Blogging Tips
I've been tagged by the ever-so-helpful Revellian, Mr. Nice Guy himself, Bobby Revell. This one is about blogging tips. I'm relatively new at this (or is 10 months a long time in blogging?), but I did notice one thing: I get people coming here from Google searches (no, there are no naked pictures of Glenn Beck here), and I get Stumble Upon surfers here, but the people who read the posts and comment are mainly the people whose blogs I visit and comment on. Now, I wouldn't leave a comment if I didn't have anything to say, so how do I find the blogs I'd be interested in following? That's pretty simple and straightforward, and it beats anything else I've tried on my quest for great, honest writing.
You go to one blog you like, leave a comment, and then you follow the links until you find another great blog, and you leave a comment there. The next day you can start from that second blog. Leave comments, make links on your own blog, and surf through other people's links. Page Rank and Technorati standing and all that stuff may be important but in the end each link, each blog, is a person, and an honest comment on an honest post creates a human connection. Get-rich-quick scams come and go, and blogs created for the sole purpose of making money don't bother me at all, but in the end it's the honest writing that makes the virtual blogging community more real and close and tangible than many physical communities.
So thanks Bobby, and thanks to everyone who's ever left a comment. Now here's some cut-and-paste:
-Start Copy-
It’s very simple. When this is passed on to you, copy the whole thing, skim the list and put a * star beside those that you like. (Check out especially the * starred ones.)
Add the next number (1. 2. 3. 4. 5., etc.) and write your own blogging tip for other bloggers.
Try to make your tip general.
After that, tag 10 other people. Link love some friends!
Just think– if 10 people start this, the 10 people pass it onto another 10 people, you have 100 links already!
When this is passed on to you, copy the whole thing, check out the blogs on the list and put a * star beside those that you like. Add the next number (1. 2. 3. 4. 5., etc.) and write your own blogging tip for other bloggers. Try to make your tip general. After that, tag 10 other people. Link love some friends! Just think– if 10 people start this, the 10 people pass it onto another 10 people, you have 100 links already! Here are the tips:
1. Look, read, and learn. ***
http://www.neonscent.com
2. Be, EXCELLENT to each other. ***
http://www.bushmackel.com/
3. Don’t let money change ya! ***
http://www.therandomforest.info
4. Always reply to your comments. ****
http://chattiekat.com
5. Spell check is your friend. **
http://thingsbymike.com
6. Be the blog. ***
http://www.meandmydrum.com/
7. Your readers are your treasure.
http://www.brownbaron.com/blog/***
8. Blog about what you know & love.
http://sugar-queens-dream.blogspot.com/*****
9. Don’t use filthy language-buy a dictionary.
http://shinade.blogspot.com/*
10. Whenever possible, spread some positive thoughts and love. The world needs more of them.
http://ailema4ever.blogspot.com/*****
11. Write down from your heart or head. Either way asks yourself why you ever get started.
http://chocmintgirl.blogspot.com/**
12. Try to make your template something unique and easy to look. Your template gives the blogger identity as much as the post content.
http://psychosomaticwit.blogspot.com/***
13. Take risks creatively with your writing. You’d be surprised how little it takes to bring out the poet or novelist in you.
http://remedialrumination.blogspot.com/***
14. Find your own voice! Your writing should reflect your unique personality. Don’t ever try to be something you’re really not just because you think you have to in order to get people to read your blog.
http://gazing-into-the-abyss.blogspot.com/**
15. When you’re trying to think of a new great post, or deep in thought on how to make it better, just remember - trying is crap. Trying to think is worthless. Thinking is the greatest single hindrance to a writer. Relax, don’t try to think. Let go of your thought and ego. Only then is real thought able to naturally flow on it’s own, without being consciously driven. Just a little something not to think about:)
http://revellian.com/**
16. If you like a blog, follow the links. You're most likely to find your next favorite blog waiting for you on another blog's sidebar.
http://www.peopleinthesun.com/*
–End Copy–
Tagged:http://allthatcomeswithit.com/
http://jenfreedom.blogspot.com/
http://www.cafeleone.net/
http://midlife-journey.blogspot.com/
http://jsridhar.blogspot.com/
http://shellis-sentiments.com/
http://www.un-loaded.com/
http://wonderlandornot.net/
http://blogtalkingpoints.blogspot.com/
http://whohijackedourcountry.blogspot.com/
30 comments:
Loved the tip. It's also true that a lot of bloggers forget that it's all about building bridges. Real blogs, real people. Great post.
Err ah I err haven't linked you - I'll fix that right away. And you know I love you right?
I see you have met the Brown Baron, he is one of the greatest bloggers I have ever met, you should visit him for sure. I chose to send this meme off route to bloggers who don't write tech blogs. Your tip is very simple and incredibly useful! This great blog community for me is expanding slowly but surely and this meme in particular really brings us together. Great Job:):):)
Thanks.
You obviously don't remember that I hate tags. Although, I was just going to write a post with blog tips after reading some really bad ones yesterday so I'll do it. But this one seems confusing. I'll have to come back and look again after much, much more coffee.
Your right, you know. For the life of me I cannot remember how we connected, but I haven't looked back since. I am always happy to see on my feed reader that you have added a post.
Brown, thank you. And welcome.
SJ, mission accomplished. You know this whole thing was just a ploy to get a link on your blog.
Bobby, thanks again. I added all the links to my Google Reader and I will take a look at all of them as soon as my Reader sees fit to display them. My Google Reader is very picky.
Ricardo, you look angry.
Jennifer, so it all worked out, right? You can go here and read Dave's argument, and while you're there you can read my comment and see what you think. Actually, I saw this particular meme a few days ago on someone else's site and it made me think that I should write a post about my own experience with Technorati/StumbleUpon/Digg tricks versus slowly building a community. Then this meme came my way yesterday and everything worked out. I hope it worked out the same for you.
Dave, yes, I don't remember either. And thank you for saying that. It means a lot. And same here.
i link your article on tagging,i have already tagged you in technorati and thanks for joining in the "technorati club, look for your star avatar in my Blog!
Your TIP is a very good tip. It's all I ever do.
I don't do memes or viral liking routinely, so I won't be following the rules here. I don't do the viral linkage.
I do memes if I can work them in as a post.
My readers don't really care about blogging tips at all.
great tip. how di i add an avater? mast i have a blog or web page for that?
sorry for the mistakes i made in the last comment. must be the heat.
You and me are eternally linked by the power vested in me by my...er blog.
I'm a good, loyal reader of many blogs but I don't comment a lot. Because of that, I don't have much of a following.
These days, that doesn't bother me at all.
When I had a humor blog, I got caught up with all of the contests, the numbers, and everything else.
Now, I blog for me. I link to my friends. I link to people who link to me.
I read most of the big blogs through my Bloglines account. Wil Wheaton and Dooce don't care if I link to them, so I don't.
Blogging is much better for me now that I don't care as much.
Etienne, thanks, and, you know, welcome!
Cooper, and yet I see this inspired your latest post. See? Just because of that I'm going to put you on my meme speed-dial. And seriously, like I told Jennifer, I do believe memes have the potential to turn a blog into a meme-directory, but I was interested in that one and thought I had something to say without sounding pretentious or presuming to be an expert on anything. I'm glad you did it (to a point).
Cig, very hot over here today, too. They said it's a 106-Fahrenheit, which is, I don't know, 300-Celsius? So a couple of things: First, I recommend leaving Internet Explorer and getting Firefox 2, which has an automatic spell checker. You won't have to worry about the weather anymore. And as for the avatar... I'm not sure but I think you need a Blogger account. Why not do that? You can do whatever you want with it. You can put art or photos or show your web design--it doesn't have to be anything like mine. It'll be great.
SJ, thanks for that. If Frank Capra were alive today he would have made a movie about what just happened here.
Ajooja, the best part about this whole thing is that what I said applies directly to you. I was going through some of the links on Pointless Drivel and saw your post about the date with your wife, and I've been coming back ever since. And even if you don't care how many people read your blog, I'm happy I found it. I remember you came here and in your comment wandered how I found your blog. Well, now you know my tip works. And it has nothing to do with making money off blogs or with numbers and rankings, only with expanding the circle.
I blog surf a lot, probably more than I should. There is a lot of interesting people out there...there is also a lot of not so interesting stuff out there. I only comment when I have something to say. I mostly read and then move on. I have met some fascinating people by jumping from one blog to another.
maaaaaan, it's hard enough for me to keep up with the huge list of blogs I already peruse weekly - you just had to go and suggest more. that's it, i'm quitting one of my jobs.
Your tip is the same tip given to me by a long time bloger and friend of mine who has a good readership and has a number of readers who comment somewhat regularly on his blog.
I however, find it difficult to have the time to post on my own blog and read enough blogs where I find I have a comment to make on something someone else posts on. I even find I only rarely comment on my friends blog who gave me the tip.
However, I have noticed that as often as not if I have commented on someones blog I do get a visit and about half the time that visitor will comment as well on my blog.
Marsha, thanks. I'm glad I was one of the blogs you stayed on.
Kirsten, you don't have to quit your job. In fact, you need to get another job; one of these sit-by-a-computer-the-whole-day jobs. You'll catch up soon enough.
Larry, don't get me wrong, I don't comment if I don't have anything to say. And I used to comment on blogs and in forums before I started doing it myself. And I don't comment in other places just so someone would come here. You know what I mean? At least I hope people don't comment here just to return the favor. What I'm saying is that commenting comes naturally if you find a blog you like. And to find another great blog all you have to do is look at your favorite site's blogroll. A week later you can look at that second blog's links, etc. It doesn't have to be too time consuming. And hopefully it'll be fun.
Good way to help all of us Bloggers. I'll try to work this in when I start back to posting.
hey, i made it! i have a blog and an avatar! thanks Pits for the tip. from now on i'm jeronimo(i'm cig actually, but this is my faux identity. what a thrill!)
Let's, take your time. I'm glad to know you'll do that.
Jeronimo, !!!
(and I love the picture. It's going to be a beautiful site).
Hey, I read through some of these and they were good! But I'm gonna have to pass, after I said yes (lame, I know but stuff just got hectic around here all of a sudden) I am still writing a post on blog tips but just don't have time to find other decent blogs to tag right now. Is there someone else cool you can replace me with -- who might need some hits? Sorry, I still like the post and your tip.
Don't worry about it. Didn't mean to stress you out like that, but it's all good, I promise. And thank you for saying that.
I've been found by the most bizarre Google searches out there---you name it--they found ME through weird and obscene tags. Hmm. And to think my blog is about religion and homosexuality...yet...I guess the second one can be the blame? Who knows.
I think it's great when other bloggers give tips. I personally prefer blogs that are personal - no get rich quick schemes. The other thing I don't mind, is if bloggers have advertisements on there. Why not! ?? As long as they put a little of themselves- or maybe a lot, then it's all good.
Thank you so much for the advice you've given me over back at my homeblog. :D You're absolutely right!
That is a great tip. I have found the same thing in my experience and it's why I value my hundred-ish MyBlogLog readers as much as the 100,000 Diggers I've seen come through in the last few days. Stumblers are better than Diggers, but few stick around. Regular readers are built that way - by creating a connection and getting them interested in who you are and what you do. I personally much prefer the intersting assortment of blogs I read (such as this one!) to all of the blogs about making money or that talk only about blogging!
Deb, I don't really mind advertising as long as it's not mixed with the posts. I can't stand reading about someone's relationship with his grandfather on one post, his child's first word on the next post, and a new amazing cellphone gadget following that, you know? But I'm glad I could help.
Urbanist, why thank you. Maybe in the next life I'll know how to get the world to give me money. I'll have twenty websites, each devoted to a different market and niche. I'll have a pool. And I won't drive my wife's grandma's car.
I am finally airing this for my Meme Monday tomorrow. Sorry it took me so long.
Shelli, hey, thanks for doing that.
great post. I do everything you do but sometimes it become stressful :p but I'm doing it right now xD
Mr./Ms. Money, thanks. I hope you find good stuff on my links here. I don't know if stressful is the right word, but I know how surfing can sometimes be overwhelming... It's a bit like speed-dating.
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