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| Intermediate Blogging Tips - Includes How to Add Photos & Spell Check! |
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So you have already read Blogging for Dummies and you are now ready to move forward. Some of these tips could probably have been on the "Beginner's" post, but it just got too long :) So here are few more thoughts I have put together. Please keep in mind, that much of this information is just my humble opinion. Please judge for yourself, what works and what doesn't.
Please keep in mind that although these tips may help increase your traffic, your goal is to glorify God by blessing others. I always like to ask the "What's my motive?" question. I think those of us who have marketing skills have to be especially careful we do not fall into the "promote me" trap. I joke around a lot about these things, but I really do want to see everyone achieve their personal best. Having said that, let's begin.....
How to Spell Check your Comments and Post:
Download Google Toolbar and you will see a "spell check" icon in the toolbar. You can spell check your messages, comments, post and basically anything that is web-based.
How to Post a Picture to Your Post or Comments:
Many of you have already figured this out, but it can seem difficult for the beginner. Many websites will allow you to copy and paste a picture directly from the site. To do this, simply right click on the picture and select "copy." Then go back to your post or comment, right click again, and select "paste." If this does not work, or you would like to post a personal picture, you will need to have the picture uploaded to a website like Flickr, Photobucket, or your MyChurch photo gallery. I personally use Flickr, and it works great! You can copy and paste away, once you have uploaded your photos. The tree icon is really just an added step, and I actually have much more success using copy and paste. Sorry "tree icon" creator :)
So you typed up your post and you would like to get the word out:
1.) Encourage readers to subscribe to your blog in your post. I have done this once or twice, not every post. If people subscribe to your blog, your post will show up on their homepage when you add a new post.
2.) Send out an occasional bulletin :) If you send out a bulletin to let your friend know that you have added a post this will increase your traffic. But if you send out a bulletin every time you add a post, you may loose a few friends :) Just keeping it real here. I have heard people complaining about this. As for me and my house :), I only send out a bulletin when it is a "help" post that might benefit the community. So I would carefully decide which ones you would like to get the added exposure. After all, now that we have the new “What’s Fresh” section, your friends will automatically see if you add a new post.
3.) If someone comments or stars your post, you can send them a friend request. This often encourages people to visit your page and check out your blog. Friends will also get your bulletins. And now with the “What’s Fresh” section your friends can see your latest post. And who knows, you may actually make a few friends along the way :)
4.) If you belong to a church, you can add your post to your church's blog. You will see this option just prior to making your post public, if you belong to a church here on MyChurch. Just click on "Add this blog entry to my church's blog (Your church's name will be here * requires approval*.) This will allow other members from your church to access your post via your churches homepage.
5.) If you add a post that does not get much attention, you may want to "beef it up" by making a few changes. Or you may want to "trim the fat" by making it a shorter, more readable post. After you make these changes your post will automatically go back on the active page. I would rarely use this tactic, since it can annoy readers J I really only make edits when I feel I have something else to add to the post, or if I find an error.
6.) Please be careful of your title choices. I have noticed that shocking titles get VERY little response. I will be honest with you, I don't comment on these post for one reason and one reason only; I don't want them to stay on the active page. I think others must be thinking the same thing, since they are rarely commented. If your title is shocking, please reconsider your choice.
What to post about, or not?
1.) What do I blog about? Here are some ideas: What has the Lord done in your life? Is there anything in the Word that He has revealed to you lately? Has anything exciting happened in your life? Did you find something funny/interesting (and clean) on the web? Have you been on any exiting trips? Bring it on!!! We would love to hear from you. Pictures, Videos, whatever you got; we want to hear all about it!!
2.) What do I NOT blog about? The obvious, is anything offensive. But I would also like to add: Please be careful of the gossip. How about asking yourself this question: "If I were to ask the person I am getting ready to write about, if I could say these things, would they say okay?" If not, zip it!! I don't know about others, but I leave post immediately when they contain gossip. It is one thing to say something bad about someone to others, but to post in on the Internet?? Come on people!! If you do feel the need to air out some one's dirty laundry, I would definitely conceal his or her identity. For example: Use words like "someone who is close to me", instead of "my father" or "my husband." Or you could say, "I will call this person Jane Doe to protect the guilty." Would you really want someone posting something negative about you over the Internet? Think about it!
To post or not to post:
1.) Now let's look at the topic of how often you should post. Since there really is no right or wrong answer here, I will simply fill you in on my approach. I try to only post once or twice a week. One reason I do this, is because of time. The other reason is that I feel that when people post too often, many of their post are overlooked. If someone post once a week, I will probably read that one post. But if they post 5 times a day, I will probably only pick one to read. I would rather spend a lot of time on one post, than a little bit of time on many. At the same time, you want to post often enough to keep your readers interested. You may loose a few readers, if you have a long dry span. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. Hope you don't mind me sharing :)
Feel free to ask any questions you may have. I will gladly attempt to answer them. If I can't, maybe someone else in the blogosphere can :) |
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Deb |
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July 29, 2007 at 6:39pm |
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| This is great Sue! Thanks for all the advice! You have helped me a great deal!!! |
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Thank you for the great advice.
I was really thinking about the people who like to blog daily or a lot. Like you said, I do not have the time to read all of them and sometimes I wish they'll give me enough time to absorb the last blog before I get to the new one, but then, you know what came to me??? That some people really need to use blogging as a mean of expressing their feelings that otherwise will be hidden in their heart. If that is the case, then blogg 'til you drop ;-) We might not be able to read all of their bloggs, but at least they'll be able to have a bit of a Catharsis every day. |  |
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Kathy |
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July 29, 2007 at 7:21pm |
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| Sue, I feel like I knew this blog before it was born! But it has grown and changed! :) Good helpful info! I added a link to here from my How To Get Around . . . blog! |
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Norm |
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July 29, 2007 at 7:22pm |
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Someone should tell that nut Stephen King to stop putting out some many books. Just think if he stopped, he would have more time to tell bedtime stories to his kids. (If that didn't strike you as funny think about how you'd like to have Stephen King tell your kids bedtime stories). |
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| Thank you Sue. I learned something today. |
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Sue |
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July 29, 2007 at 10:38pm |
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| Lourdes, I did want to add that I think it is a good thing that people post different amounts of times. Some post light hearted things several times a day. Some post more often to keep us up on current events. Some of our more deeper post are posted less often. It is great to have a mixture in the family! |
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Norm |
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July 30, 2007 at 5:22am |
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| I'd still like to know the purpose that most people have when posting. Honestly the ones I avoid the most are the ones where I feel like people are likely to be sermonizing. |
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Norm |
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July 30, 2007 at 5:23am |
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| Oh and I also tend to avoid the ones that seem to be done *just* to get stars. :) |
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| Hey, I am all for diversity in blogging ;-) |
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JoshMo |
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July 30, 2007 at 6:30am |
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| How do you put music on your blogs??? |
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Sue |
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July 30, 2007 at 7:55am |
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Josh, The only way I know that you can put music in your blog is by adding a video. You can't add a project playlist. Although I know Allen did this once, he has the keys to the back door, the rest of us don't have :) I tried like crazy and finally asked him about it. He said he did something that would allow him to add music to that one post. But you can add it to your profile page :) (That one was for Norm!)
Lourdes, I knew you agreed. I just wanted to clarify that I had nothing against someone who post more often. :) |
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Sue |
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August 09, 2007 at 2:54pm |
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| Any more questions? |
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| Thaks so much, Its always nice to see ground rules |
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Glenn |
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September 12, 2007 at 10:03am |
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Very useful info Sue, Thanks. I will have to go back and follow Kathy's link to see what she has written for us beginners.
peace
glenn |
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(Wow ! last comment Sept. 28 07)
Thanks Sue, for the info. |
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