FrogBlogger's dashboard

FrogBlogger replied on June 11, 2009 20:14 to the question "I've vanished from Travel Network!! Why?" in Widgetbox:

Ok Dave, not much more to say. (1) hmm well I think that it's a matter of use of language. I'm ok with string theory, so maybe it's not entirely my fault I haven't a clue what you're talking about some of the time. (2) So Feedburner/Google may have introduced something that causes security non-compliance with a single widget amongst myriads of others. I still don't see why it's up to me to juggle the code, or Feedburner/Google to sort it out, rather than the Widgetbox code-writers to write something that is compliant with Feedburner. (3) See (2).

The bottom line is that I've always used Feedburner along with countless others, and I can't see them bothering to adapt to a problem if it's only with Widgetbox networks.

Glad you liked the blog, I'll try installing again now and again to see if the bug has cleared, but there is little else I can do.

FrogBlogger replied on June 11, 2009 18:21 to the question "I've vanished from Travel Network!! Why?" in Widgetbox:

Few points here. Dave, you should learn to speak to non-geeks in non-geek language. You may or may not have intended to patronise, but I had a similar impression.

Secondly, you never answered my question. Why is the Widgetbox widget affected, while none of the others on my blog sidebar were.

Thirdly, it's a shame that you don't make more of an effort, for example, to sort out compliancy issues with the likes of Feedburner which as part of Google (along with Blogger) must be one of the major feeds.

Overall, a pretty unsatisfactory service, all things considered.

FrogBlogger replied on June 11, 2009 09:47 to the question "I've vanished from Travel Network!! Why?" in Widgetbox:

Well that's a shame - no other widgets have reacted in the same manner to the changes, whatever they are, in the Feedburner feed. Everything else is functioning perfectly.

I therefore have little choice but to withdraw the widgetbox widgets, as they no longer draw traffic.

Pity, seeing as I'd reached no.2 in the Travel Network listings.

If there is anything you can do, please let me know, then I can restore the widgets.

.

FrogBlogger replied on June 10, 2009 19:04 to the question "I've vanished from Travel Network!! Why?" in Widgetbox:

Ok but what doesn't make sense to me is that I've made no changes, either to page format, widgets, template code in two days, nor have I added a new blog. The blog is identical to the one that was there yesterday in every aspect.

If I have to contact Feedburner that will take for ever.

No other alternatives?

FrogBlogger replied on June 10, 2009 18:22 to the question "I've vanished from Travel Network!! Why?" in Widgetbox:

Have shifted the travel network widget much nearer the top, can't see a change yet. Don't suppose you could email me the template code I have to change because I don't know what you mean I'm afraid.

Still not sure why it was working before though, and suddenly stopped working today?

FrogBlogger replied on June 10, 2009 17:51 to the question "I've vanished from Travel Network!! Why?" in Widgetbox:

It's a blogger template, I've not touched the template itself. I've added no new widgets since yesterday, and I never touch the widget code. The widgetbox code is the same it's always been

FrogBlogger asked a question in Widgetbox on June 10, 2009 13:53:

I've vanished from Travel Network!! Why?

Yesterday I was no.2 in the Travel Network... today? Vanished altogether :-(

Could someone check what's going on asap? Thanks!

http://frogblog-thaidings.blogspot.com/

FrogBlogger asked a question in Widgetbox on December 14, 2008 04:25:

Travel network not updating?

For about twelve hours now, seems no new entries are being added to the latest posts.....



Pete - the FrogBlogger

FrogBlogger replied on December 13, 2008 03:55 to the question "Was it a stupid question? Cheating the algorithms" in Widgetbox:

Thanks Dave... I'm sure you IT genii will come up with a solution!

FrogBlogger asked a question in Widgetbox on December 12, 2008 05:59:

Was it a stupid question? Cheating the algorithms

A couple of weeks back I asked a question about foreign language blogs flooding the network, plus the 'get-around' of posting multiple single line entries in a single day, or blog posts with cut and paste content from other media sources, to cheat the algorithms in order to climb the network rankings unfairly.

As yet no reply from the "14 Widgetbox employees ready to listen and respond" !!

To back up the machines, how about some good old simple moderators to wield the axe now and again!

Any thoughts?

Pete, FrogBlogger

Head for the snow this winter



Summer sun in Provence France

FrogBlogger replied on December 05, 2008 02:25 to the question "Foreign language blogs" in Widgetbox:

Sorry Dave - know you're busy - but on this subject you've now got a Spanish blogger who's already posted 40 times by December 4th, dominating the most recent blogs section as a result.

What's more, copy/pasting blog info from outside sources every hour as a 'new blog entry' is a simple way of foxing the parametres you've set up to get the best blogs into the 'top 10'.

So here you've a double problem - a blog in Spanish which most readers can't read, dominating the recent entries, and someone who is spamming as well to beat two out of three (number of posts, frequency) requirements to shoot up the rankings.

Anyone can play at that game, but it'll mess up your system!

Not good.

FrogBlogger replied on December 03, 2008 16:33 to the question "Foreign language blogs" in Widgetbox:

Bump!

FrogBlogger asked a question in Widgetbox on November 28, 2008 05:20:

Foreign language blogs

Noticed in the Travel Network an increase in non-English blogs. Not a real problem yet, but it could be... the big majority of readers being English-speakers, if it gets to the point that the Top Ten latest entries are in Dutch/Spanish/Russian or whatever, it's going to big a big turn-off for most of us!!!

Really needs a non-English channel to avoid this happening! What do you reckon?

Pete - FrogBlogging from Thailand

Crisis in Thailand? What crisis! Business as usual at John's Place in Chiang Mai ...

FrogBlogger replied on November 22, 2008 15:29 to the question "network spamming" in Widgetbox:

They're at it again... four identical posts there now!

Pete - FrogBlogging from Thailand

FrogBlogger asked a question in Widgetbox on November 21, 2008 08:01:

network spamming

I'm sure you've noticed! But the 'cruiseline blogger' is doing multiple blogs in Travel, each as a separate entry, and all they are are photos of a ship! Visitors are soon going to put off by this when the top 15 or so travel blogs in recently posted is a pic of a slightly different shape of cruise liner! Plus this immediately displaces proper blogs out of the top ten most recents...

Pete - FrogBlogging from Thailand

FrogBlogger replied on November 21, 2008 05:25 to the question "Blidget Network Code not being detected." in Widgetbox:

Just had a similar issue over this... the blog was having the best day yet with the most hits ever, and I just checked in to see "network blidget no longer active".

I didn't click on "install blidget" - just clicked on "ok I've now installed blidget" (without doing the installation obviously) - and suddenly it's up and running again.

Shame because I reckon I would have shot up the network rankings for once!

Any idea what caused this? Thanks...

Pete - FrogBlogging from Thailand

FrogBlogger replied on November 14, 2008 05:03 to the discussion "We want to hear what you think of the new Widgetbox Blog Network!" in Widgetbox:

Thanks Dave. It's a great system especially if it really can be trained to give some credit to quality! (And also importantly, blogs that are regularly updated). There are so many directories etc around full of junk.


Pete - FrogBlogging from Thailand

frogblogthaidings replied on November 07, 2008 09:07 to the discussion "We want to hear what you think of the new Widgetbox Blog Network!" in Widgetbox:

It works just fine for me. Do sympathise a bit with agilitynerd's comments about blog quality - some are rarely updated, and not exactly much to do with travel blogging, to put it politely. Take Wal Travel, for example - it's just a commercial site. Just because it uses blog software doesn't make it a blog. I reckon that kind of thing devalues Widgetbox because people looking for a travel blog find something completely different. In the end you could lose traffic because of it.

Do understand though that you have to prioritise those 'blogs' that send you the most traffic.

One other thing - on the travel network front page - given the length of the left-hand column, why not stretch the right-hand top ten travel blogs list to a top fifteen? There would be room to do so, and at least it would keep five more people (preferably real travel bloggers) happy!

Pete - FrogBlogging from Thailand
http://frogblog-thaidings.blogspot.com/