Heath Mullikin
10 Free Ways to Support Your Favorite Blogs
Sometimes people are leary of clicking ads and affiliate links or purchasing products they see on blogs. Blogging is fun if your doing something your passionate about, but it’s a lot of time and effort to build it. Most bloggers quit. I was going through a list of Wesleyan blogs the other day and found that most of them were no longer there or hadn’t been updated in over a year. The first blog I ever started had one post. I don’t even remember where it is. I got fired up about something, wrote about it, and posted it for the world to see. Then I went back to my life. I don’t even know if anyone read it. I’ve learned a lot about life and blogging since then. Here are some cool and free ways you can support your favorite blogs, keep them going, and help other people find them.
1. Install the Alexa toolbar or status bar. Here’s a little about them and their partnership with Amazon. Why do this? Alexa ranks websites based on traffic and visits made to the site by people using the Alexa toolbar. For example, when I first started Chase Your Lion dot com it was unranked by Alexa. Now, I’m ranked #937,145 out of all the sites in the world(google is #1). Alexa helps people find out more about sites while providing site owners with valuable information that will help them reach their target audience more effectively. I have the status bar and it takes less than 10 seconds to download and install on your browser.
2. Comment on posts. Whether you agree or disagree with what’s said please join the discussion. Sometimes, as a blogger, it’s just nice to know someone’s reading.
3. Subscribe to the feed. Look for this symbol 
. This insures you don’t miss any posts. Many blogs also allow you to sign up for email updates/newsletters. This normally requires you to confirm your subscription and doesn’t lead to spam. My feed is located on the handy dandy toolbar at the bottom.
4. Tweet it! Most blogs now have the option for you to tweet/retweet their posts. This is kind gesture that shows your reading and that you feel others would benefit from the post. The button is normally located beside the post title.
5. Share It! There are lots of other places to share posts! Facebook, Digg, et. I have a share/save button with each post. It’s quick and easy to get the word out about your favorite posts.
6. Link Love. If you have a blog of your own then write about and link to posts you’ve been reading. Incoming links give a blog credibility and help generate buzz and discussion. I don’t recommend the blog roll and here’s why. How many people on your blog roll actually keep up with their blogs? What does it say to your readers that you’re linking to people who may have dead sites and old news? Plus, adding a link in a post gives a more personal stamp of approval.
7. Join the Facebook page/community. The wibiya toolbar has a button for people to join my Facebook group. It’s quick and shows your support. There’s also a place for more discussion there. No, I will not ask for your help with Farmville or other Facebook games.
8. Word of Mouth. I’ve tried to make my domain names easy to remember and easy to share. If a blog has been helpful to you then it might be helpful to others. Share the love. PS: I even bought a domain with a common misspelling of my last name so people looking for Heath Mulliken will actually find Heath Mullikin.
9. Give suggestions. Does my layout make your head spin? Is stuff too hard to find? Is there an herb you’ve found that will help a person get taller?
10. Last but not least…pray. Pray for bloggers to have wisdom and integrity in what they write. Pray for their families. Pray for their health. Pray for their churches and ministries. Pray that God uses the words they write to make a difference.
Thanks for your support! Blogging buddies, what did I leave out?
Currently Reading:
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Lost Art of Disciple Making
By LeRoy Eims “Every believer in Jesus Christ deserves the opportunity of personal nurture and development,” says LeRoy Eims.But all too often the opportunity isn’t there. We neglect the young Christian in our whirl of programs, church services and fellowship groups. And we neglect to raise up workers and leaders who can disciple young believers into mature and fruitful Christians. In simple, practical, and biblical terms, LeRoy Eims revives the lost art of disciple making. He explains:
“True growth takes time and tears and love and patience,” Eims states. There is no instant maturity. This book examines the growth process in the life of a Christian and considers what nurture and guidance it takes to develop spiritually qualified workers in the church. |
Currently Listening:
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Ocean Eyes CD
By Owl City From the quiet backroads of small-town Minnesota comes Owl City, the one-man project of keyboard wiz Adam Young. Ocean Eyes is awash in breezy electronics, light melodies, and crisp, sparkling textures, and includes the single “Fireflies” plus “Hello Seattle,” “Umbrella Beach,” “Vanilla Twilight,” and more. |
Relaunching March 1
Old Name, New Game
Here’s an announcement about my personal blog over at www.heathmullikin.com. I’m relaunching it March 1st with a new look and feel. Check out the vid. Keep Chasing Your Lion!
Marriage and Relationship Resources
My wife, Karen, and I are speaking at a Valentine’s banquet tonight at a local church. We are sharing our personal story of God’s healing and blessing. It is exciting and humbling to receive an opportunity like this. It will be good to see some old friends there as well. With that in mind, here are some great marriage and relationship resources.
![746801: As Long As We Both Shall Live: Experience the Marriage You"ve Always Wanted](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/thumbnail/7/746801t.gif "746801: As Long As We Both Shall Live: Experience the Marriage You"ve Always Wanted") |
As Long As We Both Shall Live: Experience the Marriage You’ve Always Wanted By Dr. Gary Smalley & Ted Cunningham Ideal for engaged couples, newlyweds, and long-married partners, this resource provides the tools you’ll need to establish a lasting life together! Relationship expert Smalley and Pastor Cunningham show you how to defuse the ticking bomb of unrealistic expectations and acknowledge your unexpressed assumptions. Learn to understand each other’s needs, express yourself honestly, and increase intimacy. Hardcover. |
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Cupidity: 50 Stupid Things People Do for Love and How to Avoid Them By Hayley & Michael DiMarco Having trouble making sense of your love life? Whether you’re single, dating, or married, the Hayley & Michael DiMarco will help you correct acts of “cupidity” – or “stupid love”! You’ll become a better romantic partner; explore love from a biblical perspective; and avoid heartache and unrealistic expectations. Honest and eye-opening, their guide provides helpful tips from their firsthand experience! Paperback. |
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Happy Spouse . . . Happy House: The Best Game Plan for a Winning Marriage By Pat & Ruth Williams with Dave Wimbish Whether your marriage is on the road to victory, in foul trouble, or just needs a halftime pep talk, you’ll find compassionate and competent coaching in Happy Spouse, Happy House for building a strong, secure, and successful marriage. Using the acronym BEST, Pat and Ruth Williams encourage men to be the best leaders, lovers, and listeners they can be and empower women to be the best partners and players in a winning relationship. B less your spouse |
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L.O.V.E.: Uncover Your Personal Love Style By Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott L.O.V.E.: Uncovering Your Personal Love Style by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott show couples how to revolutionize their marriages by uncovering their unique love styles – how they as individuals are hard-wired for love. Once they uncover this vital information, they learn how their combined personalities approach marital issues. Using scientifically proven online assessment methods, your two personalities come together to create your unique “love style” as a couple. The acronym uses the primary characteristics of Leader, Optimist, Validator, and Evaluator. L.O.V.E. is accompanied by a set of his/her workbooks expressly designed for couples to drill down into the content of each chapter. These are also ideal for group study. |
![529808: Love & War: Finding The Marriage You"ve Dreamed Of](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/thumbnail/5/529808t.gif "529808: Love & War: Finding The Marriage You"ve Dreamed Of") |
Love & War: Finding The Marriage You’ve Dreamed Of By John & Stasi Eldredge John and Stasi’s new book, Love and War: Finding the Marriage You’ve Dreamed Of does for couples what Captivating did for women and Wild at Heart did for men. In it couples are encouraged to fight for one another and not with each other. The Eldredge’s liken marriage to a love story occurring within the context of a war. As couples fight the forces at work against their marriage, they need to remember that they are in this together. Alternating chapters show the male and female perspectives and as they share their personal experiences, they let you know that it is in the context of marriage that God chooses to heal and transform you into His image. Hardcover. |
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Loving the Love of Your Life By Mark Gilroy Looking to add a little spice to your love life? In one affordable flip book you’ll find 60 ways to show how much you care and add a fresh spark to your marriage. With the fun of a game, the book contains a series of activities, surprises, and suggestions; taking turns, the couple passes the book back and forth adding romance, humor, and good memories to the process. In a busy world where Christian couples are giving, working, studying, and serving, here is a collection of ways to connect with the one you love best, and build into your marriage in a fantastic way. Nurture your love and watch it grow! Husbands: Wives: hereare 60 ways to get started- 30 for each of you. Get started today and take your marriage over the top! Paperback. |
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More Than a Match: The Five Keys to Compatibility for Life By Michael & Amy Smalley with Mike Yorkey More Than a Match provides you with the tools you need to find the love you want and turn your romance into a lifelong love affair. In this book the authors explore the “compatibility factor,” teaching you how to apply the specifics of good compatibility to a prospective date or mate, as well as how to break things off when you find yourself in the wrong relationship. And.since finding and keeping the love of your life is about much more than finding a match, you’ll also learn how to deal with conflict, develop a healthy sex life, and recover when you inevitably hurt one another. Paperback. |
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The Five Love Languages, Singles Edition By Gary Chapman Whether you’re widowed, divorced, separated, or never married, your deepest emotional need is to feel loved—and your greatest successes will be obtained by loving others. Chapman shows you how to do both effectively in situations unique to single adults—dating; roommates, classmates, and co-workers; family connections; and single parenting. Includes new discussion questions. |
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The Love Dare Day by Day: A Year of Devotions for Couples By Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick Love is a choice. A daily choice. The Love Dare Day by Day is a daily reminder of how it’s done . . . and done well, taking the original experience to the next level. With 52 weekly dares, this one-year devotional invites you to go deeper into the scriptural principles of The Love Dare, and is meant to enrich your relationship with God and your spouse through a daily time of reading, prayer, and action. Make this more than a year of your life. Make it your bold, next step to a lifetime of love. Features of this book include:
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Lexington gets Extreme!
Last November, I told you about my wife and I going over to see the big reveal for ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover about 8 miles from our house. A quick disclaimer: I’m wearing a Yankees hat in that video because I lost a bet. Last night our local affiliate, ABC 45, had a behind the scenes look at 7 pm with the regular episode airing at 8 pm. I was proud to see my wife’s name listed with all the other great volunteers. The shift she worked ended up being on air for about a second(late night footings being poured). This has always been one of our favorite shows and last night was no exception. From the 2 hours, we learned so much more about the builder, the Creasey’s, and everything that goes into making this miracle happen. All I keep hearing is what an amazing family this is and they will be opening up their home for special tours to raise money for cancer research. While the house has been built and the episode has aired, we still have an opportunity to impact this wonderful family and others like them. So here’s what you can do:
1. Pray for the Creasey’s especially as Tricia continues her cancer treatments.
2. Head over to this site to make a donation to the family and get a behind the scenes DVD.
4. Nominate a Family to get an Extreme Home Makeover
5. Buy a ticket to take a tour of their home.