Klip?

You have probably noticed the links at the top of each page, giving you several options in subscribing to each blog.

Most avid blog fans know what RSS and Atom are. But what is klip?

A "klip" refers to the data source files that Serence’s free KlipFolio program monitors for changes. Using KlipFolio, Windows users can monitor local weather, Google News, their Hotmail account, and RSS feeds.

The program resides in your system tray, and becomes animated when changes are waiting. When you double-click the icon, KlipFolio will pop up on your screen in the last place you left it, displaying updated headlines.

Hovering over headlines gives you a summary. Clicking displays the entire item in an active browser window, or launches your default browser to the page in question.

Can I Klip?

You’ll be happy to know that this user-friendly program can help you promote your blog. You can either tell your users about KlipFolio, and tell them how to use it to access your updates, or you can create a klip for KlipFolio users to add to their collection.

Promoting Your Klip

You can opt to have your site’s klip added to the Klip Farm - a public collection where users go to download more resources - this is the page the "More Klips" button takes users to from within the program. New klips appear on their site in descending order of date posted, and are also categorized.

If your blog system doesn’t already preconfigure your klip (few do) automatically, then you can visit the get started section. Proceed from there to the developers section if you’re prone to getting fancy.

All done? Register to submit your klip. You’ll be instructed to upload a file and an icon, then to select a category. Don’t forget to pick a button to put on your site to alert visitors.

Uploading a klip and having it appear on the Klip Farm is free - and you can also explore other promotional opportunies, such as having your klip bundled with every KlipFolio release, distributing a branded version of KlipFolio or changing your position in the Klp Farm so that you are featured more prominently.

Since, according to the Serence.com site, 87% of their users run the program daily, and their publishers enjoy a 12% clickthrough rate, these options may be well worth the expense.