Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week and have a fun weekend planned.
I have some good news to share. Last Saturday I was honored to be named a SOB (Successful and Outstanding Blogger) on Liz Strauss’ blog. I’ve proudly displayed my badge in my left sidebar.
Remember two weeks ago when we had a “substitute teacher” (guest post) by Avani and she taught the “Blogging To Do List – Do It, Delete It or Delegate” lesson? That was a real hit and one I’d like to repeat, so today I’m asking two questions:
1) Are you interested in being a “substitute teacher” on Blogging Without A Blog (BWAB)?
2) When you look at where you are with blogging, what would you like to learn more about, or see discussed further?
Keep in mind, there is no such thing as a stupid question. We all came into blogging with different levels of expertise. What may be easy for one blogger to master, may be a real struggle for someone else. As a self taught blogger I was stubborn and didn’t ask questions. If I had, I know I would be much further along.
The floor is yours.
Have a great weekend!
.
Photo Credit: ninjapoodles’ photostream
Hi Ricardo – Yes, it includes grading papers (answering the comments and putting up with some unruly students). When Avani subbed John was making paper airplanes and someone hit me with a spit ball (I think it was John, but he blamed Eric) 🙂
So…are you up for it?
I hear you about those early days. It’s like you know you need to publish “something”, but then what? I had that “if you build it, they will come” mentality. That was a joke. I finally figured out I had to go get “them” and say, “hey, come visit me”.
Hi George – Hey, I just left your blog. You’re quick!
So, you’re in? I’ll email you with the particulars. It’s fairly easy if you’ve seen my previous “lesson/assignment” posts.
With regard to your concerns. Stats are always a big thing for newer bloggers. I learned early on (even though I was a stataholic) I needed to compare month to month and not put a lot of weight on my daily stats. Some days are just lower than others. For me, that’s the weekends. And, with the holidays coming up, you may see a decrease in readership, too.
With regard to social networking/Twitter, etc, I don’t have time to participate. Sometimes I feel like the turtle of blogging. I only take on new things when I feel comfortable doing so, and have the time to contribute. Right now all I have time for is writing, answering comments, dealing with emails, and visiting other blogs. I also try not to compare what I do to what others do, as we all live different lives and have different responsibilities/priorities.
Hi Diana – Welcome to the BWAB community. Thank you. In your other comment (on another post), you mentioned you’re a new blogger. If you have any questions. please fee free to come back and ask.
So, if I were to apply for the position, would I have to grade papers? I was a TA for an undergraduate education course once and I have to say, grading papers just wasn’t my thing 😛
When I first started blogging, I didn’t know what the heck I was doing or where I was going for that matter. The second part of that is what scared me the most (not knowing where to go with it all). But people encouraged me (the community at large encouraged me). They taught me to just go with with it. That a blog can be fluid and change over time. They made me feel comfortable about finding my voice (sometimes that can be a very scary process).
Ricardo Bueno´s last blog post..Tweetup!
Hi Barbara,
OO!! OO!! Pick me! Pick me!
All seriousness aside, I’d love to be a sub. With any luck, maybe I’ll get to be a SOB too! 😉
I would really like to learn about how to stay energetic and motivated. How to pay attention to numbers without getting a lump in my throat every time I click my Google Analytics bookmark. I’d like to learn how the “Biggies” keep it all straight. Where do they find the time to follow/post on twitter, galavant across the country (have you followed Brogan on Twitter this week?) post, connect and everything else. Sometimes at the end of the day I’m just whupped and I’m a blogging nobody.
So there ya have it, Ms. B
Oh and thanks for the comments/visit to tumblemoose!
Cheers
George
Tumblemoose´s last blog post..BloggerNewbie is in the House!
Hi! Congrats! Your offer was really interesting. And thanks for knowing your experience as a blogger. Keep it up.
Thank you 🙂
Diana Rupert´s last blog post..5 Best Method to Lose Weight
would love to be a sub…i’m still thinking of what topic i could bring here that is you and me…i have something in mind it’s just marinating in my brain right now.
can’t really think of anything else i want to learn about blogging, well maybe i could start working on my meta tags so when i do a search on my blog, the description comes up with what the blog is about and not just some random words it pulled from my posts.
Natural´s last blog post..Oh, Sense Less One
just left a comment i think. it’s gone. well if you find it you can delete this one. okay well it wasn’t there. honest. lol
Natural´s last blog post..Oh, Sense Less One
Hi Barbara – Congratulations on your SOB status! Liz is doing a yeoman’s work with all her activities, and it seems her greatest talent is spotting greatness in others (and drawing it out, too).
I consider myself still in school, soaking up as much information on as many topics as possible. When you choose your next substitute I will be in the classroom.
Betsy´s last blog post..REMEMBER
I’ve been blogging for just over a month. I’ve gone from “puppy love” (never thought I would say that, but I get it) to a true relationship with my blog, my community, and my readers. I don’t sense that changing a bit.
As with any relationship I guess (and I hope it’s not weird to refer to it as a relationship), how do you keep the flame going or the excitement between the three (blog, community, readers) so that the relationship doesn’t die? Are there any “watch outs”?
Not sure if I phrased that the way I wanted, but I’ll go with it for now. Maybe someone can un-muddy it for me.
scott´s last blog post..The Scariest Night of My Life
Hey congratulations, Barbara! You certainly deserve the award.
I’ll sub anytime you need the help. It would be an honor.
As far as growing in my blogging abilities is concerned, I think it would be the ability to more efficiently interact with the blogging community. I know you’ve mentioned spending 4 hours a day reading and commenting on other posts. I’d love to cover that much ground every day, but I just don’t have that much time to devote to that area of interaction. So I’d love to be able to cover more ground in the time that I DO have.
I think the problem I have is that each post I read takes a certain amount out of me, emotionally. It’s draining to try to connect to so many different subjects, personalities and concepts, one after the other. So I guess I just need to grow my blogging ‘muscles’ when it comes to community interaction.
Once again, congrats on the badge and what it represents! Eric.
Eric Hamm´s last blog post..Painting Your Picture Of Paradise | Community Insight
wow!!!
That would be cool!!!! Can I? Can I? Can I???
Viral MArketing would be something cool to talk about! 🙂
😉
UrbanVox´s last blog post..Pimp My Blog updates!
I guess if any one needed bangs perming or bra flinging lessons I’d be their sub. But I’m sure you’ve already got someone in mind for those, so I’ll just tell you about what I would like to learn more about.
1. How best to build your blog community?
2. What’s the dumbest thing(s) bloggers do?
3. What’s the smartest thing(s) bloggers do?
Jannie´s last blog post..Why Thursdays rule
Hi Barbara – Congratulations on becoming a SOB – you deserve it.
I would like to be a substitute teacher. I’m going to keep checking back and see what folk want to learn first though. It would be nice to hear some posts from newer bloggers too, on what challenges they’ve faced so far in blogging and how they’ve managed to overcome them.
Cath Lawson´s last blog post..Barrack Obama – A Leader In Twitter Use
Hi Natural – Just let me know when you have a topic picked out and we’ll go from there. 🙂
Hi Betsy – Thank you. Liz is a busy gal, isn’t she? She sure does a lot for blogosphere.
Hi Scott – That’s a great way of explaining it. When we start a blog, we do enjoy it, but as community builds it becomes a new found passion – one that’s hard to stay away from.
As for “watch outs”, I would say try not to overwhelm yourself with what all you can do to promote a blog. Set your priorities and work within your own time frame.
Hi Eric – Thank you. I’ll be sending out emails on how to sub, so will add you to the list.
Haha! I did have days when I could spend 4 hours on visiting, but with life and work responsibilities, that has decreased dramatically. With regard to the other part of your comment, that would make a good lesson. Would be up for writing more about that?
Hi Urban Vox – Yes you can. 🙂 Viral marketing and how it pertains to blogging would be a great topic. Watch for my email in the next day or two. 🙂
Hi Jannie – You’re funny! Hey, those are great questions. I’ll make sure either I or a substitute teaches address those issues.
Hi Catherine – Thank you. And…thank you for volunteering. I agree, hearing from new bloggers would make for great guest posts.
Hi Jennifer – Thank you. Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll send you the guidelines.
Hi Maya – Thank you. Great, you’re in. I can’t think of anything off the top of my head, but when I do, I’ll send you some ideas.
Hi Rachel – Isn’t that the truth (about the SOB award). It does get a person’s attention, though.
I’ll add you to the email list and send you the details.
The one thing I wish I knew sooner is how important it is to get out there (in blogosphere) and comment on other blogs. To add to that, it’s more important to find smaller blogs than the A listers, as the smaller/newer bloggers are more apt to come and visit you, as well. That is the start of community building.
Hi Marelisa – Thank you. That’s funny SOBBWAB. 😆
Congratulations Barbara on your award!
I’m trying to think of what I would write about on your blog….
What I’d like to hear more about? hmmmm. Can’t think of anything right now.
Jennifer´s last blog post..A Source of Huge Frustration
Barbara,
Congrats on the SOB honor!! You deserve it!!
I would love to sub – wonder what kind of topics you would like covered on your blog that you cannot cover yourself …you have anything on your mind?
Maya´s last blog post..Are you a storyteller? What is your story?
Hi Barbara!
Funny that SOB doesn’t really have a positive connotation, but in this case it’s a great thing 🙂
I’d love to be a sub for you some time when you need to take a “personal day”! Let me know when and how I can help you out!
I still have so many things to learn and discover about blogging, but one thing that I’d like you to share: What’s one thing about blogging that you’d wish you had known about sooner?
What a great idea, Barbara! Thanks for sharing!
Rachel
AverageGal´s last blog post..Frozen Fingers Syndrome?
Hi Barbara: Congratulations on being named SOB! So I guess now it’s SOBBWAB 🙂
Marelisa´s last blog post..Six Ways to Do Less and Achieve More
You go girl! Congratulations on the SOB!
I just love reading Liz’s pages and she taught me about the F5 button on the last chat…wow that is amazing!
I liked Jannie’s questions and would second those. Also I think I need an sub – teacher who has enough expertise to look at my blog and help me tweak it or make the writing better?
When I took piano lessons and voice lessons, every year we would have a lesson with a Master Teacher who would come and make suggestions…like one who suggested I stop singing so much religious music and get into Irish Ballads for a year which really helped me progress, but my teacher never thought of it.
I truly like everyone’s patience with my lack of technology skill – that has been the best help of all.
Another great post.
Patricia´s last blog post..Factoid Friday: A Thank You Note to Lambie
Hi Barbara,
I think it’s great that you are giving people a chance to be a guest ‘teacher’. I really enjoy what you are doing here and think it will help a lot of people become better bloggers.
Keep up the great work,
Xavier
Xavier Nelson´s last blog post..Can this really reverse Diabetes and Heart Disease? Today is World Diabetes Day – Help Spread The Word!
Congratulations, Barbara! You are one heck of an SOB!! It’s a well-deserved honor!
I love SOBBWAB — very clever, Marelisa!!
I’d love to be a substitute teacher. Except I think back on a horrid trick we played on a sub in high school and I shudder at what we did. YIKES! I’m surprised we weren’t all suspended for it. My lips are sealed . . . .
Do you want us to come up with a post idea or do you have something in mind? Maybe I can be in the “new blogger” category that Cath suggested?
Linda Abbit´s last blog post..Funny Fridays: Because It’s Better to Laugh than to Cry!
Nah, I already know it all.
🙂
Joking aside, I can’t think of a question right now, but if I do, I’ll be back!
SOB ! Cool 🙂 Congratulations Barbara. I would love to repeat sub experience. It’s worth it 🙂
Avani-Mehta´s last blog post..Top 8 Life Hacks – #2
Congrats on the SOB award, Barbara – Fantastic! I saw it the other day, but didn’t realise it was just new.
I promised myself I would never, ever do substitute teaching again, but I must admit I would quite like to teach a “lesson” on BWAB. No idea on what, though!
Robin´s last blog post..Bloggers’ Recording Project
Barbara,
Congratulations on the award. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer gal!
I’m going to pass on the substitute blogging. I don’t think I really have anything to offer your readers and really, I’m having a little blogging drama in my world as it is. I do enjoy dropping by and seeing what’s new, though.
Right now I don’t have any questions. Thanks for the opportunity, though.
Debbie Yost´s last blog post..Soul Searching
Hi Patricia – Thank you. I’m not quite sure what you mean about making your writing better. I think it’s superb.
Irish ballads? Maybe you could share those with us via YouTube. 🙂
Hi Xavier – Welcome to the BWAB community. Thank you so much for your kind words. If you want to “sub”, just let me know.
Hi Linda Abbit – Thank you. I’ll add you to the list. You can either come up with an idea on your own (based on your experiences), or we can brainstorm and figure something out.
BTW: The trick you played on your substitute teacher sounds like a story….
Hi Vered – You’re cute! 🙂
Hi Avani – Thank you. And, I would love to have you sub again.
Hi Debbie – Thank you. I’ll have to come by and see what’s going on in your world. Work and life has kept me from visiting as much as I’d like.
Hi Robin – Thank you. Great. I’ll add you to the list. We have time so even if it takes awhile to figure out what you want to “teach”, that’s okay.
Hi Davina – Thank you. I’ll count you in. Subbing is a lot of fun. Just ask Avani. 🙂
Hi Barbara. Congratulations on the SOB award! 🙂
I’m interesting in subbing; it would be fun. I don’t have an idea yet. So please include me in your email when you send it out.
Davina´s last blog post..Video — Preparation Inspires Self-Confidence
Sure, I’d love to sub for you. I don’t know on what, but I’ll give it a shot. (Since you visit so many of our blogs, I bet when it comes to a certain blogger, you can think of a specific strength they can share, huh?)
Congrats on the award! 🙂
As for questions…
…not any right now, but maybe I’ll think of some by day’s end.
Pink Ink´s last blog post..If It Weren’t For Mom
Barbara,
Thank you for the nice compliment about my writing..that was great. Did you see Davina’s You Tube presentation? That was so fun and good work…
I am not sure I could muster a solo or a song yet…between the last surgery on my vocal cords and pneumonia last month, I am soundling similar to a croaky toad! or a chain smoker!…and then I might have to show my face!!!!
Put me on the list for sub, I forgot to say that earlier..though I don’t think I have much know how about building and growing a blog to share.
I would be honored to be a substitute teacher on BWAB! Also, I’d like to learn more about placing avatars onto my blog. I can’t figure it out!
Stacey / Create a Balance´s last blog post..21 Reasons to Schedule a Weekly Night Out for Yourself
Barbara, that’s terrific that you’re an official SOB! I just hope you don’t rank too high in the search engines for SOB, in case someone is searching for the other kind of SOB!
I’d love to be a sub if you still need people (it seems that you have a lot of volunteers already). With all the blogging questions out there, I guess the number of subs has to grow to keep up with demand.
Hunter Nuttall´s last blog post..Mirroring: Your Top Secret Psychological Weapon
Hi Barbara,
I’m up to subbing as well — and here’s a thought. If there are this many of us interested, you can pretty much have a weekly (or more often) sub spots and increase the posting frequency of your blog — which will help it grow, won’t it?
😉
ari
Ari Koinuma´s last blog post..The 7 Keys to Breaking Bad Habits
Hi Jewel – Thank you. I’ll be sending you an email. I’ll include a few ideas, but if you’re still stuck, we can figure out a great topic for you.
Hi again Patricia – You’re welcome. Yes, I did see Davina’s video. She’s good, isn’t she? I’ll add your name to the list of subs. Watch for an email from me.
Hi Stacey – Great, you’re in. I use a plugin to add the avatars to my comments. It’s named WP Gravatar. Here’s the link:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-gravatar/
Hi Hunter – Thank you. You’re right, I could get my blog found for the wrong reason. Oh, how disappointed “they” might be. I’ll have to keep an eye on the search strings.
Sure, I can always use more subs. I’ll add you to the email.
Hi Ari – Great. I’ll add your name too. My plan is to have a “sub spot” at least once a week. I’m publishing five days a week now, but probably won’t change that. But you’re right, posting more frequently can help a blog to grow faster.
And did I not congratulate you for your SOB award?
Congrats!
At the risk of waxing ever redundant, your blog is good.
Jannie´s last blog post..And “The Real Jannie” is…?
Thank you Jannie! 🙂
Hi Barbara,
I always love reading your posts. I would like to know more about getting the word out about your blog. I know the obvious one – commenting – but I also am curious about other ways to get it out there!
.-= Check out Amy Jewell / Cirklagirl´s awesome post: Let the Fan Fare Begin! =-.