The Matthias Chronicles: Along for the Ride!

Here is a live map showing statistics of the AFTR widget loads (including the embed):

The AFTR mini-window is embedded into the hosting page and only loads after the hosting page has completely finished loading. This provides the greatest exposure for member sites, however, it may not be suitable for all sites.

This widget is special and has a very specific purpose. Think of this widget as a tour bus driving down a street filled with houses (AFTR member blogs). The bus stops at a house and the passengers on the bus can look through the windows of the house (view the member's blog through the embed mini-window), get out of the bus and go into the house (open the member's blog in a new window), or do absolutely nothing (typical window shoppers).

This widget exposes visitors to content they most likely would never know about or see. It is at the bottom of the page because market research (Google and other advertising companies) suggests that visitors often look for some where else to visit by the time they reach the bottom of the page.

This method generates at least ten times the traffic compared to the Click and MouseOver versions. The code goes at the bottom on the page before the </body> tag and is centered automatically. As some blogging platforms only allow a "footer" section, the Embed widget is able to figure out where the "true" bottom of the page is and sets itself there without damaging or messing up your template.

To protect against "junk" traffic, this widget does NOT display immediately. It waits for the hosting web page to load completely (including all images, widgets and advertising) and on fast loading blogs, it waits a minimum of one minute.

To see a preview, please scroll to the bottom of the page.

Here is the script:

In the second example above, the aeaeff is the default color that is used in the first example. You can change this to blend the Embed into your blog. Any six character color code can be used.

Just mouse over the box and a mini-window will open after a three second count down. If the visitor moves the mouse off of the AFTR box during the count down, the AFTR mini-window will not open until the count down is complete.

Here is a preview of what this widget will look like on your blog:

Here is the script:

The visitor must click on the AFTR box for the mini-window to open.

Here is the script:

Here are previews of what this widget will look like on your blog:

1025 1026 1027

For example:

Many thanks to Babs at Beetle's humour - Memories of 50's & 60's for designing these images.

This method is identical to the CLICK method, but forces the behavior of no mini-window as if the site were on today.com. Blog owners that want no mini-window will find this method delivers exactly that.

today.com members: This method is the ONLY method that is accepted by today.com terms of use and policies. The MouseOver and Embed versions WILL put your today.com account in violation of their terms and policies. Rather than a mini-window, (which today.com considers a pop-up), one of the member sites is simply loaded by the web browser.

Here is the script:

Here are previews of what this widget will look like on your blog:

1025 1026 1027

For example:

Many thanks to Babs at Beetle's humour - Memories of 50's & 60's for designing these images.

This is a modified XCLCK method with absolutely NO JavaScript. This is for those individuals that want to join, but their host does not allow JavaScript (WordPress.com). It works identical to the above XCLCK (today.com) version.

Here is a preview of what this widget will look like on your blog:

Here is the script:

Member sites are scanned daily for the AFTR widget. Sites that do not have the widget on them will be removed from rotation automatically, Once the widget is put back on the site, it will be added back into this list and rotation. Notification are sent if I see a prolonged duration to sites as needed that have signed up for AFTR but do not have the widget on their page.

The class or designation of a site determines what sites are acceptable based upon page scans. Class 1 sites are rated G rated. There are no questionable or objectionable words on the site. Class 2 sites are the those may have words that may be deemed onjectionable for minors, but yet still proper in the context of that site. The method I use errs on the side of caution as some words can be both clean in context and vulgar beyond reason. Site class is evaluated each time my robot looks for the AFTR widget and only checks the page that is shown to the visitor.

Class 1 will only show other class 1 sites. Class 2 sites will show both classes. I went this way as and added assurance to protect minors because it is very possible that a parental warning may be missed or still objectionable to a class 1 site. Each site in this area is extensively evaluated based upon its content and AFTR member reactions. I heavily screen all blogs. Class 1 sites will NEVER, EVER display Class 2 blogs. I AM ALWAYS VISITING EACH AND EVERY SITE IN THE AFTR MEMBERSHIP AND RE-EVALUATING ITS CONTENT.

AFTR is free, so there's nothing to loose and visitors to gain! Give it a try today!

Please fill out the below form to join Along for the ride. All Fields are required.