favourite posts
I started blogging in February of 2009, and what a ride it has been. In this post, I’d like to share a few of the favourite posts we’ve had on this blog judging by reader response.
The biggest influencer in my efforts as a blogger has been the Bloggers Helping Bloggers group on Linked In. If you are a dedicated blogger, and have not yet found this group, I’d highly recommend joining. There are experienced bloggers to offer assistance and advice, and members support one another by making comments on one another’s blogs to get the conversation going. I’ve really appreciated this group, and the friendships I have made from it.
But became the hardest thing for me has been to try and manage three blogs. My original blog was my writing blog. My second blog was my travel blog, which I’m pleased to say was honoured as one of the Top 25 Travel Blogs in Canada by Flight Network. And the third blog I added to the roster is the Chocolatour site about my book on chocolate travel, chocolate events I am organizing, and chocolate tours I am leading. All three sites have now been combined onto this one blog as I was having trouble keeping up with posting on three separate sites.
in the writing thread of posts, here are a few of the favourite posts that have generated the most reader engagement:
The post popular post ever, is the post called “Books of a lifetime,” in which we shared titles of books that have most significantly impacted our lives. As many of those who read this blog are writers, it’s natural that the post on books garnered the most interest.
Another really popular post was when we talked about “heeding the signs” and ensuring we don’t lose balance in our lives. As I have been suffering from tinnitus (which can be a sign of stress) we also talked about that.
One of the most important things in my life is friendship, and so it’s no wonder that I return to this topic from time-to-time. This post was one of the most popular.
It was so sad when we lost Junior, our beloved cat
And many of us love and have cats, so this post about the loss of a dearly loved pet, struck home with lots of readers.
Please leave a comment here, and tell me/us what you’d like to talk about. And if any of the above posts strikes your fancy, please drop by there and leave a comment. Comments are never closed on my blog as I love hearing from you, and try to keep the content relevant and evergreen.
And I’m a fan of your chocolateur blog. Good to know you have another.
Thanks, James! Nice to have you visit this blog as well. We have some terrific discussions here.
Doreen — congratulations on your upcoming 5th anniversary blogging. I started blogging early in 2009, too, never expecting that it would turn into a business. I thought I’d give it a try and then took a blogging course. The rest is history. The BHB group is like a family. Even though we come from around the world I feel that the members I’ve connected with are my friends.
Indeed, Jeannette. So happy to have connected with you via BHB. And congrats to you, too, for approaching your 5th anniversary as a blogger. I have really enjoyed and learned from your posts.
BHB is still fairly new to me, but have found the greatest content there and so much support! I feel blessed to have found it and discovered so many interesting topics and great writing. Congrats on the anniversary…that’s a milestone for sure
Thanks so much for your comment, Jacqueline. Yes, the BHB group has unquestionably been my greatest resource in growing and improving my blog. I’m glad you found us!
Wow, 7 years, that is an excellent run and aspiring for me as I celebrate my first year of blogging. I was at a dinner party last night telling people about how interesting I found your blog and the things that you do. You’ve certainly given me lots of food for thought and conversation.
BHB is an amazing group, so totally get why it’s played such an important role in your blogging, it has been transformative for me.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Debra. I’m so glad my blog is having an impact on you and that you are sharing it with friends. Thanks for that. I hope they will subscribe and become part of our wonderful community here.
And just to clarify, I’d said I was entering my 7th year of blogging in the original version of this post, but was corrected by a reader and have since changed the text to read “entering my 5th year of blogging.” I’m good with words, not numbers!
Have been blogging for about four and a half years. Agree with you about BHB. Have made many friends there.
My most popular post over the years is “What would have been gained by catching Osama bin Laden alive?”. Got 79 comments on it the week I published it. Unfortunately can’t remember how many clicks I got. But it was a massive amount.
Thanks for your comment, Catarina. We’ve certainly shared a lot of one another’s posts over the years, haven’t we? I’ll head over and check out your new post. Cheers!
I apologize to everyone who has read this post in its original form in which I stated that I was approaching my 7th anniversary as a blogger. That shows how numerically challenged I am. It is my 5th anniversary as blogger that I will reach in Feb, 2014, as I launched this blog ( in its former incarnation on Blogger) in Feb, 2009. Thx to Kathe Lieber, editor extraordinaire for noticing my faux-pas.
Well for being at a loss for what to say, you came up with a lovely post in spite of yourself.
Frankly, I get rather tired of the bloggers who post weekly, (daily is even worse.) One of the beauties of the blogosphere is the diversity of people that we connect with. But if I try to keep up with the folks who clog my reader with daily posts, I have precious little time to explore new voices or to even focus on my own writing.
I can’t even imagine how you keep up with the rigors of 3 blogs PLUS having published a book and all the work that entails.
Thx so much, Linda. It’s wonderful to have met you via Twitter and I’m so grateful that you have become a regular commenter on this blog. I hope that one day, we will have the opportunity to meet in person. Cheers!
Wow… 7 years! Huge Congrats! I believe I first met you via BHB group. It was much different then. I think I was on ‘Blogger’ back then. My how time has gone by… So nice to have met you in person. You are an inspiration. 🙂
Thx so much for your comment, Cheryl. Yes, we did indeed meet via BHB. I used to be on Blogger (blogpost) too, in the early days. But it was BHB pal Sherryl Perry who steered me in the direction of WordPress, and I’m so glad she did.
How lucky we were that Susan hosted us last month in CA. The blogging community has certainly made me some amazing friends. Present company included!
Congratulations on being chosen one of the Top 25 Travel Blogs in Canada by Flight Network! All those awards and recognitions add up, I believe.
Thanks, Esther. It’s great having you along on the journey with me. I have so appreciated having you visit my blogs and join in on the conversations. Best of luck in building the audience for your own blog.
Wow-7 years Doreen. Congrats on that. But keeping up 3 blogs now is a hefty job in itself so I can imagine you simply needed a little space this week. I think we also shift focus too and with your book coming out this year, other things have had to take precedence.
Thanks for the links for yr fav. Posts. I remember we had both read the ‘Princess & the Goblin’ as children:-). But when I went back & looked there were SO many comments. Reading is a common denominator for most bloggers I imagine. And if course I agree with you about the LI bloggers group. Invaluable to the nth degree. Hope I’ll be more visible as we move towards the New Year. BTW this is my fav. of your 3 blogs:-)
Thanks so much for your comment, A.K. It’s always great to hear from you! I hope you’re now safely settled in your new home on this side of the pond. I look forward to hearing more about it!
Gosh you have been at this for a long time my freind. I am still a bab in the woods compared to you. Because I’m fairly new to your blog the posts you mentioned are something I’ll need to check out.
I agree with you about BHB. It is an awesome group. It’s where we meant is I know it was worth it. Here’s wishing smooth saling with all 3 of your blogs in the future. 🙂
Hi, Susan. Yes, I was really surprised when I looked back and realized that I started this blog nearly 7 years ago!
You’ve done tremendously well with your blog and have been an inspiration to many of us in the BHB group. Thx so much for that.