Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Blog Questions Answered + Link Party

Let’s talk.

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About Nate’s wardrobe.  Wait.  Let’s not.  Okay, let’s talk about my lack of motivation to do anything other than sleep, work out and shop for summer clothes.  Wait.  Let’s not talk about that stuff either.

Let’s talk about blogging.  Back when I discussed hanging with my BFFs, there were some questions asked. I promised to answer.  Here it goes.  I’ve also decided to host a party today.  I’m spontaneous like that.  (Anyone that knows me in real life is dying of laughter.)

 First the questions.

How do you get invited to do a guest post/invite others to guest post?

I haven’t written a guest post for awhile but the ones I have done in the past were for people that I had established blog relationships with.  Most of my guest posts were for other bloggers needing to take a break/vacation.  It’s a great opportunity to reach another blog audience.  I’ve invited guest bloggers before when I have been on vacation.  It’s as simple as sending out an e-mail with the topic you’d like to have covered with specific deadlines, etc.

How do you connect with sponsors (like the Home Depot)?

I don’t actively seek sponsors. I’m lazy.  I have a real job.  Seeking sponsors seems like work to me and I try to keep the blog as a hobby.  So how do I have sponsors/work with companies?  I use BlogHer as an ad agency. They pay me to run ads on my blog.  They also market my blog to companies for other sponsored opportunities.  I’ve recently started using SocialSpark also.  The rest/majority is dumb luck (okay, probably my content). The companies contact me and I agree if I feel like it’s a good fit for our house/blog. 

How long did it take for you to garner the following you have now?

I’ve been blogging for a little over 2 years.  It takes time.  Check out my early posts. Crickets, my mom and Mindy.  Blog “following” is interesting too.  It’s really hard to tell how many people actually read your blog.  You can also look at page views versus comments. My page views aren’t extremely high (in comparison to larger blogs) but I feel like I have very engaged blog readers.  You all comment, question, e-mail, etc.  We interact.  It’s something that I would like to do more of.  When I learn to manage my time better.  Or sleep less.  Or invent a time machine.

What would you recommend to others to get followers to their blog?

Be social.  I’m not a super social person in real life but I totally get around in blogland.  (Quote me on that.)  Comment on other blogs.  Get on social media.  I’m on the twitter, facebook, Google+, Pinterest and Instagram.  I’m most active on Instagram and twitter.  I’m working on the others.  Make friends.  Put yourself out there.  It’s a scary thing to do.  The nice thing about bloggers is that most of us are friendly.  I generally am.  Except when I’m hungry or tired. But seriously.  Throw yourself out there!

I also find it helpful to have a close group of blog buddies (similar blog focus and blog size) that you work with.  Use this group to promote each others work.  Encourage.  Support.  Bounce ideas off one another.

There’s also the whole schpeel that you have probably heard before but it’s a schpeel for a reason. Quality content, post regularly, have pretty photos, be yourself, yadda, yadda.

How does one get featured on a big blog? 

Quality content is probably one of the easiest ways to get featured.  Write a post about an awesome project and spread the word about it to the best of your ability!  If it’s awesome, it’ll get noticed.  Big bloggers often ask for your projects.  Submit them.  I’ve been turned down probably as many times as I’ve successfully been featured on bigger sites.  Young House Love asks for before and afters.  Brooklyn Limestone often asks for certain projects.  Don’t fear rejection.  Just do it, man.

How does one host a Pinterest linky party with major bloggers? 

Complete and total dumb luck.  I’m still trying to figure that one out myself.

Any other questions?  I’ll answer them in either the comments or a follow-up post!

Now it’s time for a party. Hopefully it will help us all get to know each other a little better.  Find some new blog buddies.  Spread the love.  Ain’t no party like a Decor and the Dog party because a Decor and the Dog party is mandatory (name that show).  I have 2.5 simple rules to join in on this party.  (Of course my party would have rules.)

1.  You must blog at least once a week.  I want this to be a party for active bloggers looking to expand their blog network.  It’s hard to do this if you only blog once a month.
2. You must visit AND comment on the 2 blogs in front of you.  (If you are the first two, visit the ones that follow you.) We’re making friends remember.  This isn’t a dump your blog link and run.  I will have police at this party.  Don’t doubt me..and my staff.
3. When it’s asks for your name, please list your blog name AND the state you live in.  (For example: Decor and the Dog/Iowa).  If you aren’t comfortable listing your state, I get it.  I just think it’d be nice to see where everyone is from!

Party time. Excellent.

89 comments:

  1. What an awesome idea but I don't see anything to link up!
    I'm going to the dentist now and check back later :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awesome idea, Michelle! Blog friends are one of the reasons I love blogging. And one of the reasons I stalk pictures of Ike. Me and Ike are friends. :) Also, I totally agree the blogging is supposed to be fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS: Flight of the Conchords (Ain't no party like my grandma's tea party) That was really bothering me and I was singing it over and over again in my head until I could figure it out. Rhymenocerious out.

      Delete
    2. no! it's Liz Lemon! :)

      ...but... I'm not crying... I'm just cutting onions... in the rain...

      Delete
    3. DAMN. SO CLOSE. (because obviously those crazy singers and Liz Lemon are besties)

      Delete
    4. I am glad you all cleared that up. It was really going to bother me all day.

      Delete
  3. This is a great idea - I'm stoked to be a part of it :)

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  4. Thanks for this post and for the link party!! Looking forward to making some new friends!
    -katie

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  5. great idea!
    also, I regularly tell my students "Ain't no party like a Speech class party, because a Speech class party is MANDATORY." it's so applicable in so many areas of life...

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  6. Yayyy for finding new blog friends!!! Thanks for hosting!

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  7. This is a great idea! Excited to go exploring :)

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  8. Thanks for hosting Michelle -- I was just thinking I needed to poke around the interwebs a little more. I found your site via YHL and was interested to see a blog in good ol' Iowa as I have a lot of family up in those parts and then that Ike is so darn cute. It's so nice of you to spread the blog love around. Cheers - CT

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  9. Great idea! Thank you for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  10. So much fun. Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
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  12. Yay! I love meeting new blogging buddies. Love this!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such a fun idea for a linky party :). Found some new blogs!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Making internet friends was the best thing I ever did. It only enables my laziness in getting ready and leaving the house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't agree more. I don't know how many times I have been late because I couldn't drag myself away from a blog post!

      Delete
  15. This is the coolest link party..wait for it...ever! Thanks for doing this! It's helpful to find local bloggie friends!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love that we share a mutual obsession with all things Liz Lemon. And that's why I felt okay about joining your link party even though I am not even close to posting once a week. Please don't kick me out of your mandatory party :-(

    ReplyDelete
  17. I agree with everyone else this is a great idea. Seems like a lot of California girls are too cool for blogging. Hope some show up. It is all about Utah, Midwest and the south. You ladies have it going on.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Awesome, I`m excited to meet some new people!! I think I`m the only Canadian so far :-)

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  19. what a great idea about adding where you live!!!

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  20. Thanks for hosting. I have been to a few of the blogs and commented on the two before me. One of them was already my bbff - best blog friend forever :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love this party...what a great idea. Gosh, you are brilliant! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. 1) Love this linky party and getting real blogging advice
    2) Love the idea of adding your state! I desperately want to meet local bloggers and have blog crafting/eating/laughing/shopping weekends, but Mrs. Limestone won't answer the door. (Kidding. But seriously, next Halloween I'm going to find her house in Park Slope).
    3) Love your blog! I only started reading your blog in the past few months (either via Princess Woodward or the YHL/BP Pinterest Challenge) and love your style and sarcasm!
    I'm crappy with routine on my blog so I'm obeying rule #1, but I def plan to check out the other blogs that linked up!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi, Michelle :) Great idea and I am a complete dork. I did an oops and am on here twice...I forgot to add my state so I linked again and then it won't let me delete my old link. Sorry about that! xo Kristin

    ReplyDelete
  24. Yeah, so I somehow messed up my link in the linky party
    *sulks away from computer*
    I tryped in my homepage and it reposted without me choosing a photo...TWICE lol! Sorry.

    Every party has a pooper *points to self*

    ReplyDelete
  25. Awesome idea! Thanks so much for hosting this!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Awesome impromptu partay! I know I don't post quite often, but I do try (please don't kick me out either :} )I think the lousy weather is doing a number on me, all I want to do is nap all day long.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi! I don't have a blog, but I wanted to let you know that I am an avid reader, never commenter!

    ReplyDelete
  28. ooo i like the where everyone is from thing. I am always hoping someday there will be someone semi local to me and I can have a real life blog friend!

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a great idea Michelle! I really love this party! thank you for hosting! Ingrid

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  30. sorry Michelle, I forgot to add my state (Montreal, Canada) and when I tried to delete it, I was not able to do it!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thank you for the awesome tips! I started my blog 66 posts ago and I'm trying to spread the word about my newly domesticated life since getting married in November!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great idea for a party, Michelle - and I loved reading the answers to your questions. As usual, you crack me up! Thanks for hosting!
    -Shelley

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a fun idea! I clearly lost track of what I was doing and didn't type my blog name or state...can I delete my link and redo it??? I'm number 66 (Liz).

    ReplyDelete
  34. 30 Rock for the win! ;)

    Thanks for hosting the party! I'm excited to check out the other blogs!

    ReplyDelete
  35. You are so cool. And I truly love that you are so real on the blog and in real life. What a lucky girl I am to call you a real friend.

    Great idea for a party. You know I'm always up for a party. Unlike you, I get around in real life AND in blogland. Color me a party animal.

    ReplyDelete
  36. PS. I didn't list my state. Oops. I pressed enter too soon. SO I'M FROM ILLINOIS. Come visit me and Michelle anytime. Decor and the Dog loves when I make her get social in real life.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Fun party idea! Also great tips. You really do get around in blog land. Everyone's been talking about it. EVERYONE. hahaha, okay not really. I need some wine. It's Friday night.

    ReplyDelete
  38. This was a very good idea, I actually found some awesome blogs:-)

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Michelle, I posted my link and it didn't work right the first time so I had to do it again. When I tried to click on the little x to delete the first one, the Pinterest P kept popping up and it wouldn't let me. I didn't mean to have it up twice, I'm sorry but I every time I tried to click the x, the P would pop up faster and open up Pinterest instead.
    Either way, great idea. Thanks for hosting this :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. I loved reading this post, and thanks for the fun link-up par-tay!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I'm late to the party! Thanks so much for answering these questions and hosting the Link Party! Awesomeness all around.

    ReplyDelete
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  43. I love that you take this blogging thing so breezily (is that a word?). It's very refreshing and not something that I've been able to do. In fact, I stopped blogging because I was taking it so seriously and expected so much in the first year. Thanks for helping others bloggers. It means a lot to us.

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