I was told I would be making my classroom debut today. Tried to clean the place up. I realize I look like a jumbled mess of fonts, sentence fragments, too many ----'s and ......'s, and an obscene amount of AND's! But .....I'm more than that too. I am an extension of Jennifer's wisdom, her life experience, her humor, her outlook, and (dare I wax poetic and even say--) her soul (?). SO you can imagine that it feels a little, uh, uncomfortable for me to be displayed on a big screen like this (blog waves shyly). I'm trying to picture you with either more or less clothes on---whichever will help me feel not so nervous. Hey!!! Speaking of *YOU*--what are you doing reading this anyway? I'm pretty sure I'm only up here as a visual aid.....! Shouldn't you be listening right now? Like any good English major though--you'll read anything, won't you :) ?!
Well, as long as you're reading, I'll give you a couple of tips for creating a successful blog. Because, let's face it---it's ALWAYS more fun to have actual people reading what you have to say (even though by your very need to write, you'd probably say it anyway.....)
* Define your audience. Write for whom you want to attract.
* Take the old advice to "write what you know". Be honest and be yourself--even in writing, people can smell a fake.
* Give the 'comment love' to get it---write the kind of feedback you would like to get-- to the ones you'd like to get it from.
* Be consistent and be patient. You're one in a million plus blogs floating around out there and it takes time for 'kindred spirits' to find you.
~~~~Hello regular blog readers! I'm in the classroom today, but I haven't forgotten about you! Would you agree with these tips? Do you have any others? Perhaps an embarrassing tidbit about yourself you would like to have read aloud in public? :) ~~~~
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41 comments:
Hey! Notice the music AGAIN?! I love this song---it's like the "we're grown ups now and proud of it" anthem. Go tell Jon how much you love it! He and his brothers poured their hearts into The Arrogants and it's always great to hear that people still love your work ;) www.jonmcferson.blogspot.com.
Thanks so much for popping by & giving me some SITS love on my big day!
Sorry about being Fist all of the time... (I did it again today...) OOPS!
Love your blog!
I would have to agree with the part about being patient. It takes a while, and sometimes one comment is still all you get.
And I will say, while its nice to know people are reading and it can get discouraging when you feel like they are not,just remember why you started it and what you want from it.
Oh, and sorry, one more - The people you thought may read for sure (like family and friends)may not. You may end up realizing there are people across the country that you connect with and are blessed to get know through the amazing blog world instead though. People who share your experiences and provide "bloggy shoulder" to cry and laugh with And, that is just as, if not more rewarding
i started my blog for my grandma who is 3,000 miles away. updates, etc.
then i found out i LOVED doing it so much and reading others, that it grew from there.
i guess all i can say is to be aware that you log will create a life of its own.
mine is now a meeting place and a therapy session. :)
*nice to meet you mrs.blog*
Great post. I try..that is the keyword TRY...when making a comment on another blog...pick one of their followers and visit their blog. You meet a lot of blogs then!
-Sandy Toes
Is that called networking???
I think your blog is going to look and behave just lovely on her first day at school!!
I agree with all of your points. Good job, teacher...
Linda
great tips, jen :) especially the commenting one, and the consistent and patient one.
you're the real deal, ya know that?
One thing that I have realized with blogging is that it evolves. You may start it out as one thing...and then it morphs into something else entirely.
So many people out there that write blogs ARE writers. They are just honing their craft. And then there are some of us who do this because of the wonderful connections we make.
I think it's so cool that you are going to teach about blogging!
No real tips, just a thanks for the comment yesterday. You are a great commenter (is that even a word?). Good luck today.
I like a good mix of journaling and pictures. my blog is strictly for our family journal keeping and really don't care whether or not anyone looks at it or comments, because I love having it in a book on my coffeetable for my family later. However, it's nice to know that others are staying in touch with us this way too and when I do get comments, they are fun to read. I just think it's important to also DEFINE what your blog is going to be for you. What your goals are for it... Do you want to have lots of followers or just close friends/family; do you care who reads/sees it? Are you keeping it for fun, humor, journaling etc. Don't know if this makes much sense!
I think it's always important to give credit and kudos to the one who started you on the whole adventure. (Cough ME Ahem....) Just kidding. :) Good luck in the class room. So wish I was there for the lesson; it'll be lots of fun.
I defer all advice to Jennifer since she is the most beautiful, talented blogger out there!
Go read Mindless Junque and then go to SITS.
I could. not. resist.
Love you.
I think you have given great advice. . .I should follow some of it. Your blog is consitently fun to read, even with the diversity you offer--maybe because of it. Have fun in school.
Class: Listen to your teacher. Clearly she is on to something here.
LOVE this song, Professor Peterson.
OK - did you see Mama Kats prompts. #3 is so unfair. Did you bribe her to use it? :)
Carrie--
No!--Not my doing! And I'm actually a little perplexed by it. The first two parts I can work with, not sure about the last line though. I don't know if I'll even get to do it this week---it's bill payin' night tonight which means no blogging ;P. Can't wait to see what YOU come up with though!
UGGH! Blogger lost my comment!! Hate that... it went a little somethin like this:
ME? Give tips to THE Jennifer P??? Um, nada! I need to attend your class! I started my blog to keep a "journal" of sorts but now it's soo much more! I wouldn't have met a Jennifer P. if not for the good old blogworld!! And as far as any tidbits of info I want to be read aloud...I think I've given enough with my quirks post! I think I almost lost you with my water and cookies :o GOOD LUCK in the classroom!
yep...agree...you are the queen, and that's why we love you. it's just so hard to find time to do it all, while remembering why you're doing it in the first place. If I get caught up in the numbers, and have only been blogging for three months, then something's not right in my priorities. Ugh - it's all about balance. :)
I like all of your fonts! I agree 100% with everything! Comment love is the hardest because you can spend hours and hours reading and commenting on people's blogs only to get one comment back!
Great tips. Very helpful! Thanks for your good advice :)
Great tips. Very helpful! Thanks for your good advice :)
Those are graet ideas! I originally started my blog to keep family informed of our events, and also as a way to document things since journaling and scrapbooking seem to have gone by the wayside.
It is exciting, however, to see that others are interested in redaing what we have to say and leave comments. It's like cyber money :).
Those are graet ideas! I originally started my blog to keep family informed of our events, and also as a way to document things since journaling and scrapbooking seem to have gone by the wayside.
It is exciting, however, to see that others are interested in redaing what we have to say and leave comments. It's like cyber money :).
Great ideas! I think defining your audience is tough. I think it takes time to decide what the purpose of the blog is and how to attract the audience you're looking for. I love how you update regularly and change your music around all the time. I'm still learning. I'd love to hear how the class went though. :)
So true Jennifer's Blog, good tips for the other Blogs just trying to get their voices heard. We love reading what you have to say.
Jennifer,
Thank you for the presentation in ENG 198 today! I learned a lot and I love your page. I may have to start a blog for my new bengal kitten "Kiva." Thanks for sharing.
Marsha
I think that these are all very good tips on running a successful blog. I am doing all of them and in the last couple months, I have experienced increased success. I am no where near where I want to be but I am patient and it will happen if I keep doing what I am doing:-)
Thanks for the additional suggestions you made in my blog. I do want to get something custom one day. Who did yours?
You were my swap partner!!! My package arrived today, and I LOVE it! You totally rock! What a sweet gift box and I loved your note with it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
I'll try to post on it soon.
Yea! Look at you teaching about blogging!!! You go girl! Do your students already have blogs or are they just starting??
It seems that a lot of "Mommy Bloggers" started as a way to pseudo scrapbook & update family members on the kiddos and then the blogging evolved into something else...whether that was friendship, or a special niche...crafts, decorating, or just writing for the sake of writing.
I'd tell your students not to get discouraged if their family & real life friends don't show much interest in their blogs...with time they'll find their audience.
Great tips!
I thought the "Define your audience" tip was a good one :)
Advice to viewers:
Have a blog like Jennifer's and you will succeed. She is the queen.
Congratulations on your teaching! I'm sure your first class was great.
I would just add that one of the benefits of blogging is that is keeps you disciplined about writing. Now instead of making an observation and moving on, I take the time to delve into it and write about it. And that helps keep the creative juices flowing!
I have a couple of things you might want to add. Tell them that although they should be true to themselves and blog about what they want, that it is wise and prudent not to put out information that will embarrass them now or in the future (as in future employers) Also, suggest that if they use the names and pics of friends/relatives, that they should ask those friends/relatives for permission to post about them. Not everyone is keen about putting that info out there without their choosing. I learned that the hard way. I put up a pic of my daughter and one of her friends. Friend's mom wasn't happy. So I deleted the whole post. It's just important to be discerning that way. That's my two cents. I can't wait to hear more about your class!
Tell them that you have to be more creative not to use profanity... I didn't think I could do it when I started, but I knew I would have more readers without it.
Short is sweet. Unless you are a very special writer with a really engaging topic, too much is no good. We have lots of blogs to get through! Break the post down over a few days and have people coming back for more!
I would totally take your class!
Nothing really to add. Your points 2 and 3 are the main things I tell people if they ask for advice!
hi,
I just wanted to say thank you for talking in class. I have started my on blog page. If you ever get a chance maybe stop by and check it out.
Thanks again!!
Hello Jennifer's Blog! I have not left a comment before on anyone's blog, so you are my first! I just wanted to thank you for helping me keep up with a good friend of mine who I don't see often enough because we both have crazy lives!
You are wonderful!
Love,Holly
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