Disclaimer: In NO WAY do I feel qualified to give any sort of advice when it comes to writing improvement. My grammar is sketchy and my vocabulary is limited to words like “lame” and “awesome.”
Welcome back to class everyone! Did you all find a comfortable chair? You there…in the back? I don’t bite, you can sit right up front here!
Before I begin, I just want to say that I have read posts about WHAT people SHOULD and SHOULDN’T write on THEIR own personal blogs and almost all came off as pompous and arrogant. In NO WAY do I want to seem pompous or arrogant. These tips are merely things that have worked for ME.
Let’s begin! *clap, clap!* I think for easiest information digestion, I’ll just put these tips in list form. These are the things that I’ve done in relation to my writing that I think have helped increase my traffic.
1. Shorter paragraphs, with breaks between paragraphs are easier to read.
I cannot digest posts without paragraph breaks. They make me constipated.
2. If you’re seeking comments, talk about things that people relate to, include your readers in the conversation, ask them questions.
I like to think of Playgroups are No Place for Children as a sort of community blog. It’s not often that I write a post that is “deep,” but rather I write things that lots of parents would like to discuss also. Many of my posts ask questions or spur conversations, which I feel like creates an atmosphere where people feel comfortable commenting.
3. Let readers into your life. Be real, write from the heart with honesty.
4. Along the same line as letting people getting to know the real YOU, include pictures with your posts.
This certainly doesn’t apply to you if you would rather not post photos of yourself or your kids. Dooce had a great post recently that convinced me that posting pictures of my children is no worse than taking them in public to the grocery store where they’re exposed to LOTS more people than see this blog. I put a watermark on every photo of my children so that they are less desirable loot for picture stealing jerks. Also, after a post is no longer on my first page, I delete the photo from the post.
5. If you choose to use pseudonyms for your kids’ names, use a real name versus a cutesy name. It’s easier to relate to and follow their stories.
I have received quite a lot of positive feedback about changing my kids’ pseudonyms from Peanut and Shel to Carson and Ella.
6. Post frequently, but not too frequently. If you don’t show up to your blog, no one else will either…But! If you post three times a day, people are less likely to click through from their feed readers.
I’ve read some opinions that say you should ONLY post when what you’ve written is truly worthy of being read by others. Meh. I don’t necessarily agree. I’m well aware that all (most) of my posts are not award-winning works of art. It’s my blog and if there are some days that I don’t feel like honing my writing craft, but instead want to write a silly post, then I will.
7. Write about a variety of subjects.
I try to write about my kids one day, myself and my interests on other days, marriage occasionally, and anything else that strikes me as funny. I really do put thought into WHAT I’m going to post about, so that I don’t have twenty posts in a row about how irritating two and half year olds are.
If you have any writing related tips to share with the class, please leave them in the comments section.
Please…I beg of you! Please refrain from comments that sound like “Well MY biggest pet peeve about certain blogs is….” or “I’m too important to read about what you had for lunch!” Those kind of comments will give me stomach cramping.
Quick reminder…Blogging? It’s a hobby, no? We are allowed to write however and whatever we want on our PERSONAL blogs, right? Take these tips with an entire MINE of salt.
Is that the bell I hear? Class dismissed.
I enjoyed this post – I agree 100%. You even convinced me to click through from my reader.LOL
I still leave my pictures up. Oh well – they can steal them if they want them that bad.
Madness *swears* shes not a creepy stalker..shes only up at 7:00 am on a Saturday because Maxx is working today. Oh, thats right..ya’ll have wee-ones still, so being upright at 7:00 am on a Saturday doesnt seem all that strange to you..ok then.
Jennifer.. on the real though..when I realized that Id have some time *to myself* this morning I was all “Aces!! Jennifer’s posting another class today! Score!”
Im just wondering if there really is a ‘market’ for random ramblings from a mad woman .. my blog seriously has no direction.
Five kids, two puppies and a 16 year marriage should provide butt loads of content, one would think.
I’ll pay you exactly nothing if youd be so kind as to hop over to the MadLands and give me your opinion …
Or not.
Madness’s last blog post..Island Living
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Agreed—-I can handle a post with lots of short paragraphs than one big one that goes on and on. I have the attention span of a 3 year old b/c I HAVE a 3 year old.
I hadn’t thought about deleting photos after they are no longer a front page. I may have to go back and do that, esp with those of my kids.
Finally, I had started my blog as a ‘homeschooling blog’ and then hardly ever talk about the subject! I think it is much easier to come up with subject matter when just about anything is game.
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Good tips. I have been thinking about starting to use a real name instead of a corny name of my baby. Hmmm. . something to ponder.
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I, on the other hand, AM a stalker- but you’re used to that.
Great tips – I hadn’t thought about the paragraph thing – but when I go on rants, even my paragraphs are way long. And I SHOULD know better because when I come across blog posts of someone else’s that are days long, I tend not to read. Hmm… geesh, too much thinking this early in the morning.
As for the kids’ names? IT’s also much easier to remember which one is which with real names vs. peanut & chel.
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I don’t think you’re a stalker!
As for whether or not there’s a market for ramblings…I suppose it depends on what your goal is.
Comments? I noticed early on that the posts that I wrote that were totally random received very few comments.
Traffic? Possibly! If your ramblings are really well written and funny then YES!
I have read your blog and think that you have lots of funny stuff on there. Keep plugging away.
It IS easier to write when you’re not confined to just one subject…I agree!
I would also maybe add “swearing”.
But the kids names things is interesting. With all of the whackos out there (I have had a recent first hand experience in this matter) I worry a little bit about sharing REAL details of my littles.
Manager Mom’s last blog post..And Now, Politics With The MomFather
Great post Jennifer. I’ve gone back and forth about photos of my girls, but I’ve greatly cut back. I like the idea of deleting them once they’re not on the front page, though!
Writing on my blog is for fun. Occasionally I take myself and it too seriously, so I say use it as a creative writing exercise and to have some fun. I’ll also post some less than stellar things, but then I remind myself it’s MY blog!
Blogging has also been a good exercise in brevity of thoughts for me. This is not my forte (you’ll realize this if we ever meet in real life.)
I think swearing is probably a good thing to add. If you want to appeal to a mass audience, then swearing is probably best to use in moderation.
I used to curse like a sailor on this blog and when I go back and read those old entries they seem so harsh and not like me at all.
With that said, there are MANY big name bloggers who swear often on their blogs…so I guess it works for some people!
I have been wavering back and forth with the kiddos names. When I started 6 months ago nobody was reading me, not that many are now, and Monkey and princess was easy and worked. Now they need names for themselves, but I don’t want to use their real ones.
I won’t read blogs that don’t use paragraphs. It hurts my eyes and I get flustered and frustrated.
Great class teach.
May I have the hall pass please, I need to go to the girl’s room.
rachel’s last blog post..Swinging and Sprinklers
I’m with you on the pseudonyms. Makes it a lot easier to relate that “goofy” names. As far as using real names and such, I’m with Dooce. If freakos want to find me, they will, here or in the supermarket where my two-year-old walks up to strangers and tells them her name, and LOOKAMY NEW SHOES!
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Thanks for another great class. I loved what you said at the end about how blogging is, at the end of the day, a hobby for most of us. I am definitely gratified and really happy when people read and comment (and certainly would like more readers and comments), but I think I would keep blogging no matter who was reading and doing so on topics that matter to me, whether that’s my son, reality television, recipes that involve cool whip, or my love/hate relationship with Target. I do have a cutesy name for my son on the blog, but in real life, I call him that name about half the time so it works for me!
Ever since I started blogging, I feel like it’s changed my attitude going through the day-to-day stuff. I’m more observant and more apt to see the humor in something, especially knowing that frustrating and ridiculous moments make good blog fodder. I would say it’s only recently I’ve become more a part of the community of bloggers, but that has been great!
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I agree with everything you said. The only other suggestion I would make is to use a spell checker. It makes me crazy when bloggers have words spelled wrong. There is a spell checker built into blogger and I use it every time, right before I post.
another nice class teacher! I’m with ya all the way. I do keep the pics of my kids up. This blog is my only form of scrapbooking and journaling. You will not find any fancy creative memory books on my shelves. This is it baby.
But…I do like the watermark, gotta get me one of those. Have you an idea where to find one?
Oh, and people will steal the photos. Ever time I go to my mom’s house she has a new screen saver of the kids. I’ll be like, where did you get that? Oh, off the blawg….
designHER Momma’s last blog post..I blow. glass.
***I put a watermark on every photo of my children*****
Can you explain how you did that? Is there some sort of program you bought? Thanks so much!
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My Mom “steals” the photos, too!
Here’s a link to a site that shows how to add a watermark using different programs.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/glossary/f/watermark.htm
I use Photoshop Elements to add a copyright symbol and the name of my blog for the watermark.
I used to use Photrade, a site similar to flickr, but I didn’t really like that I couldn’t pick WHERE to put the watermark.
Very good tips and some I’m really considering like the name thing. Is it crazy that if Im talking to someone in real life that I have to catch myself from saying their “fake cutesie” name? I have issues.
I hope I wasn’t sounding all pissy on the ads thing last week, it wasn’t my intent.
Jean’s last blog post..Meme Stealer
hmmmm, swearing eh? No comment *snort*
I find that people try and pigeon hole my blog. I post about my life, my likes and dislikes – LOTS of dislikes – most of the time I am sarcastic and tongue in cheek, but other days I am melancholy, or down right sad.
I feel like the people that visit me are friends and we are sharing a cuppa. Probably why my comments end up as a continuation of the post.
Kelley’s last blog post..Duuuude! Point that thing outside.
Crap. I don’t do hardly any of this crap. Well, I do the paragraph breaks. Um, how do you feel about using paragraph breaks because you have written 92 paragraphs in one post?
I use cutesy names for my kids’ code names because I found that real fake names confused even me. For instance, when talking to you I still call Carson Carson and Tate Tate and what the heck is the code name for that chick you had? So confusing.
Paragraph break.
But I wish I hadn’t chosen “Pants” for Pants because I always get confused about how to show possession. Yet we actually do call him Pants in real life, short for Mr. Fart Pants. However it is easier to show possession when speaking. Sometimes.
And the posting frequently bit. Ummmmm, how frequently is the minimum? I’m just asking. For a friend.
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I completely agree. I think you got it right. Great list!
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Well see, Megan, you have what we like to call “TALENT.” Not all of us have it.
You can break these rules because you actually write stuff worth reading. Not silly posts about Carmen Electra and Lollipops…
And tell “your friend” that we’d like to read more.
I’ve always used the cutesy names, because I’d never remember to use a “fake” name all the time. People who regularly read me know my son’s name, and I’m fine with that. I just don’t want it out there for everybody. I call my hubby Puppy, because in real life, I call my hubby Puppy half the time.
Despite having been an English teacher, my grammar, tense, and paragraph structure are rather flighty. I do use paragraphs, but they aren’t always “paragraphs” in the traditional sense.
I’ve cut back on my swearing, because in reality I’ve cut back on it now that the toddler has say dammit and f*ck (gotta love Dad!). I’ve made a point of watching what I say.
Thanks for the tips, J.
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I liked they way you say all of that as helpful advice rather than a lecture about what people should be doing!!!
I find I learn a lot about it all just by reading lots and lots of blogs – perhaps you’ve already mentioned this– sorry I am a new class member – please accept my tardy slip!!!
mandy’s last blog post..yet another sign I have lost my mind
Excellent tips! I love how fair they were and how you didn’t go all judgy on our asses. Even though I occasionally write posts that are a bit, um, lengthy, I do try to do that paragraph break thing. Visually it’s easier to read.
Also, I noticed you touched on swearing in the comments. I used to swear a lot more on the wee blog. I still swear a bit, probably a bit too much when fired up about something, but I always try to stay true to myself and be honest about who I am in real life. Sometimes, who I am is a potty-mouth and if I hide that I feel like I’m lying on my blog.
What else? Oh, I too have noticed that asking a question or otherwise asking the readers to participate in the discussion makes a huge difference in the number of comments.
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New students are always welcome!
And I agree about reading lots of other blogs. I think you can really hone your writing abilities by reading blogs that you really admire. Great tip, mandy!
Back to the swearing issue…you know, for some people it works. Look at Amalah and Motherhood Uncensored, they both swear a lot and are both VERY successful.
I think that if swearing IS being true to yourself and your writing, then swearing won’t come off as harsh. Maybe? Does that make sense?
Great tips! The kids’ names thing has been plaguing me on my blog. No one can keep the girls’ straight, but since I have two girls I don’t know if changing to real names will help. I’ll have to think about that one.
And the swearing thing was decided for me when my MOTHER IN LAW started commenting on my blog. No more f*cking around for me.
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I was going to talk about this later in Blog Design, but I think it’s pertinent right now.
A great way to help people know who’s who on the blog, is to have a “cast of characters” in the upper sidebar. I have one in mine…My name, mommy to Carson and Ella….
You can also put their ages, I didn’t because it looked cluttered. (For example: Carson Age 2, Ella Age 1.
This is a tip I learned from Swistle a long time ago.
Wow…So very helpful for a new Blogger! Thanks so much!
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[...] Blog Tip Sharing Project 2: Writing Tips [...]
Slipping into class at lunchtime.
I always delete photos 2 weeks after posting. I only keep the ones of them where their face aren’t recognizable.
I have loooong paragraphs. I don’t have the time to read.
As for names, I totally have fake names…. who would name their child Fifi for goodness sake. Thanks for the heads up on adding them to my sidebar. i never really thought about that.
I just asked my readers a QUESTION yesterday and it was one of my most popular posts. i might do that again. Brought out a lot of lurkers w/0 blogs.
Can’t wait for next week!
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Excellent tips!!
I’m Kellan, btw – very nice to meet you. Have a good weekend!
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Jennifer, I wish you’d swear more on your blog. Because I know you. And I think it’s hot.
I’ve been attempting to incorporate the whole question thing lately. Then, on another blog, there was this whole anti-question ending thing that skeered me. So I know I’m confused.
I’m all about the real name thing. As a society, we’re took frickin’ scared of everything out there. It’s my way of saying…hey! I’m not scared anymore.
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Even though I was in the back, I swear it was just because I have the attention of a flea and I need to be able to see everything that’s going on. Oh, what’s that shiny thing over there….
I also want to know what we have to do to get an A in class. That’s right, I was THAT kid in class. No wait, I’m still that kid (ok now OLD kid) in class.
And THANK YOU for reminding me about the watermark. I keep meaning to do that on (at least some) of my pictures, but I haven’t done it yet. I have too many…the thought of doing it sort of gives me hives…
And also – have you started looking at DSLRs? I promise, you will be IN LOVE.
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Yes! Especially on the don’t post too much. I actually stopped reading someone b/c she posted 4-5 times a day. It just overwhelmed me to see that many updates in my reader.
Me, on the other hand, I could do to post a bit more often!
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Great tips and great discussion. I agree with you 100%.
I do worry about the picture thing. I keep them up because they are an important part of documenting our lives and I love being able to share them with family and friends. I am very careful about anything with nudity, our neighborhood or other kids though.
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Oooh. I agree with all of this. And as I read through the comments and digest the swearing tip I have to (generally) agree. I swear WAY TOO MUCH on my blog. Probably because in real life (as opposed to my fake one?) I don’t at all and I use it as my venting/sailor time. Must reconsider…. Well, that and start posting more than twice a freaking month. frickin frackin…
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The day I realized one of my customers found my blog and was reading it I changed a lot of what I wrote. Since I share a group blog they still see swear words and the like, but at least it isn’t coming from me.
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I was sitting in the front row. Taking notes. Adjusting my nerd glasses.
Good lesson today, Miss Jennifer.
And I learned something new about you…always figured that Carson and Ella were, indeed, Carson and Ella. Good idea though. I’d do the same if I had kiddos. If I talk about kids I sit for, I never use anything more than their first name initial. Boring, but safe.
Can’t wait for next week’s class.
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I love the advice about breaking up paragraphs. Long blocks of text give me hives.
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I certainly don’t consider myself a blog aficianado, but I agree with everything you said. I kept thinking, “Yup. I like that too” or “nope, I don’t like it when people do that either”. Good post. Keep those blog classes comin’! Thanks!
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You’ve given me a lot to think about! Thanks for taking the time to do this.
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Loved this.
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Great tips, Jennifer!
I agree with the other Mandy, that I’ve learned a lot (and am still learning every day) from all the blogs I love – including yours!
I also have to applaud you for not coming off as arrogant about these tips. They are truly helpful, and not at all condescending or bossy.
Also, the watermark thing? Sweet! I’ve been looking at how to do that for awhile now. Yay!
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Um…so…I don’t think I’ve EVER written a post that was worthy of a literary award. Most of stuff (crap?) I write spews from my brain very willy-nilly. Even if I have an idea for a post, I usually forget it as I get into writing and then I hit publish and I’m all “CRAP! I forgot that I was going to do this, or say that and it was going to be SO FUNNY! And AWESOME!” Oh well. One day I’ll be funny & awesome. And as for paragraph breaks…I’m definitely guilty of forgetting them when I’m writing away about something that’s got me all hot & bothered and I don’t even notice that I’ve been typing FOREVER without hitting enter even one time. At least I use periods, though, right? Because then it would all be a run on sentence and THAT’S confusing. And also? Swearing? I’m a big fan in real life, but I find that if I swear too much on my blog I’m all “WTF? Do I REALLY sound like that?” So I limit swearing on my blog. Not very successfully, I might add.
SO-are you consitpated after that? :0)
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I like these posts, and how the tips are presented in such a friendly manner. Some people make posts like this that are tres bitchy. But yours are so kind and honest. In the next one, you could advise people not to talk about vaginas, because I do sometimes and I think it runs people off. haha.
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I’ve also been struggling with the “whole names of family members” too.
There’s a potential gathering of Alabama-area bloggers being discussed (which will be much less fun without you, being way up thar in Indiana and all!) Along with the social anxiety disorder that has kicked into over-drive is the realization that I will not be walking around expecting everyone there to actually CALL ME BY MY BLOG NAME. I’ll have to use my real name.
In my bloggy world, my blogonyms are related to true characteristics or their real names. Your idea of using names you’d considered in real life is wonderful. I just can’t remember anything we considered for Stinkerbell.
btw – Stinkerbell is a real nickname I use for her from time to time. Lucky is a nickname that relates to his real name. The Mighty Hunter is a joking nickname I use for him – from the Jeremiah Johnson movie.
Nevertheless, I may be reintroducing us/confusing the 3 readers I have by changing our blogonyms.
also – did I just make up a new bloggy term? blogonyms?
cool!
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