site for yourself and have information about you, or start a blog about something you’re interested in.
Promoting your personal brand is not hard, and it’s not dangerous. It does require a different mindset than what people are normally used to. When you set out to start promoting your brand, you should be as transparent as possible and only hold back a few pieces of information.
Here are some tips that I strongly recommend for those sitting on the fence wondering if it’s worth the “risk”.
Yes there is the chance of identity theft out on the Internet, but their really after money. Do you store money on your website? Didn’t think so. Hell, if people want to be me, they can come and do my work for me as well! 
The reality, of course, is that most all the information that someone needs to steal your identity can be found in pay-for databases from a number of firms around the world. The little bit you expose on the Internet just being yourself is negligible in comparison.
Well, I can’t not post about this. Twitter has added an all-important search feature that has been requested for some time. Now, right from your own Twitter Home Page, you can search out others. It’s over there on the right-hand sidebar, directly under the “Send Notifications” options.
Thanks to Biz Stone and the rest of the team at Twitter for the new feature!
I agree with @RealJamesWoods 100% on this suggestion!👇👇
It all started under Clinton
In (1993) Soros opened up a (HQ) in (NYC) for his Open Society
a month later ~ the National Voter Registration Act was signed into law by Clinton
Prohibiting the federal form used to require proof of citizenship to register to vote
Also making
HERO 🚨
Nick Shirley is finding so much fraud in CA, that they wanna pass a law that bans him from finding it
Shirley is right over the target... he's put off going to (IL) to go back to (CA)
Hit that like button if you appreciate what this young man is doing for the country
John Thune isn’t fooling anyone with his RINO tactics.
He is trying to delay passage of Voter ID and other crucial bills so that Democrats win the midterms and impeach President Trump.
He needs to be removed as Leader and primaried.
A 20-something kid with a cell phone camera just cut the national budget deficit by exposing hundreds of billions in fraud.
Turns out we didn’t need more taxation.
Only enforcement of our laws.
