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Feb

Comments. A topic many bloggers stress over.

Let’s face it, receiving comments means we know “for sure” our blog posts are be read (or maybe skimmed), and in some cases, comments are what keeps us motivated to keep going.

But, how to get others to comment on our blogs is something we’re often uncertain of.

Today’s Lesson

Recently a semi-new blogger left a comment on an older post of mine.

To reiterate, this is what Linda of Roses To Rainbows wrote.

I’m glad I stumbled across your blog. I am trying to earn an audience. I have been blogging since September, and thanks to a statcounter, I know a few people are stopping by. To date I have had a total of 3 comments and a couple people responded to my email instead of commenting.

I invite people to comment, and often times ask a question or invite readers to relate a story or experience. I would really [like to] interact with people. My blog is not about any one thing specifically. I have pictures, recipes, coupon & grocery stores savings, musings about what we’ve been up to and links to other places I visit. I’ve tried to make it attractive and interesting, but apparently something is lacking.

I do post on other blogs when I enjoy what I’ve read/seen, have something useful or informative to say or ask a question. I don’t just plop down a comment on every blog just for the sake of “being seen”.

I noticed two things about Linda’s comment. First she said she is trying to EARN an audience, and secondly she says, “I don’t just plop down a comment on every blog just for the sake of “being seen”.”

I like her attitude. She’s not looking for a free ride, nor will she comment just to comment.

When answering her comment, I wanted to share what I’ve learned and in part, said,

I also noticed you commented on an older post. Although I don’t close comments and appreciate any comment I get, what I’ve found is by also commenting on the current post (if it’s something that moves you) the other bloggers who comment may read your comment and click on your link. I can’t guarantee it will drive more traffic to your blog, but it will help to get yourself in front of others as on most blogs the “action” is on the most current post.

That’s one thing I’ve found to be true. Although we may have dozens of articles buried in our archives, unless a reader has subscribed to comments, the comments which are left on older posts usually end up being a conversation between the blog author and the commenter only.

Today’s Assignment

To help Linda (or any new blogger) get more comments, what advice would you give?

Or, do you have the same problem as Linda?

Care to share?

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Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Comments 79 Comments

Feb

Say It Ain’t So

Barbara Swafford

“Ten Easy Ways to Make Money With a Blog”

“How to Become A Successful Blogger Overnight”

“Twelve Tips to Get More Comments”

“The Secret to Getting More Visitors To a Blog”

“Attract Hundreds of RSS Feed Readers In a Matter of Days”

O.K. You get the message.

In hopes of becoming more successful with our blogs, catchy blog titles like these may entice us to read a post, but how good is the message? And will it work for us?

Truth be told, maybe not.

Today’s Lesson

One thing I have learned from blogging is what works for you may not work for me.

Why?

Because you’re you, and I’m me.

We approach things differently. We think differently. We write differently. We market ourselves differently. We devote different amounts of time to blogging. We take the information we read and process it differently.

As much as the helpful blogging information might be true for the author of the article, chances we’re not looking at the complete picture of how they got from point A to point B.

For example:

How long have they been blogging?
What is their page rank?
How many visitors do they currently have?
How often do they publish?
Do they have anchor articles in their archives which attract search engine traffic?
How much time do they spend on blogging activities?
How well are they known in blogosphere?
Are they using SEO (search engine optimization)?
If so, what method do they use? And…what search terms/ keywords did they use?
Are they using meta tags and a search engine friendly theme?
What time of the day and day of the week do they post their articles?
How many subscribers do they currently have?
And, do those current subscribers act as evangelists for them?
Are they also promoting their posts on Twitter, Facebook, Digg and other online networking sites?
Have they posted reliable material in the past?
Have they built up their presence off-line, as well?
In addition to their blog, are they also sending out newsletters or doing webinars?

See what I mean?

We can read articles of how to be a successful blogger and spend countless hours tweaking, but if we don’t take the other factors into consideration, all of that work could be for naught.

Am I saying we’re wasting our time reading those articles?

No.

What I am saying is “reader beware”.

Today’s Assignment

Have you ever tried something another blogger is having success with, only to have it flop?

Or, has something another blogger shared, helped you become more successful?

Care to share?

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Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons 67 Comments

Feb

Blog Sex – Is It A Reader Turn Off?

Barbara Swafford

In advertising, it’s a known fact, sex sells.

Whether it’s an ad for food or drink, clothing, vehicles or nearly anything else, advertising agencies often incorporate an implied message such as “If you buy or use a specific product, you’ll be more popular, get the girl/guy or you’re love life will improve.

Some people buy into that, and when sales soar, they know their campaign is working.

Today’s Lesson

When advertising agencies are writing and designing ads, they normally target a specific demographic be it an age group or a gender. What they include in the ad will often reflect that.

When we start a blog and think about our target audience, we may also have a vision of who will be reading our blogs.

Mommy blogs are normally targeted toward other moms, and blogs about sports, vehicles or technology are generally targeted toward the male population.

By looking at the theme the author chooses for those types of blogs, there’s often undertones of masculinity or femininity.

But what about a blog with a topic that’s gender neutral?

Should the theme also be gender neutral or should it reflect the sex of the author?

If it’s not gender neutral, can the theme or what a blog author chooses to display, discourage readership?

Today’s Assignment

What’s the sex of your theme?

What does it say about you?

If a theme is too girly or masculine, does it discourage you from reading or commenting?

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Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Branding, Themes 74 Comments

Feb

Sharing For The Benefit of Others

Barbara Swafford

“If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away.”
~Henry David Thoreau

I like to go down memory lane as it reminds me of where the journey of life has taken me.

Sometimes I’ll recall my childhood days. Other times, challenges I conquered. And today, it takes me to my why I started blogging.

Today’s Lesson

Although it was nearly three years ago, I can remember my first days of blogging like it was yesterday.

The excitement of publishing online. The challenge of learning something new. The thrill of having a platform from which I could share. The hope of helping others. The nervousness of wondering how my words would be construed. The anticipation of my first comment. And the dream of where blogging might take me.

I’m reminded I’m not alone.

Many new bloggers go through the same emotions as they embark on the blogging journey.

Although we can’t change the past, nor erase mistakes we made, I do think the knowledge we’ve gained can benefit others who are new to the world of blogging and who may be uncertain as to what to expect.

With that said, today’s lesson is about sharing what we’ve learned and mentoring to those who are new to blogging.

I’ll go first.

Although I realize it’s often our mistakes that can teach us the most, one of the things I learned is, there is no one right way to blog. Our blog is what WE make it and trying to make it a cookie cutter copy of what someone else is doing only takes away from our authenticity.

To a new blogger, I would say, “Follow your heart, be true to yourself, speak from your soul and proudly showcase your individuality”.

Now it’s your turn.

Today’s Assignment

If a new blogger chose you as their mentor and asked for your best blogging advice, what would you tell them?

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Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Lessons Learned 48 Comments

Feb

Calling In Sick

Barbara Swafford

For the last few days, I’ve been trying to fight off what appears to be a cold; sneezing, coughing, chills that come and go and that achy feeling that makes you want to crawl back into bed.

I don’t get sick too often. I think this is my body’s way of saying “It’s time to slow down”.

I should listen.

Instead, I sip tea as I surf aimlessly, looking to see what others are sharing on Twitter as well as their blogs.

I read, but the words aren’t soaking in.

Today’s Lesson

I don’t think I’m different than other bloggers. Our blogs draw us in, as do the blogs of others. They’re like good books which are hard to put down.

In fact, in only rare cases have I seen a blogger cut back on their posting because of an illness. And even then, they managed to publish “something”.

I have to ask; “Why is that?”. Shouldn’t we be nursing ourselves back to health? Getting rest? Staying off of our computers?

In the real world, on a real job, we would call in sick, stay home and tend to our health and return when we feel better.

But in blogosphere, we just keep keeping on.

What gives?

Today’s Assignment

What about you?

If you’re not feeling your best, what happens to your blog publishing schedule?

Do you post something, or stay off the blog and concentrate on getting better?

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Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons 76 Comments