The Don'ts of Blogging.

 

My name is Taylor and I am a living example of multiple blogging mistakes.

I have been blogging for one whole year now and I still have no idea what I am doing.

I am not really one to give advice.

Oh, well.

Let’s begin.

Do not obsess over numbers.

Fact: The Lumberjack’s Wife always stresses about numbers.

Number of comments.

Number of hits.

Number of followers.

There have been posts where I received no comments. There have been weeks where I received no comments. I would visit other people’s blogs, see that they had 467 followers and I would just want to give up.

Don’t give up.

Why did you start your blog?

I started mine to record my family’s life. So, I keep going.

Everyday.

And if people come and read it . . . great.

And if people don’t come back, I will be disappointed, but I will keep going.

Because the point of it is to record my life.

If you are feeling discouraged . . . take a break.

Shut down your computer and stay away for a day or two.

And then keep going.

Don’t get your feelings hurt.

Fact: The Lumberjack’s Wife always gets her feelings hurt.

I emailed everyone I knew about my blog. I got like 3 visitors my first week.

My mom didn’t even come look at my blog until about the 3rd month.

My dad still can’t find my blog unless it is already in the history of his address bar.

Fact: The Internet is not everyone’s cup of tea.

So, in the beginning, I would feel sad that my Auntie raved about my blog, but then never came back.

Why didn’t she come back?

Because she is not into blogs.

Now, I just take the compliment that she enjoyed my posts and move on.

Don’t worry too much about comments

There are people out there who simply do not know what to say.

It does not mean they do not like your post.

It does not mean they do not like you.

It means they

A) Can’t figure out how to leave a comment

B) Don’t know they should leave a comment

C) Worry about what they should comment

So don’t lose heart!

Be glad they come and read.

That’s the most important part, afterall.

I do, however, have some ideas on how to get your readers to comment:

1) Ask them questions.

I am often working song lyrics and movie quotes into my posts.

In one of my posts, I posted this picture of my Lumberjack:

and wrote:

“Lord,

Make me a bird, so I can fly far . . . far, far away from here.

(Name that movie.)”

If the reader knows the movie, they will most likely try to answer that in the comment.

2) Ask for your readers’ advice. One post, I asked them to recommend their favorite book to me.

3) Ask a relatable question. In this post, I shared with them my recent dentist story and asked them when the last time they went to the dentist was.

Ask easy questions anyone can answer.

Don’t ask them to help you find the circumference of the moon.

That would not be ideal.

Don’t be a bad blogging friend

Visit other people’s blog as often as you can and leave a comment.

If somebody visits your blog, try to return the favor.

Don’t Copy other Bloggers without giving them credit.

If I were to post this picture of my dashing Lumberjack:

and state that he “gave me the hiney tingles,” everyone would know darn well that I was stealing words right from the mouth of The Pioneer Woman.

So, if you do use other bloggers’ trademarks, give them credit.

Instead, say something like,

“That Lumberjack! He certainly gives me the hiney tingles! (Name that blogger)”

Oh! Did you see what I just did there?

I gave credit to The Pioneer Woman and I gave my readers something to comment about.

See how tricky I am?

I am like a blogging mastermind.

Don’t be afraid to try something new

I have tried many different types of posts:

1) Ten Things Tuesday. This type works great for either a list of 10 related things or 10 random things.

2) Wordless Wednesday (my least favorite . . . cause I always got lots to say)

3) Weekend Update-just going through what happened over the weekend

4) Relive a recent conversation. I love these ones! Click here and here to see my two favorite examples of this kind of post.

Have fun with your blog!

Don’t be afraid to roll with your issues.

Yes.

That’s right.

I have issues.

All my readers know my weaknesses and failures. And they tell me like it is.

Interruption: This can be the downside to receiving comments.

Sometimes comments can seem critical.

I recently received a comment from a dear reader saying that she had definitely had her “fill” of my “peeing” posts.

Well, folks.

This blog is about my life.

And if my son drops his drawers and pees on my washing machine, I find that blog-worthy.

Her comment had unfortunate timing.

She said it the day after I snapped this photo from Easter Sunday:

*sigh*

Such a waste.

But, I digress.

My readers know that I cannot take pictures for the life of me.

They are patient with me . . . I think.

I am really having trouble with my new camera . . . and it is really frustrating me.

But sometimes, I really need the picture, imperfections and all, to get my post to work.

So I just post terrible pictures anyways.

Because it’s my blog and I can.

But I also make poke fun at myself in doing so.

For example:

Here is a picture I used in a post and the caption that went with it:

“Oops! I focused in on the wrong stud!”

So, there you go!

Don’t take yourself too seriously and have fun with your imperfections.

But, wait!

There’s more!

Guess what else I do that is super awesome?

I take pictures of pictures.

Because I don’t have a scanner.

Classy, I know.

I do this

All.

The.

Time.

Can we not all agree that I am the tackiest blogger in the whole blogosphere?

But I had to do it.

I had no other choice.

Sometimes an old picture must be shown.

Like this one of yours truly . . .

It had to be done.

(To read that post click here)

***

Alright!

That’s all I’ve got!

(Did you notice that I am lacking in the “how-to-transition-to-a-conclusion” portion of this essay?)

Happy Thursday!

This post was originally written as a guest post for Diva over at Confessions of a Redeemed Diva.