How Are You Doing?

Has anyone bothered to ask you that question lately?

I wrote a personal article in response to this writing exercise (I need the writing practice myself & wanted to vent):

http://awomeninherthirties.com/2012/09/15/journey-to-happiness-saturday-writing-exercise/

Saturday Writing Exercise (in a post – on your blog):

Main idea of the post: Your diagnosis/illness (physical or mental)

Things I would love to know about you in today’s post:

  • Diagnosis (how it came to be)
  • Doctors (who diagnosed you)
  • How do you deal with the diagnosis?
  • What meds were you prescribed (unless too personal for your blog)
  • Do the meds help you?
  • What are the negatives of the meds?
  • What are the positives of the meds?
  • Do you apply any natural remedies along with the medication or only use natural remedies?
  • If you use natural remedies, what are they?
  • How does the diagnosis make you feel on a daily basis?
  • Do you have a support system in place?
  • What have you learned to help you emotionally deal with your illness/recovery process? Example: journaling etc.
  • How are you doing at present?
  • What is the conclusion on your treatment(s)? Are the treatments (meds, therapy, or other working?)
  • How are you doing?

You can place a comment here or back-link to this post if you wish, though not necessary.

If the above questions are too personal for you to write about, I completely understand.

Happy Saturday!

:)

Posted: Saturday, September 15, 2012

Liz’s Unwanted Blogging Advice: Chapter 1

 

Everyone  knows by now that Liz loves to give out b*tchy, and often unwanted advice, on every subject on the planet earth, well even subjects that are not of the planet earth. I have scrolled through the reader (hate it) lately, and thought I would give out some more of my lovely and unwanted blogging/writing advice.

First, I want to say to WordPress that the reader does not update nearly fast enough, and is a huge pain in my a*s, and a waste of my time. People will often edit their posts, but the reader doesn’t catch up quickly enough. I then write a comment, and the reader says, “no, cannot post comment.” What a pain?

Let’s get started, shall we?

1.  Over-posting: Meaning, if you write fifty posts per day, I and most others, will not follow your blog. We do not have time to read fifty posts per day, not to mention it is very aggravating on the WordPress Reader when your blog takes up the entire reader.

2 . Your education:  I think it is wonderful that you are furthering your education. However, the world does not need an update on the status every single day. Perhaps, once a month would be great. I have seen posts where the person is actually posting a daily update on how they are doing in college, in every class. This person is getting zero comments.

3.  Parenting posts: I am a parent. There are no “new” parenting thoughts that I have yet to read on a single blog post, not even my own, in my “parenting” category. If you do not believe me on this one, please do a poll, readers will tell you they dislike parenting posts (most of them).

4.  Crafts:  Most people enjoy craft posts. Why? Craft posts teach the reader a new technique, a cheaper way of doing something, and the photos are interesting.

5. Photo Challenges: I love photography and the photo challenges. My opinion on the challenges is as follows:  if you are going to enter into a photography challenge more than once a week, I would set up a “category” for the challenges or start a separate photography blog using one of the wonderful photography themes that WordPress.com has to offer. The photography themes have “autofocus” which enhances  the photos. There are incredible, free photography themes.  The photography blogs can be set up in no time, they are very user-friendly.   Why does Liz think this way? If I go to visit your blog, and all I see is photos, day after day, what am I able to discuss? However, if you have a specific category for the photo challenges, I often take a look at the photos and enjoy wishing people the best of luck, and enjoy looking at photography.

The logic behind the above about photo challenges (in more detail) is as follows:

  • Sometimes people like to read articles and comment
  • Sometimes people like to just look at art or photography
  • Depends on the mood of the person

Thus, the “photo challenge” category or custom menu is a good idea in Liz’s book of unwanted blogging advice.

6.Recipes - WordPress Bloggers LOVE recipes! Why? I don’t know, we just do (myself included). Recipes are just always new and fun. I love reading recipes and looking at the photos, and so do MANY other bloggers.

7.Copy-Cats: Yes, we noticed….awww, you thought no one noticed did you? We saw that  you basically copied another bloggers post and put it in your own words, but did not give the other blogger any credit. I noticed it straight away on the reader, thus your lack of followers or comments. Please keep in mind WordPress Bloggers are not the average writers. WordPress Bloggers are intelligent, meaningful readers and writers.

WordPress is NOTHING like Tumblr or Facebook, you cannot pull the “copy-cat” tricks on this site, and get any respect from other writers. Make a note that there are actually famous journalist and writers, that write here on WordPress.com. So, if you are one of “those” copy-cat people just tumble back on over to Tumblr please, and start clicking some buttons. Thank you, harsh I know. Truth? Yes?

Liking Posts: I only visit blogs that comment here on Eccentric, not likes. Why? I have been “duped” by way too many spammers that hit the “like” button. You will get much more traffic if you follow and comment on other blogs that you enjoy. However, I ‘like” the “likes.” Just do not visit sites based on people liking a post, I only visit sites if they comment or if I follow the blog, and enjoy a post.

Liz will visit and comment on your posts: if you leave a comment – not a “like.” Many other bloggers on WordPress feel the same way, due to the spammers “liking” posts.

What to do if you like a post: Comments are the best way to express if you “like” a post, in my opinion.

WordPress: (to reiterate again) Please fix the reader, so it updates more quickly when people edit their posts! I don’t enjoy writing a long comment to just get the message, “you cannot comment on this post now.” Then, I scroll down the reader only to find an updated version of the same post. What a waste of time?

That sum’s up my unwanted blogging advice for the day.

:)

 

 

 

 

Blogging Challenge Update

The writing challenge (see link below) has been extended to October 1.

Writing such reports takes much time to research, edit, gather photos, write and post. Such research takes much time.

Best of luck, and hopefully this challenge gives everyone some great writing ideas!  This is no easy challenge, that’s for sure.

http://awomeninherthirties.com/2012/08/29/blogging-challenge-can-you-win/

Happy blogging!

:)

Blogging Challenge: Can You Win?

Challenge: Write a report/essay/informational post on an important event in history or historical person.

Winners: Eccentric will promote the post on eccentric’s front page as “sticky” for one month and put you on the blogroll as a “10″ spot indefinitely. What does this mean? Increased traffic and comments for your blog. You will also receive an award and be able to post it to the sidebar of your blog.

To enter the challenge: Write the post (please read earlier post on eccentric “report posts vs. Wikipedia”), Then place a link at the end of your post to Eccentric, if you do not see the link show up in the comments section, please send me a comment with a link to your post.

Placement of the link immediately notifies me, and your post will be reviewed the same day.

Winners: The winner will be chosen on October 1.

Happy blogging, hopefully this challenge gives some new writing ideas!

Challenge Cup trophy

Writing Challenge

Happy Blogging!

Related Articles:

http://awomeninherthirties.com/2012/08/29/blogging-steps-of-eccentric/ (report writing examples and steps)

Blogging Etiquette: Great Post by TimeThief

http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/03/16/basic-netiquette-for-beginner-bloggers/

Blogging etiquette or netiquette for new bloggers.

Great Post by Timethief!

 

 

How to get more traffic…blog

Do you want more traffic on your blog?

BLOG IDEAS

BLOG IDEAS (Photo credit: owenwbrown)

There are certain “etiquette” rules about blogging, such as:

  • When someone comments on your page, comment on their page
  • If a blogger follows your blog, follow their blog
  • It is rude to place a link to your blog in a comment
  • Comments – actually read the post, it is rude to take up space just to say a vague comment
  • Comments – If you did not have time to read the post, click the “like” button
  • Links – Bloggers love it when you put a link to their post on your page! (on a related subject)
  • Pictures – do not put pictures on your blog that have a copyright. Download Zemanta to get links and pictures that are not copyrighted.

Themes

  • I prefer a theme that is simple, where you can find the “like” and “comment” buttons quickly. Who likes to search around a site for the “like or comment” buttons?
  • Be sure to go to Dashboard-Appearance-Widgets and move the comments widget to the sidebar.
  • People like to see their comments on your site, without having to click on the comments button. This drives traffic to their site. See how my home page shows the comments on the side?
  • You can also move text widgets to the sidebar that show text, and any other items you would like to show on the sidebar.
  • Site Stats – Recommend removing this widget from your site! Why? It intimidates new bloggers and it just feels like I am bragging to people. Plus, I don’t want to blog for hits, right? Blogging is a fun hobby! If you are a new blogger, seeing that widget can bring you down each time you start to blog!
  • Blog Titles – Use titles that draw people in, not too long. Exciting titles!

Writing Tips – (to get more traffic)

  1. Indent paragraphs – unless informational post with bullet points
  2. Put lines between paragraphs for easy reading. Keep in mind most people read from a Smartphone.
  3. Think about making the font larger, so readers do not have to squint to read your blog.
  4. If all of your posts are generally “negative” be sure to add some “happy” posts sometimes. I like to read a mix of happy and sad. That’s just me.
  5. Pictures – I like sites with pictures, but not overkill on the pictures, unless it is a travel or photography blog.
  6. A perfect example of a perfectly written blog is http://invisiblemikey.wordpress.com/. See the writing? Isn’t it easy to read? See how Mikey has lots of pictures but writing in between? However, on his more serious blogs he has less pictures or no pictures. Take a look at all his blogs, they are a great example!
  7. Try to write in the present tense, use the proofreader to help with this, and spell check.
  8. Make a blogging schedule, to write on different topics each week or day etc.
  9. Technology and “how to” blogs are hot right now. Travel blogs are also hot topics.
  10. Tip: Facebook is one of the top searches on Google.

Traffic

You will get more traffic by doing the following:

  • Blog title – Google the most searched words, and put these in your title. This allows the search engines to find your blog. Use Exciting Titles! Not too long or too negative. Draw the reader in to “click” on your post.
  • Refresh your post. You can actually change the date of your post to the current date, and it will be “refreshed” and shown as a new post on WordPress in the “tags” section
  • Use Zemanta to post WordPress.com links to WordPress.com sites at the bottom of your blog. This is called a “referral.” This will drive traffic to your site. Use links that are related to the subject. You will get tons of traffic this way!
  • Be nice in your blogs – do not discriminate against any group
  • Blog consistently, doesn’t have to be everyday, but often.
  • Follow comments you have made and comments others have made on your post. Respond to all comments if possible.
  • Tags – use tags that will be easy for search engines to find your blog, and other WordPress users. Installing Zemanta will help. Do not choose too many tags.
  • Make your blog PG or G, as Mikey suggests in the comment section of this post.
  • Do no embarrass any person or group – See Mikey’s comments. Editing my blog now. Thanks Mikey!
  • Go to Forum-Showcase and you can advertise your blog there.
  • Comment on as many blogs as possible, but read the blog.

E-mailing Bloggers – Do not recommend e-mailing bloggers, unless they ask you to in a comment. However, see Mikey’s comments on the subject. Mikey is a “seasoned” blogger.

The best WordPress blog I have read regarding blogging is: http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/popular-posts/  She knows everything about WordPress, traffic, blogging. You name it and she has a “how to” on the website! I wish I would have read all of the posts on this site a long time ago!

This is all I have learned so far, does anyone know any other “Blogger Etiquette” or rules?

Image representing Zemanta as depicted in Crun...

Image via CrunchBase

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