Photo by cinefilo

Now this plugin has been very famous and most blogs use it to get more comments. As you can see, I have it installed on the right column. The main reason why people comment on these blogs is because they get a link back.

I have seen few blogs with the Top Commentators’ column running for long time and the top commentator owing nearly 80 comments. The main reason for installing this plugin is to give the commentators a link back when they get to the list. But when the readers see the comments number at 80, they won’t comment(70% they won’t unless you have made a very good post or he/she is a fan of your blog).

Why Should You Refresh The Top Commentators Column?

The main reason why you should refresh the Top Commentators column is to give your new commentators a chance to get a link back. You will also get more comments. And one thing I do when people mail me about link exchange is that I tell them to make a comment on my blog on Sunday so that they will get a link back. By this way you don’t have to link to me and still you get a link back.

How To Refresh The Top Commentators Plugin?

First Download the plugin if you have not. Then once you install it, you can make changes to the plugin. There are nearly 5 options available for you namely,

• Hourly
• Daily
• Weekly
• Monthly
• #

I would suggest you to weekly or use the ‘#’ and specify the number of days. Once you are done with it, your top commentators plugin will start to refresh every week or month or whatever you have specified. Before saving the changes use the Filter Users option and Enter your name in it so that you will not be shown in Top commentators. If I don’t so it, then I would be at the Top every week because I reply to every comment I get. So don’t forget to set the ‘refresh’ option and the filter user option. Now you have done everything right. Most probably you will start to receive many comments. But beware of spam, you might get few which you can delete using Akismet. Do you refresh the Top Commentators Plugin? How much is the interval you have set for it to refresh?

3. Overture:

Overture is a keyword suggestion tool that shows the results of number of searches made for a keyword the previous month. Though they say previous month, it has stopped showing stats after January. If you have any plans to know or target the search terms that were searched more in January 2007, then you can go for this tool. Or if you want a second opinion, then you can use this keyword suggestion tool.

2. Wordtracker Free Version:

Wordtracker is a good keyword suggestion tool which actually is a paid one. But now they have a free version. The free version is not bad. In fact I like it more than Overture. Wordtracker gets you the past month search results. The difference between Overture and Wordtracker is that, Overture shows the monthly searches for a particular keyword. Wordtracker shows the estimated searches made in a single day for a keyword. So don’t get confused if you see highly different numbers in both tools. Wordtracker shows daily searches made. I normally use this for my second opinion. This is easy and more fast than Overture.

1. Google AdWords:

Google AdWords is by far the best keyword suggestion tool. This is my favorite keyword suggestion tool. You can get the search volume trends, keyword search volume, cost and ad positioning estimates & possible negative keywords. You also get to know the advertiser’s competition using which you can choose the less competitive keywords. Google AdWords provide the correct values since it is from Google. I use this tool to find the keyword PPC(Pay per Click) .

Though there are many keyword suggestion tools available, Google AdWords is the best in my opinion. Which Keyword Suggestion tools do you use? Which one do you think is the best?

3. LiveJournal:

LiveJournal is a free blogging platform, which lets you to control your blog. You can either keep it public or choose to show it only to your friends. Though many don’t use this blogging platform, it is still a good one. You can learn many things. If you want to blog, join communities and have fun with photos in the same place, then LiveJournal is for you.

Photo by Chris Campbel

2. WordPress:

WordPress.com is a free blogging platform, which allows you to experience the power of self-hosted WordPress for free. But you are restricted from adding plug ins and customizing your theme. With WordPress, you can add extra pages like the Contact and About page in your blog which many other platforms don’t offer. But even though WordPress gives many options, they don’t allow you to monetize your blog. You cannot do research by placing AdSense in your blog. Still WordPress is a good platform for blogging. One great blogger I know, who is still in WordPress, is Lorelle.

Photo by 4_EveR_YounG

1. Blogger:

Blogger is owned by Google. It is a free blogging platform where most bloggers start. Since most of the blogs started in this platform are abruptly stopped at some point of time, people treat it as a “Splog“. I started my blogging with a Blogger blog and then moved to WordPress(the self-hosted one). Blogger also allows you to monetize your blog. You can play with AdSense(without crossing their limits). You have so many themes available which you can have it for your blog if you know a little coding. I strongly recommend Blogger for those who are new to blogging and wish to learn about blogging. One famous blogger, who is using Blogger, is Amit.

There is a heated conversation going in Blogging Tips blog where the author asks you which is the best free blogging platform and why.

Not only these three, but there are many free blogging platforms available. Which is your favorite and why?