Close-up

Jake has provided the word close-up for inspiration for our Sunday Post.

You already know that nature is always close to my heart, so here goes...

A beautiful stream somewhere in the Algarve, on a hot summer's day.

And now for the close-up:

Rocks surrounded by cool, clear water!

For those who know the Algarve, can you guess where I took these photos? Let me give you a hint - it's another Algarve gem, but probably much less well-known than this one.

To see all the other interpretations in this Sunday post challenge, check out the comments' section at Jake's prompting post.

Blog directories - are they worth the hassle?

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Read any article on how to run a successful blog and every one will mention the need for promotion to generate traffic. So it seems natural that newbie bloggers like me would want to have blogs listed on the best blog directories.

That's where the problems start.

If you google, you'll find many articles indicating the "top blog directories" but can you really trust those lists? When you try to find opinions about each of the blog directories out there, what you usually get is lots of self-promotion.

Let me share with you some of my experiences.

• The first directory I went for was one that a trusted blogger had joined. Signing up, submitting the blog and placing the HTML code on my blog wasn't complicated. Approval was fast and, so far, I have no complaints. 

However, I now realise that it isn't always as straightforward. Submitting a blog can be confusing because each directory has different rules, terms, conditions and categories. It's when you need support that frustration can set in.

• After submitting my blog to another directory, I began to notice alarming comments and queries from other bloggers on there. There were complaints about "other people claiming ownership of people's blogs" and questions about "how to cancel an account" ... and absolutely no replies from the directory's support team! I decided to get out fast, managed to delete my blog from the list but had no idea how to cancel my account. I hope cancelling the accompanying Facebook app has taken care of that and I trust that problems associated with this site will not haunt me in the future.

 Problems with lack of support and feedback seem quite common.

• Having submitted my blog to another directory, I immediately got a welcome message and I was impressed, but not for long. There was a problem with my RSS feed (it hadn't been a problem on the previous directory). I had to go on Blogger help forums but I eventually fixed the problem. Then I resubmitted my blog... and waited... for ages! I asked for help on the directory's forum and some kind soul (not from the support team) suggested I put the question on Twitter, so I did that, and waited. Finally I decided to remove the HTML code/badge promoting that particular blog directory from my blog and deactivated my account. Soon after, I began receiving tweets from the directory, promoting blogs on its list. How weird is that?

Directories for Portuguese blogs are hard to find, but I have a Portuguese blog, too and there are many more Brazilians than European Portuguese, so it's important to promote my blog in Brazil.

• I eventually found a Brazilian blog directory but while I was waiting for my blog submission to be approved, I suddenly found that anyone trying to read my blog was automatically redirected to a site full of pop-up ads! The problem only went away when I removed their HTML code from my blog! If anyone reading this knows of a reliable Brazilian blog directory, please leave a comment - I'll be eternally grateful.

To conclude, it seems to me that some blog directories mercilessly exploit submitted blogs for self-promotion and not much else. Many blog directories may say they're the oldest, the biggest, the best, the ones with the best ranking, etc. but "the proof is in the pudding".

My advice to fellow newbie bloggers? Check on the reputation of a blog directory carefully before you sign up!

My question to seasoned bloggers? Which blog directory would you recommend?

Splendid

This is something I consider splendid.

The Victoria Falls

On the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1989, the Victoria Falls, so named by the explorer David Livingstone in honour of Queen Victoria,  is a magnificent waterfall on the Zambezi River, between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Falls are also known by the indigenous name of Mosi-oa-Tonga, meaning "the Cloud that Thunders".

Wonderful, impressive, magnificent, phenomenal, grand, majestic, unforgettable...

Claimed by some to be the largest, this is certainly one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world.

  

This post is part of a weekly feature that is hosted by Jake, who provides a word for inspiration and we, the participants, post our interpretation. Splendid is the theme for this Sunday Post.

Blog hop

What compells you to collect?

If you've read my post "Collectibles", you'll know that I am collecting African sculptures in wood.

Curios galore

I can pinpoint exactly when and where I fell in love with African sculptures. It was on my second trip to Cape Town. Here's a photo of that curio market by the sea on the road to Hout Bay.

I fell head over heels in love with the giraffes. I couldn't believe the size of some of them!

My friend didn't let me to buy one because she said that this market catered for tourists and she knew where she could get cheaper ones. Later she sent me one almost double the size of the one I wanted to buy at this market.

Of course Portuguese bureaucracy took exception to it arriving without a proforma invoice and, if it hadn't been for the help of a former colleague of mine, an expert in getting products for the company through customs, my lovely giraffe would not be part of my small collection now.

Looking at other posts about collectibles got me thinking...

Do you ever wonder what compells individuals to collect?

Well, according to Susan Pearce, professor of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester, England, "They tend to collect things from the past which has some relevance to them. They may collect things from their own past, or from another person's past that they believe has personal significance. Structuring one's past is a very important part of structuring identity. For example, knowing where we come from and where we belong. Or, they are doing it to structure the way they present themselves to the world or to structure where they live."

The professor goes on to say, "Collections furnish a home. They are physical, touchable things. They help create your environment, and again, your environment is a very important part of your identity."

You can read the whole article in the Credit Suisse Newsletter.