4 UNexpected Things to Expect From Blogging!

Happy Holiday...
As many of you are aware, next month, Pen and Prosper will celebrate two years in the Blogosphere! Yay!

So I thought it would be kinda' groovy to reflect upon what I've learned both here at my site, and also collectively through guest posting at some fabulous spots as well.

Whether you've been at it for two months, two years, or beyond. Here are a few surprising things you'll discover along the way.

1). Blogging is harder than it looks.
Whew! It really is folks. Though it doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to pull it off, it does take a great deal of creativity, commitment, patience and hard work to go the distance.

2). Some of the posts you devote a great deal of time and sweat equity to will produce the least results.
And shockingly some of the stuff you think will garner very little response ends up being a huge success. Right? Go figure.

3. Blogging is a great way to "win friends and influence people."
What started out as merely a recreational medium for expression, has morphed into endless opportunities for folks to make money, connect with great people, champion a cause, and an array of other perks and possibilities.

4. Blogging can become addictive!
Yep. It starts a little at a time. In small and subtle ways. Then before you know it, it begins to be as habit forming as dark chocolate, or the "soaps"! :-)

How about you? What about blogging has surprised you thus far? Any of these ring true for you?

Image Photostock

The Art of Blog Commenting-How to do it right and get results!

“It’s not what you say, but how you say it.”

Some time ago, I received an email from one of my writing clients whose goal was to increase her fan base and her bottom line. She was frustrated that in the two years since her site launched, her growth was as slow as the country's economic recovery.

I had previously shared a few tried and true methods that had worked for me, (one being commenting on other blogs). She tried. It didn't work. So she found herself again seeking my assistance.

It's a common problem for many bloggers.
They mistakenly expect that if they create a cute site, post some pictures, and put out content on a weekly basis, they will build a following, a community of supporters and make money.
Not so.
Although these practices and principles can contribute to overall success, the savvy blogger recognizes that due to vast competition, he must employ a more strategic approach.
The premise, “If you build it, they will come” doesn't work in the virtual world, my friend.
This is where the art of blog commenting can make a difference.

Here's how to master it and improve your stats! Stat!

Understand blog culture.
Not all sites are created equally. Depending upon how involved the host is at social media sites, respective readers may be more inclined to “tweet” or “like” their content as opposed to commenting on it. Your comment might get ignored. Do your homework.

Recognize that some niches are typically more “active” than others, because of the subject matter and popularity.
Some examples would be personal self-development blogs, frugal living, and work and career sites.

Make a good first impression.
Double check to be certain that your words are spelled properly, and that your input is intelligent before you hit that “send comment” button.

Pay attention to what people pay attention to.
Here are a few things to consider. Does your blog have an interesting name? Is your comment unique or funny? Is your response accompanied by an attractive gravatar image?

Don't be a blog snob.
Many folks flock to the well-known, popular sites, because these spots typically have a lot of readers and prestige. But the down side is that they also may have 50-200 comments posted. As such, yours may or may not be read, depending upon where it falls in a sea of many voices.

Have the courage to take a position that is contrary to that of the majority, if you are so inclined.
You may not win a popularity contest by doing so, but I guarantee it'll get attention. In the words of singer Bonnie Raitt, “give em' somethin' to talk about.”

Keep it brief.
This is no time to “hog the microphone”. Say what you need to say then exit gracefully. Short and sweet is the key.

Increase your odds for increased traffic by making sure that your site is up to par and welcoming when others hop over from a referring site. If not, you have defeated your purpose.

Give it your best then give it some time.
Follow these sage tips and you‘ll have more traffic than the Eisenhower expressway during rush hour!

Comments? :-)

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Reality Check-Where are You With Your Writing Resolutions For This Year?

My post yesterday at ProBlogger had me on high. Really, Y'all. :-)
Not only because of its reputation as a leader in its niche, but because it represented success on a more personal level.

I had tried my hand at guest posting there before and failed. So I kept trying.
Which made recent publication even sweeter because…

A). It showed that perseverance pays.
B). That accomplishment meant that I had one less goal to check off in my resolutions for this year.

Of course, there were plenty others that fell by the waist side: securing an agent for my book, winning a Writer’s Digest award…well, you get my drift.

When you put things into perspective, next week marks June--the midpoint of this year. Can you believe it?

Time seems to be flying by and leaving many of us scrambling to make things happen and make an impact .

As they say, “talk is cheap.”

Where are you, as it relates to your creative goals for 2011? Are you on point, or feeling pointless? :-)
What would you like to see happen?

Share and let’s keep each other accountable. Your turn…

Image: Salvatore Vuono

Have You Heard? May's Month-End Announcements...

I hope you guys are enjoying a great week, and an awesome spring season so far!

Here's the 4-1-1 on what's happening with yours truly and here at Pen and Prosper:

1. Pen and Prosper will celebrate its 2 year anniversary in June! Yay! Look for some exciting guest posts, a contest or two, and other celebratory activities.

2. I'm so geeked to announce that I have a guest post scheduled to appear at ProBlogger.net next Wednesday. If you get a chance, stop by and check it out. I'd love to get your input!

3. It's not too late! Coffeehouseforwriters.com will present a great line-up of exciting, interactive classes online Monday, May 23rd. Don't miss an opportunity to hone your craft and earn more cash! Classes are designed to fit your schedule and your budget. What are you waiting for? :-)

4. Thank you for your patience. Due to tech glitches beyond my control, the formatting here is still off. I'm working on correcting it.

What's going on your way? Anything newsworthy or noteworthy?

Image: Michal Marcol

6 Ways to Bounce Back After a Bad Blogging (or writing) Episode!

It happens to the best of us. The worst happens. For me, it was a simple task to tweak my blog and make it more appealing to give it a more competitive edge.

Two lines. I tell you, just two lines.
And what should have taken two minutes took about three hours. GEE WHIZ.
“I could’a had a V-8“!

I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, but feared my neighbors would call 9-1-1 thinking I was crazed, or had been attacked.

So, for the purpose of venting and edification, allow me to elaborate.

I had a guest post appearing at a few highly-ranked sites this week, and simply wanted to make sure that if the link to my blog created a few more “new eyes” and potential fans, I would be up to par.

I kind of liken it to when visitors and family members come to your home. You know the deal: you make sure you tidy the washroom, have all the essentials, infuse the air with aromatherapy candles---that kind of stuff.

In and out was my objective.
Especially in that my to-do list was in need of getting done.
To my horror, it was like a blogging episode from hell.
Can’t say just why, but the Blogger software, or platform went all askew. The formatting was looking fiercely wrong, and no matter how much I revisited, revised, ranted, and wrestled with the thought of tossing my laptop out of the window, I was stuck. Nothing was going right. Simple changes that I had made many times before on my blogs, as well as clients’ was just not happening.

If you blog recreationally, it’s perhaps not a biggie, and depending upon your topic and tone, folks may be a bit more forgiving. But, if you blog professionally, (as I do), it can have different consequences, as both potential clients and “fans” who view your blog as a blueprint for their personal success, can come to question your ability and credibility. After all, appearance matters. And you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Hopefully, it won’t happen to you, but if it does, here’s how to bounce back from a bad blogging (or writing) episode and still score winning results!

1. Don’t retreat, reload. I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. The more you freak out and feel frustrated, the more Murphy’s Law prevails and spoils your day. Don’t let the “forces” force you to give in! I fixed a big bowl of Captain Crunch, refocused, and started again.

2. Write a Blog post or article about it. Perhaps it will help someone to troubleshoot a similar problem and earn you cash. For example, when I had a negative experience, some months ago, with customer service provided through tech support, I wrote an article entitled, “5 Tips to better customer service” and earned fifty bucks and a published piece at WorkAwesome.com.

3. Shift gears. Instead of hiding under the covers, or escaping through your favorite soaps, make needed phone calls, answer Emails, do research, or jot down article ideas. Stay the course. After all, no output means no income.

4. Have realistic expectations. Technology has flaws! There, I’ve said it. With all its capabilities, it still has flaws, limitations, and drawbacks. Keep it in mind to move forward. Make sure to have hand-written notes for back up, as well as other means of retaining your work.

5. See the humor in it. It can be a challenge. But you’re up to it!

6. Cut yourself some slack. No matter how hard any of us try, perfection is impossible. Excellence, instead should be our daily goal!


Keep these six tips in mind to make the most of any writing day, and to earn the most for your efforts.

How do you bounce back? Is it a cup of tea? Wine? Meditation? Prayer? A break? Curious...
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What's Your "Connection" Style? This Inquring Mind Wants to Know!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of doing a guest post at FeelGooder.com, and it was a groovy experience.
The piece was entitled, "Why a good relationship should be on your "to-do" list."
If you have an opportunity, and are so inclined, stop by and tell me what you think.

Anyhow...

That post got me to thinking.
The reason?
What I find is that when it comes to blog interaction, most people have a certain "connection" style.

In other words, some folks think it's sweet to Tweet. Others like to engage in conversation by posting a comment, while some are likely to show love through FaceBook sharing.

No style is right or wrong, or categorically good or bad.
But there are a few advantages and disadvantages as I see it.

Here's my 4-1-1- on the pros and cons of certain response styles.

COMMENTING---Given my druthers, I prefer commenting on most blog posts that I read and enjoy. Why? Call me old school, but I still dig a good conversation and the exchange of diverse ideas.

The Pros- Commenting leaves a "virtual trail" back to your site. It also is more personal, in my opinion. Not to mention, the number of comments is a metric by which many judge blog success.

The Con- It typically takes more time.

TWEETING
The Pros- Tweeting is fast and furious! It allows work to be read and tapped into by broader audiences, and builds fan bases.

The Con- It's less personal, and it really doesn't allow for individualized input. And to be honest, people have even admitted "Tweeting" posts that they've never actually read, just because it was the quick and popular thing to do.

FACEBOOK POSTING
The Pros- FaceBook is one of the most popular social media forums, which means that info posted can be seen by many eyes, and folks can become familiar with you and your work.

The Con- Not everybody is on FaceBook. And those that are, don't necessarily read it every day or every week. I myself am guilty. :-)

So, what about you? What's your blog response preference and why?

Image Danilo Rizutti

5 Ways Writing for Free Can Get You Paid!

Many seasoned scribes turn their noses up at the prospect of “no pay” projects.
They consider “pro bono” a no-no.
In fact, it’s a bone of contention addressed on writers’ bulletin boards and popular blogs across the Web.
After all, as “professionals,” these writers feel they’ve paid their dues and expect to be compensated accordingly.
Perhaps you’re one of them.

As a veteran freelancer who has successfully earned thousands of dollars for hundreds of articles, commentary pieces, essays, and even verse, I can attest that writing for free can indeed be profitable. That is, if you know the unwritten rules of the “road less traveled.”

As a point of reference, other creatives “labor in love” to establish themselves in their careers, particularly in the initial stages. It’s not unheard of. For example, best-selling author, Michael Baisden worked for free as a radio host for Kiss-FM in New York, because they originally didn’t have a budget for him, and later became a huge success.

With this in mind, here are five often overlooked ways writing for free can earn you cash for your efforts and elevate your career.

1. It helps to build your portfolio. Editors seeking to add to their stable of writers often request writing samples and resumes for a reason. Your publishing credits and types of publications for which you’ve written speak to your versatility, skill set, and experience. The more you’ve written, the more likely you’ll be hired to write more.

2. It helps to hone your craft. A writer buddy of mine recently shared how her various free creative projects allowed her to discover her “voice”, increase her knowledge base, and sharpen her skills. She’s now a paid (and popular) columnist for her city’s newspaper. Practice makes perfect.

3. It establishes important contacts and networking relationships. As they say, sometimes getting that lucky break can be a matter of not what you know, but who you know. Consider that an editor with “connections” whom you’ve enjoyed a good working relationship may be in a position to refer you to other projects with future pay.

4. It gets your foot in the door. Sometimes a publication that can’t pay you in the beginning, will “come up with the funds” if you’re able to establish your value by the quality of your work and your level of commitment. Here‘s a case in point. One of my first unpaid publishing credits, (a commentary piece I wrote for a popular singles’ publication), ended up impressing the editor so much, that she wanted to see more of my work. She “officially” hired me a few months down the line as a contributing writer, and has been one of my longest and most profitable gigs to date.

5. It helps to increase your confidence---which leads to enhanced perception.
Let’s face it: whether it’s cooking, dancing, or dating, the more experience you get under your belt, the “bigger” you feel. And repeated bylines have the same effect. The better you feel about yourself, the more you’re able to project that “I can” attitude and convince others to have confidence in you too.


Now that you know how it works, here are a few strategies to work it!

1. Keep in mind that writing for free should not be indefinite, but have time limits. Give it a deadline. Say maybe two or three months with a particular publication. At that time, consider approaching the editor with your track record and your desire to earn pay for your say. After all, you never know until you’ve tried.

2. Have a strategy. Target the most impressive publications if you’re going to write for free. Sometimes it’s a matter of perception. For example, an unpaid commentary piece you’ve had published in Newsweek or L.A. Times would mean more to your career than earning 10 bucks from a virtually obscure or new publication.

Approached correctly, writing for free can increase your visibility, your confidence and your bottom line!

Thoughts?
Would you write for free? What criteria do you use to decide?
Image photographer worradmu

A Mother's Day Tribute-Guest Post by Karen Lange

M is for the million things she gave me.
O means only that she's growing old.
T is for the tears were shed to save me.
H is for her heart of purest gold.
E is for her eyes, with love light shining.
R means right, and right she'll always be.


Song lyrics by: Howard Johnson, 1915

I can still picture my Mom, with a twinkle in her eye and a hint of a smile, singing this to my sisters and me. Why? Well, you see, there had been a bit of grumbling over some chores, and perhaps an argument brewing among the ranks.

For the record, Mom was not the type to throw guilt trips on us. She was smart and funny, and cared about us enough to teach us right from wrong. I think maybe Mom’s invisible lyrics to the song went something like this:

“Get moving girls! I am your Mother; this is but a small task I ask of you today. P.S. Someday you will have your own children and understand.”

Mom was right. As the mother of three grown children, I get it. Boy, do I get it. So this Mother’s Day, I thought I’d use the song for inspiration to pen a small tribute to Mom and the things she taught us.


M – is for memories, big and small.

O – is for others, to show kindness and compassion.

T – to treasure family times together.

H – to have a heart that loves.

E – is for every little thing that she did.

R – to remember the legacy left in four daughters.


Thank you, Mom. I cannot repay you for all you did for me, but I can be forever grateful. You may be gone from us on this earth, but never in our hearts. Happy Mother's Day. I love you.


Karen Lange is a writer, blogger, and online writing instructor at Coffeehouse for Writers. Stop by her blog at karenelange.blogspot.com, she’d love to see you!

To listen to or learn the history of the song, visit: http://parlorsongs.com/issues/2000-5/2000-5.php

Image Carlos Porto

Video Or No? The Pros & Cons of Video Blogging

Lights, camera, action!
There's a new phenomenon emerging on the blogging scene.
One that not everybody is embracing, but interesting nonetheless.

It's called Video Blogging, or Vblogs.
Now, I'm no expert at this technical stuff.
Heck, truth be told, I not too long ago found out how to do text messaging on my cell phone. And I was tickled pink. Word! :-)

Anyhow, Video Blogging, at least from my understanding, essentially is another interactive medium that allows bloggers to "engage" their audiences with video messages as opposed to text-type posts.

In other words, it's like you're watching them on T.V.
Pretty progressive, huh?

Seems that many of my favorite sites have taken the plunge. Some I've enjoyed. Some, not so much.

And, as with all things, there are inherent advantages and disadvantages.
Today, let's discuss a few of them.

Here's the 4-1-1 as I see it:

ADVANTAGES:

1. It allows the blog host to present another side of their online personality. You get to see the "person behind the words" and get a better feel for who they are through their tone, sincerity, and body language.
Right?

2. It provides variety and can serve as a visual aide of sorts. It can be particularly useful if you're trying to demonstrate a task or teach a skill via your blog.

DISADVANTAGES:

1. In my opinion, it can magnify communication flaws. In other words, if you have a habit of saying "ah" and "um" and stumbling when you speak, (and let's face it, um, most of us do), it can take away from an otherwise "smooth" image.
Consider this.
When we write our blog posts, we can view it, edit it, take all the messed up stuff out, and ultimately shine. Not so much with video blogging.

2. Sometimes the presentation comes across as unnatural or awkward. Or like a low budget movie. It all depends on who is doing it, what's being done, and a few other variables.


And while we're on the topic, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that one of my blog followers and colleagues just wrote a book on this very topic!
It's called the ABCs of Live Blogging. I hope to get my hands on it soon.

In the meantime, check it out here: The Write Design

Okay readers, your turn. How do you feel about Video Blogging? Thumbs up or thumbs down? Have you tried it?

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Blog "Hecklers"? 6 Ways to Show Class When Comments are Crass!

Guest Post by: Alexis Bonari

No one is immune to criticism. By the very nature of our occupations, bloggers, writers, and other creative types perhaps know this best of all. We hope that when we hit the publish button, something miraculous will happen and nobody—nobody—will hurl a single rotten tomato.

But when it hits, it hits hard. Every time.
So, in those moments we hear and feel nothing but our own pulse in our ears and the blood rushing to our cheeks, how do we deal with criticism?

1. Count to ten.
Mama was right about some things. Shut your eyes, step away from your computer, and walk away. Go walk the dog, take a shower while blasting angry music and belting the lyrics at the top of your lungs, and then chill out with some yoga.

2. Suspend the urge to get defensive. Remember that the same thing that made the critical remark so hurtful—that it was made publicly in a comment thread, a forum, or a blog post—is true for you, too. Your impulse to angrily respond, should you choose to act on it, will be public. This will reflect poorly on you. Even if your response is witty and snarky, someone will be unhappy to see it.

3. Remember that there’s a person behind the name "Anonymous". Nobody walks around with a digital blur for a face. Remember that there may be a reason why unhappy commenters are unhappy. Maybe they just got laid off from work. Maybe a friend of theirs was diagnosed with a serious illness. Think about the times you said things that were hurtful and the reasons you did it. Try to find a link between yourself and the critic.

4. Glean nuggets of truth from the criticism. We can either be victims or volunteers. Even if the criticism was made in poor taste, there might have been a point that stood to be made. Seize the opportunity to not only take the high road and maintain your poise, but also learn how to improve your craft.

5. Thank them for their criticism. The best thing to do when someone’s being nasty is to smile at them. It’s disarming. It’s humbling. It can be frustrating, but anything the other party does in poor taste afterward just comes across as unnecessary and mean-spirited. Few other critics will want to jump on that bandwagon. So, humbly thank them for the criticism and try to initiate a civil and honest dialogue. The second part is what keeps it feeling like you’re rolling over and showing your belly.

6. Some people just don’t want to play nice. That’s not your problem. It’s theirs. It’s best to ignore them at that point and move on with your day. More than likely, you have a hundred positive remarks on your blog for every random, nasty comment. If you’re still having trouble cooling off, force yourself to smile. Even a fake smile releases the same chemicals in your brain as a real one!

Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and researcher for College Scholarships, where recently she’s been researching scholarships for returning students as well as scholarships for social workers. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Okay, spill the beans. Readers, how do you deal with negativity and name calling regarding your creative efforts? Anybody have any experience in this area?

Image:photographer photostock