December 4, 2012

"Wanna be a...blogga."

Wanna be a...blogga.
Post writa.
5K pageviews, on my last post, ya.

You didn't know I was a rapper, didya?
Lil Troy ain't got nothin' on me.

Ok but really...so you wanna be a blogger?

1. Take word verification off of your comment form at your earliest convenience. Screw that-take it off ASAP...forget all this "at your convenience" crap because you're inconveniencing all of your readers! ;) Though this took me a while to figure out myself (trust me...we've all been there), I'm SO glad that warm summer day when I opened my inbox to find a comment from a reader telling me how to take word verification OFF my comments. Look. I'm just gonna be straight up honest here. I barely have enough time to A) write my own blog posts B) read other blog posts and C) actually leave a comment these days so the last thing I want to see when I take time to write a heartfelt comment is some blurred out jibber jabber Google thinks I should know how to comprehend. Do me a favor and follow these simple steps:

Settings...Posts/Comments...Show Word Verification...select NO!

2. If you ask someone to guest post for you, actually post it. (Also see: I barely have enough time to write my own posts.) If you are asking someone to take time out of their busy day to write what's probably going to be a semi-awkward guest post for you, have the courtesy to actually post it. End of story.

3. Have a blue "Follow" button on your page. I like you! I want to read your stuff! But guess what...I'm not "saving you as a fave" or putting your icon on my desktop or memorizing your URL just so I can read your most recent post. Get a follow button so I can see you pop up in my Google reader and/or blog feed on a daily basis! In addition to this, give your followers other ways to get to know you!! While I'm the last person that will ever have Facebook, I still believe it, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest are some of the best ways, if not THE best ways, to give people the opportunity to get to know you and to grow your blog!

4. Use pictures. And use 'em often! Though we may deem ourselves as "writers" the last thing we want to do is actually read for days on end. I'm an extrovert people. I need to see pictures...of anything! Unless it's a real serious topic. Then you're exempt from pictures. Then, and only then will I make an exception. ;) And just for that, here's your picture:
You're welcome.


5. Be yourself. I don't want to hear how every day of your life is rainbows and butterflies. Be real and be personable. Sure-we all have wonderful times in our lives, and I'm as guilty as the next girl when it comes to writing about "those" times but let's be honest, not every day is a walk in the park. People want to get to know you. The real YOU. The good, the bad, the ugly. We wanna know about your rainy days, too.

6. If you're gonna be a blogger, prepare to shop. Online & often. You'll come across the cutest new boots, the blingiest watches, the most fab home makeovers, the most amazing mascara, top of the line flat irons and then some...make sure your credit cards are prepared.

7. On that note, never...and I mean NEVER, under and circumstance, memorize your credit card number. Take it from someone who's mastered her new credit card number in a matter of days... it's just a bad situation for everyone involved with the exception of the stores I'm doing business with.

8. Post often. If you only write one blog post per week, chances are you're going to fall off my radar and everyone else's, too. Update your blog at least a few times a week to keep fresh content on your blog at all times. :)

9. And finally...always blog under the influence of a few glasses of wine. ;) Just take my word for it.

47 comments:

  1. Haha these are great tips!! And girl, for the last one...I can't wait to sip some vino and write!! I miss writing those posts. Love that silly pic of you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is hilarious. Reason blogs has made my credit card hate me. I am constantly "needing" something new!

    ReplyDelete
  3. this made me laugh out loud. i think this might be my favorite "how to be a blogger" post.

    it's funny you mentioned that credit card bit because a few weeks ago i was saying to myself, how come you don't know your credit card numbers? then it hit me that it's a good thing that i always have that extra time to search for my card in my too big purse. that extra time allows me to wonder if i really need the item i want to purchase :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love these tips! I totally agree with the wine comment...

    Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just took the word verification off... thank youuu! I will have to try blogging after a few glasses of wine asap!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love this! Wine is definitely a necessary ingredient for blogging.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hahaha, I am your newest follower and I seriously LOVE this! I do admit that after I became a 'blogger' I memorized my credit card number #guiltyascharged :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your right word verification is annoying! Good point!

    =) Brooke

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post!!! I couldn't agree more about the word verification! Nothing is worse than finding an amazing new blog, writing a long comment and not being able to post it. Sometimes it takes me 3 tries with those damn things!!! Have a great day! =)

    ReplyDelete
  10. YOU READ MY MIND! Freaking word veri pisses me off! And it seems like my posts are must more relatable when I have had a few cocktails. Have you read my post on drunken gummy bears? Hilar! http://www.tristancollins.us/2012/06/drunk-gummies-recipe.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. These blogger tips are PERFECT, but we've got to add using Rafflecopter for giveaways. So easy and less annoying than having to comment for every entry, or get emails for every comment entry! Just sayin...

    Also, I have a confession. I had my CC number memorized the day I got it. Crap! Blogger fail.

    ReplyDelete
  12. THANK YOU for telling me how to get Word Verification off! I hate that thing :) My blog is now better because of you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. LOL - love this post!! I am afraid I am guilty of remembering a couple CC numbers - so dangerous!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have my credit card number memorized too. I think it's most dangerous this time of the year! So many sales and I must have it now! As for blogging under the influence...agreed, always an excellent idea. One I haven't done in a while. I think I need to rectify that!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great advice! I love your blog..its one of my daily reads!!
    Kate

    NYTjerseygirl.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I thought it was such a badass new blogger bc I wasn't using word verification. But double checked it after reading #1 above. Blogger Fail. I've had the dern thing on since I started. Great, great post for us new bloggers. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love love love. And agree with all of it! Has someone actually asked you to guest post and then not posted it?! That's crazy!! #notcool

    PS it would have been super funny if you added your word verification back on... Just for this post! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes!!! It happened THIS week...wrote an entire post and it never got published which is what triggered this entire blog post lol.

      OMG-I should TOTALLY put word verification on for this post!! HAHAHAHA my readers would TEAR ME UP!

      Delete
  18. hehe. These made me giggle. In my head, I kept thinking...oh crap is the next one going to be something that I do...eak! I'm glad I read this during my lunch time while my kids are at lunch. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ok. So i just removed word verification. HAHA thanks for the tip :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. HAHA Love these tips!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love these tips! Taking off word verification right now! Also, I totally agree with the follow button. I find a blog I want to read often and then there is no easy follow button. I never look at my feed through my email so I will never read that blog again. Thanks for sharing that!

    ReplyDelete
  22. i love this, and I LOVE your blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is PERFECT! Thanks for posting, love it :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. All of this is obviously so true but that last one about the wine? Spot on lady, spot on.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I.love.you. The end. PS whoeva the hell didn't share your guest blog post is a dumb dumb. K bye

    ReplyDelete
  26. This was good information for me. I started a blog after my daughter was born and i have a really hard time finding the time to post. I work full time and when i am not at work i am with my daughter. I usually get a couple hours to myself in the evenings after she goes to bed and i find myself just wanting to relax and not do much of anything. I have a lot of things i want to post about. I enjoy reading your blog a lot you always have some pretty fun stuff going on.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am guilty of not posting a guest post someone sent me, which, in my defense it got buried in my inbox when I was honeymooning. I felt so absolutely terrible, and never had the balls to say sorry or anything!. I didn't find it til almost a month later... eeep... hangs head in shame...I also blog once a week.. oopsies

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well...you're breaking the blogging rules but since you're cool, and I like you, I'll let it slide. But ONLY because you're YOU! ;)

      Delete
  28. Great tips, Steph! I just sent this link to my friend who just moved her blog to Blogger and has word verify and no follow button! Gotta show her the basic ropes!

    ReplyDelete
  29. LOVE THIS!!! And thank you!!! That stupid verification thing drives me insane!! How am I supposed to read a bunch of letters smoothed together with a blurred number at the end?! Yeah, impossible!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I need a bloggy make over STAT. I feel like I would be more motivated to actually blog if it was nicer and had all the little trinkets a good blog should have. You know, gotta keep it interesting to the readers! Any suggestions on good blog designers to work with? Preferrably ones who will get it done in a timely manner and don't have out of this world pricing. Thanks girl!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Not gonna lie, I've definitely not posted a guest post before. But I feel so guilty!! :( That helps, right? at least I know what I did was wrong! haha. <3 You rock, mama.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love the last tip! Wine makes everything better. And GIRL when you said twitter and instagram I realized I wasn't following you! Sad! Fixed that asap :) Anyway, these are great tips for a new blogger like me, so thank you! Xo!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I have had my card memorized for months now ... it is def not a good thing ha! BUT it expires the end of this month and the new one came yesterday and I am totally distraught that I will have to re-memorize the new one hahaha!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Love love love this!!! Everything about this perfect!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Just removed word verification - had no idea about it! Thanks!

    -Samantha
    itsallinthedeats.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I am so blogger stupid! I want to gain more followers & interact with more of you blogging babes! How in the world do I get a blue follow button? My blog is super basic! I don't have google reader & am not sure how - yes, I am computer illiterate as well! YIKES! Help me .. I need all the help I can get! I do have my word verification off though! Yay, 1 point for Brittany! LOL :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Um, am I to assume you don't have Facebook?! Because I haven't had it for almost two years now and I couldn't be happier! I will never go back :)

    www.livingbarefootandcrazy.blogspot.com ♥

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'm just a TAD late on reading this post BUT! I kind of just sank down in my couch like I was in trouble after realizing that my word verification was ON haha... Moving on now! Thanks for that girl!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I agree with everything you said! But eeeek I'm kinda failing at keeping my blog updated, specially now with finals :/

    ReplyDelete
  40. Surely, I will revisit your site for additional info. Thanks for the article. I really like this website , and hope you will write more ,thanks a lot for your information. It was very interesting to read. serve as a reference. http://www.legalherbalonline.com/

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks for the tips, new to the blogging game and trying to get it figured out is tricky. Love your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Continue the wonderful good article, I just read couple of articles about this web page and i believe that the blog is rattling intriguing and consists of sets of helpful information.
    free website value generator

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from my readers! I read each and every comment left on my blog. If you have a specific question, feel free to email me at snhoward16@gmail.com.

Also, please make sure your email address is set up with your profile so that I am able to respond to you. xoxo

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...