Do as I Say, Not as I do: Bettering Your Blog in 2008

I have been asked by Sprittibee to be a regular contributor here at the Homeschool Blog Awards.  I am honored and slightly mystified at the same time, finding myself wondering why anyone would want to read my nonsense. 

As soon as I accepted her offer, immediately panic set in.   I then thought to myself, “Oh no, what could I possibly have to say to all of the bloggers that would make some kind of a real and valuable contribution, you know, long lasting and educational, instead of the mindless drivel I usually write.”  Once the panic dissipated and I wiped the sweat off my brow, I thought it would be a really groovy idea to write about blogging. 

I am certainly no blogging virtuoso, but I have learned a thing or two, over the last several years about blogging and I have decided to try to share the fragments of information rolling around up there.  So with that, I will quickly move on to my first Homeschool Blog Awards post, (hopefully not my last, once Heather catches on that I am a big ninny with nary a word to say.)

Over the next couple of posts, I will be giving you some general tips for the year ahead, to better your blog and increase your readership.  Tips that I myself follow, when I have the time, which in single mommy code means rarely.  So do as I say and not as I do, and on that note, let’s get started.

• My first suggestion is to make your site eye candy for your readers.  Most people are visual creatures.  They love color, photos, design and things that are stimulating to the eye.  And, quite frankly, they are nosey.  Most people, (including me) want to see what is going on at your house.  Why you ask?  Well, we want to see your dirty dishes, so we know that our house isn’t all that bad.  We want to see your clean ones too, to remind us what a lousy job we are doing keeping up with you…miss sally homemaker.  So don’t be shy and post it.  Unless of course it’s the ring around your toilet bowl, in which case, please feel free to skip it.
• This brings me to, ‘be you.’  We all feel better when we believe that others are genuine.  This applies to our online friends too.  When people see that you are real, they will take their guard down and open up and that is when true friendships are born. 
• Learn from other successful bloggers.  Watch, learn and listen to what others are doing online and implement some of their ideas.  No plagiarism, just ideas.
• Develop a basic knowledge of html.  This will help you to add your bells and whistles to tweak your blog along the way.  It will also help you to fix any little problems that may arise when you add some new gadget that screws up your entire template.
• This brings me to, back up your template before adding bells and whistles.  I learned this nifty lesson the hard way. 
• Keep a notebook handy to record bloggable moments.  When you find little Johnny brushing the dogs teeth with your husbands toothbrush, write it down.  Unless you are in your twenties, chances are your memory might be slipping like mine and without the notebook; the ideas go right out the window.  And heaven knows, we wouldn’t want to miss that story.
• Write in advance…if possible.  If there is any chance you are DNA relative of Martha Stewart and have it all together, save time by writing your blog posts in advance.  Even if you have a partial post written, it can help you in your quest to write regularly.
• Always write your posts in WordPad or another format and paste them into your blogging platform.  You will prevent losing posts and hair loss from pulling it out every time you blog eats one of your really great posts.
• Link, link, link and then link some more.  Link to products you love, link to definitions of words people might be unfamiliar with and link to Wikipedia if a subject needs further clarifying.  Don’t assume we are all as smart as you are.  Trust me, I we are not.
• Sign up for a free account with Statcounter.  It will help you watch your traffic and take the mystery out of wondering if anyone is actually reading what you have written.  This will also allow you to see where your visitors come from and what search terms were used to find your blog. 

Ok, that’s it for today.  I don’t want to bore you to death.  However, should you have some burning question about blogging that you desperately need answered, feel free to ask questions and hopefully I will be smart enough to answer.  If not, I’ll do my best to find the answer.  Now go blog your little heart out.