Archive for » April, 2008 «

Apr

Anyone who has been following my New Blog Of The Week (NBOTW) series, knows I started this feature as a way to pay it forward.

Shilpan, who held the title from 4/15 to 4/21/08 has paid it forward by nominating a favorite blog of his.

This blogger is another non-traditional age female blogger who has chosen to share insights on subjects that not only affect women, but men alike. She has also visited BWAB and commented several times.

To quote her most recent post titled: “Navigating Your Midlife Crisis“, she writes:

Women often assume the role of helper but too often we feel uncomfortable with the idea of asking for help. Try it, you might be surprised at how willing people are to give you a hand.

She also wrote a great post about the art of listening in which she shares 6 rules for active listening. To quote her:

Listening actively, when we are able to do so, is a gift to those who have something to say and to ourselves as well. Relationships with others can only be made better by good communication skills.

On the subject of finding a “better way”. In her post titled “Journey Into The Brain – A New Take On Nirvana?” she says:

Happiness isn’t to be found in hobbies or new occupations, although those things can bring joy at times. As much as I do still believe that ridding ourselves of burdens and making room in our lives for the things that we enjoy is part of the path to happiness, I no longer believe that it is sufficient. Trying to rearrange the exterior landscape of our lives without first redesigning the interior is doomed to failure.

The author of this weeks NBOTW is Lori, and her blog is Between Us Girls, with a tag line of “Sharing the knowledge we need to grow”

Join me in congratulating Lori.

Drop by her blog, read her writings and take time to say “Hello”.

Welcome (again), Lori!

Photo Credit cambodia4kidsorg’s photostream

Category: Archives, New Blog Of The Week 10 Comments

Apr

Blogging – Year One – Lesson Five

Barbara Swafford

Blogging can eat up a lot of time.

Today’s Lesson

When I first started blogging, most of my time was spent on researching, writing and publishing.

Being technologically challenged, the rest of my free time was spent learning “blogging language”, techniques, and behind the scenes maintenance (e.g. adding/removing plugins, html, ads, etc…).

When I added statistical programs, more time was spent watching my numbers (hopefully grow), and analyzing how the statistical data could help me get found.

I submitted several posts to blogging carnivals, and added my blogs to directories.

It didn’t help that I changes themes often, trying to find my “fit” in blogosphere.

I read that submitting articles to Digg would help my traffic counts, so I engaged in that option too.

Answering my comments, reading and then commenting on other’s blog posts soon became a favorite pastime.

Although I had joined StumbleUpon, I didn’t participate in social networking, but did use the SU toolbar to stumble through varies articles and photos. Later, I got caught up in the Stumble craze, but quickly found it to be addictive and extremely time consuming.

Although I’ve read articles how joining additional social media sites, can gain a blog popularity (and traffic), due to time restraints, I’ve chosen to refrain from signing up.

With a full-time job, family, friends and other activities I enjoy, blogging quickly began to eat into life’s activities which were important to me. What started out to be a part-time “hobby”, soon became a full-time activity that was competing for my attention.

I continually walk a fine line with regard to the time issue, constantly reminding myself to stay grounded and not get caught up in looking at blogging as a means to an end.

Lesson Five Blogging can easily become addictive. It can eat into time that could be better spent focusing attention on job, family, health, and “physical” social networking. Blogging can isolate you, and hinder your development as a person. Sitting at your computer blogging and/or social networking can make you lazy and unmotivated, resulting is weight gain and/or a lack of desire to interact with people.

Although blogging is a new found passion for me, I don’t make a living blogging and learned my blogs are not a replacement for living life.

Today’s Assignment

How do you balance blogging with life’s activities?

Do you find blogging becomes addictive?

Does blogging result in isolation for you?

Do you do less social networking (physical) since you started blogging?

Photo Credit: jonboy mitchell’s photostream

Category: Archives, Blogging Lessons, Lessons Learned Tags: Blogging, Blogs, digg 17 Comments

Apr

Blogging – Year One – Lesson 4

Barbara Swafford

Like a roller coaster ride at a carnival, checking our blog statistics can take us on highs, lows, twists, turns, make us come to a screeching halt, and even turn our life upside down.

But with blogging, in order to know if we’re “being found”, or to find out if our blog is growing, it’s essential to install statistical programs to track our numbers.

It’s what we do with and about those numbers, and the other facts provided in statistical programs that will determine if we put ourselves back on that roller coaster, or if we learn from the information that’s provided.

Today’s Lesson

With five statistical programs installed , + Feedburner, I can easily spend an hour or more each day stat checking. In the beginning, I did. I don’t know exactly what I was looking for. Maybe one more visitor. But if the numbers didn’t change, I would often feel a sense of disappointment.

I quickly realized I needed to utilize my time more effectively.

With different stats producing different information, I started digging past the actual numbers. This is what I find:

1) How are others finding my blog, (referrals, search engines or direct)?
2) What keyword phrases are they using to find my blog?
3) What links do they click on?
4) Are advertising links paying off?
5) How long are readers staying on my site?
6) What are my most popular posts?
7) Which posts are not being read?

I also learned, the numbers are fickle. No two statistical programs report the same results.

Lesson 4 Having statistical programs installed on a blog is important. Much time can be wasted checking stats. The growth of a blog is determined by comparing months of information (numbers, averages), not days.

However, the numbers do not dictate whether you’re successful as a person. If your writings have helped just one person, it has served it’s purpose.

Footnote: If your goal is to make money with a blog, high numbers are vital.

Today’s Assignment

Do you spend an excessive amount of time checking your stats?

Do you look past the numbers and analyze other pertinent information?

If your numbers don’t increase, do you get disappointed and/or lose motivation to blog?

Photo taken at Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, Ca. by: KateMonkey’s photostream