We pause for a short interruption to our regular programming…
As I mentioned last week, I’m currently hosting and participating in a blogging challenge – 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. (There’s still time to join in – we end December 3rd.) Participants are encouraged to report on each day’s tasks in the AP Freewriting BlogFrog community, and each Thursday during the challenge, those participating will have an opportunity to link up their #31DBBB posts for the week on this blog.
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As many of you may remember, I’m currently taking an independent study class this semester on blogging – Blogging as a Ministry. One of the assignments for this class is to read the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog ebook and to journal at least 100 words per chapter/day.
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Day Ten: Setting Up Alerts
A few months ago, I set up a number of alerts with Google Alerts. I wasn’t sure what I really wanted to watch for, but I picked a few key phrases I thought might be appropriate and starting getting daily emails. I soon found out that most of the phrases I was watching for weren’t really ones that made sense to watch, so with the exception of my vanity alerts (watching for my name and blog name on sites I didn’t put it on), I’ve pretty much deleted all of my alerts. I have a few new ideas floating around in my head, but I think I’ll probably have better luck with just searching the terms in Google rather than adding another email to my inbox, considering my needs.
Do you use alerts? What kinds of alerts do you have set up?
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Day Eleven: Come up with 10 post ideas
When I sat down to do the mind mapping exercise, I pulled up the last ten posts I’d written. I was almost shocked with what I found – I haven’t written anything of substance for quite awhile! Definitely not what I was expecting to find with this exercise. I definitely needed to do this exercise to start brainstorming some new posts that have substance – posts that encourage others and point them to God. I want my blog to be a place my readers can come for encouragement and challenge in their walks with God – and it’s walked away from that too much lately. My goal for this exercise was to develop ten post ideas that have depth – that encourage and challenge the reader – and I quickly came up with a “theme”, five categories, and 20 post titles.
Have you done a blog check-up lately? Do your posts reflect your purpose? How do you brainstorm post ideas?
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Day Twelve: Develop an editorial calendar for your blog
I’ve been using an editorial calendar of sorts for quite awhile for my blog. In the past couple of months, I’ve tried to have my posts planned out at least two weeks in advance. Recently, I’ve had to schedule posts out a month in advance in order to get everything in that I wanted to be sure to post (giveaways, reviews, linkups, etc.). Having an editorial calendar helps me to be able to see at a glance where I have holes that need posts scheduled. Since I follow a basic weekly pattern, I can see which days I need to come up with a post idea and plug it in. I’m excited to plug in my newest post ideas from day eleven’s brainstorming session for the next few months. I’m hoping to get a month or so ahead in my actually post writing so I can focus on something other than blogging for awhile!
Do you use an editorial calendar? Are you a fan of electronic calendars or paper and pencil?
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Day Thirteen: Take a Trip to the Mall…
Having two small children to tote around makes this exact task a bit difficult, and in reality, observing the general population doesn’t really apply all that much to my blog. Instead, I spent some time thinking through the church going experience yesterday, since those are the people I’m more likely to be “aiming” my blog towards.
Where is the average pew dweller at spiritually? Where is that lady’s heart when she’s sitting the worship service? What struggles are these people facing on a daily basis that I can come alongside them and encourage them in? What can I write that will challenge and encourage these women to deepen their walks with the Lord? How can I help her find calm in the midst of the chaos of her life?
Where is your target audience? Have you spent any time observing them lately? What are they looking for?
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Day Fourteen: Update a Key Page on Your Blog
Since my site overhaul is fairly new, I’ve spent a significant amount of time getting everything updated and looking “nice” in the past few months. There are still a few “key pages” I’d like to add to my blog, along with a few elements that might help to create stickier traffic. For instance, I need to find a better way to encourage new readers to subscribe to the blog. I’m still averaging around 50% of visitors being first time visits to the blog – I need to find a way to encourage them to come back and be a part of the community without overwhelming them. One of the most important elements, in my opinion, on any blog is the ability for a first time reader to easily connect with the blogger via email, Twitter, and RSS (subscription feed). I have placed each of these key elements in an easy to locate (and highly visible) location at the top of each page.
What are some key elements you’d like to see on more blogs? What do you look for in a new blog? What helps you to connect with a blogger?
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Day Fifteen: Find a Blog Buddy
I have had the privilege of connecting with several “blogging buddies” in the past few months. Gather Inspirit and SavvyBlogging have both created great networks that I have enjoyed being a part of and learning from. Gather Inspirit is a source of blogging support from the Christian blogging perspective, whereas SavvyBlogging helps me to grow as a technical blogger.
Specifically, I have enjoyed building relationships with fellow bloggers, taking our friendships beyond the blogs. Meghan Tucker from The Tuckers Take Tennessee is one of my best “blogging” friends! Her encouragement and challenge in my life has helped me to grow as a blogger and as an individual. I love being able to talk to her about anything that’s going on in my world – blogging or otherwise!
Do you have a blogging buddy? Have you found yourself part of a blogging community that encourages and supports you?
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How’d you do this week? Did you get through all the tasks? Link up below and let us know!
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Thanks to The Fine Grind for sponsoring this post and my ticket for The Relevant Conference. Be sure to check out their selection of artisan roasted specialty coffee, exceptional teas, and gourmet hot chocolates!
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