- I can’t figure out how to work a trackback.
Do I put code somewhere? Does it do it automatically? What the heck is a URI? The only “pingbacks” I seem to get are on the posts I write where I refer to my other posts. Isn’t that kind of incestuous? - I have no idea what CSS is.
And the only HTML I know is how to make something bold and how to insert a line break. - My “Authority” on Technorati is only 25, and I’m ranked number 331,293.
That sounds bad, doesn’t it? - I do a horrible job of visiting the blogs of people who comment on my blog.
No one likes a selfish blogger, right? - I can’t stand the look of ads on a blog.
Isn’t that the way people generate income with blogs? - I’ve used the same WordPress template as half the blogs I visit.
This one doesn’t allow my pictures to be very wide, so I keep shrinking the cartoons almost to the point of being unreadable. - I can’t figure out a way to use all the widgets and gadgets and add-ons that other blogs have.
Some of the ones I’ve seen have monitors for how many calories the blogger had that day. How can I compete with that? - I haven’t done most of the tricks that I wrote about in the post “What If You Gave a Blog and No One Came?“
If I don’t take my own advice, who will?
Guess I’ll have to stick to trying to make a living writing other people’s blogs, newsletters, brochures, etc.
Technorati indexes 108.6 million blogs, so if your ranking is 331,293, that means you’re in the top 1% of all blogs! So rejoice!
I did not notice that you used the same template as half the rest of the WordPress world! In fact, I stayed long enough to read your blog because I love the colors in your banner! I thought it was refreshingly refreshing… and then your posts rock! helpful, funny, honest, inspiring. PS the wordpress help forums are quite, well, helpful… I just never seem to know how to word my questions so that the correct answer is found. Good luck!
Your blog looks wonderful and your posts are invaluable. I know nothing about all of the things you mentioned, but I do know that you learn a little at a time. I just can’t figure out what you could change here to make it better.
As for the money thing, if you stay ad-less, just pretend that each hit you get is a dollar. Monetarily, it will do nothing for you, but psychologically, it feels nice.
On Item 6, I feel for you. I have the same template as you, and I chose it because it was the easiest. My photos do get cut off, and I have to re-size and re-size still it stops cutting them off. But I figure once I get more techie, I’ll switch to a really photo-friendly template. If you find one let me know!
Hey there! The template I use (shocking blue green) gives you tons of space for large pictures and allows posts to look less crowded. I post pics on just about everyone of my posts and it’s really very helpful. Your site looks wonderful, but if you’re looking for a little more room you might want to try this other template. I, too was frustrated with my pictures running over into my sidebar, but this has worked out great!
There’s just so much competition out there. It can be frustrating. When I started, I just wanted to express my opinion, but I started to get more competitve and wanted All Talk Sports to be one of the best Sports blogs out there. But, I think you’re on the right track, it’s just a matter of not getting down, and just researching on how to make it better. I’m in the same boat your in. Hang in there.
I haven’t read your blog ever, but you showed up on WordPress’ News departments index which indexs 1,624,811 blogs with 1,360 new posts today. Now if that isn’t good, I don’t know what is?
As far as point 2 goes, CSS is not rocket science and there are tons of good beginner tutorials where you can pick up CSS skills to make your pages look better. Cheers 
I love your blog!!! I’m adding a link to you from mine!!
Just a word of encouragement… If you keep making posts like this one, you’ll do great. People love lists. I got here because someone found your blog and sent the link to me because this post is written in a humorous, virulent manner. good job
-=- christopher
my Las Vegas blog
Beppo and erkenbrand — Man, you gotta love statistics. How else can you turn my modest little blog into a mathematically viable success story!
CuriousC, moonbeam, Wendy and familynews — I’ve been thinking of changing the template. But I don’t want people to think I’m a schizophrenic blog, always changing colors and styles and layout and widgets. The best idea is to move it to my own hosting site and build something that works better for me. But that sounds like a whole lot of work. So I’ll just resize the cartoons for now.
aidan’s mom — thanks! Adorable baby, by the way.
Christopher — funny you should mention lists. I’ve been wanting to write the Top Ten Reasons Why I hate Top Ten Lists. And yet I keep using them.
Thanks for all the nice comments, folks. You made my day.