Happy Holidays (see you back here on 12/30)!

In the meantime...

Feel free to catch up on some oldies, but goodies!

Locate an email for a noreply-comment with G+!

Before I go into how to locate an email address for that <noreply-comment@blogger.com>, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND LEAVING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN ANY COMMENTS YOU LEAVE ON BLOG POSTS.  Not sure if you are a no-reply blogger?  If you are using Blogger/Blogspot, then assume you are.  Even if you’ve previously updated your profile settings to show your email address, which would correct your no-reply status, Blogger reverts you back to no-reply within days of your update.  And without your knowledge.  Now, I hate to be the bearer of bad news here but, reverting your entire profile back to Blogger from Google+ will not resolve the issue either (see screen shot below).  I know; frustrating right?

Adding and Customizing the Pin It Hover Button

In case you aren’t familiar with the Pin It Hover Button, it is a Pinterest icon that appears when you hover over an image on a website allowing you to click on it and pin.  Why is it fantastic?  Well, for one thing, it’s very convenient for your visitors.  It prevents them from having to go directly to Pinterest and click on the add a pin option and past the URL of the content they want to pin.  Secondly, it’s customizable which means you can create the icon yourself to keep it consistent with the design of your website.  Are you sold yet?

Want to contribute to Cropped Stories? (oh, and enter a GIVEAWAY)?

It’s a new day.  It’s an EXCITING day!  Why you ask?  Well because today I’ve decided it would be fun to have interested parties contribute content to Cropped Stories!  Why contribute?  Well let’s see…

In addition to getting to work with me (by the way, I’ve been told I’m extremely fun to work with) and building a new friendship, how about free exposure for your website?  Interested to know how much exposure?  No worries, I would want to know too!  Check out my blog stats currently updated specifically for this post:

That’s right, they’re BAAAAACCCKKKKK! 

Incase you missed my first post, Inspiring Blog Headers, feel free to check it out!  I wouldn’t want you to miss out on such an inspiring post!

INSPIRING BLOG HEADERS II

If you are a regular visitor, you might notice something different about my page.  That’s right, I redesigned it!  With all the inspiration online, I couldn’t help myself!  One of my favorite things to do, other than reading posts of course, is to check out blog designs!  Let’s face it, your design and layout is an important aspect of blogging.  It falls right under content.  If you are among the bloggers that provide awesome content (which many of you do) and also have a rockin’ blog design, than BRAVO!  Of course, for a person like me that has an extreme obsession with design, I can get a little distracted by your beautiful blog header, unique social media icons, brilliantly designed navigation toolbar, and perfectly coordinating blog button while trying to read your fabulous post.  Don’t worry I always manage to read them in their entirety, it just takes me longer!  If this sounds familiar, I’m afraid you are a design obsessed geek too!  If you are, I’m loving it!  I’d hate to be alone!

Famepack (genius or ridiculous)?

Before you move on to my post, can you take one second (okay maybe 5 seconds) to check out my poll located in my sidebar to the right?  Your vote would be greatly appreciated!

First, I want to clarify that the following are ONLY my opinions and in no way should be taken as factual data. This is just a collection of thoughts I choose to share.

I received an email last week from this website, Famepack, and I was pretty amazed.  Apparently you can purchase likes, follows, and subscriptions for your social network pages.  Specifically for Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.  Really?  It's crazy to think you can purchase just about anything these days.  If you need something, I'm sure it's being sold somewhere!  On one side, I think the idea has great potential depending on how it was executed.  On the other side, I'm not quite sure what to make of it.  I can imagine it would appeal to those eager for exposure who can't put in the time to network themselves. Let's face it, we don't always have the time to put in and I'm pretty sure we all know the benefits that social media exposure has on our businesses, communities, organizations, charities, blogs, etc.