Blogging, and the best ways to blog, has been on my mind lately. I have spoken before on this blog about making bloggy friends, and commenting on blogs, and signing up for support groups.
But I’m tired of my own voice, a little exhausted and don’t feel at the top of my game.
I haven’t been visiting back regularly, and that’s something I plan to change in the next few weeks before the A to Z challenge begins. (Sign up, if you haven’t yet! Want to know more? If you’re on twitter, drop by for the #AZchat where we discuss why A to Z Challenge is good for bloggers, and how to reap the most benefits! Pam Margolis will be hosting the 1PM EDT chat, and #teamdamyanti will be hosting the one at 8PM EDT. )
So, I’m opening the forum to my visitors and blog friends: If you could give just One #blogging tip to a new blogger, what would it be?
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Hmm, good question! I would say to write with soul.
Thank you for the blogging advice page! Very beneficial.
Be “authentic”… and engage with your readers.
<3 BP
Write what your passionate about not just what’s trending. I enjoy reading blogs with authentic voices and out-of-the-box perspectives.
I also prefer reading blogs without profanity or dark stuff since I feel offended by that, as if the dark stuff is invading my space. So I would advise against using provocative language and finding more peaceful ways to express feelings. Think of the reader as a family member or housemate who you would like to have peaceful relationship. Write in a conversational style that invites others in. People feel lonely and isolated these days so if they can find a warm place on the internet, this is healing for them.
My tip is to simply ‘Have fun’ and enjoy what you Blog and what other people Blog 🙂
Your blog is wonderful. Thanks for your writing!
Have fun, it is not a life sentence.
I’m new to the whole blogging thing but I think the best advice I could give is just do whatever works for you because you want to do it and for no other reason. Don’t worry about readers, followers, etc. Just make it about you and what interests you. It’s your own personal space to create all the things you yourself would have wanted to come across in a blog but haven’t. Anyway, that’s just my own 2 cents.
I am now on Day 10 of my March Madness Challenge to make one of my daily posts titled as such and going through the letters of the alphabet with a result equalling positivity. I am getting quite a few likes and comments so it seems to be going very well considering my own positivity is flailing today tbh. Anyhow, I intend to complete my challenge no matter what.
These are thought-provoking tips….purpose achieved! I am inspired to re-think the subject matters of my blog. Thanks everyone!
If you are going to blog about controversial issues (e.g, I’m a therapist in therapy), make it anonymous so you don’t get stigmatised 🙁
That’s funny right there.
Reblogged this on BarbzWilliams The True Me! and commented:
This is so cool! i am totally going to follow through with this to Max my potential!
Hello and thanks for the section for newbies! I am quite green and need the advice you and others are providing here. So far I try to vary what I post. I have many interests. Thanks again! 🙂
Thanks so much for your follow of Heart of Life Poetry, I really appreciate it. Wishing you all the best of life!
Hi there!
Thanks for following. I’m a happy camper now you are joining me as I trip around by RV, plane, car and time machine to the past.
Comments, compliments, critiques and wisecracks are most welcome.
You have a great blog. “See” you again soon.
Which Way Now 101 aka Carol
It’s been said before, but your voice should be as unique on your blog as it is in person. We are drawn to the individuality of people. Our blogs should reflect the large number of variables that make you you.
Interesting inputs, thanks.
First and foremost write that which interests you. If you make it sound interesting, people will read on.
Write because you were born to write and “cannot other.” If you don’t feel like writing, if you are facing a big zero, then don’t write. When it comes, it will flow. Don’t set up rules for yourself that discourage you, just write.
Great answer.
Vary your content with a focus on entertaining your reader. We writers sometimes forget that we are in the entertainment business..
Write…write…write some more. Start slow with following and be real. Be respectful. don’t follow too quickly everyone who follows you just “because” you think it is protocol…in hindsight it can be misinterpreted as only trying to get more followers. There are so many wonderfully genuine and kind people in this community. I feel so privileged being part of this WP neighbourhood. I learn from by reading amazing, creative writers…never thought I could write poetry (since my teens) and I love it now. Key: Enjoy yourself and be real.
Just write!
If it’s a personal blog, be yourself and have fun. Don’t be put off by other blogs that seem different or better.
If it’s a company/product blog, communicate intelligently ie target creatively.
Write honestly from the heart, giving good value to all that read your blog!
Great comments here…going to share this on Facebook and LinkedIn this week. I blog professionally for clients and besides getting to know the client, I say write as if you are talking to someone personally. Make it human, in other words! That’s my style and I look for clients who appreciate that approach.
Write about the positives for life and you will enjoy writing
Regards and good will blogging..
Consider having a theme and writing succinctly. Quite a few bloggers ramble on about whatever trivia is in their head at the moment. If you don’t have anything interesting to say then don’t write for the sake of producing a post; or at least keep the length in check!
Be brief, no matter what length you have to go to do so.
JohnRH, I was just thinking about this very thing today. I am finishing reading The Goldfinch which is quite a long book, but as I pondered it, I realized that every word needed to be there. If the author had left out just one, it would not have been as an effective read. You validate what I was thinking. As a few professors have told me in my life, “Be complete.”
M’lady is currently reading The Goldfinch.
Ah, what does she think so far?
Well said girl!
One should take criticism in a right way to hone his writing skills.
Other people have said this but write what you are passionate about and it will show.
Check out other people’s blogs. I’ve gotten the most out of blogging with some very cool connections that I’ve made 🙂 .
Post regularly so your readers know where and when to find you. Follow all the good ideas set out above. Above all, ignore everyone else’s blogging advice now and again and do something just for you!
Write something every day to get in the habit…and if something you read strikes a chord and you react to it…write down your feelings while they are fresh. I write comedy, which is best when you are complaining or attacking a subject and throw in a surprise twist at the end, like “Like most kids in a small town I met, dated, and married my high school sweetheart–my English teacher.” Rich Allan is the author of the comedy/adventure novel, “Drafted,” available at amazon.com.
Ok. I am waaay down here because I get weekly notifications so sorry for arriving late. :). It would be difficult to give one tip with the understanding that each person blogging has their own reasons for coming into this realm. I think the one thing that is universal is to know what you want from the experience and to realize that it will likely be an evolutionary process. Look around and keep an open mind. And don’t be afraid to reach out to ask for, and accept, help from others. We are all in this together.
My tip is to have consistent great content.
I’m exactly a new blogger! Are looking around for some advance!
So far I have no focused content for my blog, just a daily writing to warm up my brain for a working day (ignore the fact that I write in my working time..). Thanks guys for sharing your ideas!
Well I don’t have any wisdom to add, as I’ve only been blogging for a few months, but I’m thankful for all the useful thoughts and tips contributed by others here.
I agree with everybody’s comments here, especially about quality content and responding to comments. Instead of one tip, I have two. Be consistent with your post schedule. And let your reader know when you are posting. Post once or twice a week at the same time. WordPress will let you schedule your blogs ahead of time. So if you get an idea for an Easter post in January, you can write it, then schedule it and it will appear when appropriate.
The second tip is this. The About page is extremely important. After I read a post I like, I check out the About page. The About page is the Mission Statement for the blog. This not only informs the reader what the blog is about, but also keeps the blogger on track. A couple of examples: Once upon a time I went to a blog and started reading some of the posts. It looked like a novel in progress. But when I checked out the About page, all it said was that the writer was married and had two kids. Nothing about the blog.
My About page keeps me on track as far as what I want to post on the blog. There have been a couple of times I wrote a post that was ranting about something or other. Then I realized that I had stated on my About page that my blog would not contain ranting and raving. So I nixed both, knowing they were not what my readers would expect from me. Having an About page sure keeps me on track.
Ooh, thanks loads for this, I am a newbie – am going to settle down with a nice glass of wine and read everyone’s advice 🙂
Blogging is a marathon and not a sprint. Most days you will be sowing seeds for an occasional harvest.
Blog as frequently as possible, but at the same time do not write about dumb things. Few people have this habit of writing what did they do the whole day, their outing with a friend etc. Write something appealing which will bring your readers back to your blog again and again.
Totally agree with this. It’s so obvious when people are really scraping the bottom of the barrel for post subjects. They should just chill out sometimes as it’s all about quality not quantity. I’m new to blogging (6 months) and I enjoy the creative vent writing provides me with. I feel that I see a lot more life out there now that I consciously think if there is a blog angle for me. Also: starting to realise that my voice is a lot more feisty than I had thought! No bad thing I guess? X
Everybody loves a bit of appreciation when they write a piece, But when blogging or even writing for a small magazine never approach it as a way of earning popularity or fame. The thing is to write well and the blogging part comes later. The second thing is writing anything you want which I feel is very important even if it doesn’t make any sense.
Write about something you already do everyday. Whether it’s reading, crafts, cooking, or any other hobby, you’ll burnout if it’s not part of daily life.
don’t wait for people’s likes, adds or comments before your work impresses you
Honesty, and don’t try so hard. Basically, what everyone else has been saying: just be you.
When I see a new follower to my blog, and I go to their page and see countless tags, disingenuous content, or just an obvious effort to “look at me!” I don’t bother to leave the courteous like. It’s a huge turn off. I also do not appreciate people following or liking my blog for no other reason than to get traffic to their own blog, when we obviously don’t have anything in common (ex. I write about philosophy, you’re a photography blog).
With that being said, saw your follow/like on my blog and that is what brought me here. 😉 Thank you, and the above does not apply to you, obviously, seeing as I wrote a comment. Ha!
I would say don’t be so closed minded about what you write about on your posts. Writing is a form of expression and a blog allows you to do that with a larger audience. If you think about something that you believe is interesting, then don’t be hesitant to blog about it; someone else somewhere in the world could be thinking the exact same thing.
I suppose as bloggers we are in an online world that is very saturated, so many voices, so much to say! I think it’s important to not get too involved with views and stats (although it’s hard not to check it daily!) it’s not about who shouts the loudest. It is about who writes the strongest content.
What great pointers! I think it’s imp to write from your heart, be regular and network. Looking forward to the A to Z challenge as I am very lousy at posting regularly and this will help in building the habit. My first time in the challenge – super excited! 🙂
Write what you personally would most want to read—I’m pretty sure J.D. Salinger said that, and he was a successful blogger. Also, I would add that we need to treat our readers with the utmost respect, as if we’re writing to God Himself. J.D. Salinger said that too, at the end of F + Z, but only after Jesus did first. Peace out.
Be a part of the community. Give and receive comments. Learn as you go, but do learn.
Have fun. If you don’t enjoy what you’re blogging about, then you shouldn’t be blogging 🙂
As a baby-blogger (three months old), I am drinking in all this advice. I can feel myself growing as I guzzle … Off to check my gravatar link now; several I have checked on this discussion don’t link back to blogs I feel sure I would be interested in reading.
Proofread, proofread, proofread. I print out my blog posts and edit them before I post. I try to eliminate the typos and grammatical mistakes that usually infect my first draft posts.
I like the way you respect your writings. Indeed every time I recheck my draft, I find something to improve. Double checking cannot lead to as perfect results as triple checking, and so on…!
Try to include a own drawing/sketch related to the topic so that it would add more satisfaction for self.
Think carefully before you hit the post button….
Content, content, content. And keep it somewhat short — long enough to make a good point, yet now overly so. We get it. 🙂 But I’m definitely attracted to blogs that share an experience, tell a personal story, teach me something.
Best,
Silvia
Always keep hydrated. (This advice also applies to bricklaying and preparing a three bean casserole.)
Believe in your voice, your ideas are inherently unique, because they are yours.
Helpful and insightful posts. Thanks for sharing.
Be kind to yourself.
As my late father used to say, “Make haste slowly.” Don’t overdo it. When I first began to blog, the prospect of having to come up with something on a daily basis was daunting. Then, it occurred to me that I didn’t have to. So, I set a more realistic goal of once per week, and I haven’t had any difficulty achieving that aim. Also, no religion and no politics!
Great discussion with many good tips,thank you!
Make it matter.
Thanks, everybody! I needed this.
A new blogger
Be supportive of other bloggers.
Write, write…as much as you like and as often as you can. Be creative, be imaginative, but most importantly – be honest and don’t plagiarise!
Focus on content.
Thanks a lot, Damyanti, for your post, and to all those who commented. Being new to blogging, I really am not sure yet about what works and what doesn’t but these tips are quite interesting and enlightening.
We can choose whether to approve comments and pingbacks and how to reply to them. It is possible to make rules, just as we would in a face-to-face situation. There is even the possibility of editing comments, although it should be made clear that this has been done. (I once removed a link I did not like.) Sue
Be polite not aggressive if people disagree with you in comments and try to avoid or at least keep to a minimum, bad language if you want followers across a broad age spectrum.
xxx Hugs Galore xxx
David, I always, always follow this one. Thanks for the comment.
Your confidence is inspiring….I keep wondering about my blog but feel I must labour on and have some joy in what I started…I get some likes and comments but want MORE!!!!!
I had no visitors and comments, (well, hardly any) for about 2 years, before they started trickling in. I’m still not a big league blogger after 6 years, but am just as happy as I was when I began.
Find out what you’re blogging for, and go for it 🙂
Thanks Damyanti….instant results obviously not the thing to go for, but genuine expression is what we should always aspire to. Thanks again…
Well said!
Great question, Damyanti! I’m new to blogging, and the comments are both guiding and encouraging. My two cents: write something you would want to read. If it feels onerous and inauthentic, it probably is, and shouldn’t be given out to the world.
“If it feels onerous and inauthentic, it probably is, and shouldn’t be given out to the world.”
Sterling advice for writing of any sort whatsoever.
Writing is about following one’s heart, not about following the rules.
True, that. But again, rules were made for a reason.
It’s just my opinion. I believe the more we explore outside of the restrictions that bar conformist writing, the more we become cognizant of our capacity to do great things with language. (:
This is the post I was really in need of.
Love the advices doled out here.
Glad it helped, and thanks for stopping by.
Need to arm myself to sign for the A-Z challenge. Hence, looking for motivation to commit myself:)
The #AZchat will definitely motivate you. Look up the timings on the post above, and join us!
Well I just started blogging but so far I’ve learned that committing to your blog is the best thing to do.
That’s a very important learning, when it comes to blogs, or anything else in life.
True, without commitment there’s nothing.
I’m still learning so not sure. Normally, I blog what inspires me and how my clients’ concept inspires me
>
We’re all still learning, newbies and veterans alike. You seem to be off to a good start.
Is it? Damyanti, how do you know whether I begin with a good start?
Write for you.
An important, but hard to follow advice. I’ve done it for years, and sometimes the lure of writing something for others was so very strong.
Don’t worry so much about whether you have an “interesting” life. Because the truth is: if you did, you wouldn’t be blogging about it. You’d be living it.
A lot of people don’t blog about their lives :).
True. But that’s not the point 🙂
I’m pretty new to blogging and what I find fascinating is the response from so many interesting people living very rich lives. Blogging has put me in touch with this great global community. I like to think I’m writing from my heart and that I’m being authentic and that is what I love about my fellow bloggers.
I like to think I’m writing from my heart and that I’m being authentic and that is what I love about my fellow bloggers.
Yes, THAT.
This is a great idea! I’m fairly new at blogging so I don’t have any great advice to share, but I really enjoyed reading what everyone else has to say 🙂
I’m sure you’ll have stuff to share soon 😀
Reblogged this on Rosevoc2's Blog.
It’s important for creativity to unplug and step away from the online world on a regular basis.
Be passionate about your writing while maintaining the quality of the content…
I love this discussion, Damyanti! Well, I am a new blogger (new to WordPress, anyway). Nonetheless, I would say, from my perspective, the key is persistence. Stated differently, consistency. I obviously haven’t solved the giant cosmic blogging puzzle, but my feeling is that the more (often) you write, the better able you are to connect with a reader or readers and, thus, move forward in the blogosphere. I agree with what others have said about reading other blogs, authenticity, and trustworthiness as well.
A combination of Facebook and blogging is raising my profile tremendously. When I put up a blog post, I post the link on my FB time-line, then go to every one of my FB groups that I think might like it, and post a short note with the link. Ba-boom, go the hits. And my number of blog followers or Facebook friends increases for several days after.
It does take time. But I put a lot of time into my blog, and I want people to read and respond to my work.
Good luck to all with their blogging. It can be a slog. I hoe you all enjoy at least 85% of the time you put into it.
Blogging does take a lot of time and effort. I’m glad you’re enjoying yours. I’m sometimes happy with my efforts, and at others, like now, not so much.
Be trustworthy.
That means you write from the heart, write what you believe in, write what you believe is true, no matter how short it is about or how most people will probably find it irrelevant. It may not be relevant to others but it is at least relevant to one, that is you. Because if it isn’t, where is the joy in writing then?
I’ve just read the comments and it made me smile. i found similar replies like being genuine and honest, or write something one believes in, etcetera. I used “trustworthy” because I think if you can’t be genuine and honest, then people will eventually see through you and lose their trust. And even if you’re the only one who can appreciate what you’ve written, make sure that when you face the mirror, you can look yourself in the eye and know that you kept true all along.
Yes. I believe in genuineness as well. I try to put my heart out there in each of my posts– and when what I’m feeling is something I don’t feel comfortable about sharing, I don’t blog. But all the words on my blog are keenly felt, for sure.
THUMBS UP!!! Why write something you’re not interested in anyway? Unless it’s for work, just don’t waste energy on it, especially if it’s for your personal blog. Chances are the visitors are just there because of certain keywords they’re searching for but they’ll leave soon as they see what it’s about and that it’s not really what they’re looking for. They won’t care how much time you’ve spent writing it. So at least write something interesting for at least one person you know will appreciate it, yourself. Somehow, one or two will appreciate it, too, and find it useful in the future. Take comfort in that.
Also, spammers will get there through keywords. They mostly will just post unrelated and fake comments (I love the way WordPress catches them, so spot-on!).
A lot of famous writers became known post-humously, because a lot of what they wrote before were unappreciated or snubbed. The world was probably not ready for them yet.So it doesn’t mean that just because (you assume) no one reads your posts, it’s not going to be relevant ever. So just write something that matters to you, write honestly, and don’t stress yourself out. Just enjoy!
I think the most important thing I learned was just to find your voice and start writing. There aren’t very many original things in the world with around 7 billion pairs of eyes, but there is always your own, unique perspective that constantly keeps things interesting.
So your voice might, in the end, be more interesting than what you’re writing about. Your humor, your knowledge, your experience…that’s what matters.
Voice. Yes, that’s the most important thing whether you’re writing fiction, or an article, or a blog. Well said.
Yes, thank you so much for this – I am really trying to teach myself how to navigate the world of blogging. It is both overwhelming and thrilling and simple tips help so much. I am curious and unfamiliar with this A to Z challenge. Can anyone participate? Is Twitter the way to find out more? Thanks!
Interestingly, I just clicked on my Gravatar to make sure it linked to my blog, and it linked to one I attempted to start years ago. I will try to fix that! My current blog is http://thestorychanges.wordpress.com/
Thanks!
There you go– and you might be wondering why more people don’t visit your current blog 🙂
Anyone can participate. Here is where you find out more and sign up: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html
The twitter #AZchat will talk about the ins and outs of the challenge and its benefits to bloggers veteran and newbie.
Thank you for this topic! I appreciate everyone’s suggestions so much! I am still fairly new to blogging and really got a lot out of these comments.
Dixie, I’ve been running this blog for 6 years and am still learning. The comments on this post do indeed give some fairly spot-on advice 🙂
Look at the world around you and tell others what you see through your writer’s eyes.
Write, even when you don’t feel like it.
That’s such a good writer’s creed.
Reblogged this on Dancing In The Weeds and commented:
Reblogged on Dancing In The Weeds
Proofread before you post…I hate it when autocorrect on my iPad changes something in my title! That’s auto posted to the world!
Being a former editor and proofreader, I’m probably a grammar snob, but bad spelling and typos turn me off. I make the occasional bloopers, and feel quite embarrassed when I spot them later.
I hear ya
The minor stuff happens and it is blogging after all–as said earlier, it’s not going to get you laid. However, some of the crap I’ve read is embarrassing!
Yes, I get pretty easily embarrassed by my goofups, so I try not to make a lot of them. But I’m human, and mistakes do happen– I’m grateful to those who write me a private word to point it out!
By the way, replying to comments people make on your blog is also an awesome blogging tip! People who never reply to people comments are like blogging vampires.
Reblogged this on Dancing In The Weeds and commented:
So excited about being part of the A to Z challenge!!!
We’re excited to have you too! Join us at the #AZchat this thursday !
Most definitely and thank you!
Visit fellow writer’s page and post constructive comments and also attend or reply back to the comments you receive. And Of course Read Read & Read should go along with it 🙂
All sound advice– I’m trying hard to follow all my own advice, too. Thanks for commenting, PV.
At times it is scary to pour your heart out through your blogs, but I believe the truth will prevail. So might as well be honest to yourself as well as to your reader.
Yes, honesty to the reader is what a writer is all about!
Publish on a schedule whether you feel like it or not. You pick the schedule. Just stick to it.
Sound rule. I’m trying to stick with that.
That is the one I’m working on too.
Being fairly new to blogging, this question came up in a timely manner. I agree with your post. It is about community and building a relationship with fellow bloggers. The quality will bring the visitors, but I will go with blogging relationships first. Will try to make it to the chat. There’s a lot for me to learn. Will check your posts regularly.
It is a balance– making relationships and writing quality posts– ideally, we should do both.
I read somewhere that content is king and engagement is queen. And you are right, there should be a balance for both. I appreciate this post and everyone’s comments. Very helpful indeed!
My moto is, if you write it, they will come….. 😉
I don’t know if that always works..
I thought I entered this earlier but I don’t see it. Don’t underestimate the value of your idea. If it’s interesting to you, it will interest others.
Agree absolutely, Dan, and thanks for tweeting this post.
As someone else said, don’t just blog about random subjects. Make your blog be about something specific, and make sure it’s something you are passionate and knowledgeable enough about to keep coming up with new posts. Also, don’t start a blog and then disappear. Keep it up.
writing in a niche helps– though I do stray sometimes. And this is my sixth year, so I guess I just kept on swimming. 🙂
Lots of people beat me here, but I have one that many don’t think of. Make sure your Gravitar has a few words about your blog, and includes a link. It’s one way readers find sites to follow.
Good one! I find Gravatar confusing, but I should invest some time around it. Nice tip!
It is confusing, and I should probably include the book link now.
Reading a little on the gravatar will sort that out. IT definitely helps to have your gravatar linked to your blog.
It does. I understand it as a business card for the blogger. I will get on it. Thanks!
Yes, unlinked gravatars frustrate me– because I want to visit back those who have visited me, but don’t always have time to google and track the blogger down without their link.
Interact, Appreciate and Stay Honest to the work!
We keep evolving as a blogger and the idea behind and the path keeps changing.
Be respectful of other bloggers’ choices.
Interact, Appreciate and Stay Honest to the work!– every blogger should have a t-shirt that says those things, or better still, a sticker on their screens!
:))) Damyanti…you are very inspiring my dear!
I would say find your niche. Don’t just blog about random anything just for the sake of blogging, unless you can find a way to structure that effectively. I have seen that done well, but I’ve seen it done so haphazardly that it’s hard to enjoy the blog, because the topics discussed and opinions expressed are all over the shop.
If you are going to blog about different things either a) have multiple blogs. Or b) choose a theme that clearly delineates the differing content.
Or you risk alienating readers who don’t relate to everything you have to say, but do relate to some things.
True, absolutely. My blog here is mostly about writing. Though I occasionally blog about my travels or pets or blogging itself– I always relate it back to writing.
This is my own quote, and it helps me: “Whenever you get stuck in your writing, remember why you started writing, not why you’re doing it, right now”.
I’m not a blogging expert. In fact, I started a couple of months ago. But, I will say this, read what other people have to say, support them, make blogger friends, and share your passions and your mishaps.
Sound advice, both for writing, and for blogging!
This opinion is from the other side of the fence, more from a blog follower than a blogger. I have found that the blogs I enjoy the most are the ones where the blogger consistently responds to commenters. I have unfollowed several blogs just because I would comment regularly and the blogger NEVER replied to any comments. I find this rather snobbish, rude and off-putting. So, if you want to get a good following on your blog and build relationships with readers, I would suggest treating comments with respect and trying your best to respond to them, even if it’s just to say “thanks for stopping by”. I don’t get many comments on my blog, and sometimes this has bothered me, but I appreciate the bloggers that I follow on a regular basis and how they respond to all their followers’ comments.
I do try and respond to all comments– but sometimes ill health or life comes in the way. For example, I didn’t reply to all comments on my last post. I do, however, make it a point to visit everyone back, even if it is a week or two weeks later.
Oh, this was certainly not directed at you. 🙂 Just a general comment and does apply to a few other blogs I tried to follow/interact with.
I knew it wasn’t. :). But I’m feeling guilty about not replying to all comments. Sometimes I get up to 200 on a post. I know I’m fortunate, but am also somewhat lacking in the blogging time to reply to each one of those 😉
Yes, I could see where that would be incredibly difficult and taxing! Maybe someday I will have that problem and will be able to relate! 😀
Be careful what you wish for 😉
I hope we’ll both have that kind of problem someday 😉
Novelwriter2013: Hello. I’m a bit new to WordPress, so perhaps this is a dumb question–I’m not seeing your blog URL listed via gravatar and I’d like to follow it. If you see this or receive notification of a comment . . . could you indicate your blog URL, please? Thanks!
My blog url is http://damyantiwrites.wordpress.com. I checked and it shows up on my gravatar– what browser are you using?
Thanks for wanting to follow me, and the comment!
Hi novelwriter2013. I just tried to link to your blog via your gravatar, but failed. I tried to google novelwriter2013 but the search didn’t lead me to your blog. I’m guessing from your name that we might share something in common. Perhaps you could visit me to get in touch? (I’ve checked;there’s a link from my gravatar to my blog).
It’s about content – honesty, sharing and giving. The more you do those three things through content, the more you will get back.
true, true, and true.
Post once a week at least. When I started doing “Born on a Thursday” posts, I started getting regular followers.
yes, posting regularly does bring consistent followers. This has been my experience, too.
And personally, focusing on a post on the same day of the week can sometimes be a relief from life’s ups and downs. Almost like a meditation.
Yes, most rituals provide comfort.
I often find myself reading and re-reading stuff I’ve either just posted or posted a long time ago. Kind of obsessive of me, I think, but still kind of therapeutic.
Find a friend or network to motivate you to keep blogging. Nothing like a bit of support to remind you to keep blogging and passionate.
Support groups, yes. I’m part of a few.
i don’t have the same blogging energy as i did a few years ago. i feel like i’m just kinda hanging around.
i’ve always said never be afraid to be yourself, express your true self, that is. my best blogs had been some silly ones i first thought people would hate or mock (maybe they did but it seemed everyone had fun)
can’t be anyone else. i think that’s pretty much everyone’s sentiment
oh and don’t be afraid to experiment
Be consistent people come back if the know you post regularly, if you like regularly and if you comment regularly.
Be genuine.
Be genuine was my answer and you stole it. That’s kinda phony of you 🙂
LOL!
Write about your passions.
Write about things you love and network .
Do the daily prompts!
And structure your message, whatever it is, around the prompt!
And do them daily!! Think happy thoughts as you do them.
Blog for yourself.
Bonus answers:
Be patient with subscribing to other blogs. Assuming you will blog for a long while; subscribe judiciously, and only after you are absolutely sure you will want to regularly read and participate in someone else’s blog.
Don’t subscribe/like/comment just to drive traffic to your blog. That’s disrespectful.
Thank you for this question, although my response just echoes what you already said so well: get to know other blogs and comment. You’d be amazed at the responses you get, not just from the original blogger, but from other readers. And, obviously, getting more followers is great, but its more about the connections you form through this endeavor that make blogging so worth it.
I, too, have been relatively inactive on my blog, preparing for the A-Z Challenge. I’m a little self-conscious about my theme, as it is pretty personal, but the more posts I write, the greater my confidence becomes. I am excited, and thankful to take part in this event. Thanks for your hard work on this.
Best regards,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, do join us on the chat– we’d like to hear all about your blogging experience! Spread the word to other AZers as well.
what chat is that (I’m a poet and I don’t even know it!)?
If you read the post, I talk about the #AZchat on twitter this Thursday at 1PM and 8 PM EDT.
Oh, missed that part. I’m not on Twitter so I can’t take part. Thanks for the heads up though.
Reblogged this on Kentucky Mountain Girl News.
Blogging can be lonely just like being a writer, the whole point of it is to be heard and seen; reality is that, this doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and nurturing. As a result, my blogging tip would be to ‘do it for yourself as a passion’ that will carry you through the tough times. With the goal in mind, just do it!
Write what’s in your heart and your content will reach out. Dont be desperate, be patient.
yes, patience is a quality all new bloggers lack.
I think I would agree with Shoreacres on this – not to worry about relatively few followers or pages views and likes in the early days, but to just concentrate on writing good posts. And to read and comment on the posts you like as well.
Quality writing and quality comments will make for win in the long run. Spot on, Paul, and Shoeacres is a great blogger– we should all listen to her 🙂
Correct. Because if you write good and unique articles/posts, Google gives you added points. Who knows? You just might find yourself as one of the first ten results at the first page when a person does a keyword search. People generally check out just the first results when they do a search (and ignore the next ones) and that’s how you can get more of your page views. So start with writing properly. 🙂
Hello echoes of the pen – “Just concentrate on writing good posts” Thanks for this tip. It’s very useful for me since I’ve been blogging for about 4 months and wonder how in the world I can attract interested readers. Am I doing it right, or am I doing it wrong? Do I have to change my wirting style and content, etc. etc.
Treat your blogging community with respect – in how you read and respond to their posts and what you yourself post for them.
Blogging, like any other community is about mutual respect and generosity. And I’ve found bloggers to be a very generous lot, indeed!
Wow! this post really got a lot of responses. It’s so interesting and helpful to read what others have to say on this topic 🙂
Your blog topic/s should be something you’re passionate about, and you should always strive to write genuinely and honestly.
Passion, that’s what it boils down to.
Write about something you believe in, or are passionate about. That way it won’t feel like a chore, and your readers will feel that!
This is such insightful advice. If you have fun writing something, readers usually have fun reading it.
Tag effectively so that you may find an appropriate audience.
An oft-overlooked, but very important advice. I hope more people follow this one.
Unlike poetry, blogging won’t get you laid.
You need to teach me how to write a poem, then!
Read more than you write.
Amen to that. As I blog for longer, I find I’m more interested in listening than talking.
Same here
Share your truth, charitably.
Charitably. So important, that.
Focus on the quality of your content, not the quantity of page views, likes, followers or subscribers.
Couldn’t have said it better myself….
And you exemplify that :). Thank you for stopping by and sharing your wisdom.
Indeed, Paul. Shoeacres is a blog we should all follow if we want to know what good blogging is all about.
Yup. Content is king. If you don’t have good content or the reader does not find anything he can relate to or he believe in, or that resonates or is new and interesting to him, you’ll just get the page views, but not the likes, followers and subscribers. They most probably will hit the BACK button almost as soon as they land on your page.
Write honestly.
Write, Write, and Write someone! Don’t be afraid to venture into new topic territory. Diversification expands the blog’s appeal to people who may not otherwise would stop by for a read.
It is a tough balance between diversification and niche blogging– but as long as you stay true to your own voices, chances are you will get your readers.