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What Do You Think? Review Contest
First off, thank you all for taking the time to review my blog. Each post means so much to me because unlike messages left on MyBlogLog community, these posts really give us an idea of what is good, bad or needs improvement. Although I was planning on considering to write an entry for every 10 reviews, awarding one favicon and one re-design per batch, I decided to list only 5 at a time to avoid having some overlooked.Yes! I've been generous and designed all 5 icons to these bloggers who were quick in writing a review for The Thinking Blog. Make sure you visit the sites and leave a comment on the reviews because I will be tracking them. If you wrote a review and you are not in the list above, don't worry - they will be published in the next entry of "What Do You Think?" However, I realized that some of these sites are still using a standard Blogger template which is not a good idea when there are lots of free templates available on the web. I have hand-picked a few sites that display some of the really nice templates out there so make sure you check them out in the Guide to Blogging (more links to free templates in the comments sections). Also don't forget to track comments of that post because I keep adding more as I find well designed templates.Jennifer's The Life of a School Bus Driver
Vikas' Technacular
T4TD - Thought 4 the Day
Peter's Necessary Skills
Mephala's Strange Machine
Now, for the winner of the re-design is... *drumroll*
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Congratulations Ray Dotson, your review won a free blog re-design and a matching favicon! Now Ray hasn't fully installed the whole design yet but he was so kind to mention my name in the footer of his template. The reason I picked
Freshblogger's review is because not only he followed the rules of linking to at least two posts on this blog, but he shared his personal experience on how they made him "think" and better yet how the posts were useful to him. Overall, I think it was a very professional review and showed me that we need more "How To" posts on this blog.Honorable mentions. I would like to acknowledge a couple of bloggers who reviewed my blog but didn't want to enter the contest because they just wanted to provide some feedback or introduce my blog to their readers. Special thanks to Mark Khoo and Bryan's Rants.
Why you should review my blog. For all the others who didn't review The Thinking Blog yet, it's never too late! The contest is going on until I run out of creative juice to design (won't happen in the next 2000 years) or until you run out of creative juice to critique my blog. As I mentioned before, every outgoing link from my blog counts as 2 links according to Technorati (one from my old address plus one from the new domain name) giving your blog a huge boost in ranking not to mention traffic that will flow over to your blog from the exposure. Let me recap the deal. In exchange for a review you will get:
- Two linkbacks from highly ranked URLs (priceless I tell you)
- Best review gets a free full blog re-design (worth $2000)
- Second best review gets a free favicon design (worth $20)
The Thinking Blog has a great graphic design and by reviewing it you can enter the contest to win a free re-design for your blog!You could also mention any other posts as part of your review. Don't forget to email me when the post goes live. While you're at it, please do me a favor - join our community and favorite this blog.
Graphics design at its best. You have seen the re-design I made for Freshblogger. Have you seen what my blog looked like before I re-designed it? Here it is:
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I also offered a free re-design to John Chow's make money online blog but he ignores me because I'm not an A-list blogger. This is what he doesn't take up for FREE:
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Maybe he doesn't take this nice offer because then he needs to write post about it. Long ago I made him a free favicon and he implemented it without a single mention. I guess when people are paying you $300 to write a post, you kind of become spoilt and give your sponsors the priority.
Available for freelancing. Speaking of money, you can also hire me to do freelance graphic design works. For those of you who are not technically inclined, I can design a fabulous icon (compliant with multiple browsers) for just 20 bucks. I can work from the look and feel of your blog, or any images you provide. Let me know by email if you are interested. For example, very recently Google Tutor contacted me for a favicon design and he is 100% satisfied. Ask him if you don't believe me.
I'm all ears. If you have any tips, suggestions or criticism but don't want to post a review on your blog - feel free to drop me a line in my inbox as well. I'm always open to feedback. Finally, one last thing. Don't be disappointed if you didn't win a free re-design this time. You can write a better review for consideration in the next batch. If all else fails, you know where to find me for affordable graphic design.
Have fun and good luck!
43 thoughts:
Hi,
I like the way you redesigned those blogs, including John Chow dot com. Your version looks much better than his actual theme, and it gives personality to the blog. It's his loss anyway, if he does not use it. I believe that his community is a closed one, accessible only to his friends, so you should not be upset for not being noticed or mentioned. There are people out there who notice you, that's for sure!
You are right Simonne. I don't cry over these things. =)
If I ever leave Blogger, I'll definitely ask you to redesign my blog, especially after I've seen what you would have done with John's mediocre design..
My favicon is so great. I love it.
The other favicons are cool too, but mine beats them all. LOL...
The new blog design is great too. I love the kiwi idea. That site looks interesting as well. I have added it to my reader. I am getting to many sites in my reader now...ahhh.
Anyways, thanks for finally revealing your winner. It was deserved...I guess. Blah.
never seen blue soo 'hot'. john-chew gonna to regret it.
*john chow
Hi Ilker,
Woud you mind to redesign my blog or to make me an icon? That way I can review you AND say how really nice you are!
Thanks!
MC aka Preety
Hi,
Wow Wow Wow.
I love your blog. Absolutely LOVE it. The design is so beautiful. Anyway I read that John Chow ignored you?
Sometimes people like to treat people they perceive as 'smallfry' as not worth talking to. Hate this kind of attitude.
Anyway you have my vote of confidence. I will be modeling my blog after yours. And they say imitation is the best form of flattery. :) Do read my blog if you have the time ok.
Cheers, Jag
http://MyPeculiarThoughts.com
ilker, that John Chow re-design is awesome! Chow's site looks so ubiquitous nowadays but his content is fairly decent and it's open about what he's doing. But it's still a bummer he ignored you. I guess he didn't want to give you the publicity. It shouldn't matter too much. You won't need him in the long-run. You're creating and growing your own niche in the blogophere. This is an excellent blog. Good luck!
FreshBlogger new look is so Fresh and Juicy - great job, Ilker.
Re: John Chow, I agree with others it's his loss. I think he's being blinded by Technorati's Top 100 sunny rays.
Ilker, I can't believe you didn't pick me! J/K Your icons are great and your redesigns are even better. Keep up the good work. By the time you are 25 you will be famous!
@Jeremy: How sure are you? Your review is coming out in the next batch and I didn't decide on the winner yet. If you think you could do a better review, then go for it and increase your chances!
"By the time you are 25 you will be famous" - I wish!! =)
Nicely done and congrats to everyone! The new layout you made looks great ilker.
Thank you, ilker for taking the time to design my favicon. I absolutely love it. :) You're a really talented designer.
If I had the cash, I'd so hire you to design my template. John must be crazy to not want that theme, it looks amazing.
Ilker, you're already famous! I love the new design you did for me. Thanks for all of your help and your patience in dealing with my slowness!
I love your blog soooooo much and I will be writing a review soon....
I want an Avatar with the Natalia Oreiro picture like that one i see on MyBlogLog all the time!!
;))
I was at John Chow's today & yer Graphic Design is stunning!!
Powerful statement*
I would be leaping all over that like the dirty shirt that i am*
I arrived here via the 2000 MyBlogLogs Widget by Alvin Phang over at www.GatherSuccess.com !!
Fabulous Idea & i urge all yer Readers to check it out ilker!
Cheers! Billy ;))
Peace*
ilker, since John is ignoring you for your free design I'd gladly accept the free redesign of the Misty theme I'm using on my finance site. :)
You're very talented, keep up the good work and you will make it to your own A-list status. Just don't forget us little guys!
I love the redesigns and would gladly take the John Chow design it is amazing! Not that my blog is an A-list or even a D-list but hopefully you are still accepting reviews with the possibility of a redesign. I am going to start penning one right now. Great work again, gee do I sound like I am gushing? :)
These designs are awsome :-)
You really should consider doing web and blog designing for money. Given the fact that you are already famous, it will make you rich as well :-)
great...i will writing a review soon...will ping u after then.
Ilker,
I appreciate all that you're doing and it's great, unique stuff, however you claim that your designs are worth $2000? Most of them seem like very simple theme modifications, which are hardly worth that much.
My recommendation is to remove at least one 0 from that outrageous number! I'm not sure who would pay $2000 for those types of simple looks but I most certainly won't. =D
@Esra: You are right.. the re-designs I've done so far are not really worth $2000 but that is what they've asked for.
I do the design until the winner is happy with it and if the winner wants something simple then I do what they want.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Wow those are sooo nice :) My blog needs an overhaul soon - your redesigns gave me some ideas, though whether I can implement them is another question ;)
So when's the next contest?
4th round of the contest is coming soon.. this is a never ending contest!
Wow ... I really love your blog designs.
I might be contacting you soon, as my "Disgruntled Workforce" blog needs a serious face lift :)
Alot of time and effort has been invested in this blog, well done.
yeah, what i have to do just review your blog and tell you about it.
very beautiful design Ilker - your version of John Chow's design is so much hotter than his actual one.. its his loss.. wouldn't it be funny if someone grabbed that design from you other than him - just the way it is :) with john chow logo on him :) just kidding of course.. you are definitely VERY telented and kind hearted.. (and ofcourse pretty too ;)) I love the new freshblogger and your new design too...
Hi ilker ,
I must say that the redesigned John Chow's blog is absolutely terrific in comparison with your's and freeblogger's its a pity that chow's not able to realize the importance of aesthetics an design in todays world.The blue is fantastic and the font used for the John Chow name's also fantastic.
Would love to see some "ilkermagic " on my blog
you are wasting a lot of real estate on the right bottom i think u should consider putting some stuff there...
otherwise the organization is good its also easy to navigate the icons are awesome esp yours "looks extraterrestrial" other than that i loved the icons you created for others.
HI ilker,
This is the first time am coming to your blog. BTW.. i dont understand any of those fundas you call Tagging. What is it all about? Also, am not a technical person... Anyway the blogs or sites that you have redesigned is stunning.
BTW, it would be nice if you could drop into my blog and lemme know from you the design ( the one one I have is supported by blogger)and about the write up... and what changes should be made...etc etc...
wow, your design is sooo professional. You should sell it for $100 per layout.
If i have money,
of course, i will buy it.
So, good luck.
Happy blogging.
http://grow-taller-secret.blogspot.com/
this is a breath of fresh air for the blogging community. i have been looking for some one to really get down and redue what needs serious overhauling. this also gives a new way to start batching links insted of always trying to make money online which hey its not a bad thing. I just like how you think. now im off to comment on every one of your designs at least i will get some traffic out the deal.
I was floored when I saw your designs!! They are AMAZING!! I really, REALLY want one, so I have to enter a contest or find a way to get one. Great job!!
Let more people know your blog contest, post is at MyBlgoContest.com
Woud you mind to redesign my blog or to make me an icon? That way I can review you AND say how really nice you are!
I think it's great good work.
Cool
Great designs. Especially JohnChow. Keep up the great work.
sweet designs, you got some talent.
Two guys Blog life
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