Keeping the gates closed is a concept that should trickle down through the generations as a learning tool on how we handle our social media posts. The last thing we want is to lose visitors and possibly sales because we have been remiss in performing our due diligence.  Rotating stock in and out of feeding pastures is necessary; however, you need the knowledge to control the gate and where they go. The last thing you want is the herd breaking free before they have filled up on everything you are capable of feeding them.

The Nemesis—Links that open to outside information might mean your visitors leave your website and don’t come back. Why? Because the gate was not properly secured.

The Feather—Links to outside information that is properly secured show the reader that you are willing to provide additional material. If the gate is secured correctly, the visitor will wander in the new pasture with a view of the home corral still in their sights. An example of this is the links in my Bio at the bottom of this article. Each should open as independent pages without taking you completely away from this CRCL Quiet Spirits column.

The goal should be to allow the reader to open links without leaving the original article. As they finish reviewing the material found through the link, the linked page can be closed, and the original piece is still before them. You have not lost this visitor. 

Opening content in a new window is an easy step to keep the herd (a.k.a. visitors) corralled on your land. Platforms offering blogs, in the majority of cases, provide the option to “open in a new window” when setting up a link. If you don’t use this option, I recommend you start. It is something I also use with links within my website. Why? Because I don’t want the visiting herd to get lost on my land and not know how to find their way back. 

The long and the short of all this is: Pay attention to how you add external connections to your work. Having links open in a new window will guarantee most visitors to your website/blog will stay with you when they close the external link. Losing them through an open portal may mean lost sales and followers. 
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The concept is much the same for any platform. If you forget to include opening links in new windows, you can go back and edit your work to make the change. Closing the gate after the fact isn’t the best choice, but it is a step in the right direction to keeping the herd where you want them in the future. 

I have created a free downloadable how-to cheat sheet fro help you stay on top of keeping the dang gate closed.

Ann Edall-Robson's latest Quiet Spirits column is available at CRLC. ​
Who Left the Dang Gate Open
Back issues of the Quiet Spirits column. ​
Open the Gate
 Link to the Past
Heritage Traditions

How many times have you heard a story about animal antics that you have said in your mind, “That’s a story someone should write about.”

Bits and pieces of stories put into words and melded with colourful illustrations bring these animal characters alive. That about sums up the children’s books that I write. 
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April 2 is Children’s International Book Day and there is no better time for me to tell you about the books for children I have published.  The ones I am currently writing, and introduce the next one that will be launched later this year. Of course, I will also tell you about what the future has in store.

Contact us if you would like to be notified when Norman is available.

The books are printed using white writing on a black background combined with vibrant character and scenery colours to bring the story to life. This is a process that can be helpful to those with a visual impairment to be able to read them.

Going forward, there are plans in place to incorporate some of the characters from the Barn Cat Buttons Series into teaching books for young children. A mixture of counting, colours and activities are already in the beginning stages for these books.

Read the reviews for Barn  Cat Buttons Meets Princess Kylie and MUS, A Mouse Adventure.

If you would care to tell us what you thought about your copy of either book,  your comments are welcome here.  

When I received an email asking if I would be interested in participating in an 'online interview', I thought why not. I am already participating on their website's writing prompts, and I write a column for them as well. So, really, this was a no-brainer. 

What I don't think I saw coming, but should have realized, was that I was going to be interviewed by two fictional characters. That's right, not one, but two characters that have a handler capable of making them come to life.