So You Think You Can Blog

The ad read, "With so many blogs out there, how can you make yours stand above the rest?"

How could I say no?

Since my blog is essentially my baby - I decided this would be one of those workshops I would attend.

Remember the writing group I joined recently? It's called "See Jane Write," and I am a member of a subgroup of bloggers called - "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pens." Tonight was our night - It was the night of bloggers!

You guys know I have been trying to take my blog more seriously, I even tried to create a strategic editorial calendar. Either way - if I write the scheduled stuff, or I write randomly - it's all stuff I WANT to write about. But I want you to know, I am listening... so I adjusted my blog a bit.

August will be 2 years with Destination:Unknown. I have well over 1,000 posts... I have stumbled, I have fallen, I have bared my soul... all in all.. it's my online journal. I love it. I write for me, and I cannot deny, I write for you.

Sooo... I go back to the original question - how to stand out?

Sorry the pic is blurry..

We had a few highly qualified bloggers share their stories. According to the paper I have the bios read:

Rachel Callahan from Grasping For Objectivity - started building an audience for her writing with her blog, as well as starting the blogging community called: Alabama Bloggers. She was recently selected as a BlogHer "Voice of the Year" honoree.

Jennifer West launched her blog, The Jen West Quest, on March 30, 2010 and has posted something every day. Because of the nature of her blog, she has worked with Health Magazine and has even appeared on the Rachel Ray show and was just on Good Morning America.

Laura Kate Whitney made a name for herself in Birmingham just a few months after arriving in the city thanks to her blog, Magic City Manifesto.  Her blog has led to opportunities locally with B Metro magazine and got the attention of skirt! magazine.

There was a very good turnout... I snuck a quick shot as it was wrapping up.

I promised to share with you guys what I learned... and I am happy to report - especially to my fellow bloggers that read and visit in the same circle I do - You are doing it all right!!

That's right, for the most part, I felt validated on what I stumbled upon!

If you are a new blogger, and sincerely want to know, here is the advice I heard (and few extras I would add... )

- There was the big debate on Word Press.com versus Wordpress.org and Blogger. I am a blogger girl and happy with it. The ladies on the panel chose Wordpress.org

- If you want to make money- the Google clicks were not popular. These ladies recommend selling ads ($18 - $25 per 1,000 clicks..) and/or getting a sponsor for your blog.

- Themes work for some... randomness works for others. Consistency is key

- Joining network groups is key

- Blog Hops, Link ups, etc are a good way to build your readership

- Comment and respond to comments

Honestly guys... do what you are doing now, but network the hell out of it!

At the end of the day - make a plan, network, join, write - write - write.
 ;-)

The biggest thing I took away was 1. I feel like I am on the right path and 2. I met some really nice people....



Until next time...