“Writing is the only way I have to explain my own life to myself” Pat Conroy
An Homage to Bloggers
The blogging day is done
And the time has come
To finally move along
Maybe, even with a song
So let’s all keep blogging
Even while jogging
Do not believe in flopping
And around the www keep popping
Blogging 201, Day Ten: Give ‘Em What They Want, II
“Blogging isn’t about publishing as much as you can: It’s about publishing as smart as you can” Jon Morrow
Blogging 201, Day Ten: Give ‘Em What They Want, II
Today’s assignment: create a poll and/or a survey to collect feedback from your readers on your site and its content.
Why do this?
– Because data deepens your understanding of what readers love (or don’t love).–
– Because data can illuminate traffic drops and boosts you might see in your blog’s stats.
First off, thank you a great many for this excellent and interesting Blogging201 event. The assignments have been of interest and even needful for myself and I really have learnt a lot and gained new blogging buddies during the process too!
That being said, regarding today’s assignment:
I have had the illusion, in which blogging can be everything and nothing. You can be either a professional blogger or a writer posting your own thoughts, images, what have yous.
As for myself, I am mainly writing for myself. As for what ever else I do, photography, videography, songs, poetry, etc, I am truly happy if anyone else enjoys what I have to offer, but, I absolutely will not change my direction, my style or the things I do if there are those who do not like them. I will always try on new things, but that usually comes from within, not by suggestion. Well, that is not entirely true, someone may suggest something and I will pick up on that, but still do it my own way. I love prompts, but I usually do not follow the guidelines exactly, rather add my own twist to them.
Of course I am interested in statistics and how many likes I get, who wouldn’t be! But then again, you cannot always please everyone every time.
To summarize my ranting, polls and surveys are not for me, not for my current blog at least.
Related posts:
An Homage to Bloggers (Repost for Blogging 201)
Blogging 101, Commenting Bootcamp, Day Four: Try Respectful Disagreement
One of the best things about reading blogs is being exposed to ideas, experiences, and viewpoints you might not otherwise encounter — at some point, you’re bound to read something you disagree with.
Today, leave a comment that disagrees with a post’s premise or challenges a post’s ideas… but respectfully!
If we never engage with difficult ideas, we shrink the internet down into our own little echo chambers. Disagreement helps us hone our viewpoints, and can change a mind or show people their common ground.
Of course, disagreeing needn’t (and shouldn’t!) be mean-spirited. Visit The Commons for some guidelines on how to disagree in a kind, productive way. And if you’re not sure whether your comment is helpful or respectful, your co-bloggers in The Commons will happily provide a second opinion!
“Blogs are whatever we make them. Defining ‘Blog’ is a fool’s errand.” Michael Conniff
Respectful Disagreement?
Left a few comments
I tried to be honest
Even though I did promise
No one to torment
“I cannot agree with thee
I cannot see the same you see
Don’t be too angry with me
I was on a commenting spree
They said the truth will set free
I realize now it upset a wee
So let’s just agree to disagree
And maybe go out for a cup of tea?”
Blogging 201, Day Nine: The Buddy System
“All blogs have one faithful reader at least – Google bot”
Blogging 201, Day Nine: The Buddy System
Now, we want you to think about taking a friendship to the next level, so you’ll have that support once Blogging 201 ends. We know commitment can be scary, but it’s time.
Today’s assignment: find a blogging buddy. If appropriate, plan to publish guest posts on one another’s blogs.
If you don’t see guest posters as an option for your blog, that’s totally fine. You can find a buddy to lean on for feedback and support, minus the guest posting.
Why do this?
* Because your blogging buddy is sure to tell their friends and followers about their guest post on your site, bringing you some potential new followers and maybe even a traffic bump.
* Because collaborating spawns post ideas you can both use to fill out your editorial calendars.
* Because it’s always more fun to do something with a friend — especially a naturally community-oriented activity like blogging. You can laugh, make mistakes, teach one another, learn, and have fun supporting each other along the way.
Personally, I am happy to work solo for the moment. I already feel the overwhelming support and feedback given by my fellow bloggers and followers, which helps and encourages me to do even more. Ideas I have plenty of, but time, or rather lack there of, is the enemy. Working full time and running a blog as “a second job” is filling all my spare time quite nicely and then some. Therefore, concentrating on my own blog and checking out the other sites on the side will have to do for now.
Blogging 101, Commenting Bootcamp, Day Three: Ask Some Questions
It’s rare to read someone’s post and not have any questions at all. So ask!
Today, leave a comment in which you ask the blogger a relevant question or two.
People are naturally curious. From the first time we can enunciate the word “Why?” we question everything around us. Questions help us clarify, spark more ideas, and signal that we’re approaching whatever we’re reading with care.
Even the shortest post can provoke a question, from the substantive (“Why didn’t she tell him she still loved him!?”) to the simple (“What does that word mean?”)
Ask someone a question or two! Anything at all — just make sure it’s honest, and relevant.
“I blog, there for I am”
And now, for something completely different
I decided to turn the tables and answer a question rather than ask one.
Why?
Because, today I got this question when I posted my “800 followers marker”:
“Hi. I’m a new blogger. Just began two months ago.
The “800” tag is a big inspiration to continue writing.
Can you give me a few tips on how to go about it? Any help would be beneficial. Thanks!
The quote I chose for this blog also fits my current mindset.
I don’t remember a time I did not write or think about writing. The same goes for photography. Both near and dear to me since I was a toddler, almost, and now at fifty, I have once more concentrated on both things, with full force I might add!
I began my blog in February this year with one idea: Write about daily happenings with a humorous twist. The idea was to have a quote related to the storyline and a lessons learnt included. I did not blog often at first, but then I realized I could incorporate photography, poetry and other types of tales and homages, it all took off from there. And, I realized people were actually reading what I wrote. I guess the main inspiration came from taking part in my first Blogging U workshop and getting ideas and followers while socializing and sharing thoughts in the Commons.
But being social, reading and commenting on someone else’s blogs is only a part of the process. You have to actively give your audience more and often to make sure they return. I like to dabble in many things; poetry, fiction, quotes, songs even and yes of course, photography. I also have plans for a few videos, but that will be later. So many ideas, so little time!
I also have a theme for almost each week day and I take part in some of the challenges on some of the blogs regularly.
Unfortunately like most of us, I have the excuse of my “paying job” taking most of my energy during the week days, sometimes even weekends. That being said, I made a promise a while back to at least post one poem a day. And now, mid December, and almost a thousand posts later, I can say I have kept that promise! Not even the time spent in the hospital for my surgery stopped my posting: I had scheduled posts for all three days I was laying drugged up in the hospital bed 😉
To sum things up: Post, post, post and then some. Write from your heart and snap yourself or borrow pictures to add to the look and feel where possible.
Keep calm and keep blogging, always!
Celebration time on Rantings Of A Third Kind
“Developing your blog is a balancing act between appeasing current readers and reaching out to new ones.” Scribendi
800 Followers for Rantings Of A Third Kind
I am happy to announce a new milestone achievement today: A total of 800 readers are now following Rantings of a Third Kind!
A most sincere and huge thanks to all my readers!
Keep calm and keep on blogging!
Gun
Blogging 201: Day Eight: Make Your Blog a Hub
“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 making it.
On the “About” and “Biography” pages the social media links are presented in their own sections.
Those of you who have ventured to my blog and browsed about, may have noticed this page:
This page contain links where writers can find information on writing, submissions and other connection hubs. I also have a profile on the Stage32 hub.
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
Blogging 201: Day Seven: Make the Most of Events
“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, I’ll be there!
Blogging 101, Commenting Bootcamp, Day Two, Share a Personal Story
Blogging and commenting are about connecting. We connect with one another through stories.
Today, leave a comment in which you share a personal story about yourself.
When you tell a personal story, you show the original blogger a few things. First, that their post resonated with someone — something every blogger strives for — and second, that you’re ready to open up and engage in real conversation.
Share a personal story in a comment — something relevant to the original post.
Again, we encourage you to leave this comment on a blog where you’ve never engaged before. This just might be the start of a beautiful friendship!
“I plead the fifth”
Blogging 101, Commenting Bootcamp, Day Two, Share a Personal Story
For today’s assignment, I must “plead the fifth”.
Call it personality, call it national heritage (Finnish inherited personality), promoting myself shamelessly while enjoying someone else’s product is something which is not in my nature to do. If there is a funny anecdote to be shared, then that is fine, when the situation demands it. I have even written a comment in a poem to one of my favourite blogs, but sharing something truly personal on someone else’s blog, is really not me. Of course there are always exceptions to any rule.
What prompted this?
Definite “no-nos” from real life, which I have received as comments on my posts:
“Excellent story and colourful pics: now come and see my site…”
“Rant, rant, why I hate religion, rant, rant, nothing to do with your post, continued rant”
“I really don’t like black and white photographs”
I like to follow my dear departed Grandmother’s motto “If you haven’t gotten anything nice or constructive to say, shut the hell up!”
Keep calm and keep blogging, and commenting all!
Blogging 201: Day Six: Dig Deep into a Social Network
“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 LinkedIn.
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 😉
I have also reposted several bloggers’ posts, which I have found to be something to be shared to a wider audience and intend to continue doing so also in the future.
Related posts:
Blogging 201, Day Four: Give ‘Em What They Want
Some Social Media Bullshit
Rantings Of A Third Kind 