I fixed the blog and now it adds “image” to the title? Huh?
April 13, 2008
Anyone know why it does this? I mean really! I work on those witty (hey, at midnight they are witty) titles. I don’t want it to start with “-image-”
Ideas?
My blog hates me. I am SO sleeping with one eye open tonight to ensure it doesn’t kill me in my sleep.
[UPDATE] Okay, now I know what the problem is but I cannot fix it. I am about to just change to a default theme and make my sweet designer cry over her hard work. Because? Between me and this blog? IT IS ON! (Like Donkey Kong….only meaner. And with less bananas.)
Going to bed. Sorry about the annoying titles. Just pretend to see a pretty image until I can fix it. Grrrrrr
[UPDATED UPDATE] My webgoddess designer Karen at Swank fixed it. No blog ass kicking today. Yet.
This past week I put in nearly 40 hours of school volunteering. (Or maybe eleventy hundred. I lost count.) Some at home but most at the school. Does this mean they have officially “gotten” me? Am I now a Stepford? Let’s say no. I did have fun doing it, though. I know. The first step is admitting there is a problem. So really? I don’t really have a “new” post worthy of a Newsflash, but I do have something you may not have read yet. Seeing as I know you don’t all follow me around the ‘net to see what I have to say. And the links in the post? Follow them. Some amazing women writers were quoted. You may find a great new read!
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The past week I have been adrift in volunteer work, a new freelance job, house cleaning and one other thing. What was that? Oh, I remember. Celebrating my eighth year being clean from a painful and life altering drug addiction that nearly took away everything I cherish and love. I’ll be honest. I wanted to find be around at least one person who “got it” and would realize what I was going through on that day. It was a day that I desperately needed to be understood and on familiar ground with another person.
Blogging is much the same way for many people. Some people read blogs as a way to find others that are going through the same life issues, have the same interests or maybe even just because they entertain them. And then we have the bloggers themselves. Those who put themselves right out there in front of the Internet and share to let it all lay bare. Those writers who dig deep into their souls and pull out a part of it and share it. Hoping it connects with someone else. Sometimes hoping someone else will connect with them.
It is not surprising that in this week I found Redsy. As she began her Odyssey to stop drinking she posting these words that so resonated with me that I wept remembering the feelings she described.
I’ve found a place to go every day to talk about my problem with drinking. To listen to others talk about their struggles and fears and recovery. And it is a complete and total miracle. If I’d known how great these meetings would be, I honestly would have stopped all this wine nonsense a long time ago.
But of course I wouldn’t really. Because outside of those wonderful comforting loving meetings, life is once again scary as hell. And this time I’m standing there without my favored weapon. Facing an army of tigers with a pea shooter and one bean, which is how we’re supposed to feel at the beginning (I’m told).
And I feel like the outside layer of my skin (the adult, fake-put-together part) has been taken away and I’m this sea creature –shell-less and shaky–lolling around waiting for sunlight to reach all the long way down to the ocean floor.
I read through her pages and found her four months later with these words:
So it’s been 75 days since my last drink and nearly 4 months since I began this odyssey — to sober up, wake up to my life, start a daily spiritual practice something like worshiping a higher power, something like trying to be a more loving person.
As slowly the cravings, mental and physical subside, replaced by new rituals and people and habits, hope increases. Hope that there is more that I can give, more to experience, and a greater sense of gratitude folded into the dailyness of things.
…
All is not perfect happiness by any stretch, but broken down into 24 hours segments, I can say I haven’t felt this hopeful and resourceful for years and years.
I cheered for her. I wanted to shout to her that I get it and I am so proud of her. I remember hitting each milestone month of being clean and you can damn well bet it is worthy of a celebration. She is now 5 months sober. I am 8 years clean. We are alike and we can both learn from each other. That is the beauty of putting it out there. I don’t know her. But really? I know her.
I also came across a post about loss written by Jenn of Breed ‘Em and Weep that caused me to suck my breath in and hold it as I read it. I cried with the writer as she described her feelings. I felt my own anguish over losses in my own life (though different from hers, losses nevertheless) and I felt her pain as she knew that things would never be the same. I could feel her anguish as she knew the lives of her children would never be the same after this peaceful night of sleep– not knowing.
Tomorrow we will tell the girls about a difficult loss. It is a peculiar thing to sit on the edge of your child’s bed, watching her sleep, knowing that tomorrow you will say something that will stop her heart briefly and force her through a door she would not have chosen herself. Children do not take kindly to loss, and why should they? As adults we can barely stand it, barely have the ability to comprehend the who-was-who-now-isn’t, the what-was-that-now-is-lost.
I watch her dark profile. She is a beautiful girl, as still sometimes in her waking hours as she is right now, asleep. I think, This is her last night of not knowing. Tomorrow we take away the not-knowing.
When I first read the post I didn’t even know what the loss was but it did not matter. I felt it. I felt her loss. I felt the losses in my life. I felt her turmoil as a mother. I remembered that late night knowing I had something to tell my own children that would forever bring them from before to after. From innocence to life-changing. Her ability to open up and share from the bottom of her heart was so universal while still being so personal, you were not only there with her, you were at that place in your own life where you went through your own loss. That is the incredible power of blogging.
You see, when bloggers really open up and share, we find a way to connect, find support and feel as if someone out there gets us. To those of you who bare your souls, thank you. I appreciate and understand how hard that is. I have found bloggers who write about just about everything. They share what they know with people who may need or want to hear it.
I can find bloggers who help me with support for my addiction, the death of my Mom, my stillborn son, and my frustrations and dilemmas in parenting. And when I read the following quote from Mamma Loves, I realized that there is a certain type of blogging that is harder to find.
Mamma Loves called it to the carpet when she wrote:
What I’ve noticed though is that there seems to be one topic that remains fairly off limits (unless addressed anonymously). I understand why. Many people have discussed their reasons for not talking about it. I see this in my real life friendships too.
I just have to ask though…when will we all stop pretending like marriage is easy??
I love that question. I would love more people to just say it. “This marriage thing? Good. Love it. But, damn, it can be hard.” I know many divorced bloggers who will talk all about it. Or bloggers who openly admit they are in a bad marriage. But what about those of us who are in good marriages and are happy? Just something she asked that I thought I bring to the table since we are talking about baring our hearts and souls in blogging.
The bottom line is blogging has power. A mighty strong power. Blogging connects people. We can find others who get where we have been, where we are and where we are going. And that is vital at certain times in our lives. So, bloggers, it is okay to bare your soul. Some of us need it. Most of us admire it. And there are even a few of us who are counting on it.
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Comments are acting wonky so if you try to leave one and it won’t let you, please let me know. You can always email it to me and I will post it for you. No idea what is wrong. Sorry!
Okay, after years of going without, I am giving in to temptation. Throwing caution and my better judgment to the wind, I am going to start rolling again. Blog rolling. Dude! What did you think?
So, if you think you should be on my blog roll, let me know. I am hopefully adding to it this week. Let me know why you want to be on it. You know reason like:
You want people other than your mom to read.
You have something on me and I better add you or you will release it to the world at large.
You need validation and I am just the blog to give it to you.
Because? Why not, beyotch?
You know I read you. I may even comment so why the hell are you not already being linked?
You have been removed from another blog roll for some dumb ass reason and are looking to not screw up your whole Technorati ranking so I need to make up the loss by adding you.
Your sister’s friend’s cousin’s hairdresser’s mailman’s next door neighbor’s aunt dates this dude who once read your blog and said it kicked ass so you should for sure be on the list!
You once commented and so there! Add you! Now!
You have anger issues and that in and of itself should scare me into adding you.
You deserve it because you know what movie this line came from: “You’re a neo maxi zoom dweebie, what would you be doing if you weren’t out making yourself a better citizen?”
Because you are about to kick my ass for trying to get anyone to jump through hoops.
That about covers why I add people to my blog roll. Oh, and of course because I read you and think other people should, too. But is that really a good enough reason? This is 2008 baby. Justification is the name of the game. Good writing will only get you so far. Inane bullshit carries you the rest of the way.
[Update to screech:] Seriously? Not ONE of you know where that movie line came from?! Are none of you teens of the 80’s. First person to tell me gets top billing in the blogroll. I am so saddened that no one knows where neo maxi zoom dweebie came from.
A Bloggess gets Kawasakied. We Digg a Queen. And Mommybloggers take back their title and add Hussein.
March 1, 2008
As you may or may not know, I post regularly on BlogHer. This post has received a lot of attention from other mom bloggers, so I wanted to share it here seeing as I know not all of you read BlogHer. I know…cross posting can be lame. Sue me. Well, don’t really. I just wanted to share how far we have come, baby.
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It has been one of those weeks. A week that slams you against a wall. Needless to say, I fell behind in my blog reading. What is an editor to do? Why she just hops onto Twitter to find the latest buzz. And, oh, there has been buzz!
Take for instance the newest addition to the Urban Dictionary. When Jenny of The Bloggess found her group blog Mama Drama on Alltop.com, she emailed Guy Kawasaki (the creator of the list) to thank him. From there, the hilarity ensued. In a must read exchange between Guy and Jenny, she found herself the topic of a Tweet.
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And then Guy twittered about me, which is like winning an Oscar for best design of a battery-operated series of fog machines. Totally amazing and kind of embarrassing all at the same time. Also? Nothing to sneer at make hay about.
Anyway, I’d just like to thank Mr. Kawasaki for being the one of the first genuinely nice celebrities to not make me feel like a total douchebag and I plan on sending a copy of this to Ken Hoffman who could certainly take a lesson from Guy and needs to realize that just acknowledging a fan letter won’t mean that I’ll get all delusional and suddenly be convinced that we’re now ”best friends forever” and show up at your house on holidays. It’s too late now, Ken, but it would have meant a lot to me way back when I was just some random chick to you. Back when I wasn’t engaged to Guy Kawasaki.
It was from this Tweet and the subsequent emails passed back and forth that Jenny coined the phrase being “Kawasakied.” Now, according to Urban Dictionary that means:
To have your blog linked to or acknowledged by someone famous like Guy Kawasaki who totally kicks ass, but if you told your mom about it she’d be like “Huh? What’s a blog? Hey, is that the guy who invented the motorcycle?”
“Dude. My blog got totally Kawasakied today!”
On a totally different note, the power of a mom blogger and her opinions was clearly observed when political post Erin of Queen of Spain Blog wrote a very compelling and thought provoking article about the upcoming Democratic Nomination and Hillary Clinton. As word of her post got out, people flocked to it and she found it on the front page of Digg. (And the topic of many discussions around the net and a massive amount of tweets on Twitter.) In fact, it wasn’t until much later that mainstream media caught up and you began to read in newspapers the same idea that Erin had already shared with the world.
What? A mom blogger who has a brain, political opinions and dares to share them with the world? She rocked the socks off of many people. People well beyond those who are considered the typical mom blog audience. Erin is not one to shy away from her opinion. Few of us who are in the mom blog category do. We are proving to not only our own community that supports us but to the tech and new media world as a whole that we are voices that should not only be listened to, but respected.
Power to the Mom Blogger who dares to speak out!
While we are on the topic of respect, I have to mention a great conversation that took place today. The question was asked:
“Tell me, is ‘Mommyblogger’ still a negative term in the Social Media space? Has it changed? Do you still look down? Be truthful.”
I always felt the mommy-blogger label was too confining, and I shook it completely a year ago when I started a new blog… much of that was because of reaction from others that made mommy-blogging feel second tier- looking back I should have ignored.
For many of us, we remember the time when the very term or idea of mommybloggers was dismissed, shunned and looked down upon. The very first BlogHer conference had a session on mommyblogging that was a “room of our own” and was expected to bring in few people. It was standing room only. Back then, one of the main focuses of the discussion was whether or not the term mommyblogger was derogatory. Today, as I followed the discussion on Twitter, I saw many responses that were along these lines:
I never thought “mommyblogger” was other than a statement of heroic survival ability!
Not everyone was loving the term or category. Lone Sophist stated:
I think that women who are mothers and blog are more than mommybloggers, that’s why I don’t like that “category.”
The point is this. Just a few years ago we were in a small room and felt like second tier bloggers. Today, we are much sought after by marketers, talk shows and magazines. We’ve come a long way, baby.
Mom bloggers are so much more than diapers and potty training. We are taking on issues that are changing the world and the way people view it. For instance, take todays awesome “Just Call Me Hussein” smackdown over at Momocrats.
Why all the fuss? Some ig’nant fools apparently think it’s helpful to their cause to liken Barack Obama to a “terrorist” because his middle name is “Hussein.” And we ain’t havin’ none of that. Why? Because “bitch is the new black,” and we? Are bitches.
We’ve decided to extend the reach of this important blog action by making “Just Call Me Hussein” a meme. If you are reading this and haven’t posted, consider yourself tagged. All you have to do is post your “Hussein name” in the title of your blog and share a story about how someone tried to make you feel bad about your name.
When you post—whenever you post—be sure to link us so we can find you. Now, go! Spread that meme far and wide, sistahs (and brahs)! Bitches get shit done!
Most excellent way to take a situation and make people not only think, but write about it. You see? It extends beyond their blog. Beyond any of our blogs when we get right down to it. At last check, there were thirty-three posts (and still counting) that sprang from one entry on one blog written by moms.
It’s been a long road and sadly there has been some road-kill along the way, but mommybloggers–the term, the bloggers and the power behind them both– are a powerful force in new media.
Me? I am proud to have been on that first panel, that first year as we wondered where we would go from there. I would say mommybloggers are kicking ass and taking names. Count on it. And, yes, you can quote me on that.
Guy Kawasaki said I am Tops. (Okay he said a lot of others are, too but this is my blog.)
February 26, 2008
Back in 2006 when Guy Kawasaki listed his Ultimate Mommy Blog List and I found both Mommy Needs Coffee and Mommybloggers on it, I was overjoyed. I think my response was “Holy crap! Guy Kawasaki reads (or fakes reading) Mommy Blogs!” It was a momentous occasaion. So much so that I do believe that when I met him at BlogHer I threw myself at his feet and offered to have his Internet baby. (Really, Guy, that wasn’t me but my evil–and way too forward– alter ego.) Since then, I have stalked admired Guy and everything he does. Well, online at least because he is in California and I am in Texas. The airfare to personally stalk admire him would be too much for my measly ad revenue dollars to handle. But I would if I could. And if the law allowed that kind of thing.
Now Guy has a new brain child. (Not to be confused with the Internet Baby I offered.) Alltop.com This is a website aggregating “all the top sites on the web.” Moms included. And? Both Mommy Needs Coffee and Mommybloggers made this list as well. And the other bloggers on that list? They rock. So, I am honored he added my two baby blogs. (I can so be humble. I am good at that. Wait. Does that negate the previous comment?)
I am assuming he has since forgotten the whole “throwing myself at his feet and declaring all loyalty to the man who is Guy Kawasaki.” I am pondering making a badge declaring my “Guy Says I Have One of The Top Sites on the Web” status. No, not a badge for my blog, but for me to wear with my ultra-hip Mom Uniform. (Men dig women who wear badges. Or at least they did when I was a Girl Scout before that unfortunate getting kicked out of Scouts due to excessive talking incident of the mid-70’s.)
Of course, to be fair he added other categories, too. You know, to cover up his love and devotion reserved for the mom blogger. I have found many new and amazing sites just going there and reading who he has chosen. In fact, I may just start a few new blogs to see if he will add those, too. Or not.
The point is, you too can stalk admire Guy and his way cool Alltop.com site. Go. Now. Find new blogs. (But come back. I need all 6 of my readers to come back and make me feel all important and stuff. Guy can’t carry that load alone. And? I probably scare him a little.)
I have had an email stalking relationship with her since I found her video online and I can honestly tell you, she is one of the kindest women I have met online. And I have been doing this for years. In fact, we are currently in negotiations for the status of BFF and have agreed to hammer out details over a cup of coffee–time and location permitting.
But, while you are here, feel free to peruse the blog and the archives. It’s not like I am impressed you are here from the NYT Magazine or anything (yes I am) or want you to stay (yes I do) but more importantly, I want you to feel welcome. (But, really? Use a coaster because getting those water rings out of a blog is tough!)
I first saw this on Karen’s blog, Karen Sugarpants, who credited Avitable for the idea where of course I followed many links to other people who grabbed this one and ran with it.
They both wrote a post of ten things they wish they could say (or should say) to people.It was harder than I thought it would be because I am one to actually say what I think to the people around me. (For better or for worse.)
What do you wish you could say to someone? Here are mine:
1. Did you really think your words would not get back to me? I was madder than hell to find out that you were behind the insanity, but I forgive you because I realize it all worked out for the best. Now? Now I am just sad for you.
2. I wish I could understand why you did the things you did to me. I tried so hard not to be resentful or bitter towards you because that hurts me more than you, but I am still struggling with that. You hurt me down to the soul. Do you have any idea how much you hurt me? Do you even care?
3. You are a wonderful, talented person who offers the people around you so much. I wish you could love yourself as much as you are loved. You would be so much happier.
4. I will never understand why you take the people who support you and do your best to destroy them. They support you. They are not trying to compete with you. Can’t you do the same in return?
5. I have always thought you were too good for me. I still do.
6. I miss your friendship. We laughed, cried and shared so much in such a short time but you always make me smile. We haven’t talked in ages. I wouldn’t even know how to reach out to you at this point, but know that I wish you well. And would love to talk to you again.
7. I’m sorry. Really sorry.
8. Stand up for yourself. You have so much to offer but you just don’t let people see the real you. I like the real you. I wish you did.
9. You have been a blessing in my life. Do you know that? I really hope you know that.
10. If you had to live through some of the things I have lived through, you might not be so quick to judge me. Just think about that the next time you dismiss someone’s happiness as fake. Maybe that person has just learned to love life– in spite of it.
Your turn. What would you say if you could– or should– say it.
Crazy is as crazy does videos and speaking of crazy, Mommybloggers is back and rocking the ‘Net
January 27, 2008
I have been sent a few links to “interview videos” this weekend that are awesome. I want so badly to share every one of them with you because with the exception of one that was serious, you would so get a kick out of the crazy! I love the crazy. Especially the couch jumping, I am out of my mind crazy kind of crazy. The things you can find online boggles the mind.
But, I will refrain from the video overload and just show you this brand of crazy.
If for some reason you have been living under a rock and missed the parody of the Tom Cruise Scientology Video, here is Jerry O’Connell doing a “it is so good it is scary” imitation.
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In other news, Mommybloggers is back and rocking the house. We have not officially relaunched as we have much to do, but you will find new content, new writers and new newness there. When we are ready to officially relaunch, we will let you know. It is a blast and we want you to enjoy it, too. Have ideas? Interested in being featured? Know a blogger who really wants to be a part of this? Feel free to send what you have in mind to me at jenn@mommybloggers.com I look forward to hearing from y’all.
Now scoot on over there to Mommybloggers and welcome Crystal aboard. She is awesome and has become my right hand woman. (And let Jenny know you miss her and blow her kisses as she asked to be on hiatus from the site for a while.)
You will slowly see the new writers and new features as we roll them out. So to speak. We aren’t really rolling anything over there. It is all legal.
Monetizing your blog–starting your mom blog (Part VII)
October 4, 2007
Before I do a final wrap-up of starting your mom blog, I think it is important to go where many bloggers eventually find themselves. Do you put ads on your blog or not? There have been some amazing discussions about this over the past week and again at BlogHer. So, let’s hit this one head on and talk about it.
Last week MetroDad started a discussion on what he felt was a “throw away post” on ads on blogs that began to take on a life of its own. He didn’t expect it to become an issue that would have other people put him up as the “anti-ad” blogger. (For the record, he is not anti-ad.) In his original post he writes about it.
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But you know the omnipresence of advertising in our daily lives is getting out of hand when parents start auctioning off naming rights for their unborn babies and college girls start tattooing corporate logos on their breasts.
As usual, I’m not passing judgment on any personal bloggers who feel the need to post ads on their site. Advertising is a biological impulse found throughout the natural world. Peacocks attract the attention of a mate through a multicolored feather display. Baboons signal their sexual readiness with a pair of red, swollen buttocks.
This all came about from a post by mimi smartypants in which she stated shock at seeing a huge blinking ad on the site of one of her favorite bloggers. And did not like it.
My point is more that, through my lame, idealistic, aging-punk, Diaryland-colored glasses, I have a hard time seeing personal web pages as a business. There is something so cool about getting to read the thoughts of people I have never met, and then over there in the sidebar is this big honking ad for a multi-billion-dollar corporation, and that punctures the pleasure balloon somewhat. Ads are fucking everywhere. It would be nice to see just a sliver of handcrafted, non-commercial, free-to-all, personal-expression space in the world, even if just on the internet.
Let me be perfectly clear, though, that both of these bloggers have come out and said that it is their opinion and they don’t care what people do on their own sites, but that they do not want it on their own. MetroDad states:
Not sure how the previous throwaway post morphed into me being against people having ads on their own blogs. As befitting my long-standing philosophy of “live and let live,” I really couldn’t give a shit what other people do with their own sites.
And mimi smartypants said:
It probably doesn’t make me like the writing any less, assuming I liked it in the first place… but it somehow disappoints…I have a family to support too, by the way. And I’m not all pissed off about the ads on blogs, I clearly said that if it floats your boat, then fine. I am, however, very tired of advertising.
As I said, it can get quite heated. However, as anything, there are two sides to every story.
When Liz of Mom 101 asked about ads, she received plenty of positive feedback in her comments. (I cannot link to the authors because they led to dead links, but I encourage you to go to Liz’s site and read all of them for yourself.)
Amanda wrote:
I adore blog ads. They pay us for doing what we love and it just doesn’t get any better than that. Maybe I’m a naive little capitalist, but isn’t that what the free market is all about? People who do what they do well should be rewarded for it.
David wrote:
It’s your blog, do what you want. If someone doesn’t want to read your blog because of ads, that’s fine too. I think this stuff has a way of working itself out.
Some great questions came up at the BlogHer session Professional Blogging Art and Commerce. Rather than try to recap, I will show you what Anne Marie Nichols of The Write Spot live blogged. It is worth reading in it’s entirety.
Questions: What should bloggers think about before joining an ad network? What other things are out there besides using ads to monetize your blog?
Liz - the authenticity of your voice - are you going to compromise it? Will you tick off your readers (ask for what they don’t like and do like.) Are you running so many ads that it looks like a billboard? How do you feel about it?
Even so, running ads give your blog a professional status especially if you’re part of an ad network, like BlogHer’s or using BlogAds.com.
Do the ads fit in with your content? Can you turn down an ad if you don’t like the advertiser - you need right of refusal.
Kelly - You’ll get a 1099 from your ad or blog network when you make more than $600. If it’s lower than that, you need to keep track of it - write it down a piece of paper. Only report money you’ve received (for example, if you haven’t met your payout threshold).
Liz - If you’re not making that much money from the ads, take them down. You’re worth more than that. Don’t give away free real estate on your blog.
You can see both sides if you go through these posts where I linked.
Have ads. Don’t have ads. It is your personal choice. That is all there is to it. No one is wrong. No one is right. Can you make money off of your blog if you join an ad network such as BlogHer Ads? Of course you can. It is YOUR choice to make. There will not be an Internet wide vote cast as to whether you personally should have ads on your site. If you have quality writing, that is what your readers will come to your site to read.
As a matter of full disclosure, I am one of the founding members of the BlogHer Ad Network’s premium parenting network and do not regret it. I have been approached by several other networks and chose the one I am with for personal reasons. As I said, personal choice. I have it. You have it.
So, decide if ads are for you and then sign up if they are. Choice.
In our final post on Mom blogs I will wrap it all up with a pretty red bow and tell you how amazing you all are and how much I love you. Oh, and may impart some wisdom. We’ll see.
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~Jenn is off to fast forward through her tv ads during Big Brother on her DVR that her ads on her blog helps her pay for.~
Now that I blog, how will anyone ever know about it? -Part VI of starting a mom blog
Now that you are rocking and rolling with your new blog, it is time to figure out how to get people to (a) realize that you are blogging and (b) get visitors to come see your amazing writing skills. There are a few tried and true ways to get traffic your way. From comments to web-rings to communities. Your writing will keep them coming back, but you have to get them to your blog first.
The best way to reach out and let others know about your blog is to read other blogs and make comments. Seriously. That is the best way to not only meet new people, but to let them know what you appreciate about their writing as well. (We all like the feedback on our writing, correct?) A mutual admiration society, so to speak.
Take this series for example. Throughout this series I have found many new bloggers simply because they have commented on my entries. Heather of Rookie Moms, Terri of Wheat Among Tares, Kyran of Notes to Self, Jeana of Days to Come, lovebabz of A Life in Transition and finally Karen of A Deaf Mom Shares Her World–though that list is certainly not complete. Many of you have made comments and through those I have found some amazing new blogs! What is my point? When you take the time to comment, the majority of bloggers will come visit your blog. So comment, comment, comment. (Did I mention you should comment?) Also, when you have readers comment on your blog, it is a good idea–especially when you are new to blogging– is to respond. Some bloggers choose to respond in their own comments and some email the commenters back. I know it is time consuming, but it does pay off in making blogging friends and connections.
Another way to get links that will lead readers your way is to join a web-ring. A web-ring is a list of blogs that have something in common. Take for instance Crazy Hip Blog Mamas. They are a great group of bloggers that lead a very popular web-ring of moms who blog.
Our members are an amazing group of women who have tackled various tasks, platforms and charity events. We wanted to offer an oppurtunity for each of you to be profiled with your latest undertaking.
Another one that is great to join and meet other bloggers is The Mom Blogs.
Our goal at theMomBlogs.com is to create the most comprehensive directory of blogs by moms. Our directory has several different categories to help moms find the most relevant type of blog they are looking for and we have state/country categories also to help find other mom bloggers near you.
The purpose of this blogroll is to promote women’s blogs. Everything I require is so that we meet that goal.
This is a women’s only blogroll. It is made up of a wide range of blogs covering a spectrum of interests, political affiliations and religions. This is a diverse group of women, intentionally so.
That list is by far not all inclusive because there are many other blogrolls and web-rings that are great and a wonderful source for you to get your name out there. And I would be remiss if I did not tell you one of the greatest blogrolls (and one of the largest) is BlogHer’s own Mommy & Family blogroll.
There is also Technorati. It is easy to go there and to claim your blog. From there people can list your blog as a favorite, add it to their watchlist or just see how long it has been since you updated. (But remember to ping them!) That should be true of all of the major blogrolling services such as Blogrolling. Ping them and they will come!
One other useful way to get your blog noticed is to have a link to it in all of your out-going correspondence. Use it as your tagline. People actually do click those to see what you are talking about. I have found (and been found) many a times from an email I sent out that had nothing to do with my blog, but because it had a link to it, the reader followed it and I gained a new reader. No hard sell. No pushing anyone with the “READ MY BLOG” statements. Just a casual link at the end of my email.
A much appreciated form of social blog politeness is to link to other blogs that you find inspiring, humorous or just enjoyable. When you link to another blog, most bloggers notice traffic coming from your site and will follow it to see what you are saying. I am sure you appreciate it when another blogger links to you. Even veteran bloggers enjoy the reciprocal links.
Finally, join communities. There are so many. BlogHer, of course is a great resource. There are also communities such as Maya’a Mom, Cafe Mom and iVillage. Those are merely a few, but some well trafficked sites that will not only be a resource for you to find new bloggers, but for them to find you, too!
Obviously, I cannot possibly list all of the webrings, blogrolls and communities here, but feel free to add your favorites in comments. (Remember the first part of this? Comments are a great way to be seen.)
What it all boils down to is the same thing I have mentioned enough times that you just may want to say it with me: content! Write posts that have substance and are of interest to someone other than your dog. (Though, if your dog is reading your blog, I would love to know about it!) I gave you a few (just a small scratching of the surface) ways to get your blog name out there. The rest is up to you. Write. Enjoy what you write. And engage your readers. That is what will gain you a readership. Word of mouth will get your readership up and the next thing you know, you will be a mom blogging rock star.
So, now that you are on your way to stardom, what’s next? The big question many bloggers have: Can I make any money doing this? Should I even try? Coming up next in the series: Ads? Love them or hate them? Take a stand and stand by it!
— ~Jenn is off to comment on blogs and share the blogging love now.~
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