Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tips for bloggers

I often get emails from new bloggers looking for advice on how to gain readers, what to write about, etc. Here are my top tops for ALL bloggers (new and old):

1. HAVE AN EMAIL ON YOUR PROFILE! It is so easy to create a gmail or yahoo email address for your blog. Add your email to your profile by going to your Dashboard (when you sign in to your blog). Then hit Edit Profile. Click Show my email address. Your username (the email you used to create the blog) DOES NOT need to be the same as the email shown on your profile! Why this is important: if you comment on someone's blog with a question, they can reply to you DIRECTLY if you have an email associated with your profile! If you don't then it says reply to no-reply@blogger.com (or something like that). If you don't want to show your address on your profile then list it on your actual blog!!! I get frustrated when someone asks me a question and they have no email listed!

2. Schedule posts IN ADVANCE that post AUTOMATICALLY! When I first started reading blogs (and writing my own posts) I just couldn't see how people were writing these super creative posts at 6 AM. EVERY MORNING! Then I found out you can schedule posts in advance! I often don't have time during the week to blog. But there might be a Sunday afternoon when I can write 2-3 posts. So I just schedule them to post AUTOMATICALLY the following week (when I won't have time to write something the day of).
To do this: When you are writing a blog post go to Post Options (bottom left, just above Publish Post). Change the date to whatever date you want this post to be published. Then hit Publish Post. You can find the scheduled post under Edit Posts (Posting Tab)

3. Use something like Statcounter or Google Analytics to see how many readers you have, how they are finding your blog, what posts are most popular etc.

4. Under Settings, Allow Blog Feeds: choose FULL. This way readers see your WHOLE post if they are reading through google reader, etc. I do not like when people only have part of the post (Short). Full is best!

5. For new bloggers: Comment, comment, comment! Comment about what the post is about! DO NOT comment with something like "I am a new blogger. Come read my blog." It is fine to write that but connect it back to the blog you are reading: "I just started blogging and would love your opinion on the nautical dress I found." At least attempt to sound interested in the blog you are reading! We are all guilty of doing this when trying to advertise a giveaway or promotion-make sure you aren't spamming and actually commenting on the blog post too.

26 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for all of the advice! I'm a new blogger and I will definitely use all of it for sure! I love your blog by the way!
    Nautical-ness is my favorite!!
    OoXx-The Sailor in Pink

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  2. This is not a dig at you but it makes me so sad when people's blogs "blow up" and they stop commenting. You always make it a point to comment on other peoples blogs and it irritates me when some of my favorite bloggers stop commenting on mine.

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  3. great tips- i am just starting my blog- ctcupcake.blogspot.com
    and these will be helpful!

    I've been a n by n reader for awhile

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  4. Great post!

    And Gracie Beth, I totally second that thought!

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  5. Good tips! I also get annoyed when someone doesn't have any contact email on their blog. I want to say hi to you!! :)

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  6. These are so great :) Scheduling posts is my lifesaver!! xoxo

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  7. Great tips! You have long been one of the most conscientious bloggers and thoughtful commenters. If not for your support early in my blogging days I probably would have abandoned.

    Thanks for passing on your wisdom!

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  8. Thanks so much for this! I just used the scheduled post option. SO helpful!

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  9. I love that google analytics idea. I never thought of using it for the blog. thanks so much!

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  10. I love these types of posts. It's nice to get an idea of what's working for other bloggers. Even though I've been blogging for years (I have an older, personal blog full of funny anecdotes about my life), The Coastal Chicster is the first blog I've ever written and tried to promote. I'm enjoying it so far, but it's hard work! :) Thanks for the valuable advice.

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  11. Thanks for sharing your tips and suggestions. My blog is still in the thinking stage and I appreciate having this information. I think I'm going to use WordPress instead of blogger, but, who knows?!

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  12. Thanks for the tips! I was wondering how everyone found time to write every day.

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  13. Great tips. And I totally agree with you Gracie Beth. It seems like some of the larger blogs have gotten popular because of being featured on other blogs, so reaching out for cross-marketing opportunities is probably a good idea too. Like "hey, I know something about this and if you'd like me to do a guest post, I'd love to...or something along those lines."

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  14. Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for this post! I had no clue about the "schedule post" option but that will be awesome to use in the future! I have blog post ideas come through my head like 12x's/day! Now I know how to sort through those! :)

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  15. I found your blog through Blue-Eyed Bride. Great advice for new bloggers! I am definitely going to put these tips to use. Thanks!

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  16. I remember the excitement I had when I figured out how to "auto-post." Thanks for the tips!

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  17. Great tips! Thanks so much! I can definitely use those as I'm one month into my blog.

    Any tips on how I can use Picasa to make inspiration boards? I can't seem to figure it out!

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  18. Thanks for the tips! I'm a new blogger so these will definitely come in handy :)

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  19. Thanks for the advice. I'm a very new blogger and I think this will help! I've already put into action the email suggestion!

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  20. Oh my gosh, I've always wondered how to do the scheduled posts!!! thanks for sharing this tip =)

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  21. fabulous post! You are right on with all your points...and the schedule thing was a major moment for me too :)

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  22. Thank you Kate! That was SO helpful!!!

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  23. Thanks for the great tips! I still haven't figured out how to make my settings to "full" but I will keep looking.

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    Replies
    1. In your blogger dashboard: Go to Settings. Under Settings click Other. You'll see Allow Blog Feed, select Full

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