Blogging 201: Day Eight: Make Your Blog a Hub

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“Despite the fact that no one views or cares about my blog, I will continue to spend the majority of my life updating it” Unknown

Blogging 201: Day Eight: Make Your Blog a Hub

The internet is a big playground. If you’re serious about your development as an online publisher, you need to think about opportunities beyond your blog, with your blog as your digital homestead.

Think of your site as a space to develop your online presence and personal brand strategically, promote your work in a way that makes sense for you, and connect and share your other projects and work across the web: a hub for you, as well as a place to publish posts.

Today’s assignment: create a page or section on your blog to display links to your online presence elsewhere, and make sure your other presences reflect the brand you’re developing on your blog.

Why do this?
– Because as online publishers, our work is naturally scattered across the web — you want your readers and followers to find you. Building your personal brand means expanding your reach beyond your blog while keeping it the focus.
– Because sometimes you have material that doesn’t quite fit on your site, and you want to make this complementary work accessible.

 

On the main page of Rantings Of A Third Kind, the social media buttons are present in several places.
Both the Instagram and Flickr feeds are shown as widgets. What is still missing, is the widget for the 500px feed, work in progress to find and add it.
insta   flickr

On the “About” and “Biography” pages the social media links are presented in their own sections:
bio

Those of you who have ventured to my blog and browsed about, may have noticed these few pages also:

Links 4 Writers

Stage 32

WildSound

These pages contain links where writers can find information on writing, submissions and other connection hubs. Also my profile on the Stage32 hub and the published poetry selection on Wild Sound Festival Review.

 

Related posts:
Blogging 201: Day Six: Dig Deep into a Social Network
Blogging 201, Day Four: Give ‘Em What They Want
Some Social Media Bullshit

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Coffee.

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“Coffee, because I can count the number of slept hours on one hand”

Coffee.

Coffee.
Why?
Because I barely slept last night.

Coffee.
Why?
Simply to get through this day.

Coffee.
Why?
Because I need some inspiration for my working day, every day.

Coffee.
Why?
Because I need the will power to exercise today and every other day.

Coffee.
Why?
It is the best creation humanity has ever devised.

Coffee.
Why?
I may not always agree with the taste of it. Then again, there is no such thing as bad coffee!

Coffee.
Why?
Because I had to write this damned tale about it!

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Black hole Sun

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Poetry and Photography

“The sun is gone, but I have a light” Kurt Cobain

Black hole Sun

Not the expected bright
Only as black as night
Supposed to be daylight
No use to put up a fight
Maybe later there is a slight
Chance of sunlight

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Flower Power in Black and White: Photo Rehab – The Clinic

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Photography:  The Clinic /Photo Rehab

Flower Power: A study in black, white and gray

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Blogging 201: Day Seven: Make the Most of Events

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“When I first came out there was no such thing as Twitter or Facebook. And the blogs! Like, what is that?” Christina Aguilera

Blogging 201: Day Seven: Make the Most of Events

When it comes to building a strong community around your blog, nothing replaces steadily publishing and commenting on others’ blogs — but that doesn’t mean you can’t help yourself (and your blog) target new audiences through blogging events, both virtual and in real life.

Today’s assignment: create a recurring blogging event on your site, and/or make plans to attend a blogging conference.

Why do this?
– Because hosting a blogging event attracts visitors beyond your immediate network of blogger friends.
– Because running an event or participating in a blogging conference helps raise your profile in the community and grow your audience.

I really appreciate the hosts put their time and effort in the shows for the blogging events. Lots of work and effort are needed to keep up with the posts, updates and what ever it entails. I, myself am currently more a part taker than a caretaker. The benefits of the events are the sense of community, valuable feedback and of course, more visibility.

As for myself being a host to any such event: If and when I am ever blogging as a full time paid blogger, then I will seriously consider hosting some events.

But, until such time, feel free to invite me to your event, I am in whether writing or photography or maybe even something different!

Current events as a part taker by Rantings Of A Third Kind:

The Clinic – Photo Rehab hosted by Lucile DeGodoy

‘CAMERA LUCIDA’ hosted by Julia

Challenge by SYLVAIN LANDRY
“Selfie”

“A rotating challenge” by invitation from Lucy Danvers from Ice Coffee Couture
FREE STYLE WRITING CHALLENGE: WHAT WOULD YOU DEFINE AS THE TURNING-POINT OF YOUR LIFE?

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Flower Power

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Poetry and Photography

“The earth laughs in flowers” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Flower Power

My eyes fixated
Almost sated
Admiring the colours
And the odors
Of those precious things
Making my heart sing
Glad I saw you today
You really saved my day
Click on the images for higher resolution

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Replaced by Metal

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“Life is short, fragile and does not wait for anyone. There will NEVER be a perfect time to pursue your dreams and goals”

Replaced by Metal

Today I saw it
The huge chunk of metal
Replacing my joint
I almost shifted gear
Just out of fear
Making my stomach churn
Pushing the pedal to the metal
And making u-turn
While running away
But wait, please stay
Easy as pie it would be
So at least they told me
While they operate
You get to lie in bed
Take a short nap
No mishap
While the pros
Do their chores
Unconscious, unaware
So, there really is no scare!

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Related posts: Fixing it & Invincible

Peekaboo, I see You

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Poetry and Photography

“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night” Steve Martin

Peekaboo, I see You

Hey you, yellow dot
Up in the sky
Why are you trying to hide
Come on, shine through
And give us some hot
Give us the groove
I know you got
Plenty to share
So just dare
And let some warmth
Into our hearts
Before the storms
Show up for their parts

Click on the images for higher resolution

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Blogging 201: Day Six: Dig Deep into a Social Network

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“The Internet destroyed most of the barriers to publication. The cost of being a publisher dropped to almost zero with two interesting immediate results: anybody can publish, and more importantly, you can publish whatever you want.” Dick Costolo

Blogging 201: Day Six: Dig Deep into a Social Network

Today’s Assignment: pick one social network you’ll use to help grow your blog. Then, outline a plan for how you’ll use it.
Why do this?
• Because blogging is about building a community, and other social networks have ready-made communities.
• Because social networks are a great place to continue tangential conversations and experiment with content. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn…where to start? A big brand might use every single one, but a big brand also has a social media department. You have the Department of You, so be selective.

I went “social media” the first day of my blog: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, 500px, LiveJournal, Tumbler, Pinterest, Google+ and LikendIn.

All the posts published are sub-posted on these sites. I am getting followers from all these sites and even feedback given through them or email. I don’t see a blog surviving without the social media, with the good and the bad which it contains. I have said it in the past and will say again: I have a love-hate relationship with the social media, but as the old adage goes: Better the Devil you know 😉

Related posts:
Blogging 201, Day Four: Give ‘Em What They Want
Some Social Media Bullshit

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Serial Sundays

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“There are no heroes. No villains. Only people with different agendas” Stick, Daredevil

Serial Sundays

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Serial Sundays!

For the posts related to Serial Sundays, The Rantings Of A Third Kind will be presenting stories published every week during, well Sundays of course 😉

The first series posted is the continuing saga of the Treasure Hunters. A tale of time travelling, change of identities and a little adventure on the side. Parts one and two were originally published for the Writing 101 challenge. Today the story will continue with part three.

Please find the links to currently available posts:

The Treasure Hunters, Part One
The Treasure Hunters, Part Two
The Treasure Hunters, Part Three

Enjoy!

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