5 Tips for Letting Go of Your Network Blogs

Blogs are so personal. They truly become a part of you. Many of us pour everything we are into our blogs. We give them personality and our voice. It’s not easy to let go and watch someone else take over our network blogs. I never had problems moving on from more traditional writing jobs or turning down one client in favor of a better gig. It’s different with blogs. I’m too territorial - these are MY blogs.

I find myself in a position where I have to let go and it’s not an easy decision. If you find yourself in the same situation, here are a few ways you can make the break easier to bear:

  1. Give advanced notice - Let your editor know a few weeks in advance. This will allow her to find someone to replace you, and it will also enable you to tidy up any unfinished blogging business. For example, you may have some product reviews to complete or a series you’d like to end.
  2. Find your own replacement - For my favorite network blog, I recommended my replacement. I’m hoping she gets the green light because we both see eye to eye on our vision for this blog and I know she’ll do it justice. I also know she’d let me come back and guest blog once in a while. Which brings me to tip number 3:
  3. Offer to guest blog once in a while - Even though it won’t be “your” blog anymore. You can still come back from time to time as a guest blogger.
  4. Remain a part of the community - Don’t make a clean break, remain part of the community. Visit and share comments. Don’t take over - it’s not YOUR blog anymore - but do visit and share your own thoughts.
  5. Don’t burn your bridges - I’m hoping one day I can have a network blog again. I have nothing but nice things to say about my experiences as a network blogger. I love the sense of community among the network and my editors and managers are top notch bloggers and people. Even if I didn’t want to come back one day, I’m happy to call my blogging associates “friend” and will continue to support them.

It’s tough letting go. I’m not going to gloss it over. I almost didn’t apply for a much better opportunity because I didn’t want to give up my network blogs. My decision is the best for all concerned, however and I have no regrets. It’s going to be tough to see my blogs fall into someone else’s hands, but I’m not going to be a stranger. I’m not going to be posting to these blogs, but that doesn’t mean I can’t participate.

June 19, 2008 | Filed Under Be A Team Player, Blog Break, Blogging for Others | 4 Comments 

Excuses & News

Maybe you weren’t counting, but I absolutely noticed that I went the entire last week here without posting once. I feel major guilt over stuff like this. Skipping a week of posting is not the best move for building traffic, and worse it doesn’t allow for a nice flow of communication and interactions with your readers.

So, just a quick sorry for being MIA; it’s not cool of me to miss so many days here. My slack has good excuses (trust me), but those excuses are all sort of dull unless you’re me, so why go there. Let’s look at solutions instead.

Deb and I were chatting about this blog, which so far we adore. Of course we like the topic, but we also like the readers here. It’s a nice place to be so far; pretty chill. However, last week I realized that I have some new time constraints, and as you all know, Deb landed a very cool new gig.

Because we both have new schedules to work around, but would still like to see this blog grow, we decided to bring on a third network blogger. We’re thrilled to have this blogger joining us here at Network Blogging Tips. She’s a great blogger who has some special insight into blogs and blog networks, so you’ll enjoy the addition as well.

Hopefully she’ll be introducing herself soon.

Now, as for me; ironically, while I was off not posting here, all I did was think about blogging issues, so I have some posts coming up asap. Stay tuned.

June 19, 2008 | Filed Under Blogging for Others | 2 Comments 

Brevity Is A Gift I Wasn’t Born With

I’ve never been brief. I think a lot, talk forever, and as it turns out, I write massive amounts.

I can write concisely. For example, if I have a boss, college professor, or magazine editor breathing down my neck about word counts; sure, I can be nice and succinct.

However, give me a blog, with no word count limit, and I swear, I just go to town. Talk, talk, talk. On and on. Much like I’m doing right now. Of course, longer posts have their place, but not all the time, and not if the topic can and should be shortened.

If you think, talk, and write long, your best bet is as follows: Fake it. Fake that you’re short winded. Right now, by telling you that I have to fake it, I’m not faking it, because frankly, this could go un-said. I’m assuming you’re assuming that I do fake it, or I wouldn’t have suggested you do so.

The above - TOO long winded.

To fake it, try mind mapping. I’m not all fancy with paper mind mapping, but I will talk topics out in my head.

Here’s an example: My idea for a topic is green weddings. Lord, that’s way too broad. Here’s how I work it out; I come up with a list of related topics, choose one, and then narrow that one down.

I go from green weddings to..

Short, sweet, perfect for links, and it leaves all those other topics I can write about later untouched. I could have shortened it more, but I’m happy with this.

Do I always manage to fake it? Um no, please refer to the above post title. I am who I am. People either deal with my sometimes longer posts, or maybe they don’t read me. Whatever. Part of the beauty of blogging is that it takes all kinds. However, I do try, about 80% of the time to be shorter than I’d normally be left to my own not-analyzed devices. I can get more work done in less time when I blog short, my readers are happier, and mind mapping allows me to always have a great list of topics sitting on the back burner.

Now was this post short enough? There’s also a too short mind you. No one wants to read this post:

“Keep readers happy and increase blog traffic by mind mapping for short blog posts.”

Or maybe they do? I don’t, but what do you think?

June 11, 2008 | Filed Under Blogging for Others | 3 Comments 

Squeeze More Hours Out of Your Blogging Day

When it rains, it pours. Literally, everything that could possibly go wrong, barring natural disaster has happened to my workweek already, and I’m only at 11am of workweek day two. That sucks. I wallowed a bit today, and then worked out a plan. If you need to squeeze more hours out of your week, here are some speedy post ideas that can help, without compromising your blog/s too much.

Best of list: Round up ten posts you wrote on any one topic. Slap a title like, “Best cleaning posts of 2007″ on it and go.

Link love baby: People probably like when I have a bad week, because I tend to link more. Because I read a load of blogs, I always have some ideas about great posts to link to, posts that match my blog, and posts that my readers will enjoy. Link love posts go together quickly.

Picture o’the day: This won’t work for just any blog, but if you have a blog that is supported by images, then one image can be a whole post. Example: At a green blog, you could show a picture of trash on the sidewalk, and note, “What’s up with this? Any ideas about how to lessen trash in our communities?”

Thank god for YouTube: YouTube can also provide an entire post. People like videos, and there are videos about every single topic you can think up. Other places to score filler videos include MonkeySee and Instructables.

Rewrite; but not drastically: Find one old post that you have a new opinion on (A quick opinion). Link to the old post and write a couple new thoughts that expand on the old post.

Suck it up: Not every week of blogging is perfect. One week of sub par posting never killed anyone. It’s not the most fun ever, but it’ll do. If you have a decent blogging rep to start with, one bad week is forgivable. Don’t stress too much (easier said then done though; I know.)

*NOTE: You may have noticed I didn’t mention guest posts. In some cases guest posts can be great, but they’re not usually time savers for me, not when I’m having a surprise bad week. Reason; not all my blogs allow other posters to log-on, meaning, I have to email people asking them to guest post, wait for their reply, then wait for guest posters to email me, then post their post, and usually reformat pictures as well. Not a time saver. I like guest posts more for planned breaks, because I can set them up ahead of time.

What else can you think of that saves time when you’re in a time crunch?

June 8, 2008 | Filed Under Blogging for Others | 2 Comments 

Get To Know You Question of the Week: Why Did You Start Blogging?

I get curious about other bloggers, but we don’t ask too many personal questions here at Network Blogging Tips. I decided to start a weekly question. I’ll try to remember to post questions on the weekend, to keep it sort of orderly.

I think we should start with the obvious… So bloggers, how come you started blogging? Forget jobs, forget networks, (unless that is how you started); tell me why you first started blogging.

My answer:

I honestly never even used computers, except in extreme passing, until I was maybe 22 years old. However, I always kept journals; pretty much my whole life. I have a big stack, so the logging of my world was old school for me. When I was the afore mentioned 22 years old, I was working as a social worker with homeless kids. I was offered a promotion to run a program, but it required computer skills. Which I lied and said I had. Actually, when asked if I could use computers well I said, “Piece of cake.” So, not a total lie. I really wanted the job.

I taught myself all about computers and started using the internet for all sorts of stuff I never knew you could use it for. Finding new info, reading news, and all that good stuff that newbies figure out. I also was teaching myself basic stuff like Word (I was seriously a newbie). I loved that I could write on the computer, and not in some bulky notebook. I started keeping my journals on the computer, then realized I could even keep one in blog style. I still have that first blog, which is yawn inducing and secret. I never give the url because it’s all mine.

A few years later I took a web writing college class for my professional writing minor. My professor made us start real blogs, you know, non-secret blogs; blogs about a decided topic not just ramblings, a blog that other people could see and comment on. At first I was miffed about being forced into a blog. A public blog sounded sort of useless to me.

What I learned was that I loved the whole interaction with others deal, which was missing from my secret blog journal. When the class ended my professor told me I should keep my blog going, or start a new one, because he thought I had one of the best blogs in the class. So I started another blog, just a basic Blogger blog, one that I actually made public. It wasen’t about anything too compelling, but I got comments, met other bloggers, spent all kinds of time on blog sites, and sort of fell in love with blogging as a whole.

I owe that college professor a lot. He sort of changed my world. I might have fallen into blogging some other way, but who knows.

How did you start?

June 7, 2008 | Filed Under Blogging for Others | 7 Comments 

Thinking Outside the Network Blog

Personally, I haven’t found it all that hard to find blogging work. There are a ton of blog jobs out there. Granted, some I’ve liked more than others, but it’s work. Many people I know aim for network blog jobs. Some aim for independent client blogs, some just apply to whatever they see on the job boards.

Another idea, if you happen to be seeking blogging gigs, is to convince someone to hire you to create a specialty blog just for them. All kinds of business and non-profits have blogs, but for each business or non-profit that does have one, there are more that don’t have a blog and that could possibly benefit.

Ideas of who to approach might include your local…

How to approach:

Obviously it’s best if you’re already a blogger, if you know the ins and outs of business blogging - the overall benefits it can provide, how long (honestly) it can take to build traffic, and the potential problems and solutions one might encounter with a business blog. If you don’t know any of this stuff, than this option is a less realistic way to find work. You can get started by researching these ideas though, and then later on, try pitching to a business.

Some research starting points (although there are many sources for business blogs out there):

Three Benefits of Starting an Office or Business Blog
Three More Benefits of Starting an Office or Business Blog
This whole blog: Business Blog Wire

The pitch:

Deb recently wrote, Tips for Pitching a Blog to a Network and actually, a pitch to a business is much the same, only your focus should be heavily about how this blog will bring in more customers, clients, or funds OR keep clients coming back. Another key focus is on how the blog will make the clients or customers of this business feel. Will it make the business more approachable - yes, if it’s a well done blog. Will people recommend the business because the blog is useful - most likely, if the blog is useful.

Budget:

Some businesses have budgets set aside for advertising such as blogs, they’re just not using the budget on blogs, they’re trying other advertising options. Your job is to convince them that a blog is a good fit for their business. We won’t get into pay negotiations, because frankly, that’s a long post in itself, and also, as a blogger or writer I assume you know this part. Main point, earn what your time is worth.

Pitching a blog to a business or non-profit that has not actually advertised for a blogger is an in-depth topic. It could be many posts, but I wasn’t feeling like going there. SO if you have questions just leave a comment.

June 4, 2008 | Filed Under Blogging Jobs, Blogging for Others | Leave a Comment 

Tips for Pitching a Blog to a Network

Many network bloggers, or aspiring network bloggers, have great ideas for blogs. If this is the case, they might want to pitch it to their networks. The worst they can do is say "no", right? If you have an untouched niche or a fun idea running around in your head, do suggest it to your editors. Here are a few tips to help you out:

Take Your Time

Instead of rushing off a hurried email to your editor, take your time to craft a well-written, well thought out proposal. Describe exactly what you had in mind with the blog and why you feel it will be successful. Include:

Don’t Bug

Don’t bug your editor or contact at the network. If you don’t hear back in a day or two remember editors and people in charge are busy and get email inquiries from hundreds each day. After a decent amount of time, say 30 days, write back and inquire. If you still don’t receive an answer you have several recourses:

If the network turns down your idea

If the network turns down your idea, hopefully they will give you a reason. For instance, they don’t see it as a profitable idea or they already have a similar blog. You can continue to shop your idea around or you can start the blog on your own. It’s good to remember being turned down is nothing personal. There’s a business decision behind it, but that should deter you as a blogger.

You also not let one rejection discourage you from coming up with other ideas in the future. Bloggers are creative people and rejection is only a momentary setback. If you think positive, you’re sure to find an outlet for your ideas.

May 30, 2008 | Filed Under Blog Tips, Blogging for Others, Niche Blogging | 1 Comment 

Giving Each of Your Blogs Equal Attention

First, sorry to be MIA for 4 days. It’s been one of those weeks. “One of those weeks” by the way, is the perfect time to follow Deb’s advice on guest bloggers.

In Are You Playing Blog Favorites? I noted that I sometimes do play blog favorites, but honestly you should try and give equal attention to your blogs; within reason. I say within reason, because there are circumstances that can make it smarter to pay more attention to one blog over another. For instance, one blog I write has page view issues that aren’t my fault; it’s something on the client’s end that I can’t control. I do give this blog the attention I signed on for, but not much more. Since I’m paid partially by page views at this blog, and page views won’t be going up anytime soon (due to factors out of my hands) it’d be a waste of my time to give lots of special attention to this blog.

Aside from oddball situations like the one above, paying equal attention to all your blogs is a good idea. Giving equal attention means all your clients like you, all of your blogs earning potentials go up, and you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.

Solutions that can help you give equal attention to all your blogs:

Use a system:

  1. Post at your least favorite blog first thing of the day.
  2. Post at your least favorite blog last thing of the day.
  3. Switch back and fourth.

I like choice number three the best because it allows all of my blogs to get some attention and it’s like a tiny reward system - fun blog; less fun blog; fun blog. I do sometimes post first thing at my least favorite blog to get it out of the way; then it’s done, and I don’t have to think about it anymore. I almost never post at my least favorite blog last thing of the day, because it’s not a fun way to end my day, and I’m more likely to blow it off completely.

Quit wasting time on other things when you could be working. Things such as…

What else have you tried that allows you to give equal time to all your blogs?

May 24, 2008 | Filed Under Blogging for Others, Time Management | Leave a Comment 

Typical Conversations I Have

This conversation happened with a family member this week; but friends are guilty too, and honestly, this could be any old week of my life.

Family: We’re having this get-together Saturday! You have to come.

Me: I can’t, you know I work weekends.

Family: But why.

Me: Like I’ve said before, if I don’t get enough work done on the weekend, it cuts into homeschool time (for those who don’t know, I homeschool my son).

Family: Well, that’s dumb, you can take a few hours off.

Me: Yeah, on a weekday.

Family: But everyone else works on the weekdays.

Me: Not me. How about we have a get-together on a weekday.

Family: Why would we do that? We work on weekdays.

Me: Well, then you get my issue, because I work on the weekend.

Family: Yeah, but you JUST work at home. You can take time off.

Me: I don’t ask you to take time off from your job.

Family: (again) but you work at home… all you do is write.

Me: Sigh.

Family member then has other family members call me to try and get me to come over, and I get to have the same conversation ad nauseam.

It’s not just stuff like this. Because I JUST work at home, people expect me to take care of everything going on at the house while I work, because I just happen to be at home. People call and want to chat. Folks continually say cool things like, “Man, you’re so lucky you don’t have a real job.”

My least favorite comment is when I mention something cool going on at one of my blogs, and the person responds with, “Hey, are you ever going to get published again? Now that’s neat. I like when you’re in magazines!” I still had people pulling the same stunts when I wrote magazine articles and business copy, but at least then my name was in print, and for whatever reason, my friends and family took that to mean I actually did some work now and again. Since it was my decision to switch over to FT blogging vs. other sorts of writing, this nonsense irks me more than other comments.

It would seem I don’t have a job. Nothing I say can convince 80% of my family and friends otherwise. So, instead I resort to tactics like turning my phone off when I’m working, and ignoring the rest of the comments. Overall, while I like blogging, this is an ongoing issue in my world. Slacker me without a job (or so people think). I’ve come to the conclusion that only other writers and bloggers get it.

Do you get it? Do you get the same slacker grief from family and friends - and is it worse with some forms of writing vs. others - say proposals vs. blogging.

May 14, 2008 | Filed Under Annoying Issues, Blogging for Others | 14 Comments 

Have You Checked Back On That Blog Gig?

When applying for a blogging job, you need to treat it like any other job you might apply for.

This means that during the application process:

Check back! This is a biggie. A few little birds at networks and client owned blogs have told me that people don’t always check back on their application status. This is job etiquette 101 folks. In the offline world, you send an application or resume, and later you call said job and nicely say something to the affect of, “Hi, this is Bob. I submitted a resume, and I’m curious where you are in the hiring process… Would it be possible to arrange an interview?”

In some cases a blog gig will state, “Don’t check back” and in most of those cases, I’d say do what they say. However, if they don’t mention it, one quick email can show you’re interested enough to follow up. Don’t be a pest, but do check back. This is a great way to single yourself out and get noticed.

True story: I once saw a blog gig I wanted; it had been up for months, I hadn’t applied because I figured it would fill quickly. After months of continually seeing it on job boards, I applied. A week later I emailed the network editor and noted that I was still interested and offered a few quick post ideas. The editor emailed and set up a quick interview. The interview went well, and I got the gig. My editor eventually told me that she actually had many folks apply who were more qualified (topic wise) than I was, but that I was the one and only person who checked back on my application status. That one email landed me a great job.

While blog jobs can seem more casual than article or business copy jobs, they aren’t. If you’re going to be paid real money, then it’s a real job. You need to apply with this in mind and put the same amount of care into the application process that you would with any other gig.

May 2, 2008 | Filed Under Blogging Jobs, Blogging for Others | 3 Comments 

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