washwords

From my guest post on the fabulously on-topic, helpful and well-done Sharp Words…

So you’ve built your blog - whether for fun, for profit or “just because” — but is anyone reading it? Consider these 5 steps to bring not only readers (hits) but returning, interested, active readers to your blog time and again.

Note that is a 101 course - I’m still learning myself (and may come back when I know more) - and it is meant to help you bring readers to your blog, not necessarily to sell a product or market another service through your blog. While these tips should apply to bloggers at any level, they may be of most use to those looking to maximize their blogs on a hosted service (wordpress.com or blogger.com) for example or those new to the world of self-hosting.

Step 1: Umm, what is this blog about? Determine the purpose of your blog in 10 words or less. Duh, right? But many people (cough! cough! Me, Washwords, until a month or so ago) haven’t taken the time to answer the basic “what is this blog about?” if you don’t know, how can your readers know and how will they know if they want to stick around or post comments or subscribe? Read more »

In “Jealousy Isn’t Always An Ugly Emotion | BlogHer” BlogHer contributing editor Rita Arens writes about some of the jealousy she sees cropping up in the blogosphere, in particular among her fellow “mommy bloggers” or at least female bloggers.

In particular, I was struck by people’s jealousy of “famous bloggers.” Arens describes (incredibly well and demonstrating an incredibly healthy psyche) her reaction to an email that asked how she and other big-time BlogHers could go on writing “as if they were normal people” when so clearly they weren’t - there were celebrities! The emailer writes

if someone’s blog became popular or famous because they were writing about their “normal” or “mundane” life, how do they continue to make money off of their blog when their life is certainly nothing like it was when the blog first became famous?

Regarding this email, Arens comments (again, verrry verry healthy woman here, Read more »

So this one goes out to all my bloggy pals, wanna-be-bloggers, those who like any of the following things: money, the interweb, blogging, internet marketing.

Nope I get nothing for this. Nope, there’s no cost, charge, catch or other craziness. This is simply a program started by now Internet Supastahs, Ed Dale and Dan Raines to teach we newbies about internet marketing.

The Thirty Day Challenge

What’s the challenge: You will make $10 online in 30 days. (Okay 31, who’s counting?)

[Caption]

Why am I telling you? I stumbled upon this a little over a month ago. I literally can’t remember how. I signed up, did the “preseason” and learned a TON (how to use social marketing tools like twitter, friendfeed; how to find people out in cyberspace with like interests/goals, professional backgrounds; the best way to keep track of all the blogs I like to read, how to start thinking about a blog on my own domain, launching a podcast, employing video.) Besides which I “met” some great friends (and a hillarious, patient, great teacher in Ed Dale, Australian web-preneur. And have participated in some wonderful conversations about the future of journalism, new media, old media, Washington, writing (my personal interests or “niches.”) You could do the same for whatever you’re into.

Yes, these guys have a product that the “rest of the year” they try to sell, but not in August. Not to you. Nor will I.

Thirty day challenge starts today, August 1. I recommend perusing the pre-season cheat sheet, joining the forums and letting me know you’re there, too. It can be a bit overwhelming

Can’t wait to see ya there.

Rate this:

2.8 (1 person)