“Why Are You So Popular?”
I’ve been asked several times why I’m so popular, so, I decided to do an entire post about this subject for anyone else that might ask or wonder in the future. I told you in a previous post why I blog. While my blog started out as just a place to journal my homeschool the Lord soon turned it into a weapon and tool for Him. I believe that in everything you do must have a purpose, glorifying to the Lord. My main mission now is to encourage ladies in the Lord.
As you may notice from reading this or many of my other posts that I am an Absent-Minded-Blogger. Often times I miss or use the wrong words, and yet you all seem to disregard all of that and keep coming back… but why?
I believe the LORD allowed me to become popular so I could ultimately use it for His glory. I am so thankful he has given me this opportunity and I couldn’t ask for anything different. Just after I started receiving 20-30 comments on a post the LORD moved in my and I had a desire to start ministering through my blog. I had young ladies, mothers, and gentlemen commenting and reading. I was putting my time, my study, and my life sharing the Word.
Here are some of the things I have done, that I’ve noticed the LORD using to draw in readers, friends and comments.
Ways To Be A Better Blogger:
Dedicate your blog to the Lord. Give it to Him and ask Him to use it for His glory. When writing about theological topics pray about them, have your parents (or a respected member of the Body) read them. Be prepared for other opinions and personal attacks. If you can’t handle the heat don’t light the fire. You have to stay strong in your beliefs no matter what people say or think. Jesus was persecuted for his faith and you will be too.
Write posts that have a point and a meaning, whether they’re about the Word, your endeavors, school-project, politics, or just your daily life. Don’t drone on or go off on bunny trails. Stay on subject.
Share about yourself. Write about family activities. People are interested in you as a person. They want to read about how you live and who you are, individually and as a part of the family. I don’t mean all the time, but let people see who you are.
Don’t be someone you’re not. If people like you then they like you. You can’t make people like you and you can’t be someone else so they will. Everyone has their flaws and faults and everyone has their strong points. You just have to find yours.
No one wants to read about someone who complains about everything or who is always in a state of self-pity. Use discretion. Always be a positive person in your writing. Don’t complain or expose faults in others, whether it’s your siblings, parents, husband, or children. Don’t whine about needing “me” time (because that is a ). Be positive. Encourage.
When you write a post try not to use slang words or generational lingo. I personally never use the terms man, cool, dude, sweet, or any of the sort. It makes you sound uneducated or lazy. It is important as Adonai’ people to make a good impression for Christ. We don’t want to sound like illiterate school kids. Have someone proof-read or use the spell-check before you post. People don’t want to decode your post to figure out what you’re saying. It’s your job to make sure they don’t have to solve a puzzle before they comment.
Keep your blog orderly. Categorize and tag your posts. Keep your sidebar clean from cluttering images and don’t go overboard with icons and “fun” glittery widgets. Make one’s visit to your blog a pleasant thing.
The icons I have on my blog reflect who I am. Sometimes the actual pictures you have on your blog say more than what you post. You have to careful you have godly icons and pictures on your blog. I once had the POTC character quiz on my sidebar. A Blogger commented on it, and it’s not that I was worried about pleasing that person but if POTC reflects ungodliness in anyway, I don’t want it here. I want to be separate from the world and/or Wordily Christians.
Have a mailing list or a feedburner or some way for your readers to receive updates when you blog. That way they’ll know you updated and come to read it.
Build relationships with people. When someone comments on my blog I make sure to reply and visit them – since they took the time to visit and comment me. I know some don’t have time or care to reply to comments, but it is courteous do so. If you want people to come back you have to do your part in building that relationship.
Reply to comments on the post so people can read through them and see the entire conversation. If you do this you’ll have more comments and more visits as people will come back to read your reply.
Don’t go visit all the friends of a popular blogger just to gain popularity. One it makes you look bad and like a copy-cat. Sometimes copying is a form of flattery but I am seeing more and more it just an act to over take those “ahead”. Two make your own circle of friends that you can have a personal relationship with. Don’t “keep up with the Jone’s”.
While sometimes it’s alright to leave a “one-liner” comment many a times it’s thoughtless and shows you didn’t have enough time to read the blog. Make sure when you comment it doesn’t reflect badly on you. Sometimes all you need is a one liner, but when someone just says “hey nice blog” on a post you spent a great deal of time on you wanna ask them “what was the point?”
When I disagree with an opinion, basis, or action I usually take some time to think and pray about what I’m going to say to that person. Don’t read something, get offended, and then explode on the blog. At the end of the discussion I make sure (or try) to make friends with no hard feelings. If it’s not a matter of salvation then there is no reason to divide over it.
Get involved with other groups, forums, blogs, blogrolls, and memes. All of these will enable people to see your name and link more often and will interest them to see why you’re so all over.
Once in a while have something for your loyal readers and host a giveaway. Don’t make it complicated to enter and make it worth entering.
At the end of the day, though, make sure everything you wrote, posted, and did was for the glory of the Lord, and not for the glory of man.
Further reading on “blog-image” go here: What Kind Of Impression Do You Make?, Sharing The Love Of Jesus, It’s Not Always Light-N-Fluffy, and You’re Judgmental.
39 Comments | Rules of Engagement | What Are You Talking About??
Posted By Miss Jocelyn Tzahala on January 8, 2009 | Category: Blogging, Editorals, God's Listening Ear, Homekeeping, Homeschooling, Memes, Networks
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39 Responses to ““Why Are You So Popular?””
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Thank you for visiting my site! I hope that it has encouraged and challenged you in someway. Please be aware that my blog is not intended for any debatable purposes (honestly!!), though that's not to say I'm not open to be shown the error of my ways via the Scriptures. This is simply just a place for me to share what Yahveh-God is convicting me of and showing me in my walk with Him. Please read "You're Judgmental" before commenting if the thought strikes you.
I have comments set for moderation and I reserve the right to deny comments if I feel it necessary. I will deny comments that go against the Scriptures. If you are going to refute what I say, please use a Scripture for each belief, in context. I will edit pagan-names and words from comments in obedience of Exodus 23:13.
Also note that if you do not use a valid email address your comment will not be published, no exceptions. Your email is only seen by me so that I might clear my website of spammers. You can read My Site, My Right for more on my site rules.
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Welcome to A Pondering Heart. Blessings to you in your visit here! This site is owned by a 18yo young lady, Miss Jocelyn who is striving to please Yahweh in everything she does. She is the second eldest daughter of two wonderful parents, sister to seven siblings, and "momma" to beautiful Nubian goats. Currently completing her education and serving Yahweh until she further serves him in marriage and motherhood. In hopes she might encourage ladies in a Scriptural-worldview she shares about her daily life, beliefs, and heart’s ponderings. Here you will find stories from life on the homestead, encouragement, the Scriptures, photography, reviews, giveaways, memes, and much more!
Thank you for submission you article to the 5th Edition of the “Bringing more traffic to your blog” Blog Carnival. The edition was published today: http://blogging4good.blogspot.com/2008/06/bringing-more-traffic-to-your-blog-june.html
Have a good weekend!
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This article is so informative. Promise to be here always.
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[...] @ A Pondering Heart presents Why Are You So Popular? posted at A Pondering [...]
Thanks for the tips! I always reply to my readers too. Savannah
Savanahs last blog post..New pages about me
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A few other things I would like to add are to familiarize yourself with your readers and make it personal if you can. I know you already kind of said that, as far as commenting back. One way to do that is that when you read someone else’s post, you read the whole post and reply to that, not just answer what they asked you on your blog. It is highly impersonal to just put a random comment on a post if you haven’t taken the time to really read the post and share in the thoughts. One thing that has bothered me lately is when someone I know or do not know (and who rarely or has never commented on my blog) reads a post (or skims it) and comments in dissent to my thoughts.
When I started, I joined blogrolls to gain some popularity, and I think that is fine for a general blogroll, but there are some blogrolls that are more personal and I joined them for a purpose, like the Training Daughters Teaching Wives blogroll I have(http://jacquedixon.com/?page_id=868). Some are more selective, and created for bloggers to get to know each other, while others are more of a list.
I know you are mainly talking about being a Blogger in the personal sense of the word, but there are also many ways to get traffic in a not-so-personal way too.
Tags are a good way to get a search to your blog. If your blog hoster does not use tags, then, you just put “Tags: ” at the bottom of your post, and they will be picked up in search engines.
I get a LOT of traffic to my blog via searches. A lot of it is that I have been blogging for almost 3 years, and I blog on a variety of topics so I have many words.
Get a Stumbleupon account. Have your friends stumble your posts. This will get traffic to your blog.
Putting your link into your email signature or on comments (if they are from a different hoster) will put your url before their eyes too.
Make sure your url is an easy one to remember and be familiar with. When I started blogging at Homeschoolblogger.com, I put my name and the business name we had, and I regretted it a year later. We no longer were affiliated with the business, and it was too long and uncommon to remember. I would pick an easy name, with no special characters in it.
Do not feel like you have to know everyone. If you are yourself and you get to know like-minded bloggers, you will become popular, because they will know and like the real you, and they will blog about you in a personal manner too!!
When the same people within your circle of friends keep seeing your name in the comment boxes, they will come to know who you are and likely check out your blog.
One thing I have tried to get the girls to know is that the more experienced, popular bloggers comment to their commenters in *their own* comment boxes. They do not go to the other person’s blog and comment, they answer in the comment thread. Now, sometimes, I will comment in both, but I do comment replies on my own blog. That will keep your friends/readers coming back to your blog.
Do some memes…. TRUST ME! That will get you involved in other people’s lives! The three I participate in regularly are:
Homeschool Memoirs: http://homeschoolblogawards.com/category/homeschool-memoirs/
My own meme- Saturday Psalm & Praise: http://jacquedixon.com//?p=38
The Simple Woman’s Daybook: http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/2008/04/join-simple-womans-daybook.html
You will LOVE them, and your link will be out there for ladies of like-interests to click on and know the personal you! You will gain some great friends in the process!
My daughter, Amanda, and our friend, Dawn, write the Better Blogging column: http://homeschoolblogawards.com/category/better-blogging/ on the HSBA Post. They have put together many, many ideas for you to be a better blogger!!
Anyway, another thing I do is what I am going to go do right now! LOL If I write a big long comment like this one, a lot of times I will only paraphrase and leave a link to it and post it on my own blog as a post. I am going to go and post this on my own blog right now. [I an leaving this big long comment here, because this is my daughter's blog, and she won't mind! Right Jocelyn!] Then, I am going to link my post here: http://jacquedixon.com/?p=1425 (which I am sure to add to, so click on over!)
So, there you have it! :P
Love you Jocelyn!!
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[...] a look at Jocelyn’s post entitled, “Why Are You So Popular?”. The issue isn’t that it is important to be popular, but that you can be a personal blogger [...]
This is a great post. We all tend to want to make a difference and to have commenting readers makes one feel that way. It is time consuming and I am not the best at always keeping up with my commenters but I try. I think that when building relationships, time is very much a part of that. I would love to know an easy way to set up email notifications like you send out. That has a great personal touch which I think is very effective.
MamaArchers last blog post..Pondering a Legacy
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This was a wonderful post Jocelyn! I love reading .. it encouraged me more in my blogging as im getting better and ask to the Lord to use my blog in a way to please him!
Thanks so much to this wonderful post.
Samantha
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Super post! Dedicating your blog to the Lord is great advice.Writing to encourage others is good, developing encouraging relationships is even better.
Sharing nuggets of personal trials, struggles, growth, joys and triumphs in your relationship with God is Biblical–bearing one another’s burdens, encourage one another.
Sharing what you are learning record findings, restructure the new information, and sharing your understanding is beneficial to you and others (Writing to learn).
I should comment more. So many blogs so little time ;)
Robin Sampsons last blog post..We Need Clarity to Submit to God’s Will
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Wow. Thanks for sharing. That was wonderful.
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Hey nice blog.
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I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist ROFL!!!
Thank you for these fascinating tidbits, I am definitely going to refer back to this post in the near future.
I must be doing something wrong because I only have 5 followers? But that’s okay, it’s not a popularity contest for me and I am blessed to have my 5 friends to encourage me!
<3 Martha
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Thank you for this very valuable tool in helping us become better bloggers! I totally agree with how this can be a mighty tool used for the Lord! I started mine as a “diary” and then God led me to write about him. I also found some useful tips on your article that I could use for myself! I don’t know how to use tags though, like you have on your sidelines! I’ll try to figure out how to use that. I also worry about appearing too ‘high and mighty’ and I am working on showing my real side, and my very (flawed) human side, (wink).
Charlenes last blog post..*A Rave*
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Thank you for all the ideas. I am just getting started, so I appreciate you sharing your wisdom and experience.
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That was a very unique and also informative blog post, MJ! Thanks for sharing of your wisdom and experience. It really quite astounds me really when I think of how young you are and how rare it is to hear of someone who is interested – no, passionate! – about real things and who makes a firm stand for her beliefs. Most of all, a young woman who fears the Lord is a very marvelous thing and even more rare than an older woman who has learned over the years to walk with the Lord and fear Him. No, I don’t wish to flatter – trust me, I am not the flattering type! I just wanted to commend you and it says clearly in Prov 31 that a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised!
Anyway, thanks for the excellent advice as it makes me think of my motives and reasons and content for and of my own blog. Mine started as a way for my family to keep up to date with our doings and has really evolved into more of a blog to inspire and encourage other people. It has become less for my family and immediate friends and more for whoever the Lord sends along the way.
Another thing: I have really noticed a difference in my posts when I actually have been meditating on something real and inspiring or passionate rather than “Oh, what should I blog about today? How about the weather?” It’s like what you were talking about.
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You are so right, thankyou for posting on this. I too often see a whining on other blogs, and it isn’t pretty. We need to be firm about our convictions, while encouraging, as well.
I like to try to be positive, as negativity can be catching and also destructive.
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What a encouraging and helpful post! I know that they will be of great help to me.
Blessings and Love,
Naomi
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Great post! I often (if not always) pray before I post on our blog. I always want to write for the LORD and His glory and it is a temptation to write for my own sometimes.
To the KING be all the glory!
Love,
Rebekah
Rebekahs last blog post..Protected: Mr. Blue Eyes
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Thanks for sharing that, Joecelyn! Those were all very good points to make and they really helped! It definitely encouraged me and made me feel hopeful about my blog! :) Thanks!
In HIS name,
Laney
Laneys last blog post..Happy Birthday Hayden!
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Excellent points.
One more point that you do, but I don’t think you mentioned, is the “give and take”: Things like your CommentLuv addon are great ways to give back to bloggers who give to you. This is a great practice… because we all love a little more attention [smile].
~Mr. Luke Holzmann
Luke Holzmanns last blog post.."Time Isn’t Fair"
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“I reckon you blog is the trunk of Homeschoolblogger and all the other blogs branch out of it coz everyone has you on their friends list.”
I love that comment, because it’s so true! lol.
Thanks for sharing that post. You are always encouraging me :)
Love you!
~Nikki
Nikkis last blog post..New Years Resolutions?
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Wonderful post, Jocelyn!
We should all follow your example! Great tips!
Blessings!
~ Kira
Kiras last blog post..The Winter Bundle Giveaway!
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And thank you for pointing out, that we need to use our blog for the glory of God, and not our own! I think we tend to forget that at times, and focus to much on our stats and popularity, instead of giving it to the Lord and having him direct the traffic.
Again, great post! We all could use the advice!
~ Kira
Kiras last blog post..The Winter Bundle Giveaway!
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Your blog entries are truthful and insightful. Every entry that I’ve read has taught me something or shed light on something for me. As a relatively new Christian (about 2 years), reading this blog has been both a breath of fresh air and a learning experience. As a teacher in a public school, I see every day the negative influence that the world has on today’s children. I am so happy that even as a teenager, you seem not to be nearly as effected by those influences as my elementary school students are.
AWorkiInProgresss last blog post..It’s Been a While/My Testimony
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Hi Jocelyn, as always that was a great and very thought provoking post. I had to smile when I read the sentence about “keeping up with the Jones’” how very English you sounded :). I will have to give you some more Englsih sounding phrases for your blog :lol
blessings big time
Page
Pages last blog post..Bizkit Update
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Great tips, like always!!! ^_^
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I think you shared a lot of great tips. I especially like the reminder not to leave meaningless comments like, “That’s great!” or “Great Post!” One thing that you do that I haven’t seen anyone else do is add people to your mailing list when they comment. That was a simple way to get my hooked. I get your email and I come and check the blog out!
Jane Annes last blog post..Friday Flashback: Clowning Around
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Thanks for the post! You know, I was on the verge of emailing you and asking for some tips on this subject…you beat me to it. ;-)
Thanks again!
Alexandras last blog post..Once Upon a Time…there was a writer.
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Wow! This is my first visit. I am so glad I stumbled upon this blog. You really answered a lot of questions for me. May the Lord find me faithful and may my words and actions always glorify HIM! Thanks.
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Thanks for the tips!
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Well, now you actually have used the words “man, cool, dude, sweet, or any of the sort.”
:P
Jake Johnsons last blog post..Video: Corbin in the Closet
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Perhaps, but definitely not in any of my posts or as part of my lingo.
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I was just getting ready to write a blog. My thoughts are all jumbled I paused and asked God what He wanted me to write He told me just let me flow through you. I erased what I had written. I decided to come here to see if I could find how you did your prayer journaling and how to seperate prayer topics.(I had read this somewhere earlier) I came back and ran into this. Wow what an answer to prayer. Thank You Miss Jocelyn for your obedience to Him.
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Thanks for the tips! I’ll be sure to use some of them.
~Tessa
Tessas last blog post..Books For Ladies
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Miss Jocelyn, thank you so much for the wonderful insight on blog-writing do’s and don’ts. I realize that I am not always so purposeful with my entries. It is so very important that how we act reflects Christ in us, and what a blessing a mindful girl like you is to a wayward generation of “I am, and there is no one besides me” children. I pray my boys will grow up with the awareness and love for the Lord of which you possess.
Blessings in HIM~
Leslies last blog post..treasure
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Hi Miss Jocelyn,
Tonite is a quiet nite. `D` is camping with the Boy Scouts, Dad hasn’t made it home yet & `W` and I are having some computer time.
Thank you for this post. Very well written. I am putting some of it in my how-to-blog binder.
Blessings,
Mrs. Michelle
Joyful@JoyfulJourneys last blog post..MATTHEW WEST `THE MOTIONS` LYRICS
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Dear Miss Jocelyn,
I have just discovered your blog and find it uplifting and lovely. This post was especially informative. Keep up the good work! :)
Blessings, ~Tracy
Tracys last blog post..Gratitude List ~ Week 10
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Jocelyn,
Thank you for taking time to post this. I am coming back to blogging and really want to honor Christ as I do. Again I have said you are very mature for your age and that is something to be confident in.
And also I have learned from you and for somereason God has placed you in my world whether it be just for blogging or what have you. Please keep up the humble spirit and know God is looking down on you with love. I pray in the future that the blessings will continue to abound for you.
Liz
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Hi There!
Thanks for this! I’m a pretty new blogger, and I’ve found that a few, passionate, well-written posts that focus on what I believe based on the Scriptures do a lot more for my credibility than constantly posting about trivia would. I’m seeking to honor Christ in all that I write…not an easy task, but worth it.
Thanks Again!
:)Tiana
.-= Tiana Krenz´s last blog ..Spoiled! (And Something You Can Do About It) =-.
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