Weekend Warriors: Blogging Tip

Today I'm going to share a blogging tip, and tomorrow is going to be a Back to School teaching tip.

I really didn't figure this one out until I was blogging for almost a year. I will say that my personal blogging experience has become so much more rich and satisfying once I made strong connections with other bloggers. In fact, I consider some of my closest bloggy friends to be some of the best friends I have. Have I met them in "real life?" No, not yet... I would've met them in Vegas if I wasn't 33 weeks pregnant at the time, but there's always next year! Bloggy friends get you. They don't give you that whack-a-doodle look your husband gives you when you try to explain a linky party or sigh and roll their eyes when you're having a bloggy crisis.

So, how do you make bloggy friends?

1. COMMENT ON OTHERS' BLOGS!
And don't just say, " I love this post! I'm your newest follower! I'd love for you to follow me back!" Womp womp!! Take some time and READ the post. If there's something in the post that you find helpful and worthwhile, then tell the blogger! If you have a question, ask it! Make your comments meaningful and genuine. Just as much as bloggers don't care for canned comments like the one above, obnoxiously gushy comments don't help either: "OMG this is the best thing EEEVVVVEERRRRR!!!! Why didn't I think of this????? You are SO, SO, SO talented!!!! Thank you SOOOOOOO much for sharing your AMAZING idea!!!!!!" There's nothing wrong with showing your excitement, just be cool about it :)

There are a couple of things you'll want to make sure you have set in place. First, make sure you have html code to leave your blog link at the end of your comment. This code will leave a clickable link back to your blog. Here's what mine looks like:

<i><b><a href="http://hippohoorayforsecondgrade.blogspot.com">Hippo Hooray for Second Grade!</a></b></i>

The part in pink is your blog address, and the part in green is what text will show up once you hit publish. I keep this code in a Word document saved on my desk top. Then I just copy and paste it to the bottom of my comment. Feel free to snag the code above; just make sure you change it with your own blog info!

Also, you want to make sure you're not a No-Reply blogger. I'm sure you've seen those words before. When you comment on a blog, the blogger gets an email with your comment. I (along with many other bloggers) like to reply to comments via email... unless it's a response that other readers would benefit from. Then I'll reply via email AND post my response on my blog. But if you're a no-reply blogger, we can't email you back. I've made several strong bloggy connections through replying to a comment on my blog, or others replying to a comment I made. Here's a quick tutorial to set yourself up. But be warned... I've had to go back and redo my no-reply status on three separate occasions, so make sure you keep an eye on it. If you comment on your own blog, you'll get an email. Hit "reply," and your email address should pop up. If you're a no-reply blogger, it will say "noreply-comment@blogger.com."

2. JOIN INSTAGRAM!
In my opinion, Instagram is the easiest way to make a bloggy connection. What I like about Instagram is that you get a snapshot into the blogger's life: what's going on in their classroom, what products they're working on, and a peek into their personal life. Again, make sure your comments are sincere and genuine. It's easier for me to reply to others' comments on my photos, and easier for me comment on my favorites' pics. I would suggest using your blog name as your user name (mine's @hippohoorayforsecondgrade), as I tend to explore and follow those kinds of accounts over accounts with people's names or a nickname. Also, if you want people to follow you, you don't want to be private. If I'm checking out a user to see if I want to follow them and see that s/he is private, I just skip right past him/her.

3. SHOUT OUT OTHER BLOGGERS!
If you bought a product and it was really awesome, let your followers know! Again, be genuine. I think the word "genuine" is becoming a theme here... Facebook and Instagram are the easiest because you can tag them in your post. But if you shout out a blogger on your blog, send her an email with your link to let her know. I've even gotten emails from other bloggers saying, "Hey! I bought your _____ product, and I just wanted to let you know that it has made my life so much easier!" Those kinds of comments really make a person's day :)

4. MAINTAIN A QUALITY BLOG!
Make sure your blog is a mix of good ideas, teaching tips, and products. Nobody wants to read a blog that consists only of TPT sales pitches. When you comment on others' blogs and leave your link, many will pop over to your blog. They'll read around and see what you have to offer. They might even ask you if you want to be a part of a collaborative group... that's what happened to me for one of the groups I'm in!

ONE THING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO...
Don't ask to be a part of group (a closed linky or blog hop, collaborative blog, collaborative Pinterest board, etc.) I know that feeling of being left out, and it stinks, especially if I thought I was "in" with the group and they started something without me. However, never in a million years would I email a Blog Hoppin' author and ask if I can be a contributor.

"But I REEAALLLLLYYYY want to be a part of a closed monthly blog hop, linky, collaborative blog, or collaborative Pinterest board." If that's the case, then I encourage you to start your own. It really is a lot of fun (but a lot of work) to plan a collaborative group. That's what I did when I wanted to make a second grade Pinterest board. I got in touch with some of my second grade friends and asked them if they wanted to pin in with me. Round up a few of your bloggy friends, ask them to round up a few of their own, and before you know it, you have 15-20 bloggers ready to have some FUN! It's important for you to know, however, that it does take a ton of behind-the-scenes planning, organization, and making sure everyone is on the same page when you organize an event. This Weekend Warriors blog hop took about a month to plan and set up before even the first post went live.


I think the most important thing to remember in all of this is why you're here in the blogisphere. I'm here because I want to share my teaching ideas with the world (or whoever wants to read them). Stay true to yourself, BE GENUINE, don't try to compete, and make those bloggy connections--that will make your blogging experience so rewarding!

Check out some of the other blogging, TPT, or teaching tricks my fellow Weekend Warriors have in store for you today!

See you all tomorrow!