12.27.2009

Blogging:How do you blog? Looking for your advice!

Let's talk blogs, you wanna? Okay, I'll start. My blog is 2 months old but I know it needs revamping because it is hard on my own eyes. I am going to start with a few things I'm wondering about and you just let me know what you think. If there is something I have failed to mention, bring it up! Let's figure this out together! I figured now would be a good time while everybody is relaxing before the New Year. Please remember that these views expressed are my own and I certainly do not mean to offend anybody.
 
Twitter,Stumble, Digg etc.


{knowtebook.com}
What the heck does all of this mean? I have no idea! Oh you know that I have the little icons under my posts but what does it mean? Do you stumble, Digg, Tweet etc.? I added these icons because I think I need to but why? Do you think it matters? I need to figure this stuff out so I can develop my blog but it just doesn't make sense to me right now.

Blogger vs. Wordpress
I'll be honest, I had no idea what the heck a blog was until January 2009 but it wasn't until August that I started to learn a little about the makings of a blog. When my sister started creating her blog I just followed her lead and went Blogger, because that's what I do...follow her lead that is. I've read the arguments about going to Wordpress and I have to admit, it looks pretty good. What do you think? Are you going to make the switch? Is it important? Is it easier? I have to say it is really intimidating. I don't want to lose my content and I like my URL. Can you take your URL with you to Wordpress?

Visiting Blog Buddies
Please, please, please...tell me how you get around to visit your blog buddies regularly? My toddler sleeps 9-11 and if things go right he will lay down from 1-3. I always aim to blog from 9-11 just in case that second nap doesn't come or if I get run down and need to nap myself. By the time I get my post the way I like it, I look up and realize it has taken an hour! Does it take you this long? Depending on what is going on at home I may or may not get to visit my blog buddies. I have found it is much easier to visit my buddies if I read their feeds in Google Reader. How do you manage blogging and visiting and commenting on your buddies' blogs?


{courtesy of ThinkGeek}
Surely I am not the only one with questions so let's figure this out together? Anything on your mind that I didn't address? Let's talk about that too! I am welcome to any suggestions or feedback regarding my blog too so just let me know! This is probably going to be my only post for the next couple of days. I need to go visit blog buddies, answer emails and figure out this bloggity blog world.
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23 comments:

  1. I added the Twitter icon button to my blog, but I never really click on it on other people's blogs. Mainly because once I figured Twitter out, I pretty much stopped tweeting. If you are on Twitter and Facebook quite a bit, I'd put those buttons on your blog.

    I also considered switching from Blogger to Wordpress, but decided to just stay as I am. I did download {free} Windows Live Writer and I did my last two posts using it. It links up with your blog and will post directly to it {you just need to type in your blog address once it downloads}. I like it because I can put my pictures anywhere in the post I want, where if I do it directly in Blogger the pictures are always at the top and I have to move them OR put the pictures in first and type around them {very annoying}. I think you might like working with it.

    I read the blogs I follow through my Blogger Dashboard. I am usually on throughout the day and night, although I can take days getting through posts if there is a linky party and I want to visit as many people as I can that I do not normally follow. Sometimes I just can't do it, and I just scroll back when I have time to the posts I wasn't able to read. At some point I catch up!

    Geeze, this is awfully long! Sorry, Norma Lee, but you asked! ; ) Email me if there is anything I can help you out with.
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  2. Okay lets start with #1. If someone stumbles your post it will be seen by more people who are using stumble. I don't think it really increases your readership but it can increase your overall visits which will help if you have sponsors.
    I am on Twitter and have met some great local people plus I get news updates from my local news stations. Very quick and I only read up on what interests me instead of the whole newspaper. I also have my posts linked to Twitter so it goes up there with a link whenever I post something.

    2. I started with Blogger back in February 09. As I learned a little more I tried to use Wordpress and was so incredibly confused I gave up and I teach computers to seniors so I am not a complete rookie. As for the comment above that says the pictures only load at the top that isn't so. You can click further into your post and then insert the picture there. I just loaded in a dozen or so pics doing just that.

    #3 I visit a lot of blogs each day. I post almost every day but I don't feel any pressure if I miss a day or so. Just do the best you can. Maybe do half you list on one day and then the other half the next day.
    When someone comments on my post I email them back if their email address is linked. I almost always comment when I read a post unless I really feel I have nothing to add. I don't leave comments that say "nice post" or "thanks for sharing" as I find that insincere.
    I hope this helps a bit.
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  3. I don't even know all of the answers, but I do love my googles reader. it's the only way to read all of my blogs!
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  4. I should clarify Norma Lee, based on what Lori E. commented that "if I do it directly in Blogger the pictures are always at the top", with the emphasis on I. This may not happen to everyone but started with my posts a few months ago.
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  5. I don't stumble (on purpuse anyway) twitter or any of that other stuff. I use blogger too, but I have been thinking about changing to Live Writer, I hear it is way better, especially with the pictures~ And it takes me FOREVER to do a post too!! I need to get faster! I follow my blogs in my dashboard, as I can, every day.

    I am new to this too, so I am in the learning phases as well!

    Lou Cinda
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  6. I think google reader is the best and most efficient way to track a lot of blogs. As for twitter, I've never used the twitter symbol beneath a post, but I have followed a lot of the blogs I read regularly on twitter. I also tweet a link to new blog posts on twitter. I've never noticed the others, so I'll be looking them up :)

    Anyway, I found you via your comment on Lucky Star Lane. I always follow up to comments with an e-mail, a visit to someone's blog with comments - or both! I think one of the best parts of this online community is the collaboration and comraderie, so responding in some way is necessary to me :)

    Thanks for coming by. I'm going to follow you now :)
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  7. I enjoyed reading the comments from this posting! I wonder some of the same thing you do. I am one that doesn't like change so I dont think anywhere in the near future I will change to wordpress. I have a twitter account but dont do anything with it really or put it on my blog. I also use google reader to read through blogs. I feel like I can get through them that way better. Thanks for asking the same questions I always wondered myself! Have a happy new year!
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  8. I am still learning all about Digg, Stumble etc but people can add your post to those and each one is different -- some people can vote on how much they like it and it is supposed to draw in more people, at least from new resources.
    Kathy may not have changed her Settings to the new layout--the new layout allows you to place the cursor where ever you want the picture to go. I tried Live Writer and I don't know if it had anything to do with all the Google problems I have had for Dec or if it just happened at the same time, (I know a lot of people rave about it) but as soon as I tried it my posts did not show up in reader for 3 weeks and I have to finagle each post now just to get it to show up-such a hassle.

    I have been blogging for a little over 7 months and have had soooo many problems with Blogger-it is not even funny. It is a wonder I stayed with it. I would say every 4-6 weeks I have some major issue. A lot of other people have the same issues, they just don't realize it. I will go to peoples blogs to read something off of Reader and then change the URL to see more posts and realize they have a lot of new posts that aren't in Reader. I have people on my follow list that don't show up ever and others that show up randomly from time to time. In Oct I had a HUGE give-a-way--HUGE and barely had anyone posting to put their name in for the drawing. After 3 days I was digging and trying to figure out what was going on. Then I started getting e-mails from people telling me they noticed their entries weren't showing up. I had no way of knowing who had already come by and entered. I ended up extending the give-a-way to try and get the word out but what should have been a fun and exciting give-a-way for everyone turned into a night mare. I have problems like that all the time.

    I have read that professional web designers ALWAYS recommend WordPress-that says a lot. I have several friends who have switched from blogger to WordPress and say there are a few things to get used to but for the most part it is the same. One of my friends is not very computer literate at all and she has done fine with the switch.
    I had over 550 followers and I try to follow every blog that follows me plus I have blogs I go to, as well--so there is a lot of info in my Reader. First I try to respond to every person who has left me a message.
    Every day is different-I may be visiting people who posted to parties or I may be visiting people from my Reader, sometimes I go to blogs I have listed on my blog page-because some of them do not show up in Reader. Sometimes I go through my follower list to see if there are people who I haven't heard from in awhile or seen a post in Reader. I just do the best I can and not let it RUN my life.

    Cheri
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  9. I am not answering your questions because most of the comments have. I find blogging can be adictive and I have 5 blogs that I use for different things. I use my recipe blog every day because I store a lot of my recipes there--It is there mainly for me and my family. I get a lot of visitors to that blog , but not many comments. My devotional blog is rarely used--sometimes I just want to think on something and so that is mainly for myself as well. My hubby wanted a blog about his Dad's stories and he is doing that blog. Then I have my Spindle cottage blog which is mainly about house stuff. My nannykim blog is a missmash of thoughts and family stuff. On the side bar of my spindle cottage blog I have some blogs I like to go to regularly. I have a ton of other blogs I like to visit and I have those on the bottom of my dashboard since I am a follower of them. I also have bookmarked a lot of blogs under different categories.

    I take big breaks at times. Sometimes I relax at lunch or in the evening and spend time looking and commenting on blogs. I like to comment back on anyone who has commented on my blogs by visiting their blog.

    But blogging can take over your life if you are not careful. It is good to keep it as a pleasant hobby or to stay in touch with others. I find facebook a quicker way to do this actually!

    I like photobucket when I have time. When you post pictures to photobucket you can put them on your blog and insert them anywhere when you are in the edit mode. You can make them bigger or smaller at photobucket so that you can use large pictures. I often do that for the Spindlecottage blog that I have.
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  10. here is a great article on how to do bigger pictures

    http://www.blueorchidblog.com/2007/10/how-to-have-large-photos-on-your-blog.html
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  11. Here is some super advice on blogging that has helped many on the how to stuff:

    http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/09/blogging-secretsshhhhhhh.html
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  12. Live Writer is awesome. You can edit the pictures within the post (crop, watermarks, etc.). Then just upload your post to blogger. Someone commented that they didn't want to switch from blogger to Live Writer but you don't have to switch. Live Writer is a way to prepare your post, then upload to blogger.

    Regarding your domain, that can be used anywhere. You paid for it right? Blogger simply acts as your server. You can change servers anytime and the domain is your personal property.

    I've been blogging since Feb or March (my garden blog) and find that there is a lot of trial and error. I recently found that the best way to keep up with the blogs that I love is to include them in my sidebar. That way I see when there is a new post and can check it out quickly.

    Just my 2 cents.

    P.S. Thanks for visiting "me" today.
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  13. Well, I've learned a lot from your comments posted today ... I am about as uninformed on any of this as can be. I have no issues with blogger.

    I'm going to keep an eye on what is shared with you.

    I'll be in & out of communication over the next few weeks.

    May your New Year be blessed & joyful ... TTFN ~ Marydon
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  14. I use Blogger but have heard that Wordpress is better. I have it set up on Twitter for my blog posts to show up automatically along with Facebook. :D
    As far as reading, I still have to get that under control. LOL! :D
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  15. I thought I could post my comments BETWEEN yall's comments but I don't see how/if I can do that so I will respond here.

    Kathy- I downloaded Live Writer. Thank you for sharing that! It is so helpful! I also don't click on Tweets... I can't even keep up with mine! I opted to use Feedburner and it updates my tweets automatically for me. Huge Help!

    Lori E- Thanks for the information. I think I really would like to use Wordpress but I don't know if it allows you to independently set up your blog or if you almost have to pay somebody to do it for you. Stumble- I will just have to catch up with technology.I agree with you on the comments- I don't comment unless I have something to say and I don't put "cute" "fabulous" unless I have a relationship with the blogger. I also don't comment unless I have something to say...hello, time!
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  16. Jen R- I also love my Google Reader. I like the Star option the best. I click star and then I go back to my starred and comment on the ones I have saved. This also allows me to keep my favorites!

    Lou Cinda, thank you for the feedback. I am so glad you are in this with me...we can fumble through this together.

    Heather- I don't remember exactly how I did it but you can get your posts automatically tweeted for you! I did it! Oh gosh- you came here from one of my comments? I don't ever think about commenting- I just write so it's very sincere. Sometimes that's good or not...:)
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  17. Kristi- Sounds like you and I are on the same page. I really want to update my look and wish I could just twitch my nose and it all be done and beautiful!

    Cheri- Bless your heart. It sounds like you have had a time with your blog and problems. I can tell you work really hard at your blog. It takes so much time doesn't it!?!?

    NannyKim, Thank you so much for the great articles! I know everybody else appreciates them as well. Yes, I know blogging can take over your life. Good thing that the college bowl games are on right now...maybe my husband doesn't realize I have been attached to my laptop the whole week!
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  18. Maureen- I am so glad yall have commented on Live Writer. I.Love.It. I can't believe I didn't know about it before now! I've been under my big rock I guess.

    MarydonFord-Thank you so much for commenting. Happy New Year!

    Sherry- Commenting is where I need to improve my blogging fo' sho! It's time consuming and I follow so many great blogs that it sometimes takes me longer to comment than it does to post! I love my blog buddies though and don't want to be stingy with my comments so I do put forth the effort in my comments and I do want them to know how fabulous they are. Maybe we can work on that in 2010! haha
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  19. Happy that you found Live Writer. It's the only way to go. I have my Friends list on my sidebar and it updates every time they post so I know when to visit their blogs. You can find that under you dashboard under "add a gadget." I tried Google Reader but it was just too time consuming. As for Twitter and Facebook....I just don't have time for that either. I make all of my own headers with PhotoShop Elements 7. I'm kinda addicted!
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  20. Good questions - that most everyone gave great advice for. I have several posts waiting to be edited. I don't have time to do one post all the way through in one sitting. That's how I get to it. Good luck.
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  21. Happy New Year sweetie!!!

    Enjoy!!!
    XOXO
    Cathy
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  22. Truth is that I don't get around to read/comment much on others blogs. With four kids and teaching full time, well...there just isn't time! Blog because you want to, and don't worry about the rest.

    As for Wordpress vs. Blogger- the biggest difference I've seen is the way commenting is handled, other than that not much difference.

    Good luck!
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  23. You've gotten some great comments already, so I won't add too much. I will say that I have a 6 month old and a 3 year old, plus I work full time, so my blogging time is limited. I tend to blog after the kids go to bed. I try not to post more than once a day, but if I'm feeling really inspired or if a lot of things happen at once, I write several entries at once and then post date them.

    I have a blogroll of my favorite blogs, and the date and title of their last post, so I don't visit blogs that I've already read. Good luck!


    I came by to welcome you to SITS! We're happy to have you with us!
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