PostRanger.com

Are you a PostRanger?

So let's answer the question.

• Do you own a website or blog?
• Would you like to improve traffic and Search Engine Optimization to your website through organic links?
• Do you like guest posting, reading articles or commenting on a variety of subjects?
• Are you looking for a place on the web that combines the interaction of an on line social network with the content of blogs on a wide variety of topics?

If the answer to any one of these questions is yes, than you may be a PostRanger and the site you’ve found may be a perfect fit for you.

Guest posters who have already contributed on a variety of subjects include:

• Steve Clemmons of The Washington Note and The New American Foundation and Travis Northcutt of Flatworldblog.com on Globalization
• Beck McCray of Small Biz Survival and William Keyser of Work Savvy on Entrepreneurship
• Peter Dingus of Speculative Fiction Review on the state of Speculative and Fantasy Fiction

Could you be next? Scan our “Streams” for a topic or topics that appeal to you and send us an e-mail requesting a free guest author account. You will be led through simple step by step instructions to sign up and start posting.

If you’re not ready to be a guest author yet feel free to browse our entire network, make comments, ask questions and feel free to submit news or product tips you think might be helpful for future posts. We’d love to hear from you.

Photo Credit: Irish_Eyes, MorgueFile

Five steps to a better comment

Whether engaged in here at PostRanger.com or elsewhere, commenting has become an integral part of on line networking.

Done well it can tell people who you are, more about your business or expertise and even something about your values, an evermore important issue even in business circles today.

Done badly it can make you a pariah of the digital world locked out of websites and on line communities for your inability to master the basics of commenting etiquette.

Here are some tips to get you started on the right road:

1. Always contribute to the conversation. You may have read complaints from bloggers and others on line about commenting off topic, but what does this mean? Well, simply put, on line conversation is just like conversation in the real world. You wouldn’t walk up to two people talking and start speaking abruptly about something totally unrelated, so don’t do it when commenting on someone else’s post. Make your comments relevant and helpful to readers and others who have commented before you. Otherwise, just like in the real world, you may find your comments unwanted in the future.

2. Spam: it’s not just processed meat. Here’s a specific definition of blog spam, the most common form of this unwanted activity to effect blog communities like PostRanger.com. Of course, here at PostRanger we welcome relevant comments and guest posts (check this link to see how you can become one of our guest posters) that provide link back to the contributor’s blog or website. Just see that your comment or post is relevant to the topic where you placed it and avoid being labeled a spammer.

3. Trolls and other mythical beasts. Here’s a definition of the term as it pertains to on line activities. So why do I say mythical? Here at PostRanger, I don’t like the idea of limiting speech. Therefore efforts will be made to include various points of view. In return, I’m hoping that contributors and commenters will be respectful of others, even those with whom they disagree. Expressing an opposing opinion, even a controversial one, is fine. Doing so only to anger other members will not be tolerated.

4. Being a good commenter comes with rewards. Of course, good commenters become respected members of any community, often even among those with whom they disagree. Those with their own websites can generate organic back links, increase their page ranking in search engines and share what they are about and what they are doing with members in many different communities.

5. Become a part of the neterati. Eventually the reputation of being a good and thoughtful commenter will open doors you might not have realized possible, help you develop relationships you might not have otherwise had and draw helpful suggestions and, yes, even criticism from others in the larger web community. The possibilities are endless.

Photo Credit: Dave, MorgueFile

Don't think. Just post

It’s hard for me to say it coming from a background in traditional writing.

But the fact is that in the new media more is always…well…more, so staring at a blank page is not the way to gain an audience.

We’ve got a growing number of guest authors joining our “streams” but contributions are somewhat slower in coming.

Here are five good reasons not to think too hard about that first post whether written, audio or video when contributing here at postranger.com or at any other similar social blogging network or community:

1. It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Some aspects of blogging are more like speech than writing. The difference is that you almost never get to quickly read over what you’re about to say before speaking. You just say it and take the consequences.
2. Get them accustomed to the sound of your voice. When submitting a manuscript to a publisher, you have only one chance to make a good impression. In social media, you have thousands. Get them used to the sound of your voice. When you have something important to say, they’ll be listening.
3. It’s a numbers game, and the more the better. When I started gingerly making posts to the web, I wanted every one to be perfect like a tiny jewel without flaw. But I soon discovered that unforgiving search engines weren’t capable of understanding the merit of my work only the number of times I posted. Having more posts out there means more chances for readers to discover the merit of you work for themselves.
4. The world is your editor so think first draft. You have no perfectionist peering over your shoulder. In most cases you’re the only editor you’ll ever have…before you hit the save button, that is. Don’t worry. You won’t suck. There’s a million independent editors out there who will tell you exactly what’s wrong with your post and how to fix it.
5. Experience is the greatest teacher. This is why in many media jobs it takes so long to get better. Opportunities to write and create remain few and far between and beginners are rarely trusted with important assignments. One thing repeated posts will teach you is what works and what doesn’t. Trial and error is the best way to learn so just get started.

If you would like to join us as a guest author here at PostRanger.com, read this post and then drop us an e-mail. We’ll send you a personal invitation to get you started. It’s absolutely free!

Photo Assignment: Clarita, MorgueFile

A guide to PostRanger.com

Here at PostRanger.com we’ve made it as easy as possible for you to create and share dynamic content in our new online community.

To get started simply:

• Scan the list of topics or “streams” located along the side of each of our pages

• Select one or more topic that suits your interests, passions and expertise

• Send us an e-mail requesting an invitation to guest author one or more of the “streams” that interest you.

• There is no limit to the number of “streams” you may contribute to and we encourage you to contribute as often you like.

• Follow the simple instructions to sign up for your absolutely free guest author account

• Start posting content and participating with others in the network

We prefer posts of at least 70 words. Other elements like images, video, audio are also a plus. For more on how to install these items if you don’t know already just read the PostRanger.com blog.

Not interested in becoming a guest author but would still like to share content? No problem. You can e-mail us:

--articles, photos and video for post at our discretion (please include the stream where you believe the material belongs and any appropriate back links)

--press releases about upcoming events so long as they fit the parameters of one of our streams and ads informative content to our community

--RSS subscriptions to your blog or other content again indicating the stream to which you feel they would be appropriate.

--suggestions for future stories or posts or news leads that may lead to future posts (also include a name and back link and we’ll give you credit for the tip if you like)

                                                                          Editor and CEO,

                                                                          Shawn A. Hessinger

Photo Credit: Irish_Eyes, MorgueFile

Hello fellow Earthlings!

Welcome to the launch of PostRanger.com.

The new blogging and social network was designed as a place for guest posters to create compelling content on an ever growing number of topics or “streams” and a place for readers to come, explore, comment and perhaps create content of their own.

The network has been under construction since mid-August and invitation e-mails began flying at a fast and furious pace over the past week in an effort to attract guest posters that could get us started right.

Here are some things we’d like to accomplish with the new network:

• Give bloggers and webmasters the opportunity to grow traffic and page ranking by creating guest posts with back links to their own sites

• Expose readers to new bloggers, websites, voices and content on a regular basis and give them the ability to create their own

• Create a place where citizen journalists, podcasters, YouTube and other on line video producers can promote their content and expose their work to new audiences

• Provide those new to the Internet lacking any blog or website of their own with the tools to create meaningful and compelling content and perhaps give them the confidence and the audience to expand their on line endeavors

• Create a vibrant and global community of bloggers, other content producers and readers whose interaction fulfills the democratic promise of the new on line media.

Photo Credit: Peaceland, MorgueFile