8 posts tagged “blog”

There is one thing that I learned never to underestimate when it comes to this blog, and that is audience. 

Oh sure, I would love to have a huge audience, I think I've talked about this before, but I never really understood how big of an audience this blog has accumulated. 

As an example, I have a podcast called "This Week in Geek" (small plug) and I use Dreamhost.com to host the site.  Great site by the way, use coupon code SNOW if you want to get a discount on signing up.  Now, with dreamhost, and like any other web hosting company, you can keep track of statistics on your site.  Who's come from where, how many hits there is, etcetera, etcetera.  With these stats, I just happened to check the overall stats for the month of February when the podcast first really launched, and guess who was the top referrer? .... Yep this blog.

It was weird seeing that at the top of the list of referrers was my blog!

And, I'm not talking small numbers here.  For the entire month of February I had over 600 hits to thisweekingeek.net.  600 hits?!  Are you kidding me?!

Wow, I never thought that there is that many people out there who are reading what I type.  Now sure I am assuming that it's not 600 individual people who came to TWiG from my blog, and I am expecting several repeat click-throughs.  But, still....wow.

Thank you to everyone that reads what I have to say and cares about what I say and do.  I originally started my blog as a way to keep my writing skills going, and I started a blog on Vox because Leo told me how great Vox was, and I still think Vox is awesome.  I've had my blog for almost a year now here, and I still love this community and this blog, the same as when I started. 

So if you're out there and you are reading this....thank you.  Let me know what you like about this blog, let me know what you would like to see more of, more stories, more fun stuff, videos, anything I should do less of?  I'm asking this because I know how powerful a community can be, so I'm reaching out to the According to Snowball community.  let your voices be heard and accounted for!

That is all.

End transmission

Steve "Snowball" Saylor

You know there are times when I wonder why people blog.

Sometimes it's to talk about what people do on a daily basis. 
Sometimes it's to report the news. 
Sometimes it's to promote things that people are doing. 

Trust me I've wondered those things myself on why I blog.

Sometimes it's good for me to get things off my chest.
Sometimes I'm excited to tell other people what I'm doing at that moment.
Sometimes it's I just want to wear my heart on my sleeve and just go straight from the gut.

Sometimes....

Sometimes I want to SCREAM!
Sometimes I want to reflect
Sometimes I am excited, and
Sometimes I am upset

(Wow that rhymed)

Sometimes I want to write
Sometimes I want to goof off
Sometimes I want to evangelize, and
Sometimes I want to do nothing at all

When I started this blog post
A poem this wasn't meant to be.
Because, all I wanted to do was
say sometimes I want to just be me.

(Wow that rhyming stuff is good)

*Insert comic book guy voice here* Worst....poem....ever!

Toodles everyone, Toodles all around.

Steve "Snowball" Saylor
Worst...poet...ever  

So, I've been under a lot of pressure lately to find a new job.  Pressure not necessarily from anyone else, but from myself.  The place where I work (A Call Centre none the less) is extremely boring and frustrating at the same time.  I make the same three calls all day everyday.  But anyway thats beside the point, I'm making the effort to find another job and that is what I'm going to do.

With that in mind, I have been intrigued of the idea of being paid to be a professional blogger.  I love blogging(duh, I'm here on Vox aren't I?), and I want to make good use of this as a career.  It works great with my school schedule, as well as it expands my creative writing.  Furthermore I also do love writing.  Case in point my new book project.  So I have been looking online for ways to become a professional blogger. 

The best place I came up with is Weblogs Inc.  I read their blogs constantly.  TV Squad and TUAW I read more than three times a day.  I applied using their cool Web 2.0 Ajax-ish application form on Monday.  Still haven't heard back yet, but I'm hopeful.

Which brings me to the point of this post.  Anyone out there that has some pull on people at Weblogs and would like to give a struggling Broadcasting Student a chance, help a Snowball out.

References available upon Request.

Steve Saylor "Snowball"

Update:  Okay, so TV Squad just put this post up about wanting bloggers for either Lost, American Idol, and 24.  Wow, that would be great and its perfect timing too, except I'm not that big of a fanatic that they want.  Mainly I can't watch the shows live because of my current job!  That really grinds my gears.  I love those three shows, but I don't get to watch them that often so I'm behind the loop.  I don't know if I should apply or not.  They want three samples of blogs to be seen on TV Squad (which I did when I first applied) but nothing about those shows.  Whats a blogger to do?

Update x2:  Jake made a good comment to just apply then get a TiVo in regards to the TV Squad job posting.  I replied, but I wanted to give my response here as well.  It explains why its hard for me to apply for that specific job.

Here's the comment I posted:

I'm debating it, but like I said, I'm not that big of a fanatic for those shows.  I feel I would cheat the audience for those shows because I don't know as much.  I mean if I had the time I would research more about it, but I just don't.  I've come under the situation before with the podcast I did with Alex Albrecht about Star Wars Galaxies.  I was only into it because I was requested by Alex to do the show.  You could totally tell I wasn't as big of a Galaxies expert as Alex was. 

Like I said I would cheapen the audience.

I could use the same email address they gave to apply directly to TV Squad for something else though.  That might work.

Feedback anyone?

This was a post I made for the Labrats blog

T’was a few days before Christmas
And all through Andy’s House
Biff and Boo were stirring
While chasing a mouse

Sean was editing Lab Rats 55 with care
With hopes that the fans would enjoy and stare.
Intro to Linux was what this episode was about
“It’s really easy!” Sean said, while Andy pouts.

Its been a good year for the labrats team
Trips to CES, Macworld and PME
Topics of Vista, Macs and Motherboards too
Was there anything this dynamic duo can’t do?

But before you enjoy this Christmas 2006
We remind you to give a child a Little Geeks Christmas wish.
So as we wrap up this year good and tight
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Toodles!

Steve Saylor "Snowball"

P.S. The picture was made by me.  Just had a little bit of fun in Photoshop

Being with Vox since July I have learned that I have become a "VOX Missionary"  or "VOXionary".  Now, I should give credit to my friend Shane who coined the term, because that is what he calls me.  So being a VOX Missionary I have decided to lay some ground rules, here and now, as to how to become a VOX Missionary, and what you need to do to spread the word that is VOX, and that word is good. 

To become a VOX Missionary:

1) Invite at least 4 of your close friends/family to join VOX.
   
The great thing about this is that they don't need any real Internet experience at all.  Obviously the goal of VOX that has been stated by Six Apart is that anyone and everyone should have a blog, and VOX makes it so easy.  Hence it should not be that difficult to invite at least a minimum of 5 people.

To prove my own requirements, here are some of the friends I have invited:

Shane Shennan
Jenn Cutter
CodyPChristian
Shinmaryuu

2) Those 4 friends/family must have made a blog post in the past month.

This is crucial, because you can send invites to anyone.  And they could accept the invite just because they are your friend.  However, they may not even use the blog at all.  Or maybe have not updated in a while.  Now granted everyone's blogging habits are different.  Some may only post once in a while, and others may post like every week.  However, to make sure that your friend is using VOX here are some good tips to help them if they are having trouble figuring out what to blog about.

Answer a Question of the Day
Participate in the VOX Hunt
Get inspired by a "This is good" and let someone know about it

Those are just a few of the ways VOX helps you decide what to write about.  The rest is up to you.  Write what you care about.  Write about your hobbies.  Write about your daily grind.  Write what you like.  Write what you don't like.  Write about your pets, your family, your friends.  Write about politics.  Write about TV shows and/or movies.  Just write whatever comes into your mind.  And encourage your friends to do the same.  Blogging is supposed to be fun, and from what I've experienced about VOX, VOX definitely helps.

3) Your friends/family must have at least 5 people in their neighborhood.

This is also crucial.  Because VOX is a social blogging service, you need neighbors to watch and read.  Hence the friends you invite must search around VOX and invite at least 5 people they have interest with and add them to your neighborhood.  The one thing that Leo Laporte, a good friend of mine and neighbor, said was that VOX is less lonely than any other blog.  Which is true, you can have a blog, but sometimes it feels lonely because you don't know if anyone is reading it or not.  VOX kind of encourages VOX bloggers or Voxers to read what people say or do on their neighborhood, and that way you feel good knowing that other people are doing the same.  Plus also the fact that everytime you post something new, you can Explore what other people have written, and it will show what you have just updated.  There have been times where I was bored at work and I would spend hours reading the Explore section just to see what other people are writing. 

4) Your friends/family must at least invite one other person to VOX.

Lastly this is probably the most important.  Because since Missionaries need disciples or VOX converts if you will, they need to "go out into the world and preach the gospel."  Okay, I know I may be ripping off a 2000 year old Biblical quote here, but not to sound blasphemous, your friends(I know I use the word "friends" alot, but this could also mean family too.  Family is also very important.  That way you can keep in touch with your family that you may not get a chance to see them often, or you can see a side of them that you may have never seen before.  Anyway, continuing on....) need to share the knowledge that is VOX into the world so that way your friend's friends can have fun blogging.

Now after all that, then you are an official VOX Missionary, or Voxionary.  Congratulations!  Sorry I can't give you a badge of honor, I don't work for VOX(but I would like to), I'm just a fan of their service.  Now why would I take the time to write about how great VOX is?  You are wondering if there is a catch, right?  Well, if you are reading this and you are a VOX blogger, you know what I say is true.  You just need to spread the word!  But for those of you who are still on the fence, just try it.  Sure you may have your blog elsewhere, but why not just try it and see what you think.  Who knows you may like it.

At any rate, go out and invite.  You never know what may happen.   I encourage everyone to Favorite this post, not only just because I think it is great, but it's to remind you of this checklist later so that you can make sure you are on the right path to righteousness.  LOL.  Also tag any post related to this as "vox missionary" so that everyone can keep up on your progress.

Have fun, and go forth fellow VOXionaries!!!

Toodles!

Steve Saylor "Snowball"

Hello everyone!

It's about time I post another video blog after like so many months.  So what I decided to do is since it is Halloween, I would do a video blog about a recent Halloween party I went to.  Anyway, sorry for the lack of witt that usually follows any kind of post I have, however it is late at night and I need me so freakin' sleep.  

 

Goodbye Blog - The Poem

This poem is dedicated to the blogs we all have left behind.

Hello Blog, how have you been?
Your RSS feed has been lacking lately
And I think that's a real sin.

You used to be so vibrant,
So personal and fun.
But now I sit here wondering
Why no current post has been posted
Not a single one.

From HTML to Ajax
You have grown so much
Its sad that no one updates you
Lacking that personal touch.

I sit here looking.  Watching you fade away
To a distant Google Graveyard
Where Netscape blogs stay

It's sad that no one will update you,
As your blogger has moved on,
But don't worry dear old blog
In my Hard Drive you will always live on.

Don't worry I'm not saying goodbye to this blog, quite the opposite, I just wanted to write something for what will soon to be my defunct blog at http://www.stevesaylor.net and for all those other blogs we have had throughout the years that we have all moved on from to another blog. 

Now I know my poem writing skills may not be the greatest, but give me a break, last time I wrote a poem was when I was 16!

Anyway, let me know what you think.

Toodles!

Steve Saylor "Snowball"

So I thought I would try video blogging on Vox to see how it will work.  As of right now I haven't figured out if there is a way to put the video into an enclosure for an RSS Reader, but still a Video Blog is still a Video blog even without enclosures.

So anyway, this video was something I originally made for SteveSaylor.net, which I am more and more
convinced to just move over to Vox, because well it's Vox.  LOL.  This video was made back at the beginning
of June when Pixar's Cars first released.  My friends Shane, Joanne, Jaime, Margarie, and Kim went to see the movie at a drive-in theatre. Which I have to say is the best way to see Cars, just because you’re in a Car watching Cars. Hence, the title.

Anyway, I took like 39 minutes of footage of the night, that when trying to cut down to around 7 minutes, I had to cut a lot of footage out, so you won’t see Margarie, or Kim, but they are there, and they had a blast.

So without further ado, I present to you Vox bloggers, my first Vox video Blog.

(If video does not load properly, click here to download)

Music: Rascal Flatts - Cars - Life Is a Highway

Click the Music link above to buy the song directly from iTunes for 99 cents!!

Anyway, enjoy the video! Hope you like it!

Seeya in the fast lane

Steve Saylor “Snowball”