How to Market Your Blog in Friendster

When talking about blogging and social networking sites, what always comes to mind is either Facebook or Twitter. These two social networking sites are very blogger friendly thus many bloggers use these two social networking sites to market their blogs. Friendster, one of the pioneers in social networking websites, is largely ignored by many bloggers.

Though left behind by Facebook and Twitter, Friendster still brags of thousands of users. In the Philippines, Friendster is still a major player in social networking sites and many Filipinos in the provinces sign up for new Friendster account. Even some Facebook users are still active Friendster users. The sheer number of users should not be ignored by bloggers aiming to increase the audience of their blogs.

There are many ways to market your blog or blog posts in Friendster, though they are not as effective as the ones present in Facebook. One way is to post a Friendster bulletin and the other is to mail your blog post to all of your Friendster friends. Another way is for you to create a Friendster blog.

Post a Bulletin

The Bulletin is a feature in Friendster that enables users to post announcements, thoughts, and messages that could be seen by all friends of the Friendster user. The list of recent bulletin from your Friendster friends is located at your Friendster homepage.

After publishing your post in your blog, you can post a snippet of that blog post in the Friendster bulletin so that it could be seen by anyone in your Friendster network. When I say snippet, I mean that it should only be a part of your blog post. A snippet could be the first paragraphs of your blog post or the juicy part that could entice the reader of the bulletin to go to your blog. Instead of snippet of your blog post, you could also write a creative bulletin entry that invites your friends to drop by your blog and read your most recent blog post.

However, do not forget to place a link in your bulletin that will direct your Friendster friends to your blog. Be reminded however that Friendster bulletin is limited because it could not process the anchor tag that will turn a word or phrase into a hyperlink. Therefore, you can only post the full web address of the particular blog post you are linking to in the bulletin.

The problem does not also end there because Friendster tend cut the length of a hyperlink. The length of a hyperlink in a Friendster bulletin has a maximum of 54 characters. Blog post usually have characters that are more than 54 characters. Because of the shortened link, your readers will be directed to a non-existent page. My solution to this problem is that I create a shortened version of my blog post link using Small Link.com. Small Link is a website that shortens long links so that it could be used for Twitter. The service is free of charge.

Another limitation of is that you can only post text in Friendster bulletin. Images and videos are not allowed for posting. Friendster bulletin is just bulletin.

Leave a Comment

A comment, or testimonial in the early years of Friendster, is a text, image or video that you can post on the Profile page of your Friendster friends. Comments are more interactive than bulletins and allow you to use anchor tags.

You can use this feature to expose your blog to your friend and his/her network. One tip that I could share in using this feature is to make sure that the links in your comment will not be intrusive to what you have to say. Also keep in mind that some people hate to see comments that were only placed for marketing purposes only. Your comments should add quality to the Profile page of your Friendster friend.

Comments should be seen as a way to make you get more connected to your Friendster friend and his/her friend that is not included to your network. Never flood the profile page of your friends with your comments.

Send a Message

Messaging in Friendster is like the normal e-mail. You choose the recipients and send your message to those people.

You could use this feature to inform people of your new blog post. Just like in bulletin, you should place a link directing to your blog post in your message. Also, long links in Friendster messages were also shortened just like in bulletin. It is recommended that you use the Small Link.com in shortening your link.

The major problem of the messaging feature in Friendster is that you are just allowed to send a message to a hundred or so people in your network. If you already reach the limit, Friendster will bar you from sending any more messages. This is a big drawback since you could only send your message to handful of people even if you have more 500 people in your network.

Sending a message is my least recommended marketing tool in Friendster. Always remember that people hate to see spam messages in their e-mail, this is also the same with Friendster users. You should only use this feature if the people you are sending the message to subscribed or requested to be informed of the latest activity in your blog.

Create a Friendster Blog

Friendster blog never took off because it is too restrictive unlike the more popular platform like Blogger and Wordpress. Blog posts in Friendster blogs are only limited within the confines of Friendster and only Friendster users are allowed to leave a comment.

The use of Friendster blog is only recommended if you have an active network. However, it is much better to direct them to your blog than spend your time developing a new blog in Friendster.


These are just some of the ways that you could use to market your blog in Friendster. However, bear in mind that these ways can only be effective if your Friendster network is very wide and your contacts in Friendster is plenty.

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How to Build a Strong Social Network

Connections and relationships are important aspects of human life. These connections or social network, in other words, are important tools in job hunting, starting your own business, and in furthering you personal ambitions. Because of its importance, developing your network should be started as early as possible.

I remember a classmate of mine who said that joining a fraternity is important because the frat he is joining is well connected and will help him in his future career. And I believe that there is grain of truth in what he said. Our connections sometimes determine if we can move ahead or be left behind in achieving our life’s goals.

So how could you build a strong and social network? Here are my tips:

Be Sincere

The first rule in building your network while is to be sincere with anyone whom you are joining in your network. Never befriend anyone just for the sake of using them to further your goals. Having this motivation in developing your network will make your relationship a fake one and it will be felt by those whom you are befriending. Another thing is that relationships formed from sincere motivations tend to be stronger. Remember, stronger relationships build a stronger network and return produces better benefits.

Be Friendly and Approachable

How can you strike a good friendship if you tend to be sarcastic with other people or you have an intimidating aura? A person who is approachable and emanates a friendly aura tends to have a larger network. Having a larger social network is important and open up various channels of opportunities.

 The Rule of Equivalent Trade

The Rule of Equivalent Trade only means that relationships are two way processes. If you receive something from your friend, then you should also have something that could also give to that person at a value equal to the one you receive. It doesn’t mean that if you are given two hundred dollars, you will also give two hundred dollars in return. Everyone is unique and have own perception of values on different things. It is possible that the person who gave you those two hundred dollars will value your smile as worth the two hundred dollars that you received.

Study each of the persons in your network and know their perceptions on value of things. Keep a person that only requires a return of things at a value below or at par with what you believe should be given to that person. Be careful, or at worst, eliminate persons who demand too much things beyond your perception of value from your network.

Show them Your Value

One of the best ways of keeping your network strong is to show that you are a valuable person. People tend to keep persons in their network if they see them as an asset in their social network. But if you are just a person who always asks for free lunch, so to speak, then your value will go low and many people will cut you off from their network. Remember, the more valuable you are, the harder you are to be removed in other people’s network. Another thing is that the higher your value, then the more possibilities and benefits you can obtain in your social network.

Creating a strong social network is a continuous process. Some people build a connection with little effort, while some put a lot of effort but destroys their network in a long run. The best tip that I could give is that building a social network should conform to your personality so that you can do it as natural as possible. Always remember that a strong social network can not be made overnight and must be acted upon continuously.



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The Best Color of Hyperlink

The creation of the internet also entailed the creation of the hyperlink. The hyperlink is a character, word, or phrase on a webpage that takes the reader from the current webpage to another webpage. In HTML coding, the hyperlink is created by using the anchor tag that is referred to the internet address of the webpage.

The hyperlink is an important blogging tool. It is used by bloggers to link to their favorite websites and websites of their advertisers on their blogs. It also serves as the venue for new readers to reach your blog after they clicked on the hyperlink (referred to your blog) from other blogs. This is the reason why many bloggers are asking for link exchange from other bloggers.

According to a study, internet users usually associate characters, words, and phrase with blue font with hyperlink. The study explains that since the inception of the internet, the color of the hyperlink had been blue. Because of this, internet users had been “trained” to think all blue colored words on a webpage as hyperlinks. Because of this, the blue-colored hyperlink has a higher probability of being clicked than other hyperlinks of other color.

Thus, it best to keep you hyperlinks colored as blue on your blog, especially the links of the ads on your site. Blue-colored hyperlink will generate more income than green-colored hyperlink, or any hyperlink with other color.

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My Favorite Anime is One Piece

A boy with a straw-hat, a weird power and a big dream, that is a fitting description of Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of the most famous pirate crew – The Straw Hat Pirates.

I have been following the anime One Piece since its first airing in GMA 7 years ago. I have been easily attracted by its story line and the funny antics of its characters. Since then, I downloaded images from the net to serve as the wallpaper of my computer, I had read and reread the story and episode guides in Wikipedia and leading anime websites, and I just finished watching episodes up to the story arc where Robin was whisked away by government officials in the city of Water 7.

One Piece is about the Straw Hat Pirates who travel the treacherous waters of the Grand Line and in the end obtain the ultimate treasure, One Piece. Only the pirate king Gold Roger confirmed the existence of One Piece. Whoever obtains One Piece will be hailed as the Pirate King.

The Straw Hat Pirates are composed of powerful and wacky characters like the Rubberman Luffy, the three swords user Roronoa Zolo, the thieving navigator Nami, the lying sharpshooter Ussop, the love cook Sanji, the reindeer doctor Tony Tony Chopper, and the archeologist/assassin Nico Robin. Currently, the two more characters were added and they are the shipwright Frankie and the skeleton musician Brooke.

What I like about this anime is that even though it has circumstances that are out of this world, it does not over exaggerate things. An example of this is Dragon Ball Z where the main characters just go stronger and stronger every story arc that the whole anime was blown out of proportion and became unbelievable. One Piece is a fantasy anime that has the feel of being realistic.

Another thing that I liked is that the anime delve in to the inner selves of the characters, so as to help the viewers understand each and every decision that each characters do.

One Piece is one funny adventure and the crew fought monsters and different characters with awesome powers. My only problem in this anime is that the Straw Hat crew experienced fatal attacks but none of them died. This is the only thing that I think is the problem of this anime. No major characters die.

However, looking largely on the anime in general, it could be said that One Piece is one of the best anime out there. So if you are looking for a fun anime plus great adventures like that in Gulliver’s Travels, then One Piece is recommended for you.

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Tips on Applying for a Passport

Applying for a passport at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is quick and easy, as long as you follow the DFA’s application procedures and you are not absentminded. The office of DFA is located at 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, Metro Manila. One way of reaching DFA is by riding the LRT if you are coming from the Manila City Hall or other areas that are being serviced by the LRT Line 1. Be sure to go down the train at Libertad Station. Then, when go out of the station, ride a tricycle. The tricycle going to DFA is easy to find because there are barkers with signboards written with “DFA.” The fare amounts to 7 pesos. The tricycle driver will stop near DFA, but not exactly at the gate.

Tip # 1: Bring the Complete Requirements

To make sure that your application is hassle free, you should bring all the requirements needed for applying a passport. The requirements for first time applicants are:

1) Completely filled application form – be reminded that the application form is free of charge. Never believe anyone, especially the fixers, who are selling the application form. You can obtain the application form from the guard at the entrance to DFA.

2) Birth certificate on NSO security paper –this birth certificate is the one issued by the National Statistics Office. Be sure that you have back-up copies of birth certificate since the DFA personnel will not return this document when you applied for a passport.

3) Four pieces of passport sized picture with royal blue background – Be sure that the size of your face in the picture is not smaller than 3 centimeters. There are studios inside the DFA, however it will cost you about 150 pesos for six passport-sized pictures.

4) Marriage certificate or contract from National Statistics Office (NSO) for married women. Women that are married with foreign nationals should also bring certificates from the Commission on Filipino Overseas, aside from the marriage certificate issued by the NSO.

Applicants for passport renewal should bring their original passport, photocopy of the first and last page of the passport, original and photocopy of government – issued ID, and 4 pieces of passport sized pictures with royal blue background.

Requirements for applicants below 18 years old are: birth certificate issued by NSO, marriage contract of parents, school ID (if available), 4 pieces of passport size pictures with royal blue background, and the appearance of either parent, original and photocopy of passport of the parent. Clearance from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the appearance of the child’s mother is also required if the parents are not married and the child is traveling with the father. These are also the same requirements if the minor’s passport is for renewal.

Additional requirements if both parents of the minor are abroad are the special power of attorney, affidavit support and consent, and clearance from DSWD.

Tip # 2: Beware of Fixers

Be advised that there are many fixers outside the DFA. There are some who wear fake DFA employee IDs. Always keep in mind that no DFA employee will transact official business outside DFA’s premises. Other fixers act like another applicant and will trick you to go to their stalls. Some will make you believe that you need to register to their stall so that you can enter DFA. Even the tricycle drivers also help the fixers by referring applicants to the fixers.

Never believe anyone outside DFA and always ignore any fixers. They have many tricks and modus operandi. It is better to ask the guard for information. If the guard pointed you to the fixers, then you can always have him fired by telling the DFA management of his activities with the fixers.

Tip # 3: Use the Courtesy Lane

DFA placed a courtesy lane for government employees, parents of government employees, and unmarried children of government employees. The queue in the courtesy lane is shorter and the processing is faster. Processing could be finished within 2 hours. Government employees should ensure that they brought the government employee ID with them. Additional requirement is the photocopy of the government ID.

So if you have son or daughter, or a mother or father who is a government employee, then it is better to avail of the courtesy lane.

Tip # 4: Bring Enough Money

The total fee for the application costs about: Thus, the total minimum of money that you have to bring is about:

It is good to make sure that you always have spare money whenever you go to any place. Bringing extra money will make sure that you will never need to go home if your fund is not enough when applying for the passport.

Tip # 5: Don’t Submit Fake Documents

I have seen one applicant who is submitting a marriage certificate for her passport application. The employee of DFA inspected the document and immediately confiscated it. She said that the marriage certificate that she is submitting is a fake. She threatened that the applicant may be penalized because she is falsifying documents.

It is better not to submit fake documents or else you will be penalized or even be blacklisted by DFA. If you are keen in submitting fake documents, then you must ensure that your fake documents 99.9% resembles the authentic documents.

Tip # 6: Never Be Afraid to Ask Questions

I suggest that you ask questions if you are lost or confused with any of the application procedures. However, you should not just ask anyone. The people that I usually ask for directions and clarifications are the guards inside the DFA. They are more credible because they are easy to recognize and it is hard to impersonate a security guard inside the premises of DFA. Fixers can trick you with fake DFA employee IDs but they can’t wear a guard’s uniform. If the guard does not know the answer to your question, then he will refer you to a legitimate DFA employee. There are also information booths inside DFA that are manned by DFA employees who know the application procedures.

These are some of the many tips when applying for a passport in the Philippines. Be alert and always be on a look-out of possible tricks from fixers. Follow these tips and your passport application will flow smoothly.
For more information, call DFA at telephone number 834 - 4000 or visit the DFA website.

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The House of Spirits

The House of Spirits, Isabel Allende, Bantam Books

“Barabbas came to us by sea…,” these are the words that started and ended this wonderful book of Isabel Allende. These are the very same words that captivated me to read this novel.

I encountered this book as a required reading for one of my subjects in college. This book is a rare find and gave me a hard time looking for it. Luckily, I found it in a second hand book dealer as the last remaining copy. The search for this book had paid off well since it introduced me to rich writing styles of Latin American authors.

The novel is about the epic story of the Trueba family as told by Esteban Trueba and Alba. Esteban is a cruel landlord, while Alba is his granddaughter. The story started off with the diary entries of Clara, narrating her childhood stories and revealing her mystical powers. The story was then taken off by Esteban Trueba, which narrates his life in his hacienda and his married life with Clara. The last part of the book is narrated by Alba. Played in the background is the history of Chile progressing from the age dominated by landlords; to the rise of the democratic society, the climax of which is the election of the first socialist president; and the demise to a brutal military rule.

What I like about this novel is I got to connect with the people affected by their History. It is unlike retelling the history of Chile from a boring history book. I got to see their happiness, their anguish, their desperation for a better tomorrow. I got to connect the novel with the story of my country, the Philippines.

The House of Spirits is a good novel to read and a good example of an excellent writing from a Latin American author. Isabel Allende spun history, emotions, and magic into a one engaging book.



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Seating Yourself Inside the Bus

If you have the habit of sleeping, especially while riding a public bus, then this tip is applicable to you. Riding a public bus is a little bit dangerous if you are the type who is not prudent with your personal belongings. There are many people out there who have the habit of eyeing valuable belongings of their fellow commuter.

Take this experience of mine while passing by Ali Mall, Cubao along EDSA. Five persons went up our bus. However, they ignored the driver’s request for them to take their seat. Knowing that their cover was blown, all five of them went down the bus. Apparently, those five are thieves who are looking for valuable things to snatch from other passengers.

There many time that driver’s do not care if there passengers were actually thieves, thus they don’t warn other passengers of the possibilities of a thief inside their bus. So as a prudent commuter in the Philippines, I suggest that you take these seating tips to avoid being victimized by these vultures.

Tip Number 1: Take the Most Front Seat

The most front seat will give you the benefit of being beside the bus driver. The bus driver will also serve as your eye if your seatmate has an itchy palm (in other words, a thief). Bus drivers are knowledgeable about persons they encounter in the streets, thus they can better sense who is dangerous or not. Seating near the driver will give the thief second thoughts of taking your wallet or your cellphone.

Tip Number 2: Take the Seat Nearest to the Window

Sitting beside the window will ensure that one side of your body is safe from pickpockets. So if your wallet or cellular phone is in your left pocket then sit on the left side of the bus. If your valuables are in the right pocket, then sit on the right side of the bus. As much as possible, avoid sitting in the middle seat on the left side of the bus since it is the most uncomfortable seat inside the bus because you are crushed on both side.

Tip Number 3: Never Sit at the Back

If the most rear end seat is the best place for you inside the classroom, then it is not so in commuting in a public bus. The most rear seat is the easiest place to be preyed upon by hold-uppers since it is beyond the sight of most passengers. These vultures will just point their knives at you, without anyone noticing, and then take all your belongings. Many passengers had been preyed upon on this part of the bus. For me this the most dangerous part of the bus.

Tip Number 4: Be Vigilant

This is the best of all the tips that I dispensed here. Vigilance will keep you away from thieves and hold-uppers. If the vultures saw that you are aware of your surroundings then they will think twice of choosing you as their victim. Remember, thieves prefer those who are weak and easy to trick. Those who are not vigilant will have more chances of being preyed upon by these vultures. So as a prudent commuter, I suggest that you keep your eyes open and don’t let them get on you.



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