Make Your Blog Rock

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Ok so technically I’m not the worlds best blogger.  I don’t have hundreds of thousands of followers, I don’t get 20+ comments on every post… But I have been blogging for 3 years, consecutively with out breaks.  Holy cow!  What can I say, I love blogging!

I have seen a lot of blogs I like, I have seen blogs I wish mine was like, I have seen blogs that really didn’t tickle my fancy, and that’s ok.  That’s what’s so GREAT about this world of blogging.  We all have something different to bring to the table.  We aren’t all identical.

You may excel at something I don’t, and vice versa.  One of the best things I think you can do is pass on words of wisdom; something someone else told you or something that you figured out on your own.

Now, when I first started blogging I was a no reply-commenter.  What’s that?  That means that my email address wasn’t attached to my blogger account so that if I asked someone a question, they could reply to me.  I would sit there and go back to blogs to see if they had answered and generally, they didn’t.  Then I finally figured out how to get my email attached to my blogger account and it was magical.  People responded to my questions and I’ve built some fabulous friendships all because of an email.

Are you a No reply commenter?  One way to check is if you go to your blogger profile, you should see Contact Me and the word email below.  That shows that you have an email address attached to your account.

If you don’t have an email address attached, go to the “Edit Profile” button in the upper right corner, Go down to the portion that says “Identity” and type in your email address.  Directly below that is also where you can change how you post so I could go from Nicole to Jane of Jungle if I wanted, but I won’t.

Then up above that in the “Privacy” area, make sure Show my email address is checked and it shows the correct email address and you’re good as golden to have fun email conversations with fellow bloggers you love.  Well that’s if they respond, not all do.  Another lesson learned.

Now I personally follow way more blogs than follow me.  Sometimes that makes me sad, but some of the blogs I follow that don’t follow me are crafty blogs or food blogs etc and it’s my choice to follow them or not.

I try to comment, especially on blogs I love or something I have a comment on, unfortunately sometimes I don’t know what to say.  It isn’t something bad, it’s just I’m not sure what to say so I sit on my thumbs, but I still read the blog.

But on any given day I actually comment to a crapton (don’t really know how many that is and of course if varies) of blogs.  This doesn’t detour me, but I really hate having to type in these “I can’t really read this but I’m not a robot” phrases/numbers.  Especially since blogger has made them so dawgone hard to read.  I think if I remember that was a 37.  Does that look like a 37 to you?  I just guessed numbers, but it allowed it through.

So one thing to try, if you aren’t getting as many comments as you think you should be, take off the Captcha’s.  Go into your blogger settings under posts and comments and make it say Show Word Verification “No”. 

My eyes will thank you.  But if you don’t, that doesn’t mean I’ll stop reading your blog, it’s just a suggestion from yours truly.

Now the whole debate – Pictures or No Pictures.  I truly believe that is a personal preference.  If you’re going to put a picture, make sure it’s a good one, although maybe sometimes I fall off that and just post something whether it’s good or not.

Blogging generally is a form of writing, but some people use it as a form to show their photos or their hobby or whatever else.  So I think if the picture adds value, by all means add it, but if you’re just adding a photo to add a photo, that’s truly personal choice.

And lastly, these blogs are personal masterpieces.  I may say something or someone else may say something that you just totally disagree with and that’s ok.  What’s not ok is leaving hatred comments.  There is enough hatred in the world, don’t invade someone’s personal blog to rip them a new one.  Again, it is ok if you don’t agree, but there’s no need to be rude and hurtful to that blogger.

As a blogger, sometimes we have to grow thick skin and I don’t have very thick skin sometimes, especially if it is something I’m passionate about so when someone leaves a hurtful comment, it makes me want to crawl in a hole and die.  But this is my life, this is my blog, and I have the power to delete hurtful comments.  And never, ever be afraid of deleting a comment if you don’t want it to show up on your blog.

So on October 19, I celebrated my 3 year blogiversary.  For those of you who have been here for the long haul, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I love you so so much.  And for those of you new comers, thank you for clicking that follow button or adding me to your google reader, or whatever else you have done to keep you coming back.

By all means, if you have any other fabulous ways to make a blog better, by all means leave me a comment or shoot me an email.  I’m always up for learning in this ever changing world!

Happy Eve before Eve before Halloween, aka Happy Monday!

p.s. for other helpful blogging hints go here

Linking up here:
Busy Monday
Cast Party Wednesday
Creative Bloggers
Creative Thursday 
Delightfully Inspiring Thursday
Freedom Fridays  
It’s Inspiration Friday
Made by Me
Mangia Monday’s
Time to Shine
Tuesday Talent Show 
Welcome Home Wednesday
Wow us Wednesday

12 thoughts on “Make Your Blog Rock

  1. I love your blog. I may not always get it read when you post, but I here. I also don't always get a comment posted – have had a lot of trouble recently when reading from my phone or tablet. Not sure why. 🙁

    Love your blog! (just in case you missed it at the beginning)
    Stef

  2. Great post! And AMEN to the email and word verification!! I had to do a word verification 3 times before I got it right today! So annoying.

    Happy Blogaversary!

  3. I think your awesome for replying to each comment… I fail at that, even though I do try! I just get easily distracted.. ha!!
    Oh, and THANK YOU for not having word verification, I despise it! 😉

  4. Great advice:) Oh yes, I wish I had read this when I first started, I had to fumble my way through these obstacles. I am now following in as many ways as I can:)

  5. Thanks for your tips…I am a new blogger and really appreciate it….andTHANKS for linking to my party Debbie:) Vintage On A Dime

  6. Oh such great tips. Thanks. And I love your attitude too. I try to comment too and I hate that strain your eyes thingy I wish people wouldn't use it. Thanks for the tip on the email I'll have to check on that. Happy Anniversary and thanks for sharing.
    Have a Beautiful weekend.
    Sherry

  7. Thanks for the tips!

    And FYI I think you've got a fantastic blog! Your pictures are wonderful, you've got a great sense of humor and have a lot of interesting/fun things to say 🙂

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