Posts Tagged ‘Lijit publishers’
I tend to use the word “genius” lightly. However, when I first saw the Craftastrophe blog, that was exactly the word I used to describe it. Who doesn’t love seeing craft projects that have gone horribly wrong?
The idea behind the site is one of those amazing things that sounds good in theory, but is actually an out-of-the-park homerun when you see it in action. Whether it’s the knit hamburger dress, the stuffed log pillow, the recycled beer bottle wind chime, or the Barbie doll key bag necklace, you’re sure to be pleasantly surprised by how awfully wonderful these homemade treasures are. Reading this blog almost makes me want to try my hand at a craft project…if only to have something to submit.
When the women behind Craftastrophe installed Lijit AND agreed to be part of this profile, I was almost giddy. Listen to what the brains behind this masterpiece (Karen and Sam) have to say about their site.
How long have you been blogging and what made you start?
Craftastrophe opened in November 2008, but Sam and I have been blogging separately since 1875, it seems. We each have personal blogs and we each own our own web design companies too. It’s a little nutty.
What has been the greatest thing you’ve gotten from blogging?
Friendships. Lifelong friendships based on relating to people as warped as us. That and cold, hard cash. (It was cold and hard because it’s pocket change, not bills.)
Of all the posts you’ve written, what has been your favorite and why?
Karen: There are so many, but one of my favorites was this post (entitled I Don’t Care How Badly You Want to Save The Earth, There is NO EXCUSE for This Sort of Craft) simply because I found it SO ridiculous that anyone would want a bracelet made from a nasty ol’ toothbrush.
Sam: My favorite post has to be the disgusting pig head bra because seriously? That’s so warped and WRONG.
What are the top 3 things you recommend crafters never do and why?
Use doll parts, use animal parts, and use real human parts because nothing good can ever come from that. (Well, unless you’re us because those items bring GREAT traffic.)
How has Lijit helped you to become a better blog publisher?
The search function is handy, and the stats are comprehensive. Being the stats junkie that we are, they make us all hot and bothered to look at weekly. Seriously, we LOVE stats and having all this information in one place is practically orgasmic.
I sincerely thank both Karen and Sam for providing me with smiles and for taking the time to answer my questions. Be sure to follow them on Twitter and if you’re going to SXSW, cheer loudly for Craftastrophe as they accept their 2009 Bloggie for Best Art, Craft or Design Weblog. Keep those craft disasters coming!
Tags: Lijit publishers, publisher spotlight, wijit | View Comments
It’s the question that everyone wonders about. Is anyone else using Lijit? And if so, what are they being searched for?
You now have access to that kind of information via the new Lijit Twitter account, Whos Lijit. (Don’t get us started on the missing apostrophe…we’re calling it twammer–grammar for Twitter.) The tweets are real-time searches that are being done on blogs with Lijit installed and the link included in the tweet takes you to the actual search results. Updated every 15 minutes, this new twitterstream provides a very interesting look into the world of Lijit’s publishers.
For example, there are some searches that make you wonder…”How does a golden gopher taste?”
Then there are the searches that make complete sense…
Some of the searches that you see in the tweetstream can make you hungry and provide inspiration for lunch…
Let’s not forget the searches that make you want to learn more about useful life skills...
Not to mention the searches that make you chuckle a little to yourself…
And of course, we can’t forget the searches done in Indonesia…
If we’ve piqued your interest, be sure to check out WhosLijit and have fun discovering new content. You’re welcome. 
Tags: Lijit publishers, search, wijit | View Comments
This week, we’re proud to have the chance to profile the recipient of the 2008 Best Medical Blog Award. Fortunately for us, he also uses Lijit on his site. Dr. Kevin Pho is a board-certified Internal Medicine doctor who’s been blogging for almost five years. His blog is a platform to inform readers on various health care issues and to provide commentary from a doctor’s point of view. Whether he’s sharing his opinion about what’s really wrong with health care, weighing in on recent medical news, or explaining some of the background behind popular procedures, Dr. Kevin does an effective job of shining a light into the dark corners of the medical community. Enjoy the dose of information that he provides!
How long have you been blogging and what made you start?
I’ve been blogging since May of 2004. I wanted to blog in order to give instant physician opinion on medical news that was reported by mainstream media. Many times, there would be an inaccurate or incomplete interpretation of a study, and the blog allowed me to give a more informed medical commentary to patients.
What has been the greatest thing you’ve gotten from blogging?
The opportunity to promote a physician point of view in the national health care dialogue. Many journalists and mainstream media outlets cite and read my blog, and I have had opportunities to regularly write for USA Today, as well as be interviewed by the CBS Evening News, Wall Street Journal, and Forbes.com. I would not have had these opportunities without journalists reading the blog.
Of all the posts you’ve written, what has been your favorite and why?
It’s hard to pick just one, since there’s over 16,000 to choose from. I’m particularly proud of my Open Letter to Barack Obama and John McCain, which I wrote during the Presidential campaign. I summarize the problems facing primary care doctors (of which I am one), and how important a solid primary care foundation is needed in any health reform initiative.
How do you see blogs helping the medical community?
The strength of blogs is to dynamically provide commentary and opinion on breaking medical news. Scores of studies are released and reported daily, and many reporters do not have the medical background to provide relevance to patients. Blogs can fill that niche, and provide informed medical opinions to patients.
Furthermore, medical blogs provide insight into the problems that physicians face. Often times, what goes on behind closed doors in a doctor’s office and hospital is a mystery. Blogs can pull that curtain back and expose what’s really going on with American health care.
How has Lijit helped you as a blog publisher?
With over 16,000+ posts, Lijit provides a way for both my readers and myself to accurately search through posts. I particularly like the Re-Search feature, as many readers find my blog through a Google search. Using Re-Search, they are able to navigate through more pages than they would have without Lijit.
Be sure to check out KevinMD for even more information about your health concerns. Dr. Pho answers the questions you’re afraid to ask (Does masturbation really cause prostate cancer?) and shares the pictures you’re afraid to look at (When ear piercings lead to keloid formation). Follow him on Twitter and rest assured that this is one Lijit doctor.
We’re honored to help spread the word about one of our favorite tech sites, Crenk. If it’s tech news you’re looking for, you’ll find it covered on this blog. Whether it’s product reviews, mobile apps, or something software-related, this blog has all the resources to guarantee that you’ll make an informed decision.
Steven, the founder of Crenk, was kind enough to write a post about using Lijit on his site, so it only makes sense that we return the favor. Plus, how can you not love a tech site that has a pink widget? I sent Steven some questions about his blogging experiences and I’m excited that he was game to answer them.
- How long have you been blogging and what made you start?
I have been blogging for a bit of a year now, since October 2007. I started blogging because I had a keen interest in startups and wanted to voice my opinions.
- What has been the greatest thing you’ve gotten from blogging?
Blogging has allowed me to actually talk about a topic I love and definitely helped me in learning how to express my thoughts correctly.
- Of all the posts you’ve written, what has been your favorite and why?
This is my favorite post because it actually has meaningful discussion in the comments.
- What are the top 3 tech tools that you love using and why?
Spotify (great for creating playlists and listening to in the office), Tweetdeck (it simplifies Twitter) and Filezilla (the best FTP program I have ever used).
- How has Lijit helped you as a blog publisher?
Lijit has simplified the search process for my blog. It allows me to easily add a great search tool and not have to worry about quality of search tool, plus allows me to focus on content.
In addition to the wonderful content he provides on his blog, Steven (using the Crenk name) is a poweruser on Twitter. You can follow him here and learn more about his blog here. Many thanks to Steven for helping us out with this interview and for using Lijit on his blog. We appreciate both!
This past September, Lijit had the pleasure of attending Blog World and meeting many bloggers who were interested in our widget. One of the nicest guys to stop by our booth was Jay Christensen, who realized our value almost immediately and had lots of questions for us about how to install Lijit on his blogs. With his journalistic background and sharp sense of humor, Jay’s sports blogs (The Wiz of Odds and The March to Madness) do a wonderful job of entertaining and informing.
In addition to bringing his readers news of recent coaching changes, he also covers Bowl chances, recruiting practices, and what other reporters are talking about. All this AND a podcast? Fortunately, Jay was able to make some time in his schedule to answer a few of our questions and shed some light on his experiences blogging.
- How long have you been blogging and what made you start?
My blogging experience began in August 2005. Normal people don’t bring work home, but I’m not a normal person. I’m a journalist by trade and blogging was a natural extension to my skill set, so getting comfortable in front of the computer and pounding out a few paragraphs didn’t feel like work. Now that I look back on it, I realize what a fool I was.
My employer at the time was the Los Angeles Times and having worked at four newspapers–three of which had folded–I knew the business was on the decline. So my reasons for starting were part fun, part trying to figure out what the heck I wanted to do when I lost the gig at the Times, which eventually happened in July of 2008 during something called a “workforce reduction”.
- What has been the greatest thing you’ve gotten from blogging?
Working for myself and not somebody else. I get to make the decisions and then take on all the risks and get all the rewards. I’m still waiting for the awards, by the way. Is being interviewed by Lijit one of them?
- Of all the posts you’ve written, what has been your favorite and why?
I kept my identity a secret when I started blogging for fear my bosses could use it as a reason to cut me loose (conflict of interest or something like that). But the morning after I was laid off, I revealed my identity on the Wiz.
Best thing I ever did.
L.A. Observed, L.A. Business Journal, The Big Lead, Deadspin and Sports Journalists were just a few of the sites that linked to the post. I became the poster boy for the layoffs and the Wiz had instant street cred.
Yes, it’s true, there’s no such thing as bad publicity.
- Since you write about sports, what are some of your favorite teams and why?
Because my sites–The Wiz of Odds and The March to Madness–deal with college football and basketball on a national scale, I’m not a fan of any team. My posts tend to be issue-driven and I try and take an analytical view of each sport. If that fails–usually the case–there is always the humorous approach. If that fails, then I’m out of luck.
- How has Lijit helped you as a blog publisher?
I stumbled on Lijit at BlogWorld in Las Vegas and couldn’t be happier. It was exactly what I was looking for: a customizable search engine that keeps people on the site. It’s fast, offers statistics and is integrating the ability to derive revenue from search results. You must give Lijit a try!
I’ve told countless friends about it and Jacqueline and Tara have always been there to answer my questions. Plus, the operations are based in Boulder, one of my favorite cities. How cool is that?
I appreciate Jay taking the time to answer our questions, for his continued support, and for the kind words. If you enjoy reading about college sports, I highly recommend that you give both of Jay’s blogs a look. With his indepth wisdom and reporting, you’ll have all the team knowledge you need to get you through the season!
(And to answer Jay’s question, yes, being interviewed by Lijit is one of the highest honors that any blogger can hope to accomplish.)
Tags: Lijit publishers, publisher spotlight, wijit | View Comments
On our homepage, we have an area dedicated to what our publishers are saying about us. You may call them testimonials or publisher praise, but we call them totally awesome.
If you’d like to be featured on our homepage, you can submit your Lijit story to us here. In addition to our everlasting love, we’ll also send more readers to your blog AND you can sleep well knowing that you’ve helped out your favorite little search start-up. (No, not that one.)
Your story can be anything related to Lijit. Did our search help to bring you more readers? Is there a crazy keyword that people keep using to find your blog that you found out about via our stats? Whether it’s a tale of an unusual search term or an ode about how easy Lijit was to install on your blog, send it to us and we’ll share your story with others. We would greatly appreciate the help as would those folks who come to our homepage and have no idea how awesome we are! Thanks in advance…
Tags: Lijit publishers | View Comments
The Lijit team spent last weekend at the Blog World Expo in Vegas. In addition to speaking with bloggers, answering questions, and thanking our current users, we had the opportunity to debut our new trade show booth. While this may not sound exciting, it represented a big deal because it’s the first real booth-like thing that Lijit has ever had. We put a lot of heart into our trade show presence last year, but we put a lot of money into it this year and it made a difference.
Armed with the popular Lijit swag of small laptop stickers and uber comfortable t-shirts, we decided that we needed something more. We wanted to provide even more value and functionality to the bloggers attending the conference, so we decided to help people clean up their search. And their hands. (Don’t forget what a dirty city Vegas is…)
Besides spreading the joy of hand-sanitizing, we also helped to spread the word of our search. The beauty of Blog World is that everyone there is passionate about what they’re doing, so from wine bloggers to mommy bloggers, we had the chance to talk to people about what they love doing and to show them how Lijit can make them even better at it.
In addition to hearing feedback from blog publishers already using Lijit (big thank-you!), we also had the chance to convert some new publishers to our search goodness. Welcome…
Quickrelease.tv
Volleyball Voices
Vino Las Vegas
MoneyNing
Frugal Upstate
John Hawkins Unrated
Don Nozzle
The Wiz of Odds
Money Making Scoop
While we didn’t have much time to walk around the trade show floor, there were a few companies that caught our eye, including MindTouch, Zemanta, Woopra, JS-Kit, Photrade, ContentRobot, and BlogCatalog. This represents just a small sampling of the many Blog World exhibitors present and we only wish there had been more time to find out about all the companies in attendance.
We loved having the chance to co-sponsor some giveaways with b5media, because they are always such a fun group to be around. In addition to the poker chips they were handing out for the game in their booth, we got to see some of our favorite b5 bloggers, like Mary Jo…
Lijit was mentioned in a few other Blog World recaps. John Andrews, Senior Marketing Manager for Walmart, was impressed with us (as you can see in this video clip) and we sold Ben Koo on the up-and-coming Boulder tech scene. David called us some of his favorite naggers, which he meant as a compliment (I believe) and Carlton liked our Purell swag so much, he blogged about it. Additionally, Lijit captured Greta’s interest and managed to make an impression on Karen again this year.
The entire Lijit team worked hard while at Blog World and must thank all those who stopped by our booth to say hello! We appreciate your interest and support in making this year’s Blog World an even bigger success than last year. See you in Vegas next year!
[photo credit: carltonreid]
Tags: events, Lijit publishers | View Comments
We are gearing up for our trip to Sin City later this week for the second annual Blog World Expo. To prepare, we started looking at the agenda of speakers and were pleasantly surprised to find so many that use the Lijit widget on their blogs. We knew that the following folks are smart (you have to be to qualify as a Blog World speaker), but seeing Lijit on their blogs makes them even smarter…
Nic Adler
Doyle Albee
Stowe Boyd
Chris Brogan
John Chow
Brian Clark
Jason Falls
Louis Gray
Daniel Ha
Tris Hussey
Guy Kawasaki
Paul Kedrosky
Jim Kukral
Howard Lindzon
Jake McKee
Scott Monty
Jeremy Pepper
Darren Rowse
Jennifer Satterwhite
Jeremy Schoemaker
Robert Scoble
Brian Solis
Dave Taylor
Robyn Tippins
Jim Turner
Erin Kotecki Vest
Denise Wakeman
Des Walsh
We’re looking forward to hearing the wisdom these speakers have to share and maybe, just maybe, giving them t-shirts!
Update: One of our favorite ladies, Wendy Piersall, was inadvertently left off the list. Sorry about that…
Tags: blogging, events, Lijit publishers, wijit | View Comments
This is another in our continuing series of guest posts by Lijit employees. Jacqueline is a community catalyst who spends her days taking care of Lijit publishers and in her spare time, enjoys exploring what Colorado has to offer. She was kind enough to share her thoughts about a recent trip to Denver.**
A few weeks ago, Lijit went on a field trip (sans parental permission slips) to the Democratic National Convention. It was an opportunity to witness history in the making in Denver. History always transcends politics and we saw that firsthand. Generational and racial barriers fell to the side as people from all walks of life embraced themes portrayed throughout Obama’s campaign. It was inspiring to see.
A call to action within the Democratic Party was interpreted through an artistic lens at the “Manifest Hope Gallery.” The gallery was comprised of contemporary political art, with its star, none other than Senator Obama. Talented artists from around the country used their art as a voice in order to amplify and motivate the grassroots movement surrounding the Obama campaign. Progressive politics through art captured the core values of Obama’s campaign, “hope, progress, change, unity, and patriotism.” The art displayed has made a huge impact in the visibility of the Obama campaign.
Walking around the gallery provided a personal sense of patriotism. Collectively and individually each piece of art addressed the current challenges and struggles felt under the Bush administration, and how Senator Obama will bring about the change that is so desperately needed. The artwork captured strength, power, and intelligence as the brush, paint, and artist worked together to give Senator Obama a place on the canvas. Portrayed as an iconic symbol, it truly is an Obama nation.
As the end of the day drew near and things ended, the Lijit team headed home. Lijit has publishers from all different walks of life with different political beliefs. Today, we were lucky enough to meet and speak with some of our publishers. They expressed their opinion of the candidates and the issues important to them in this election. Separated from Denver by thirty miles, Lijit felt extremely fortunate to be a part of the Democratic National Convention and represent not blue or red but, our own color, Lijit green.
**As with all of our guest posts, Jacqueline’s views are her own and do not necessarily represent those of the entire company.
Tags: employee guest post, events, Lijit publishers | View Comments
Lijit was fortunate enough to be one of the sponsors of a fantastic party that took place last Thursday, on the closing night of the DNC in downtown Denver. The Rocky Mountain Blogger Bash aimed to bring bloggers from the area together to talk about one of our shared passions: blogging. Regardless of political viewpoint, bloggers from all over Colorado (along with many out-of-town bloggers in Denver for the convention) gathered to watch Obama’s speech, eat, drink, and exchange URLs.
Since bloggers are our people, it made sense that Lijit was there. We had the opportunity to meet many publishers already using our widget and the chance to explain what we do to others. Our Lijit t-shirts and stickers were a big hit with all attendees, as were the free drinks that our sponsorship provided.
Our new friends include: Amber of Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck, Heather of A Mama’s Blog, Laura of LaLaGirl, Amy of Crunchy Domestic Goddess, Melissa of Nature Deva, Aviva of Parentopia, The Crunchy Green Mom, Hubs of Artifacting, Rosie of Rosalicious, Tessa and Michael of My Left Nutmeg, and Kath of A Likely Story.
In addition, many bloggers from the Denver/Boulder tech community showed up to attend their FIRST ever Rocky Mountain Blogger Bash, including: Aimee of Greeblemonkey and her awesome husband Bryan, Julie of mothergoosemouse, Geekmommy, Jeremy Tanner, Dave Taylor of Ask Dave Taylor, Robin from CopyDiva, Gerhard and Kary of Fling it Girl, Kit Seeborg, and the fabulous Deb in Denver.
And let’s not forget the old pals from past Blogger Bashes: Molly, Wheels, Left off Colfax, and Andy of The World Wide Rant (pictured above) who, unfortunately, is no longer blogging.
A big thanks to the organizers of this fantastic RMBB: Mr. Lady and Zombyboy, who pulled off a great event on what some called “a crazy day to have a party in downtown Denver”.
You can read other recaps of the event here, here, here, and here.
Tags: Denver, Lijit publishers, RMBB, special events | View Comments
