Spotted Wombat

Most blogging applications will allow you to enable comments from your readers. Allowing readers to comment on your blog makes your site more interactive - but it may also mean that you are spending a lot of time rejecting spam.

In Internet geek-speak, there's a term "signal-to-noise ratio," which refers to the percentage of good feedback (signal) versus the percentage of unproductive comments (noise) you receive.

Although blogs are great for creating ongoing discussions between like-minded people, the management of comments from angry or bored people can be a nuisance. Here are some ways that you can manage comments on your blog:

• Enable comments, but insist on registration first. This way, you can block a certain user for making inappropriate comments.
• Try a CAPTCHA system (small box with misshapen letters) that helps with automated spamming systems and ensures that your contributers are human.
• Post a user agreement, which helps curb insulting posts and encourages civil conversations.
• Moderate your comments. It's probably still the most efficient way to control comments. Bear in mind that it is your blog, and nobody has the right to insist that they are published. You can choose to publish their comments - or not.

Wordy thought for today:

“There is probably no hell for authors in the next world — they suffer so much from critics and publishers in this.” - C. N. Bovee

Spotted Wombat is a comprehensive copywriting service in Brisbane, Australia. We provide writing for brochures, newsletters, websites, articles, white papers, press or media releases, blogs or any other writing that enhances your business.

Coming up with relevant and compelling content for your newsletter is not always as easy as it sounds.

Try putting up some construction paper next to the water-cooler, or in the kitchen. Invite people to use their creativity and add some comments, draw a picture, or acknowledge a colleague's hard work.

Offering a blank canvas also allows you and others to express your feelings and frustrations in a positive, and often humorous way. If some people are exhausted from working overtime, a cartoon image of someone sleeping on the job often alerts others to be more understanding with deadlines and other issues.

Wordy thought for today:

“Asking a writer what he thinks about criticism is like asking a lamppost what it feels about dogs.” - John Osborne

Spotted Wombat is a content marketing copywriting service in Brisbane, Australia. We provide writing for newsletters, websites, articles, white papers, press or media releases, blogs or any other writing that enhances your business.

Internal company newsletters contribute to employee bonding and morale. They encourage employees to build and strengthen relationships, as well as highlight professional or personal achievements and accomplishments.

A column featuring fun ideas can help turn a boring newsletter (that nobody reads) into something that people look forward to receiving. Invite your colleagues to participate in the column - that way it becomes a group effort.

Some topics that people enjoy reading about include:

• Local restaurant reviews
• Favourite jokes
• Local community happenings
• Personal accomplishments
• Obscure facts about colleagues (ensure you obtain permission first)

An obscure facts column is good for unearthing the Financial Director's love of amateur radio, or the bookkeeper's passion for monster machines.

Sometimes, you can share your newsletter with your customers - turning it into a form of content marketing that promotes better customer relations.

Wordy thought for today:

A palindrome is a word, phrase or number that can be read the same way in either direction. Example: Was it a rat I saw?

Spotted Wombat is a comprehensive copywriting service in Brisbane, Australia. We provide writing for brochures, newsletters, websites, articles, white papers, press or media releases, blogs or any other writing that enhances your business.

Would you read a newsletter full of adverts?

I don't.

What are newsletters for, then? Read more >>

"Content is King." Stop saying that! Wherever I go, I run into SEO specialists, weekend web designers and wannabe freelancers telling me that "Content is King". I get it. Read more >>