We hear it over and over again. Blogging is writing. The more you do, the better you get.
But when we look at the blogging celebs, it can seem like they were always there, on top of the mountain, in the rarefied air.
They are constantly churning out amazing posts. Phenomenal posts. In just 10 minutes, as they sit in airport terminals.
Their fingers fly across the keyboard, spitting out one post a day, sometimes more.
And they are perfect posts.
Posts that make you think. Posts that make you want to leave your desk and go try these cool ideas out—right now.
These bloggers do not even seem to be human.
Were they always perfect?
Well, no.
If you poke around in their archives, you’ll see where they started. Read more and you’ll see the amazing growth that brought them to where they are today: the Blogging Stratosphere.
Now I wouldn’t call myself an ‘A-list blogger’ (though I’m working on it). But, just for fun, I pulled out my very first blog post, written not quite three years ago.
Okay, it wasn’t fun. It was an excruciating experience.
What was I thinking? I called this piece of crap a blog post?
In that respect, we are all alike.
We all had a first post.
My stinky first post
Okay. Here it is. Let’s start with the headline:
Getting Results with E-Mail Marketing
Could you write a title that would put your reader to sleep any better than this one?
Does it give you the tiniest reason to read on?
One of my problems was, I hadn’t defined my blogging niche yet. It was as wide and unfocused as my business was at the time: marketing—on- and offline—for small businesses.
The topic was email marketing vs. traditional direct mail. Besides being too broad a subject—aside from the data I shared from the research report—there were no specifics in this post to attract reader interest.
The email marketing “tips” I shared in that post were:
• pinpoint your target market (really?)
• make an irresistible offer (and how exactly do you do that?)
Among my many other mistakes, I gave my readers no tools, no takeaways, no strategies to use. Nothing much of value.
5 things I’ve learned since my stinky first blog post
It’s a good thing I didn’t know how astoundingly bad my first post was because I would have thrown in the towel right then and there.
Okay, here are just 5 of the things I’ve learned since then that I’m pretty sure bumped up the quality of my posts several notches.
1. My headline matters—like a lot.
My reader is attention-disordered. I may be one of 30 other headlines in her Google reader shouting at her. Will she stay with me? Or click away and read her emails, hit the delete button, tell herself she’ll come back later (but she never does)? All this she decides in a split second.
I got better at writing good headlines. (Thank God.)
2. I can pull my readers in with a good story.
As a writer, I already knew that stories can capture and captivate, appeal to our senses and emotions, make us want to know what happened next.
But it wasn’t until I began telling stories in blog posts that I realized just how powerful they are. Like the time I started a post about finding time to write with a bizarre story of my battle with my 11-year-old daughter and her jeans.
3. Metaphors help readers connect with and remember my content.
I began to improve when I figured out how to use metaphors that left my readers with powerful images and connected with them emotionally. In explaining why we pulled the plug on our one-year-old business to pour all our energies back into our 15-year-old marketing firm, I used the metaphors of baby and teenager.
The needy new business wasn’t like a baby. It was the baby. It took all our time and our accomplished teenager was jealous of all the love and attention going to her little brother.
4. Humor is the shortest bridge between two people.
I finally stopped fighting the funny in me and started to embrace it. And I learned that, as my hero John Cleese of Monty Python fame said, “If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas.”
Now I write about my scared self as I contemplate stepping out of my comfortable writer’s shoes and doing a radio show interview. And about humanely disposing of your fourth grade teacher so you can write freely, with joy.
If I can work in a story about someone who can make a spoon stick to their nose or how I made my puppet Pépe quit my job for me, or teaching pigs to swim, all the better.
5. The right photo can nail a blog post.
I started out putting my own photo in each post.
But then I began to see the amazing power the right photo has: to pull readers into a post, connect, engage, evoke emotions and give my blog a personality.
I personally like to use a lot of animals and cute kids, which I think can portray just about any concept or idea I write about.
Like:
Your Old Blog Posts Aren’t Dead. They’re Just Sleeping.
and:
7 Things Dr. Seuss Taught Me About Fearless Blogging
What about you?
Have you looked at your very first post lately?
What were your biggest mistakes?
Celebrate the areas you’ve grown in with us (and leave a link to your favorite post, if you’d like).
413 
14
Ha ha — I’ve been thinking about doing a blog post called “Why I Suck as a Blogger.” I’ve been blogging for several years but recently discovered I’ve been doing everything wrong: not replying to comments, not putting photos on my posts, writing super-short posts (I later discovered that my longer posts — up to 1,200 words — get a much better response), etc. Thanks for this post and coming clean about your own past mistakes!
my recent post..Q&A with Sage Cohen of The Productive Writer — Plus a Contest!
Linda,
I hear you. It can be a steep learning curve, this blogging thing, even if you have the writing skills, which you so obviously do.
Look forward to reading your “Why I Suck” post. : ) I just subscribed to your awesome blog and can’t wait to read your stuff!
Thank you! I’m subscribed to yours too!
my recent post..Q&A with Sage Cohen of The Productive Writer — Plus a Contest!
Linda,
: )
I really struggle with headlines but my last post was initially entitled “This is my confession” and I changed it to “The secret I’m most afraid to tell you” and a lot of people told me they clicked through because of the headline.
I’m going to take this as a learning experience and spend much more time on my titles.
my recent post..The secret I’m most afraid to tell you
Ayngelina,
Huge realization for you. Some of the most famous ad agency copywriters have gone so far as to say that you should spend 80% of your writing time on your headline. Very good job you did in revising that title. Your readers just had to click through on that one. : )
Judy, one of the biggest things I admire about you is your transparency… and you really have given us a wonderful perspective with this, letting us know that brilliant bloggers don’t just spring fully formed out of the earth. Since I’ve only known you since you’ve been brilliant,
, it’s helpful to get a peek at your journey.
My mistakes include not being consistent about responding to comments (working on it!), trying to cram too many ideas into one post, going on too long (although, I’m rethinking that based on what you say about the 1,200 words!) and not always offering clear tools or takeaways. On that last one, I give myself some slack, b/c my blog is more reflective/introspective than “how to.” But I do seek to inspire, empower and educate, so I can always be working on that “why should you care?” piece.
I have two blog posts that I really like, not b/c they were my best or most popular, but b/c I stretched my creative skills a bit and used a different angle to share a message. It’s fun to mix it up a little! [And thanks for asking, I love trips down blog memory lane
]
http://bethbuelow.com/2010/02/24/prayer-of-the-selfish-adult/
http://bethbuelow.com/2010/08/05/love-v-fear-their-day-in-court/
my recent post..Introvert Entrepreneur Shout-Out! 5 Introverts Who Made a Difference in 2010
Beth,
Except for the inconsistency in responding to comments part in your second paragraph (I’m just an ‘engagement junkie’), I too have been guilty of every one of the sins you described. My philosophy has evolved into an “I write until it’s finished” perspective. I tell bloggers I work with that as long as the post engages your readers and keeps them with you, you almost can’ t have a too-long one.
On your comment on clear, implement-tomorrow takeaways, that really depend on the type of blog you have. Your posts are inspiring because they make me think of old ideas in new ways. And that is just perfect for what you do for a living. I do a purely inspirational piece every once in a while but I think my readers hang around for the practical advice and tips that will make them better bloggers.
Thanks for sharing those links. I think I remember those two posts, but will pop back in to refresh my memory. Oh, and thanks, too, for listing me in your ‘backyard introverts’ who made a difference in 2010 post!
OMG, you’ve made me afraid to go back and read my first post. . .I do recall being amazed at the fact I had followed Blogger’s idiot-proof directions, pushed a button and a blog existed. . .I was so stunned at getting that far that I don’t think I paid attention to what I did write. Great post, Judy!
my recent post..Treating the Travel Bug
Jackie,
Ha! Not paying attention to your first post is usually a good idea. : )
Gave me some good fodder for this post, though. And I think that, beginning bloggers especially, need to see that it’s a journey, but the effort is worth it. Are you still on Blogger?
Yes, still on Blogger. . .and trying to ‘master it’ before moving on to something new to learn. We ‘techno-dino’s’ immigrants in this technology frontier and have much to learn!
Hey Jackie,
When you are ready to move to the amazing WordPress platform (I switched from Typepad a couple of months ago and can’t believe it took me almost three years to do it!), I know a really cool guy who can help you. : )
And, heck, we need a few ‘techno-dinos’ in this world (I’m one!) to make things more interesting.
I recently subscribed to your blog because I liked the name of your site and your banner. Call me superficial I know:) I was a skim reader until you just made this post. It came into my email inbox shortly after I just had to get myself buzzed before building up enough courage to post my second blog post. It is great to know that doing your best and improving over time is the way to go! Thank you so much for a great post. From your newest fan.
Social Gangster,
(By the way, I love that name.)
It’s the grabbing of a large cup of courage that I was most hoping for. You just keep on keeping on. Every post you write prepares you to write a better one the next time.
Please stop by often. : )
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Judy Dunn, Beth Buelow, ACC. Beth Buelow, ACC said: CatsEyeWriter Confessions: 5 Things I've Learned Since My Stinky First Post http://t.co/PS9qoFl via @catseyedesign [...]
I’m a little scared to look back at my first blog post. I’ve been blogging less than a year and don’t feel I’ve come far enough yet! Great point about the photos. I used to use them a lot when I contributed to a travel blog but don’t tend to in my writing blog, but of course you’re right. You can find a great photo to illustrate almost any writing related concept.
my recent post..Becoming a Professional Writer
Karen,
Looking back at your first post can be painful. But it’s also a morale booster because you see just how much you’ve grown. Finding that just right photo is one of the most enjoyable parts of blogging to me. (But I’ll admit, sometimes I spend too much time in the search.) : )
Hey Judy…
I’ve been blogging for just over a year now. My very first posts were simply about getting brave enough to click the “publish” button. (It took me about 5 years of wanting to/thinking about blogging before I finally took the plunge.) So there are a few boring “this is what I did today” posts.
And there are a few that I almost wished I had saved until I had more readers. I quite like some of my earliest posts. In some ways, I think I was better back then – funnier at least. And less constrained. No readers = no pressure. I wrote about whatever I wanted to. I wasn’t trying to stay on topic or be particularly useful.
In re-reading some of these posts, I notice how I wander off topic and go on too long. (I still struggle with this.) Paragraphs that are too long. And I cringe at myself for not responding to comments.
Here are a couple of my earlier posts that I really liked. (Thanks for asking!)
http://www.pattyk.com/i-dont-really-hate-people-im-just-an-introvert/
http://www.pattyk.com/wearing-pajamas-in-public/
my recent post..Are you resisting or ignoring the obvious
Patty,
I know that “courage to click” feeling.
And that you could find those gems in your earlier posts? Really nice that you could do that. I say, bring them back (if they are still relevant) and push them out to a new audience.
I’ve done that myself. Especially if they were quality posts that weren’t read or commented on. A couple of them I revised and used as guest posts on someone else’s blog. : )
Thanks for the links. I remember both of those posts and glad some of my readers will be able to enjoy them.
Gosh. 80% on just the headline?
For some of the posts that I write, that would mean I’d either have to stop agonizing over the actual content of the post for so long or spend another 3 days on the headline alone!
Seriously, though, headlines definitely matter, as long as the actual article delivers on the promise.
I echo the admiration of your transparency that Beth wrote about, Judy. Not only do we get an insider perspective on the growth and journey of an (almost!
) A-list Blogger, we feel like we know you through the details you easily and freely share.
I guess one of the challenges I still have not mastered is making sure my content is keyword rich. After a little bit of angst, I’ve decided to just write a compelling and useful article, and if key words make it to the party, that’s a bonus.
Do you focus on keywords, Judy? Is that something you’ve learned over time as a blogger?
For me, it takes a bit of time to write a post, craft a headline, find an image, etc. that it doesn’t seem feasible to THEN go back through the article to re-work it with the right key words.
Maybe that’s something I need to outsource!
(By the way, I’ve noticed your love of children and animals as subjects for the images you choose, and you’re right: they convey every idea or emotion imaginable!)
my recent post..What a For-Sale Sign teaches about embracing change
Tshombe,
You are coming into focus for me now. A tad bit of the perfectionist, I sense? That was the hardest part for me. Letting go of a post and telling myself it’s good enough to publish. But, yes, the headline is that important.
On the keyword question, I love it that as writers we have some leeway in that now. If you use WordPress, you probably know that it allows you to put an alternate title in the backend. That’s the place I put my boring title, the one that has the keywords in it. So people doing a Google search will still find my post.
You notice on this headline, I was going for (human) reader appeal. I like writing for humans. : ) The question I always ask myself is, “If this title is one of 50 in someone’s Google reader,and they are scrolling through, would they click on it to read the article?
Judy – Perspective can be everything. You have shown that here. Thank you for shedding light on your beginnings as a blogger. I expect myself to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but really we climb mountains step by tiny step over and over again. I have really appreciated how the tiny steps yield a more intimate perspective than the giant ones. And reasonable expectations are a whole lot easier to meet, too!
It strikes me in reading the comments that a blog is both a software template for creating a web site AND it is a commitment to writing, a discipline or practice. Over time, with practice and experience, the blogging becomes more refined. The writer finds her voice, or her audience, or her topic, or hopefully all three.
I began blogging about 7 months ago when I launched my web site. Like my web site, I had been thinking about blogging for years. While I like my first two blog posts very much, I have no illusions that I am still finding my voice, my audience, and my topics.
http://www.bluehorse.biz/whats-fear-got-to-do-with-it/
http://www.bluehorse.biz/who-is-blue-horse/
And speaking of blogs, I think it’s time for me to write my next post . . .
my recent post..December reflections – looking back at 2010
Barbara,
I think the voice was hardest for me. I read the stuff of other bloggers who I admired, tried a few on on the way to claiming my own. I think it made it easier having done a lot of writing outside blogging (newspaper and magazine articles, working on my memoir, writing marketing copy, etc.).
If you have only been blogging for 7 months, I say you are doing great. I think it wasn’t until around the year mark that I decided what it was I wanted to say (and to who). : )
Thanks for the article Judy. I am in the middle of finishing my first blog posts (after our great coaching conversation). Your tips are great but the biggest take away for me is you have to start somewhere and just because your first posts aren’t stellar doesn’t mean you can’t go on to be a successful blogger. It reminds me that most of us only become a good bloggers with practice and the first hurdle is being brve enough to start.
The first hurdle is being brave enough to start.
That’s just one of the best quotes I’ve heard about blogging in a long time. It’s that perfectionism in us (at least in me) that rears its ugly head.
You know, two colleagues I highly respect (Brian Clark of Copyblogger and Becky MCCray of the blog Small Biz Survival) were tweeting this week with links to their very first posts. (Is something in the air?) Actually, their blogs both had their 5th birthdays this week and think they were trying to show us that we all started at the same place. Very cool.
Can’t wait to see your blog up and running, Jessica. I had so much fun working with you. : )
Haha. This reminds me of a lot bad posts I wrote, and how I deleted them after I posted them. Yup, trial an error. Good thing for your readers that they have you so they don’t have to make all the mistakes we first made.
my recent post..How To Stop The Internet From Sabotaging Your Writing Routine
Ollin,
I suspect that my readers have made their very own mistakes in their first posts. And there are so many to make. : )
If your nailed your blogger’s voice right off, you may have struggled with structure and focus. Maybe you had dazzling headlines but you didn’t capture reader interest with the post that followed. It’s just always a work-in-progresss isn’t it.
Thanks for reading.
Judy~
Thanks for this great list – I’m new to blogging and trying to learn as much as possible, and I am. you mentioned that WordPress users can have an alternate title? What do you mean by that?
Thanks!
Kellie
Kellie,
When you go into the backend of WordPress, it allows you to create a title different from the one you used in your actual blog post. It means that you can have a headline that appeals directly to your readers with your actual post and have a second one that has the keywords that people are googling.
Hope this makes sense.
Oh Judy how I love to read your words. You truly make them dance on the screen. I thank you so much for this post. And while you may think you are only working toward that A-List Blogger status, you are there in my world and acknowledge you for it.
Tonight your post evoked a couple of things in me that I want to highlight.
1) I really want to be like the blogger you depicted in the early part of the post. I want to write “Posts that make you think. Posts that make you want to leave your desk and go try these cool ideas out—right now.”
2) The power of a Metaphor works in writing too. How did I not know that?!?! It works wonders in coaching and of course it would work in writing. I have just not engaged that part of me yet with my blog. I am so going to change it so that I am firing on all cylinders as a well oiled blogging machine!
And finally 3) The power of a picture. I know that words create pictures in our minds and you show that so very well with the pictures you choose. It is my intention to focus on these three areas as I continue to tap tap tap on my keyboard creating posts that will inspire people to action and shift their perspective.
Marvelous post! Judy Strikes A-gain!
my recent post..3 Reasons Why I Take absolutely Nothing for Granted
Ok Judy. I did it. I pulled out an old post and boy how far I’ve come!
Thank you for the call to action and learning opportunity. Now to ER so that I can primp and plump one of the oldies I wrote on Valentines day. It’s not too far off the mark but most assuredly needs some work.
my recent post..3 Reasons Why I Take absolutely Nothing for Granted
I pull old posts out from time to time and fiddle with them, too. It’s fun when there is one you’re particularly proud of that not many people saw.
And for three years, I have rerun by September 11 post, changing it for a slightly different angle each year. Good luck with that Feb. 14 post. : )
Tammy,
Nice to know I’m on someone’s A-list. Thanks. : )
And, yes, metaphors are powerful precisely because they give readers something to picture. And the “picturing” part of our brain holds the memory and emotion. All good.
I don’t think I really got the impact of the perfect image until about a year into blogging. Now when I’m looking for a past post, I remember it not by the words I wrote but the photo that went with it. Funny.
Thanks for reading and leaving such a thoughtful comment.
Wow, loved this Judy, as it made me think back a little. Here are a few salient points of my first post:
1. Boring headline (much worse than your
)
2. No photo to speak of
3. Long paragraphs
4. No bold or bullets or links
5. No questions or thought provocation
6. I’ll stop there, as I’m sure you get the point
Yep, we all come a long way if we just stick with this long enough. It is nice to look back and say, “Wow, I was awful, but now I ain’t too bad!”
Thanks for the smiles.
Marcus
my recent post..Sometimes We’ve Just Got to Learn the Hard Way
Marcus,
The precise purpose of this post was to make people feel good about just how far they’ve come. Your list definitely proves that.
And I’m with you on that. It’s great fun to look back, knowing you are a better blogger now.
That picture of the lion is too cute. Great choice! Reading this article made me wonder what I’ll think of my first post a year or two from now…Will I be plugging my nose as you are?
Marnie,
Funny. When we write that first post, we never think there is anything wrong with it. Until we learn and practice and grow. I always encourage my coaching clients to think about it but don’t overthink. It won’t be your best post, but it’s a place to start. : )
Amen to whatever you said. I sometimes laugh at my posts that were written when I started off. I try not to go back and rejig the sentences but end up doing it anyway.
Repetition is the master of skill!
my recent post..The Secret Of Creating Your PMP Exam Brain Dump Sheet
Abhinav,
Hold that first post up as a badge of courage. You were brave enough to put it up! : )
Hi Judy!
As I mentioned in comments yesterday, I’m launching my new blog this week, and I’ve been picking up a lot of great tips from your blog! Thank you so much! Specifically, your advice on headlines has made me do some re-thinking — I’d never really considered before how much I rely on a headline to tell me if I want to read a blog or not!
I also appreciate your point about using metaphors to connect with readers. Since my new blog is about fiction writing, I need to remember to bring my storytelling skills to bear when I’m entering blog-writing mode.
The blog went live this morning, so not only am I sharing my first post, I’m sharing my only post thus far.
Thanks, Judy, for helping me get started!
Courtney
my recent post..My Terrifying First Blog Post!
Courtney,
Is this perfect timing or what? : )
Congratulations for picking up your courage and putting your stuff out there for everyone to see! Here’s to bloggers’ first posts everywhere.
Perfect timing, indeed! Couldn’t have planned it better myself.
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog, Judy!
(I tried to post this comment once before, but it didn’t show up. Sorry if this turns out to be a duplicate!)
my recent post..My Terrifying First Blog Post!
Courtney,
Enjoyed visiting your blog. These are exciting times for you. : )
You had me at the title. Really.
Underestimating the importance of a good title was my first mistake. I did not grasp that titles sell blog posts. You have to have good content to back the title up, but you’ll never get the opportunity if the title doesn’t grab attention.
Since I now “get” the importance of a title, I quickly get sucked into any that are excellent. This blog, is well, a perfect example.
my recent post..WXYZ-TV Uses Detroit 2020 and Social Media to Unify- Inspire- and Act
Rebecca,
Great point. Your headline does sell your post. But the writers who use a sensational headline and don’t deliver its promise in the post? Now that’s one of my biggest peeves.
I’ve been questioned on the “spend 80% of your time on the headline and the other 20% on the post” advice, but the title is just that important. Sometime I rewrite mine multiple times before I get it right.
Thanks for sharing.
You’re right, the right photo can totally add the right amount of umph to a blog post and titles totally matter! I’m working on getting better at crafting mine, so far, so good (I think). Or at least I’m improving
my recent post..Taking The Book A Week Challenge
Ricardo,
So good to see you here and glad I finally connected with you. I think if I had to pick the one single most important thing it would be to fix one’s headlines. And, yes, the improvement just comes with practice: figuring out what works and what doesn’t.
I have fun selecting my photos. : ) (My biz partner gives me a bad time because I “waste” too much time on them.)
Ricardo,
Totally missed congratulating you on your win as a finalist for a top 10 social media blogs award. Wow. Way to go!
Heh, why thank you! I may not have won the top 10, but it was neat to be included amongst the list of finalists. Nevertheless, blog on! (right?)
Re: your comment. Don’t worry, I spend way too much time (sometimes) trying to pin down the right photo as well. In fact, I’ve gone as far as not publishing a post because I couldn’t find the right photo. It just looks to darn plain ya know
Catch ya later!
my recent post..5 Podcasts You Should Be Listening To
Ricardo,
With such fierce competition, being in the top 20 is pretty amazing. You should be very proud of that. : )
And, yes, I wish I could be less picky with photos, too, but, like you, I can’t publish my post until I have the perfect one.
Judy,
Excellent post idea. I think all of us HAD TO look back at our first posts after this.
Yup, mine’s as bad as expected. I had to take the time to write a “Welcome to My Blog” post because, apparently, I didn’t trust people to glance at my About page, and decided I needed to force-feed them my categories and editorial calendar. I apparently also assumed everyone who ever came to my blog would go through the archives and start with post #1, then move on from there.
What a shmoe.
I’m still learning. Thanks again!
Justin,
You aren’t alone. I think that so many bloggers are ‘in the moment’ when they write their first post, that they can’t see beyond that. And so they don’t realize that the Welcome to my blog first post will soon be buried. And how many of us go back into the archives to read that first post when they are deciding whether they want to hang around? Some bloggers solve it by making that first post sticky (always the first thing people see) and telling the mission of their blog in it.
But what if your mission and purpose change? I think the better option is to have an About Me or About This Blog page, and/or have your photo and a short blurb about your blog on the sidebar of the home page, which tells people what they want to know right away.
And we are all still learning, : )
Thanks for stopping by.
Judy,
What fun I have reading your posts – as well as the comments and your replies to them!
I started blogging more than six years ago – I went to an event at Microsoft and got inspired. Judy, you have inspired me again – this time I will unearth some of those old posts and see what I find. I literally have not seen some for that many years.
It makes me think I should do a better job of archiving my very own thoughts!
Thanks again, as always. Isn’t lifelong learning great?
my recent post..The New 100 – 100 Project for Entrepreneur Revenue Growth
Lori,
Six years? Wow! I had no idea you’ve been blogging that long. I’ll bet if you laid your first post and your most recent one side by side, you’d see incredible growth. And, yes, lifelong learner is my mantra. : )
I can’t remember exactly what my first stinky post was but I’m pretty sure it has a lot of things in common with your first stinky post. Too bad it got deleted when I decided to trash my first stinky blog.
And there were second and third stinky batches as well.
But one has to learn so I learned and eventually sharpened up my blogging skills.
Nice post!
Mike,
So, what you are saying is that we’ll never see that stinky first blog post of yours? : )
This is so great. I feel I can give myself permission to make mistakes. Moving on from Perfection Paralysis to Stinky Mistakes! Happily! I might even name my first post: “The first of many stinky posts..” With your permission of course. : )
Thanks Judy!
Katharine,
Thanks, Katharine. And of course, most of us don’t name our first post “My Stinky First Post” because when we are writing it, we don’t think it is. : )
[...] Confessions from CatsEyeWriter: 5 Things I’ve Learned Since My7 Stinky First Post [...]
[...] could be worst than that stinky first post, right? Reading it lets you see just how far you’ve come. And just how much more you will [...]
Thanks for the great article Judy.
And what a perceptive comment you left. So looking forward to reading your posts. Be sure to let me know when you go ‘live.’
Thanks Judy, I will. I am going to need all the help I can get to get the word out
This is so exciting!
I had an opportunity to read thru this earlier this morning, Judy. I enjoyed the way you broke down the list & gave us some check points to run our own work thru. I know that my headlines could definately be much better & I have great concern about the clarity of my chosen metaphors. I tend to understand what I’m thinking, but do my readers find it easy to follow???
I appreciate your insight and look forward to gaining additional wisdom thru the comments of your many readers.
Judy… great post.
Question: How to you post your blog to FB?
I notice than when Tammy shared it, it came up with a graphic and a nice headline, but when you shared it, it only came up with a big old link.
I have this theory that how the post looks affects the click thru. So, curious about the mechanics.
Excellent post, Judy! Good for everyone to know that if you don’t get started, you don’t get great! (Is that great grammar or what?) Good for you.
Suzette,
Thanks for alerting me to this. Yes, I need to work on shortening that big old URL. But, just to clarify, are you saying yourare not seeing the photo, headline and excerpt? Because it’s showing for me. I’m so technically disabled. : )
Robyn,
Thanks, my friend. I appreciate that compliment, especially coming from such a fine writer as you. We all had to start somewhere, huh? : )
Mark,
Thanks for that. It has been so much fun reconnecting with you here on Facebook. (I’m not as active on Biznik as I used to be.) Honored that you are a reader of my blog.
Only your FB profile photo.. not the same image that comes up when Tammy reposts it.
And, your comment about the post comes up, but not the headline that comes up when Tammy reposts it.
All that shows is your FB profile photo, and a huge link.
My guess is that a lot of people will not read a huge link to get a headline or topic nearly as often as people’s eyes will read a normal headline.
Your headline on Tammy’s post is bold and blue. Easy to read.
I am just curious because I am weird about such things. T
hought you should know if you didn’t already, and I want to learn what you are doing vs what Tammy is doing.
Why would she gets the nice headline and not you? Did she change it or????
Curious George, here.
Suzette,
Okay now I’m really curious. I’m not seeing what you’re seeing at all. I see a blue headline, the photo that goes w/the post (man smoking a cigar), and the excerpt.
But wait. I just went to my PERSONAL (Judy Dunn) page and it’s showing differently.(You must not be following my CatsEyeWriter biz page?)
I think the problem was I was with Networked Blogs and they were posting automatically. But they started posting the wrong photo and I couldn’t get them to help me problem solve, so I cancelled my account. But guess I need to cancel it on my personal page, too.
(So now I am manually publishing the links to my new posts on Facebook.) Probably have thoroughly confused you now. : )
As a FB user, I am not fond of Networked Blogs.
If I want to share, I have to hit the control key or go through a song and a dance to do it. (Such a lazy user, but I move fast on FB) It seems when people are manually posting their blogs, it comes up as a regular post that is easy to share. Click.
Seems likely people get their blog posts shared more if it is easy and not annoying for a user to touch it.
If I am not watching closely enough, and go to share a blog post, and it is “too late” and I get thrown around the page, just hate that.
If I like someone’s work and find it valuable or interesting, I will share it even if I don’t have time in the moment to read it.
Figure my friends might like it and may start following.
@Judy – You provide a lot of very useful information. Like many of your readers, I realize there is always room to improve & having a good resource is an excellent place to start when you want to get better at doing what you do.
Suzette,
I know. I joined Networked Blogs and wasn’t pleased, either. Absolutely agree about making your content easy to share. Still haven’t found that the easiest thing to do on Facebook. And when I went in to delete my Networked Blogs account, they said no because “You have not proven that you are the blog’s author.” (Hadn’t yet gotten 25 people to confirm it.) Grrr!
It’s back to manual posting for me, if I can figure out how to get Networked Blogs off my personal page. : (
Mark,
I appreciate the vote of confidence. The sweetest music to my ears is when someone has found my content useful. Thanks for reading. : )
Judy, it is all a learning curve … thanks for sharing!
Everybody can benefit from your experience.
Suzette,
Learning curve indeed. There is always more to learn!