Bah. I've been playing around with PicMonkey and basically I suck at it. Ha Ha Ha. Don't worry, I will get better.
So, I've been blogging since 2006. Holy cow. 2006. That's crazy. I ventured into blogging with a very nonchalant attitude and have been very casual in my approach. I let this blog go to the wayside while I was returning back to working full time and still finishing my education. Now, that I returned, I have been taking my blogging much more seriously and treating it as a professional venture. Now, I am and always will be a casual kind of person but I struggle with maintaining my personality, struggle with blah moods, and keeping up with my posts. That's something I am working on BUT here are my thoughts on blogging and how to grow your readership, traffic and community.
1. Join linkups and leave meaninful comments.
2. Don't give up if people don't return the comment love. A lot don't. However, the right linkups will be full of nice and chatty people.
3. Promote your blog. Shamelessly.
4. Don't be afraid to monetize.
5. Back to #1- leave meaningful comments on other blogs and also, leave a link to your blog. I despise form comments that say "OMG! Great blog! Come follow me! link". I had one comment left like that on a serious post (about my daughter's brain injury). I deleted it and will never visit that person's blog.
6. Pinterest is gold.
7. Facebook is starting to fall by the wayside for fan pages unless you are a big brand. They're wanting you to pay to promote. Fahhhhgettaboutit.
8. Anything you would like to add?
ETA:
9. Get rid of Captcha. It does NOTHING for preventing spam but what is DOES do, it annoys potential readers/commenters who become irritated by Captcha and they won't comment. I know I move on. Read the conversation about Captcha here
I am still learning, growing and adapting. This is always a work in progress and as I learn something new, I will share!
These are awesome tips!!! I'd say you're right about all of them! How cool that you've been blogging for so long. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's definitely all a learning curve! It's crazy that I've been in Bloggerland that long but I never really promoted my blog until recently. It's a great community!
DeleteIt really stinks that facebook is forcing all of us business owners and bloggers to pay to promote their posts. :( Link ups has been the most beneficial for me as well as sponsoring a giveaway on a blog with more traffic than my own.
ReplyDeleteYes! I agree! Facebook has been making it difficult. They should be doing this backwards- requiring the big companies to pay to promote vs the small pages which are usually bloggers, pages that are for fun, non profits, small businesses, etc. It's just lame!
DeleteOh yes! Good call on the co-sponsoring on giveaways! Great tip! Thank you!
Awesome tips Jaime...I should try the link-ups thing I never done that before. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely do! They're a great way to find readers but also other bloggers!
DeleteOh and PS Nelda, check out my MOVIES tab. Heehee... I have a couple of Dramas posted. Not too many but.. I am thinking of adding a KDrama series on my blog. LOL I am so glad you came by!
DeleteGreat tips! Compared to you I'm a newbie blogger that just started blogging about 6 months ago. So, I love to read these posts about blogging and learn from other blogger who have been around for a long time. Up until now, most of my traffic comes from participating in blog hops, memes and leaving comments on other blogs.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to BlogLand!
DeleteI am definitely not an expert, this was such a passive hobby for me for the first... 6 years. Wait. Maybe I started in 2007. I need to double check now. Haha. However, since I've started taking it much more seriously and paying attention, it's such a learning curve! You learn from your mistakes. It's all trial and error!
Good luck to you and your blog!
Love these tips! I hate it when someone leaves an unrelated comment and then come follow me.... I think that is my biggest blogging pet peeve! I suck at Pic Monkey too... we'll get there!
ReplyDeleteYes! It's soooo aggravating!! Ugh!
DeleteHaha. Yes, we will! Lots of practice!