Archive for the Category »Posting «

Feb

Blogging is defined as a hobby.

You know. In the same category as other hobbies such as scrap-booking, fishing, quilting, collecting, etc…

Take for example, when someone decides to make a quilt. They don’t race to get it done. No. They take time to find a pattern. Then they pick out the perfect fabric. They’ll carefully cut out each piece and painstakingly start making their blocks. When their blocks are done, they’ll arrange them “just so”, stitch them together, etc….. It may be years before the quilt is done. And when it is, they can sit back and enjoy their masterpiece.

Today’s Lesson

When I started blogging I remember the feeling I HAD to get posts published. Why? Who knows except I probably read that’s what bloggers do; publish often to attract readers and the search engines.

So, that’s what I did; published five or more times a week, rushing to get more data “out there” whether others were reading it, or not.

But now I question if that was the right thing to do as I’ve learned our blogs wait for us, as do our readers.

No one expects us to reveal everything in the first month of blogging. In fact, since we continue to learn more each day, if we choose, we could be blogging for the rest of our lives.

And, that’s okay.

That’s what keeps readers coming back. The suspense. The mystery. The surprise of what we might reveal next. The joy of following our journey.

And when we consider the fact how a post we publish today, will begin to get buried as soon as we publish another, we soon figure out our best tips, ideas and observations could go unread.

Today’s Assignment

Did you ever feel like I did, where you felt an urgency to quickly get something published, thinking you only had a limited amount of time?

Or have you come to the realization like I did, that blogging is not a race and you have begun to enjoy the journey?

Care to Share?

signature for blog post .

Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Posting, Writing Tips 75 Comments

Jan

Advantages of Guest Posting Outside Your Niche

Barbara Swafford

Good Day, Class,

Although it’s been awhile since we had a substitute teacher (guest writer) here, today that’s changing.

Some of you may have heard of him. Some not.

Please join me in welcoming fellow blogger Bamboo Forest, from the fabulous blog, Pun Intended.

Bamboo has chosen a topic we haven’t discussed before; “guest posting”.

On that note, I’ll grab a seat and join you in listening to this great lesson.

The floor is yours, Bamboo.

Hello Class!

As you’re reading this you may recognize that I’m guest posting on a blog about blogging even though my blog is definitely not in this niche; it’s a blog about humor and inspiration.

Is it foolish to guest post on a blog outside of your niche, putting all your energy into drafting a post that will be published on a blog that covers a subject different from your own?

My answer is no and I’d even go a step further: There are definite advantages to guest posting outside of your niche.

For starters, our ideas are finite. Don’t get me wrong, there are some beasts who can churn out good posts like an overly enthusiastic factory worker. That being said, our ideas still reach a finite number. Further, not all our ideas are equal.

Today’s Lesson

Every time we guest post on a blog within our niche we’re giving away some of our finest ideas and some of our best posts. Once this is done, your loyal readers won’t see that material on your blog. So by posting outside of your niche you lose nothing and gain a great deal.

Another strategy to maintain great content for your blog, even while guest posting within your niche is to share material that simply wouldn’t fit well on your blog. In fact, I’ve done this. I’ve written personal development posts that though could pass on my blog, really fit better somewhere else. This is a great way to guest post within your niche while not really losing out for your blog.

The obvious criticism of guest posting outside of your niche is that people who click through to check your blog out are less likely to be interested in what you have to offer.

While I agree this is true to an extent, I don’t believe it’s enough of a factor to render guest posting outside of your niche a waste of time. Far from it.

For example, my blog is about humor and inspiration. Who among us doesn’t like to laugh and be inspired? Many interested in blogs about blogging will, nevertheless, find a blog on humor and inspiration to be a real winner and worthy of subscription–hopefully. Will you please prove my theory correct, you know you wanna.

Guest posting outside of your niche can create traffic, gain subscribers and raise your profile all while taking nothing away from your own posts on your own blog.

That’s quite the deal, no?

Today’s Assignment

Ever guest posted outside your niche?

What were the pros and cons?

Considering guest posting outside your niche?

Why or why not?

Bamboo Forest writes for Pun Intended, a blog that blends humor with inspiration. To ensure you never miss a good hearty laugh or a good dose of inspiration, subscribe here.

Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Increase Traffic, Posting 61 Comments

Oct

Does The Party Ever End

Barbara Swafford

Photo of brightly colored ballons

“I’m late for the party”, is how many will start a comment if they are commenting a day or two after a post is published.

It almost sounds like an apology.

To a blog author, the “party” never ends, but person commenting may feel their comment won’t be seen.

In fact, because of this, some won’t comment.

Today’s Lesson

One reason we may end up being late for the party is because Your Today Is My Tomorrow.

We’re talking about time zones.

In the comments on the Blogging Etiquette post, Wilma who blogs about Bridging the gap between Knowing and Doing pointed out,

…when posting [publishing in a different time zone] some people can never be the first commenter.

That’s true. If our post goes public at noon our time, it could be 2 a.m. the next day on other parts of the globe.

Wilma’s comment raises a second issue.

Does the order in which we comment make a difference?

I’ve read how being the first one to comment can be extremely beneficial. It’s gets our name out there and those who comment after us may click on our name, thus driving more traffic to our site.

That leads to the next question, “If we end up being the last to comment, will our words of wisdom be all for naught?”

Today’s Assignment

For Wilma, I’ll ask, “Should we consider our blogging friends in different time zones and publish at different times once in awhile? ”

Do you see a benefit in being the first one to comment on a post?

If you arrive “late” on a post, will you comment or do you just move on?

Photo Credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

Category: Blogging, Blogging Etiquette, Blogging Lessons, Comments, Posting, Writing Tips 115 Comments

Sep

Readers vs Bots – Making Everyone Happy

Barbara Swafford

We know what Google wants from us bloggers.

They like (in part) to see blogs that are updated often (it appears more often is better), inbound links from reputable sites and the use of SEO (search engine optimization) so they can index our posts correctly.

That way, when someone types in a search string, they (the search engines) will look good by providing THEIR readers exactly what they ask for.

Today’s Lesson

As bloggers we often fall into the trap of wanting to please the search engines. After all, it’s the search engines that can bring us the most traffic plus visitors who may click on our ads. It’s also search engine traffic that can drive up our rankings.

Hence, we crank out search engine optimized posts and the bots smile down on us, reward us with more traffic and everyone is happy.

Or, are they?

By posting too frequently are we missing out? Are we pleasing the bots but deterring loyal readers from sticking around?

Are we closing the door to comments because we’re not giving our readers enough time to think about what we wrote and then write a response?

Are we forgetting about OUR readers?

When Ann-Marie, co-author of Wilma’s Blog contacted me, she shared what she sees happening.

With her permission, I’m quoting what she said/asked in an email:

Myself and Wilma have been talking about how many times a week we post on our blog.

We recognize that a post is the starting point of the conversation and it is in the commenting that the conversation takes real form.

As other bloggers get involved we begin to see an opportunity to really ‘nut out’ our thoughts.

The dialogue begins to flow and with it comes new understanding and learning for everyone.

It ends up being an interactive discussion about a subject in which people have something to say.

So if we post too frequently, are we in danger of stifling this existing conversation and stopping it before it comes to a natural end?

Ann-Marie and Wilma are concerned about what THEIR readers want; not what the search engines are looking for.

They realize if they slap a new post on top of one that’s still alive with conversation, they could kill it.

And in the process of killing the conversation, they may also lose their loyal readers.

So, what’s the best route?

Today’s Assignment

What advice would you give to Ann-Marie and Wilma?

If you have a post and the comment section is buzzing, do you throw a new one on top of it, or do you let the conversation on the older post die down?

Photo Credit: Google Bot? by fabiofco

Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Comments, Posting, SEO 68 Comments

Jun

Blog Posting – Rap It Up

Barbara Swafford

Good Day Class!

What a wonderful surprise I have for you today. Our substitute teacher (guest writer) is none other than the famous singer, song writer, Ms. Jannie Funster.

You all know her as the bra flinging blogger from Jannie Funster.com who will write about anything she sees, and maybe even turn it into a song.

For her lesson, Jannie provided me with a photo of herself as she studies more about blogging. Isn’t she cute?

Please take your seats and have a listen as this won’t be an ordinary lesson.

Hello Ms. Funster.

Welcome to the Blogging Without A Blog classroom.

Hello Class,

It’s wonderful to be here.

Let’s do something a little different today.

Let’s shake it up.

Since I love music so much, I’ve posted the words to my lesson on the chalkboard, so you can sing along with me.

Barbara, can we have the music. please?

Ready?

Let’s go!

Today’s Lesson

Yes, I’m a blogging girl
takin’ round the world
Surfing every day
in the Internet way.

For me a schedule
is good – like vegetables.
So how about you?
Is it something you do?

To get your blogging done
are you following one
– a schedule, I mean
to keep it clean and lean?

Should you plan your posts,
so you can make the most
of your blogging time
with your peeps so fine?

Or do you let it fly
with your gals and guys
with not even a care
of when you’re posting there?

Today’s Assignment

Are you planning your posts
to make your time the most,
or do you let it slide,
or do you you let them ride?

Raise your hand and speak.
Come on now don’t be meek.
Wanna hear what you say
What is your blogging way?
What is your blogging way?

Jannie is the author of Jannie Funster.com as well as a singer songwriter. She recently released her first album, titled “I Need A Man”, which showcases not only her beautiful voice, but her original lyrics. When she’s not blogging, commenting, writing songs, singing and being a wife and mother, she can be found on Twitter.

Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Posting 52 Comments

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