Thank you for all of your wonderful e-mail questions. I would like to respond in a post. I am flattered you thought to ask me such blogging questions!

Question:

How can I think of new blogging ideas?

Answer:

I read many quotes from a quotes app, have read many books. I also talk to people – a lot of people. I go out of my comfort zone to get ideas.

Question:

How can I get more traffic?

Answer:

Comment on a ton of posts. Read the entire post, and comment thoughtfully. I recommend getting the iPhone from Craigslist, and downloading the WordPress app. The app is wonderful. Write your posts that make for ease of reading, short paragraphs etc. People have a hard time reading if the paragraph is too long.

Question:

How do I get more comments?

Answer:

Blogroll (see directions below). The bloggers on the blogroll are usually my regular commenters. Stay connected with commenters, answer comments quickly via the WordPress app. Comment on as many posts as possible. If a blogger comments, respond in a thoughtful manner.

Example: Read a long post yesterday, and wrote a long comment in response. The author’s response was, “thanks for the words.” My comment was almost as long as the post. Do you think I will comment again on his blog?

Question:

How can I get more followers?

Answer:

Put the “follow” widget on your blog, and an about page, with a photo. This makes your blog more human. A plug-in to Facebook or Tumblr is also a great idea, and is easy to do on WordPress.com. Blog on a regular basis.

Question:

What is a good theme?

Answer:

Please keep in mind many readers have eye problems. Choose a theme that has large writing in the post and comments. This is essential. People will not read, if they have to squint. The theme should also complement your personality. I recommend adding your own pictures to the header and doing a random header, that changes with each click. Headers of a “nature” variety are also wonderful, and draw the reader’s attention.

Question:

What is the best way to promote another blogger?

Answer:

Blogroll. First, go to Dashboard-Appearance-widgets-move links widget to the sidebar. Then, go to Dashboard, links, add a link, copy and paste link of bloggers site & add their name, click blogroll (at the bottom in category), then update link. A blogroll is essential for a successful blog.

Question:

Why is blogging better than Facebook?

Answer:

Facebook is the most unsecure site I have ever dealt with, WordPress.com is a safe site from spammers and hackers.

Question:

What ticks off other bloggers?

Answer:

Example: You write a post and receive 10 comments. You then decide to delete the post. This deletes every comment from other bloggers.

Needless to say, they will not visit your site again. Why? They took much time to write those comments and you deleted them. Took me a long time to realize this fact.

If someone comments on that post it is a good idea to keep it on your blog. Bloggers spend much time commenting, if you delete your posts too often, bloggers tend to not re-visit your site.

I learned this the hard way by being cursed out in e-mails. However, if you have zero comments on the post, delete it if you wish. If you have comments, I would not recommend deleting the post, but rather editing the post.

Found a step by step site, that I am going to use to make changes:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/40-most-wanted-wordpress-tricks-and-hacks/

Great tech tips in the above site!

It is your blog, you may do as you wish. These are my experiences and opinions, answering questions I have received via e-mail from bloggers over the past week.

I am not an expert blogger, haven’t been blogging very long – still learning myself.

Hope this helps.

Liz

Sources:

http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/popular-posts/

My own brain…..