Without question the most productive move I made as a newborn blogger was putting up a post at BlogHer looking for other middle-aged women bloggers. (And I clicked on a WHOLE lot of links just to get to that point…) That led to a lot of discussion, some fun developments and some great links with some very interesting women. I’d like to repeat that feat, if possible.
It’s not that I think I’m the non plus ultra in blogging. For every ten mediocre blogs I trip over, I generally find one blogger whose interesting life experiences, sparkling prose and off-the-wall observations make me want to delete everything I’ve ever written. Some of you people can WRITE, and you make me want to be BETTER. And the feedback I get from you is making a more honest woman out of me.
So, I have decided that, rather than sitting around crying in my beer (my favorite pose of late) over my moribund blog stats, I am going to perform one act of blog enhancement per week (along with shaving my legs and conditioning what’s left of my hair). And I have found many bloggers who are happy to help me with my resolve, which is one of my favorite things about the Blogosphere. Unlike most of the self-obsessed homo sapiens I bump into all day long, ya’ll ain’t stingy!
My most recent attempt was prompted by One Cool Site — one of several links I picked up from the very smart Dumb Little Man — who pointed me in the direction of Google site verification. After several abortive attempts, I am now verified under both my blog names, although I’m told it may take a few weeks for any results to appear.
I’ve also, at the suggestion of Problogger, reached out this week to a couple of blog cooperatives and will sift through my blog for a pillar post or two to send to some zines.
Okay, you blogging veterans: Is any of this going to help, or am I just spinning my wheels? Are any of these widgets or embedded functions effective? Of all the advice you’ve bumped into out there about expanding the reach of your blog, what has been the most productive? Help a girl out, okay? I’ll be happy to do a follow-up post about my experiences with any suggestions.
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease?
August 29, 2008 at 4:39 am
Ahhh…you’ve inspired me. My blogging expertise leaves alot to be desired, but I consider myself a WIP (work in progress, of course). Look forward to reading more of your stuff. Check out my blog, if you’re bored. LOL
August 29, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I hope you get some feedback on this and then I’m going to be looking over your shoulder and copying your homework. I hope I get my knuckles rapped bloody red.
August 29, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Oops, this reminds me of a regular 7.50 am scramble just before Latin class when the smartest kid would read out her homework so the rest of us could check ours. We were all about to face a common enemy. The other two or three co-conspirators would apply their erasers muttering things like, Oh, I see, I didn’t notice that subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
I just wrote as fast as I could on my blank page.
I actually have something tangential, though probably not very useful, to say on this subject, but as I have banned myself (with good reason) from electronic communications after more than half a bottle of wine (how did this one slip through?), I’m saying nothing except for an admission that I, like Janie, am definitely ready to steal any ideas you get.
Just keep on doing the work for us, Ms Meta. It’s a thankless task, but someone’s got to do it.
September 1, 2008 at 11:43 am
Your stats over at MidLifeBloggers are quite nice, thank you very much. Maybe you need to post there more often….!
September 2, 2008 at 7:53 am
I’m not actually drowning in responses so far, but I will continue to share my efforts with y’all.
Nothing Fancy, with your tales of Nancy, you will LOVE http://whereisbob.wordpress.com/.
And, Duchess, I live to serve you. And Jane.