Putting theory into practice
When managing editor Erica M. imagined this year’s summer series, she was adamant that we offer practical advice that a blogger of any genre could use to improve their writing and package it up into a worthy presentation. So far at yeah write’s 31 dbbb we’ve:
[unordered_list style=”tick”]
- created a list post
- promoted a blog post
- emailed a blog reader
- made our blog mobile-friendly
- come up with 10 post ideas
- developed an editorial calendar for our blog
- wrote a link post
- set up alerts to monitor what’s happening in your community
- created a sneeze page
- joined a forum and started participating
- taken a trip to the mall
- updated a key page
- left good comments on other blogs
- wrote an opinion post
[/unordered_list]
We also continue to learn from author and writing instructor Chad Simpson about creating content for our blogs. We are set for success and it’s time to take our efforts out for a test flight.
Double-checking for a friend
You know that thing you do when you read an email after you’ve sent it? You’re trying to get a feel for it not as the compiler of those words, but the recipient of them. You read and reread to be sure the spirit of your words is clear and the missive generally makes sense.
Today’s challenge is to watch a first-time reader use your blog via your stats analyser and to record the user’s impressions. You could go one step further with this 31 dbbb activity and act as your own first guinea pig, if you have enough imagination to put yourself in readers’ shoes. Too often we see what we’ve intended instead of what is actually present. Pretend you are a first-time visitor to your own blog and make no assumptions as you navigate. If you find anything awkward or tricky to use, make adjustments before proceeding with this exercise. Review Top 5 Ways to Improve Your Blog’s Usability, then get going.
A change is as good as a rest
If you’ve kept up with the 31 dbbb exercises to date, you’ve made some changes that do indeed require a second set of eyes to determine the efficacy of those changes and where improvements can be made elsewhere. This portion of our month requires a thicker skin than writers are sometimes used to keeping, so just stay confident that the criticism you’ll get is a benefit to your blog. As your first time readers (ProBlogger author Darren Rowse recommends a friend, family member, work colleague, or fellow blogger. I’m also available if you need me. Hit me up.) discover what they like and dislike about your blog’s ease of use, ask them to be specific. General words about how a page looks nice or how commenting is difficult is too narrow. You want to know exactly what works and what doesn’t so you can make adjustments. If you’ve been asked to help someone out for this task, be kind but honest. Be clear about what is clunky or messy. There are recommended, open-ended questions in the workbook that will help to give and get good answers.
Your little spot on the Internet is similar to your little spot on the planet. You want your place to be tidy, welcoming and comfortable. Today’s work will helps to ensure that people feel their investment of time at your place is worth it.
The yeah write #118 weekly challenge grid is still open for submissions: giving away a premium WP theme from Elegant Themes
If you’re on self-hosted WordPress or are planning to move to self-hosted soon, you’re invited to browse the Elegant Themes web site for a new theme and, if you’re on the challenge grid this week following our submission guidelines, we’ll add you to a random drawing for a new premium theme. Just let us know you want in in the comments.
Think we’ll hit 30 or more entries on the challenge grid again this week? Just a few more submissions to go; please continue spreading the word. The jury prize winner will receive a copy of Chad Simpson’s Tell Everyone I Said Hi and the other two books Chad mentioned in his opening post.
Questions, moral support and prize drawings in comments…
I’m still re-thinking my blog and have edited my tag line for the nth time. I also don’t have a contact page, tho I think I’ll keep it that way for now. I’ve looked at the analytics, but I have to admit that this is the last thing I am concerned about, since I blog mainly to be able to write. So if one person reads my post, that’s fine, if no one does, it’s fine too – I just don’t want to think about that for now.
I guess that means I flunk this task. 🙂
So…I guess I should admit now that while I installed analytics on my new non-up-and-running blog, I don’t have it on my old one. Yeah. I kind of flunk out of this 31 challenge, but I’m loving the lurking. 🙂
You know, these tips will be available to you when you’re ready to go full-boar. I reviewed a very new blog today that hadn’t done all the 31 dbbb exercises yet but I could see where the tasks would, when appropriate, really push the blog into a higher strata. Take your time. Even when you are thinking about the adjustments without doing them yet, you are working to improve your blog.
Thanks, Flood! I’ve definitely been doing some of the activities and am storing the rest up in my little mind for the switch. 🙂
Today’s challenge has inspired me to take a good look at my blog since I started it in January. Think it’s time to stop looking at is as a newbie dabbler and begin to take the whole thing a bit more seriously and get myself organised if I want to sustain my output.
Have spent the evening completely overhauling my blog. I think it looks much better and is much more reader friendly. A few tweaks left like working on post titles and considering a change of blog title to something a bit more personal, though coming up blank at the moment.
Thanks for inspiring me, loving blogging again.
We love to hear how the summer series is inspiring people. I promise that a little organization and focus this month will reward you for the rest of the year. Keep up with the coming days for more practical tips to motivate you.
How important is a contact page? I’ve visited a few yeah write bloggers and noticed that not everyone includes one. I really don’t want to publicize my personal email address, and I’m not sure if I want to create and manage an email account just for my blog. How often do readers need to contact bloggers via email instead of comments or through Twitter?
Some templates include contact pages that give out none of your contact information, but have a form for users to write to you. Like Cat Lady’s contact form, though she also includes an email address for people to reach her through their personal email client.
Why would someone want to communicate privately? Maybe a company or author wants you to review their autism-specific product. Perhaps someone wants to give you a heads up on an error you made or maybe they want your advice outside of a public forum. Someone may wanna pair up with you for a project. Sponsorship, advertising, anthologies- ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN. It’s up to you, but I think it’s better to cast a wide net and have all manner of contact open to your people.
Thank you for the input. I love the idea of a contact form, so I’ll check to see if it is available on wordpress.com.