Posts tagged Basics

Jody Burdette Birdtracks

My first mission in this Ultimate Blogging Toolkit Free Blog Review post is to offer Jody Burdette at jodyburdette.blogspot.com a sincere thank you for her patience. In Yes, It’s Been a While, I claimed mea culpa for being gone for a number of months planning new projects. Now, I’m carving out time to fulfill my Blog Review obligations.

First of all, I’m not going to cast stones about a blog that hasn’t posted anything since October 5, since I just came clean about not engaging for much longer than that.  Enough said, since I have posted in the past about Frequency.

Let’s start with the blog’s general outward appearance.  In this Minima Series, the sea of green doesn’t provide any “lines of demarcation.”  As a result, I’m not sure this selection in Blogger (actually it seems to be custom) is the best.  If a simple look is desired, I would try Denim or Rounders.  It provides for more structure and boundaries, which leads into my next topic: content.

Blogger Examples

With these template examples, it is easy to see how clearly various types of content can be organized when a simple template is used.  If the intent is to have readers return again and again to engage in discourse, it makes sense to create a consistent and familiar environment.  Templates such as these “trains” the eye into knowing where to find specific information.  For example, the main post is front and center, the profile is upper right, archives are right center, etc.  The easier a blogger can make it for readers, the more likely they will return.

More about content (but I’m saving my favorite topic of opportunity for last!)

In the title, Jody indicates this blog is about “Handmade Gifts and Cards.” For any of you who have read the Ultimate Blogging Toolkit for any length of time, you know I’m a big fan of Molly Lee’s Popup Cards, so I was happy to see a handmade cards site.  Unfortunately, the first topics I see involves her middle daughter being married September 12, her husband Lane, their fondness for martial arts, and their love of travel.  Oh, there it is: Jody has a “passion for making things.”

Please excuse what may appear to be sarcasm.  I’m not intending to be mean.   My only purpose is to make a point about focusing on a specific topic.  Family is important – please don’t misread my sentiment.  Many people maintain incredible blogs about family, keeping far away members up to date on what’s going on.  It’s rewarding, it’s heart-warming, and it’s down right efficient.

But for getting the most out of her blogging experience, my opinion is for Jody to separate the topics and focus on them separately. For example, create a family-oriented blog that keeps family and friends posted on what’s going on. Sort of an ongoing, living, breathing, Christmas Card Letter all year long.  Then create a separate site devoted to cards, creative handmade items, new products, fun craft stores, etc.

Halfway down the front page, the photos in the post, “Cards for a Lifetime,” imply there is an Etsy site based on their links, but I can’t seem to find where there may be a link to Jody’s Etsy story (if she has one.)

In her Christmas Cards in July post, I see wonderful creations – cards that anyone would be proud to give and emotionally affected if received.  It’s just a shame I can’t figure out how to order them.  Etsy?

I’m coming back to add this paragraph after my original post.  A frustration for me was when I commented on Birdtracks was the inability to provide my URL back to the Ultimate Blogging Toolkit.  She had her Blogger settings configured in such a way that I was forced to use a Google Account, which does not accurately reflect my Toolkit activity.  A courtesy to people who may comment is to allow them to enter their web address of their blog.

Now, for my favorite topic.  This is what I consider Jody’s best opportunity to capitalize on the unique nature of her name and the name she has given to her blog: Burdette and Birdtracks.  Burd… Bird… Get it?

Burd... er... ah... Bird Tracks

Doing a quick Google Images search for “Bird Tracks” I get this image. Now, I’m a big believer in giving credit where credit is due, so if you click on this image, you will be taken to someone named “MRUPP” and the gallery of that person’s Australia pictures.  Any use of photography gathered over the Internet would of course need to be done appropriately, but my point is this: Burdette and Bird Tracks is a great “hook” combination.

Judy’s last name cries out for a bird reference.  Tracks, feathers, nests – anything with which she feels comfortable.  That visual connection to her content provides her with an identity tool that no one else has.  Exploit it!

From what I’ve seen, Jody has beautiful cards, pillows made from T-shirts (how clever) and a wonderful family.  With just a bit of work on her blogs, every component of this paragraph will benefit.  Go get ‘em, Jody!

Dave