A Post about Blogging
I’m not an expert.
I’m often at a loss for post ideas, and I am constantly making design and layout changes. I would be a lot worse off if I didn’t stumble on some excellent resources. Some of my favorite bloggers have generously shared their tips on making your blog the best it can be.
Does your blog need some help? Do you have tips of your own to add? Please send me the link or add it to the comments. Now read some of my favorite posts for blogging help or inspiration:
Writing:
Writing is first for a reason. Your content is the most important part of your blog. You may have a beautiful design, but if you don’t produce quality, consistent content, whether it be great posts, photos, recipes, etc., people aren’t going to come back.
Writing Great Blog Posts:
12 Essential Blogwriting Tips for Building a Successful Blog, from Write to Done
18 Resources to Help you Write Better Blog Titles, from Blogussion
5 Ways to Make your Posts More Readable, from NateWhitehill.com
Writer’s Block?
31 Ways to Find Inspiration for your Writing, from Write to Done
100 Ways to Find Ideas for your Blog Posts, from Steve Aitchison, LifeSnips
Need Practice? Want someone else to give you a topic?
The One-Minute Writer
Write or Die
Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, from Mama’s Losin’ It {updated}
Design:
Blog Design and Sidebars and Pages, from Playgroups are No Place for Children
Blog Promotion and building traffic:
5 Ways to Decrease Blog Traffic and Kill your Community, from Angela England, via Blissfully Domestic
How Not to Comment, from Scary Mommy
Turning one-time visitors into repeat readers, from Absolutely Bananas
Time Management:
This is the area where I have the most trouble. I get online to write a post and I get sucked into Twitter, tweaking my blog, Facebook, etc. I recently put together a schedule that I am trying my hardest to stick to. It calls for posting 3-4 times per week, reading and commenting on blogs in my reader, blog tweaking, and socializing. So far, so good.
Fitting blogging into your life without losing your mind, relationships, and waistline, from Absolutely Bananas
Time Management in the Blogosphere, from Playgroups are No Place for Children
Social Media:
Twitter:
Twitter Etiquette: A guide to getting unfollowed, from Scary Mommy {This just about sums it up. Don’t be annoying on Twitter. It’s as simple as that.}
StumbleUpon:
10 Simple Steps to Increase Blog Traffic via StumbleUpon, from How to Make my Blog
StumbleUpon is like Crack, by me!
How to Write Posts that Set StumbleUpon on Fire, by Skellie on ProBlogger
Want more info? Check out:
5 Essential Pieces of Advice for the New Blogger, Absolutely Bananas
Blog Tips, Playgroups are No Place for Children
Bloggingbasics101
Blogussion
How to Make my Blog: for those using the Thesis theme for WordPress
Write to Done
Please visit these great bloggers for so many more bits of helpful advice. I couldn’t possibly fit in all the great posts they have written.
What other tips or posts have read that worked for you? Please share in the comments.
Related posts:
Posted by LZ on January 11, 2010
Filed under: Daily Life
Tags: blog tips, writing tips
Leave a Reply
-
Subscribe by Email
Shop!
-
Blog & banner design by
-
January 11, 2010
Regarding the art of writing great blog entry titles… it’s not just about getting your readers’ attentions. Depending on your site’s code, it’s also a very important element considered for natural search (to my knowledge).
The key is to find that post headline that interests your readers, and can get found on Google too.
Norm — Meet In the Lobby´s last blog ..Before You Go: Weekend Trailers and Reviews 01.08.10
Reply to This Comment
LZ replied:
January 11th, 2010
Good point! I’ll try to find and article that talks about titles and how they relate to searching/SEO and indexing. Thanks!
Reply to This Comment
January 11, 2010
I rarely put much thought into the titles or anything. I guess it would be WAY better if I did, and went through some writing help. Thanks for the links to ideas!! pretty cool sources!!
ann´s last blog ..How many?
Reply to This Comment
January 11, 2010
Twitter: HaBryerton
This is probably an understatement…but, my blog could probably use some help. It is in desperate need of a face lift. And, the content, well, thank goodness my kid takes such cute photos…because we all know that this mommy’s writing will never pay the bills. LOL
HaB´s last blog ..Good Intentions
Reply to This Comment
LZ replied:
January 11th, 2010
Mine, too! I’ve read all of these tips and tried to incorporate them in somehow, but I’m ready for a complete overhaul.
Reply to This Comment
January 11, 2010
I’m in the middle of a blog makeover myself. It’s being done for me so I hope it comes out ok. But all of the sudden one day…I just decided I’m sick of how it looks!
blueviolet´s last blog ..Boys Will Be Boys And That’s Not Good
Reply to This Comment
January 11, 2010
Thank you for sharing this!! It’s all very helpful information!
Helene´s last blog ..A sense of humor is key….
Reply to This Comment
January 11, 2010
It’s just never ending is it? Blogging takes up SO much time. I guess that’s a bad thing. Must scale back. Must scale back. I keep telling myself that.
Think I’m going to take a rest and read all this great info you’ve posted…
Amanda@BrilliantSulk´s last blog ..It’s Question and Answer Time Again
Reply to This Comment
January 11, 2010
Great info!
Um, am I a nerd if I say that I blog for myself & while I absolutely LOVE comments I sometimes enjoy other people’s blogs more?
Sues2u2´s last blog ..Help me, Rhonda! and maybe a little tmi
Reply to This Comment
January 12, 2010
Twitter: hereslizz
I will have to bookmark the ones for blogging ideas!!!! Sometimes I just stare at the screen blankly and drool.
LizzB (@hereslizz)´s last blog ..Happiness is a warm….
Reply to This Comment
January 12, 2010
Twitter: SassyModernMom
So much information!
I’m quite like you and need to work on my time managment. I would love to comment o every blog I read every day…just not practical!
Great tips:)
ModernMom´s last blog ..Nominate Me?
Reply to This Comment
January 12, 2010
Great resources, LZ! Thanks so much – I will use them!
Where do you get your great graphics such as the one above?
Natalie at Mommy on Fire´s last blog ..“Pay It Forward” at Target
Reply to This Comment
January 12, 2010
Fantastic post! Thanks so much for this. I’m going to come back and go through it later when the kids are in bed.
Lady Mama´s last blog ..Happy first birthday sweet boy
Reply to This Comment
February 4, 2010
Great resources! It’s going to take me forever to get through them all.
Oh and I’d like to offer up my weekly writing activity to help with the writer’s block issues.
Every week I host a Writer’s Workshop…lots of fun!
Mama Kat´s last blog ..Writer’s Workshop: Open Letter To Grumpy Bear
Reply to This Comment
LZ replied:
February 5th, 2010
Yes! Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop – Thanks for the reminder! I’m going to update the list to reflect it.
Reply to This Comment
February 5, 2010
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by MyMessyParadise: New post on My Messy Paradise! Blog Yourself Silly http://bit.ly/5laQWz:...