blogging your way to smiles
Thanks to everyone who weighed in with their thoughts on social media. If you haven’t read the comments from the last post, I encourage you to do so, as they’re often filled with insights from a wide variety of readers.
I purposely didn’t mention blogging in my last post as to me, it isn’t a social media platform and it deserves a post of its own.
I love blogging. It has become a highlight of my time online, as I love coming up with intriguing topics, sharing my own insights and then drawing in people to participate in the discussion.
Other bloggers often ask me how I get so many comments in response to my posts. You have to work it! A lot more people will read your posts than will take the time or effort to leave a comment. But to me, the blog isn’t just about MY thoughts. It’s also about YOUR thoughts on the given topic. If you didn’t participate in sharing your thoughts and perspectives on the current topic, I’d probably give up blogging as I’m not interested in seeing solely my own thoughts on the screen. That’s like talking to yourself!
What I really enjoy about blogging is having the opportunity to orchestrate a conversation on a topic that I think will be of interest to others. After I upload a new post, I will think about people I know who are likely to have an interesting or insightful comment on that specific topic. I will then contact those individuals and personally invite them to share a comment. A great percentage of those I personally invite to comment, will.
Of course, you need to reach beyond your immediate circles if you are hoping to grow your blog and your readership. So I also promote my blog on the various social media platforms, including facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Plus, She Writes and several other listservs. I take special care not over promote, as it is certainly not my intention to alienate anyone with whom I am in contact.
I see blogging as a very important tool in building my author’s platform. This blog can best be described as a “writer’s/lifestyle” blog, as I write about the writing life, but also about other topics that affect my life, and that I hope will be of interest to you.
I have a separate blog that is primarily a travel blog that focuses on destinations where you can find excellent chocolate, as I am writing a book about chocolate travel and have the wonderful opportunity to travel to a great number of places. I love travelling and writing about it, but I also love hearing readers’ perspectives on travel and the places they have enjoyed (or maybe not enjoyed.)
The one criticism I have received about my style of blogging is that I don’t do it often enough! I was invited to submit this blog in the Blog Shop‘s “Best Blog Awards” recently and was told that I did not make it to the finalist level because I don’t post frequently enough. (At that time, I only posted 2x/month to each of my 2 blogs as that was all I could manage. I am now posting weekly to this new site and hope it goes well.)
I could go on about blogging, as it is something for which I hold great passion, but the post is getting long and instead, I will point you to a colleague of mine, Cendrine Marrouat who has just released a new e-book on blogging. I’m sure it contains some great tips, as Cendrine is quite an expert on social media and very active on her blog.
Blogging Tips from Cendrine Marrouat
In our next post, we’ll have a special guest post by online marketing consultant and blogger, Sherryl Perry. Sherryl redesigned this blog for me and has made me realize that today’s blog is yesterday’s website, making it a very important tool in our online strategy.
I’m sure Sherryl will have some fabulous insights to share on how we can best manage our online platforms and make them work for us.
I totally agree there are a lot more people reading your posts than those commenting on them. Of course you can not force anyone to drop a comment but a great post itself forces its readers to leave a comment and join in the discussion! Cheers!
Hi Wanda: I never like people to feel “forced” at joining a discussion on my blog. But I like to think that my posts are either inspiring, provocative or just fun in that people want to join in.
Thanks for joining the discussions here.
i added a new information to my knowledge on blog. i will now make sure now to post useful content then attract a lot of readers on my blog so that they can post a comment and attract their friends too on my blog.
Hello I’m Clariza. I like your thread, more readers will enjoy reading this and it is very informative.
I started my own blog in 2010 because I felt I had a subject that a specific select group of people would be interested in: that is a desire to heal after leaving a religious cult. Healing is a challenge because cults set their members up to fail when they leave. I was determined to not only successfully leave and survive, but to heal and perhaps help others who want to leave with their health and safety intact. Very few people comment on my writing, but I suppose much of that has to do with the limited number of people interested in the subject.
Personally, I would like to see more comments and more interest, because a forum I belong to has a membership of over 10,000 who left the religion to which I once belonged. So I know the numbers are out there. I notice some people on that forum are so very turned off religion. Some members are “damaged”—literally the “walking wounded.” I can see that many people are resistant to change, unfortunately. For example, it seems that upon leaving a strict religious doctrine, they simply search for another equally restrictive religion, thereby becoming a victim of yet another abusive cult. Different box, same rules. Why is that? My belief is that if people leave they would WANT to heal, rather than just simply change “boxes.” Where is the elusive freedom for which their soul truly longs? Certainly I can’t be the only soul that desires growth.
Any opinions or ideas about growing a readership would be most welcome.
Hi Satinka:
As I mention in my post, I think that sometimes, you have to personally invite people to comment on your blog, particularly when you have posted on a specific issue for which you know that individual has an interest or passion.
I’ve had several people thank me for asking them to contribute to the conversation, and after doing so a couple of times, they may get into the habit of regularly commenting on your blog.
In addition, as I and others have said, it also helps to become part of a formal group of bloggers that exists for the purpose of helping one another’s blogs grow and succeed. You may find joining some groups on Linked In to be to your benefit. It has certainly helped my grow my blog and expand the reach of my network.
Hi, I liked this blog post as I am a new blogger trying to learn from every source. The tips about putting the readers’ interest first, using a deliberate networking strategy to drive traffic, and making the reader want to come back are all good.
Thanks very much for visiting the blog and joining the conversation, Alex.
Yes, there is quite a learning curve to effective and meaningful blogging, but it sure is worth it. It is very satisfying to create and orchestrate a conversation with so many participants.
Hi
I think the quality of posts is much more important that the quantity of posts. Instead of cluttering a single blog with several topics of interest you have carved out a separate blog – viz, the one on travel. I’ve done the same. I have a personal blog (for family/friends), a book review blog and a tax related blog.
As long as the content is interesting and the blog isn’t dormant, you will get a following.
Thanks for sending the messsage via LinkedIn to view your blog.
Thanks, Lubna. I agree 100%. To me, the quality of a post is much more important and relevant than the frequency (quantity) of posts. As long as there is some consistency of posting.
I have made it clear to my readers that I post 2x/month to each blog and I have managed to keep to that schedule. I like to have the time in between posts to watch the discussion evolve and receive input from various sources and voices.
As you have 3 blogs of your own, I was confident that you’d have interesting insights to share on your blogging experience. Thanks for stopping by.
Greetings Doreen!
I’m very glad to find your blog, your community of commentators on your posts is just incredible. You’re right that success doesn’t come that easy you’ve to work very hard for it. I’m a lot into guest posting so it will be nice if you’ll write an article about how to guest post.
Cheers!
Thanks for stopping by the blog, Dennis, and for your kind comments.
Thanks for the idea for a post about guest blogging. As I’ve just covered the topic of blogging, I likely won’t do a post on it just now, but I will give you a tip right off the top of my head. The most important thing is to know the audience of the blog for which you will guest blogging. It’s the same as if you are speaking to a room full of people. As Toastmasters, we have been trained to find out ahead WHO we will be addressing so that we can be sure to address their specific interests or concerns. Same goes for us as professional writers. We need to know our audience and speak/write for them in a fashion they will appreciate and understand. That principle translates well into blogging as well. I hope that helps and that you will visit again soon.
Doreen — I’m so impressed with the commenting community you’ve created in such a short time. I’m also pleased that we’re in the LinkedIn support group of bloggers — we have to stick together! Thank you for introducing me to Blog Shop. I wasn’t aware of them, but they’ve extended entries into their Best Designed Blogs contest so for the heck of it I entered.
Lovely to hear from you, Jeannette. Good for you for entering the Blog Shop contest. I wish you luck!
I’ll be guest blogging for them next month.
Yes, I’m most pleased with the very wonderful community that has evolved here on this blog. Am hoping that same enthusiasm will translate over to the chocolate travel blog. That blog is much newer (just over a year) as opposed to this blog, which is now 3 years young.
Hello Doreen,
I just wanted to say thank you very much for writing this article. My mother is a fan of yours and recommended it to me. I am fairly new to this whole world of blogging and, like you, hope to use my own blog as a platform for my writing. I must say that I have found a few of the tips to be very helpful and hope that soon I will be able to increase the traffic flow to my blog by following some of your words of wisdom. I like what you said about interacting with your readers. This is what I am currently trying to do but unfortunately I am having limited success. The only website that I have found thus far that I really love sharing my posts on is called “Delicious”. I get many hits courtesy of the website because it is really good at categorising contributions. I am also going to try your tip of specifically inviting people to comment on certain posts and hope that it pays off! Once again thanks for sharing your insight.
Danielle
Thanks for dropping by the blog, Danielle! If I knew who your mother was, I’d send her a note of thanks!
I’ve never tried the “Delicious” site, although I have heard from others that it is worth using. I’ll have to check it out.
I hope you’ll subscribe to the blog and drop by often.
Doreen, I’m always learning from you!!
I started my Winnipeg blog as a way to continue my radio show. I never expected comments, but do appreciate when organizations in the arts and in community activism email me to mention their upcoming activities. This was how it was with my radio show. In a way, I feel it helps create community.
I had never heard of The Blogshop. Interesting about the comments on the number of posts per week. My Winnipeg blog can vary from one to ten posts a day, depending on what’s happening. My Turning 60 blog is about three posts a week. So it goes. What’s a good number of posts for a blogger to do, I don’t know.
I’m still a beginner in using Facebook and LinkedIn for being ‘out there’. I really admire how you balance them all.
So much to learn from you, Doreen. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks, Marg. Great to have you join the discussion.
I really admire what you do. You are an excellent “connector” and although you started doing it via radio, you have built a loyal and true following online who respect and support what you do. Keep it up and thanks again for your friendship and support. We’re all learning together!
I am a total comment junkie. I love the interaction with other people…their thoughts on my post and the implications it may have on their lives. I get discouraged when I don’t have a lot of comments on the actual blog. I seem to get more comments on FB than anywhere else. My posts are generally much longer than your typical blog posting, but I have decided that I am going to stick to the format/voice that I have been using. Thanks for the insight.
Thanks for joining the discussion, Sosha.
I think the key to successful blogging is finding out what works for YOU. There is no one-size-fits-all formula.
Some people prefer to post frequently. Many of those post shorter posts and move on quickly to the next topic/post.
I prefer to post something meaty, and then encourage dialogue around that topic, as I learn just as much from my readers as they learn from me. It’s a really wonderful symbiotic relationship we are building. Blog on!
Thanks for the post Doreen. I completely agree that the most fun part is the interactive aspect via comments with other people. Finding enough people to follow the blog is of course the challenge, so I not only enjoyed your last post about social media, but am also looking forward to the two guests you have coming up.
Putting the work into making the contacts is also rewarding, but the work most definitely must be put in. But when you come across an interesting, thoughtful person like yourself it makes it all worthwhile.
For other readers – Doreen was kind enough to take the time to let me know of some mistakes I had made in one of my posts. All minor things, but essential not to overlook from the perspective of potential agents looking at one’s work. I was both shocked and pleased that someone would take the time to let me know. So you’ve definitely got my vote Doreen!
Thanks again for this post.
Thanks so much for your comment and the sentiments you have shared, A.K.
Yes, be sure to be back around March 20th for Sherryl’s post. I’m sure you’ll find it enlightening. I’ve learned much from this web-savvy professional. She’s come to be this writer’s go-to gal for all tech things that are over my head or beyond my radar.
Thanks for the information Doreen.
I’ve been blogging since December. Of course, I was so ambitious at first…”I’ll post every Wednesday by noon”. Well, yeah, that was before I had that startling revelation that writing/blogging really “exposed me”. I didn’t want any faux pas and wanted to make sure that I was covered. Being covered meant hours of self-correcting, self-doubt at times and postponing because it didn’t seem that the timing for the message was “just right”. Tuesday nights were tense nights for me.
So now, it out there for the world to see. I still hold back at times to make sure that I “feel” the timing is right for the message and I don’t pressure myself about a “Wednesday 12pm” deadline as much.
I use Facebook (my personal page & my blog page) and LinkedIn, but I don’t use it excessively to promote my blog. I have found that many of my FB friends will read the blog and approach me about it later offline. They are not interested in commenting on the site (which explains my FB mishap earlier).
My true pain is the plug-ins…which ones do I need.? There are sooo many. Any thoughts? I would like to have subscribers receive emails when I post..
Other than being tired of receiving comments from the Brazilian porn spammers, I’m enjoying the blog experience.
Thanks for this article.
Thanks for your comment, Coretta. I’ve enjoyed watching your progression with your blog. You have a way of being real, and that is so very important in blogging.
Re plug-ins, you may have to ask Sherryl for recommendations. She is the one who selected the plug-ins for my blog, and yes, there is definitely one (which I have here) that does enable subscribers to subscribe to posts by e-mail, and also sends commenters an e-mail response when I reply to them. I like that feature because it enables the conversation to continue if desired/necessary. She also installed a spam blocking plug-in, so I never/rarely get any spam on this blog. Yay!
Keep on blogging, and don’t let it get you worried. You’re doing just fine.
Doreen,
Thank you for the support and resources along my blog journey. It’s has definitely been a time of trial and error appearance and features of the blog.
I forgot to mention that I am using my blog as a part of my speaker platform.
I appreciate that you noticed my “being real”, because being authentic and consistent is who I strive to be daily. Many of my blog posts are my Toastmasters speeches based on my experiences with people. Although, I’m an introvert, I like hearing people’s stories. I want to make sure to convey the same sentiment and emotion (or as close as possible) in my writing for the reader as I would as when I am speaking to the listener.
I will take follow-up with Sherryl as you suggested on the plug-ins. In the meantime, I suspect that there’s a speech or blog post coming about Brazilian porn spammers 🙂
You made me smile, Coretta, when mentioning your Brazilian friends again!
Interesting how you should mention being an introverted Toastmaster. Last night at our TM mtg, our Area Governor gave a speech on “Networking for Introverts.” You would have loved it! Lots of levity, but a good strong message. And I learned that introverts find human interactions to be draining, whereas extroverts (like me) find them to be exhilarating. The wonders of human dynamics!
Yea, At least one person came away with something in my speech. I can see where having a blog as a speaker can be very useful. Potential clients can see where you are coming from. Allows them to pick from a variety of topics for them to hire you for. You can get responses from your ides to see how they might be received by an audience, or direction on how you can exapnd your ides.
I can understand Coretta’s reluctance to post a blog because it would expose her. We introverts are sometimes very private. And we will only want to do something, once we have thought it out. Hence the perfectionist label. This can be very frustrating to extoverts.
Doreen,
I think that you’re right. I would have enjoyed the speech about the introverts. Here are a few other things for “Extroverts to know about introverts” http://briankim.net/blog/2007/10/top-5-things-every-extrovert-should-know-about-introverts/
Lyle, do you blog too? The “perfectionism” you mentioned doesn’t just frustrate extroverts, it frustrates me too, hence the days of missing my self-imposed deadlines. I suppose I should get started on my next post now.
What a great link, Coretta, re the differences between extroverts and introverts. Very helpful, and something I wish I’d known 25 years ago!
No, Lyle doesn’t yet have a blog. But Lyle … I am willing to help you launch one if you’re interested. I think you’d do an AWESOME job at entertaining and educating us on various issues. Let me know if I can help!
No i don’t blog… yet. That was an interesting link. Thanks Coretta.
No problem Lyle. I’m glad that you enjoyed it. If you ever decide to blog…remember that you’ve been warned about the transparency thing. I wish that someone had told me. But then again, I would have been delayed that much longer. 🙂
You’re welcome. I’m glad that you found it helpful. Why do you say you could have used it 25 years ago?
I used to be married to an introvert and didn’t understand the monstrous differences in the way introverts and extroverts communicate, and the fact that introverts actually need time to refuel/re-energize themselves between conversations/interactions. But then … when we’re younger … there’s a lot of things we don’t know.
Hi Coretta, It’s good to see you here. The plugins that I’m using now are Subscribe2 (sends an email for new posts), the Subscribe Widget (for the email signup in your sidebar), Subscribe to Comments (allows readers to be notified of new comments) and ReplyMe (sends an email when someone replies to a comment). My favorite of that list is ReplyMe. The email that it sends includes, the comment, the reply and a link to the comment. It makes it really easy to manage conversations.
Thanks Sherryl.
Great information. I found the WP Jetpack and I think that it’s working. I need to post another blog and see how my one subscriber (as of now) receives it.
The GASP worked…no more Brazilian and cartoon spam. Thanks
I made a commitment to regularly blog after a scheduled facebook hiatus last August.
I have had many different blogs over the years since I’ve been online since the beginning.
This current blog, started as a way to practice writing and give me an outlet for my passions, has helped me to focus energy in a way that I now see that I really needed.
I didn’t meet you through my blog…I met you through yours and I am sitting here thinking…hey…she was so RIGHT about that mentoring thing lol
Thanks for letting me into your community. I expect things will only get more and more curiouser. And don’t forget to find “The white couch” restaurant while you are in Cuzco. And watch out for the uneven pavement there!
Thanks for your comment, Orla. Always great to hear from you.
So glad we met online, and now in person. I thought it was via Twitter, but perhaps you had been to my blog first and then connected with me via Twitter. No wonder they call it the web! It’s all so interconnected.
Thank you so much for including me!
You’re most welcome, Cendrine. I hope some of my readers buy your book. (I know at least one already has!)
Hi Doreen,
I wanted to drop by and leave a comment, particularly in regards to the reason why you weren’t shortlisted in the category you entered.
You’ve obviously got a fantastic blog here full of great, informative and useful content and from the last blog post alone, it’s obvious that you’re doing the one thing we set out to do at The Blogshop – create a platform upon which organisations can develop a level of interaction and communication that simply can’t be done elsewhere.
In an ideal world, you would be posting two or three times a week – but that obviously isn’t a possibility for you at the moment.
Does this make you a bad blogger? Absolutely not!
Does it leave room for development? Definitely.
What you’re doing as a blogger is without doubt working and I have to reiterate once again that entries into The Blogshop’s Best Blog Awards 2012 were of an extremely high quality. Although fantastic in one sense, it meant that our judges has to start getting particularly picky when deciding upon the shortlists.
You’ve got a great blog, Doreen. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much for your comment, Dan, and for the encouragement.
Perhaps at some day in the future (when my chocolate book is a huge success!) I’ll have more time to blog and just enjoy the process. Until then, it’s all about balance and finding time to do what I’ve committed to do.
You’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head as to why The Blogshop actually exists with your last comment, Doreen.
Blogging is a fantastic resource that’s extremely versatile and one which organisations the world over can benefit from. However, not every organisation has the resources available to not just benefit from blogging, but to ensure they continue to drive forward their business in general.
By the way, your chocolate book sounds particularly interesting – I’ll keep an eye out for it!
I like your idea of using your blog to create community as well. My one “con” about being a writer is that it’s so solitary, just me and my laptop, so being engaged with other writers via their blogs or linkedin groups is really fun and helpful. I had not heard of SheWrites, and have already gone over there and signed myself up.
Thanks for dropping by the blog, Leslie. I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying it.
I definitely wouldn’t be blogging if I wasn’t succeeding at creating a true community. For me, blogging isn’t about having a soapbox or being self-serving. It’s about connecting with people who care about the same things and issues as I do.
Doreen, Thanks so much for the introduction. You and I take a similar approach to our blogs. I always talk about using my comment area as a way to build a community through engagement. I like how you describe it as orchestrating a conversation and that you make it a point to reach beyond your immediate circle. The way you have embraced social media is serving you well.
Thanks so much, Sherryl. I have learned much from you. The “Bloggers Helping Bloggers” group you started on Linked In has been a wonderful group to be a part of and has really helped expand the reach of my blog.
Looking forward to your guest post. I know my readers will be in good hands.