Blog Tips #3

Time to continue our series of Blog Tips

Blogging Etiquette

Last time we talked about Design & Layout, and our first post was Commenting & Following. 

Commenting Etiquette 

I know you want new followers, and so do I. That's the whole part of linky parties. However, asking bloggers to follow you, is kind of rude. There are ways, that are much better to get fellow bloggers to follow you...a. 'Hi, I love this recipe, yum! I hope to see you around!
yournamehere.blogspot.com'
great comment, you talk about their content and you INVITE them to check out your blog without asking or begging!

b. I make sure that I write relevantly to their post. If it's a recipe, then I say how delicious it looks, if it's a post about traveling, then I talk about how I would love to go there, or how beautiful their pictures are. I think the most frustrating emails/comments I get are about me following someone back, and it has NO relevancy to my post or blog.

Responding to Comments
I take the time to respond to EVERY comment left on my posts. However, I can't respond, if its a no-reply email {like I previously discussed in the first blog tips post}.
 
I respond via email, the most effective way for bloggers to communicate besides comments. However, I don't want to have an entire conversation going on in my comments section. It's impersonal to the person I'm responding to. a. I often thank that blogger for visiting and commenting first, because I am truly thankful that they came to read my blog, and took the time to comment. b. I respond to their comment relevantly. I strike up a conversation with them.c. I make sure they can contact me back if needed. I include my name, email address, and the url for my blog. --------------------------------------------------------------------    So, as I said before, I'm no expert. However, I have read these tips, over and over again, but am still seeing bloggers who have not read them, or aren't taking them seriously.  These are tips that I, too, was not familiar with when starting my blog. I got several comments on my posts about how I need to update my email address and that it was too up front, and rude to ask other bloggers to follow me! Been there done that! I was a MESS!!!
Be kind to your fellow bloggers!

Blog Tips #2

Earlier this week we looked at Commenting & Following...

today, we're taking a look at 

Design & Layout

 

1. Don't CROWD your sidebars...for so long, I crowded my sidebars with JUNK! It's great advertising for others, and your work, however, it's distracting. You can widen your sidebars to look great and keep buttons and such on them without overwhelming readers. I'm so sorry for the people who have watched me grow over the past year on design, thank you for sticking with me! My design was AW-FUL! You live & learn right?

2. CLEANLINESS...Have a clean design and header. A crazy & loud background is distracting, especially a dark background with white text. I want to read  your content, not squint the entire time reading it. Your header needs to have the name of your blog on it as well, and not in funky text that I can't read. I want to know what your blog is about the moment I get to it. I want to feel invited to stalk your blog the moment I arrive.  The header is the FIRST thing fellow bloggers see, and it's their first impression of your blog. Make it clean cut, and to the point.

3. ABOUT PAGE...everyone needs one, whether its a personal blog, business blog, content specific blog, etc. I want to know about your blog and about YOU! You don't have to give out your name or ANY personal info. But, Oh how I love to see pictures of the authors, their families and pets...It gives me a lovely face to a lovely blog! I want you to OWN who you are!

4. THE MOST IMPORTANT...your content. The above things are simple and quite easy to fix, and really are just about presentation. Your content is so extremely important! I love seeing what people are making, cooking, diy-ing, etc. I want to see your travel pictures, and weather woes. I want to see those cute baby faces, and your weaknesses. I want to know what ticks you off, and what makes you happy! Think about it...why are you blogging? For you right? I hope so!

I have used the following websites, blogs, and programs to help develop my design:

Picnik—AMAZING photo editing program…and it’s FREE!!! You can also become a premium member at a really great price.

 

ColourLovers—see my background. It’s one image that’s 100px by 100px, just repeated. Through this website you can create your own patterns, and designs. Great for backgrounds on blogs, twitter, and scrapbooking.

 

Makin' Cute Blogs...please check them out, they have great tutorials that are easy and effective. Such as: Make a Custom Header with Picnik, Make a Custom Background with Colour Lovers.

Makin' Cute Blogs just posted about seamless pattern resources. It has 12 different websites you can go to. I haven't checked any of them out for myself. However I plan to do so. I love Colour Lovers, so I will probably compare these new sites to them! Enjoy!

   

Blog Tips #1

I've noticed recently that alot of the comments have been about my blog, the design, the warmth, and the content. I have some blog concerns on my mind, and figured a good one-on-one would be nice! So I started a new series, for mostly me to tell you about!
I have a few tips for new bloggers just sinking their feet into blogland!  I'm no expert or professional, but when I join a blog party and start my stalking spree, these are a few things that distract me from becoming a follower. I usually follow anyways, hoping that they will update. Because alot of times, they have great content!

 

COMMENTS

PLEASE update your email address in blogger...
When I get comments, and try to Reply to them, and I see the UGLY

noreply-comment @ blogger.com

it makes me sad...

I want to be able to write back to you, support you, encourage you and get to know you!

to FIX this, so that bloggers can respond to the comments you've left on their posts, follow these instructions:
 
1. Go to your Blogger Dashboard, the page you land on once you log in to Blogger
2. Click on 'Edit Profile' next to your user photo.
3. Scroll Down to 'Identity' (in orange)
4. Write your email address in the 'Email Address' space
5. Scroll down and click on 'Save Profile'

I wish blogger didn't make your email optional on this one. But they do, and they trick you when you first set up your account. Alot of new bloggers, and some experienced bloggers have NO idea about this until someone tells them! So I'm telling you now, go check. You WON'T get spam from it, in order for someone to get your email, they will have to click on your profile. Blogger has made it incredibly safe for you NOT to get spam!

 

My biggest pet peeve...ASKING ME TO FOLLOW YOU BACK!

{example: Hi, I'm a new follower and would enjoy having you follow me. Thanks!}

It's quite frustrating. I don't write and join linky parties just to be begged by new followers.
Now, If you send me a comment like the following:
'Hi, I love this recipe, yum! I hope to see you around!
yournamehere.blogspot.com'

Much better...see, it has a comment about my blog, it hints that you want me to check out your blog, and it has your blog url for me to find you, that way I'm not searching around blogland trying to respond. I give up, when I can't find you or email you. 


I want to follow people who actively participate in my blog. People who CARE about what I write, as opposed to people who care only that I'm just another 'follower'. I get that you took the time to visit and comment...BUT PLEASE COMMENT ABOUT MY POST OR BLOG, and don't beg me!

I do make it a priority to visit EVERY blogger that comments! I comment and spend some time reading their posts. I don't expect a response, but love when the authors do respond.

I will have a future Blog Tips post about ETIQUETTE...stay tuned.

Have fun with your blog...next post I'll have some design tips and websites to check out!