The bloggers's support and blathering thread

[DillyTante]

I thought I would start off a new thread based on a comment by Queen Maeve on another thread, which I completely agree with. In the beginning, the bloggers' chat thread was just that, we chatted, shared links, tips and exchanged views on each others' blogs. Now it has become a bit 'post and run' sort of a one way street really.

While I think that has it's place, as I like to have somewhere to go to pick out new blog posts, I miss the chat and the community, so I am deeming this a chat/support/blather thread. Posts and running will only be tolerated in extremis from regular contributors. Otherwise we shall glare at you via our screens.

So, I'll kick off: how's your blogging going? I hit 101 posts today! That's since July. What sort of numbers are you averaging?

I was really inspired by Latte Lady's post here, and have decided I need to make my blog more instructive, rather than just bumbling around going "oh look, I made this, it's really easy, I bet you could do it too" and sticking a couple of instagrammed photos in. And I want to be more passionate and more interesting. I want to branch out a little, but I'm worried about putting off any followers I do have who follow me for my niche which is mainly crafting.

Blogging has also made me think a bit more seriously about writing. I have always enjoyed writing but never pursued it in anger. I did NaNoWriMo and loved it, but I think that blogging has shown me that if I am going to give writing ago, I don't think fiction is my thing. I'd like to write features. I currently have complete career envy of Perri Lewis. She craft blogs for the Guardian and writes on Mollie Makes and Psychologies. She get to write about craft and psychology, that is what I want to do!

No idea ATOmum, maybe ask MmeLindor to sort it out? I managed to post one with no thumbnail due to my iPhone playing silly buggers!

Doh, I see there has already been discussion of Pinterest on here!

Thanks dilly - off to check it out now...

I'm really delighted with my stats recently. I have been averaging 1400-1800 steady each day for this past 2 months. I think this is good? Just wondering what else I can do to boost traffic. Any suggestions welcomed

Wow! that is great! looking forward to those kind of numbers...also looking forward to what others suggest!

That's great numbers! I barely get a 10th of that!

Same here - I barely get a 10th of that either QueenMaeve I think you need to give us suggestions, not the other way round! :o

Good idea flubba! Go on Queen Maeve we need you!

can i get some feedback on my blog please.
I don't appear to be getting followers and it may well just be crap.

totnesforbeginners.blogspot.co.uk/

any advice for a newbie?

Your blog looks fine, although I imagine writing about a particular place will have its limited and niche market.

You might be putting people off by writing 'proper job' too >>runs and ducks out of way of flying buns...

I checked you out Nevergargle - it isn't crap
Joiners is a tricky one - I am new too - started in Feb 2012 - so take what i say with a large grain of salt. But, I am gettting lots of hits. At least a few hundred every day, sometimes more. But, only a few joiners. Some subscribe by email (I can check them on Feedburner) some hit google reader (check google reader) and some I don't know??! I've just started a Facebook page and am trying to get some numbers going there.
I wonder if it feels like a big commitment for people to join...
I have a couple of suggestions:
Ravelry. Have you joined the bloggers group? It is great and very supportive.
Crafty people love pictures. Can you make yours bigger?
Pinterest. Open an account and post your own pictures.
Get out there and meet a few other bloggers (virtually of course!) visit their blogs and get chatting. It's a friendly world - especially knitters
Linky parties are a good source of traffic.
Finally, have you heard about the knitting and crocheting blog week coming up? I think it will be a brilliant way to get known.
for the last two take a look at my blog - you'll see the list of linky parties that I post on (although there are hundreds more!) and a link to the upcoming knitting/crochet week that you can sign up for.
Good luck!

well for me to have an actual proper job is quite an achievement i'd say. especially as I spend my time wandering around town with my camera and thinking about gnomes.

lots of lovely advice there thankyou. i have joined ravelry and pinterest but didn't think to link my blog. i'll sort that out.

thanks

Love your bags trulymyrtle! I'm always in awe of the craft blogs - I'm fairly crafty myself in that I knit a lot and enjoy crochet and sewing but I'm always amazed how anyone knits/sews quick enough to be able to base a blog on it! If I based my blog on my completed knitting projects, I would only be able to post once every 2 months! Seriously, I have been knitting a cabled cushion cover and keep meaning to blog it but as I have been knitting it for ever and the ned is not yet in sight, it could be another month of so before I blog it!

Assuming that many of you also have young children and/or day jobs, where do you get the time? Or am I just a very very slow knitter (I feel that might be that case...)?!

I started my 'crafting' when DC3 was waking at 4am for a feed, then going back down to sleep when I couldn't, so I'd get up and start making things. That started about six months ago (he's now 13m), and while he now sleeps till 6am on most mornings, I've still got the bug, so I grab half an hour here and there :)

thanks staranise!
I just knit or sew whenever I can - I think I dream about it.... It's the blogging that is tricky to squeeze in now

Staranise, I crochet which I think is much quicker than knitting. Also if you look at my blog you'll see I only make small/easy/quick things!

Am truly in awe of the stats you folks are getting. I am really pleased with 100 pageviews a day. Steadily growing due to twitter at the moment. If you get a retweet from folks like mumsnet or similar the post gets loads of views that day(assuming right time of day and decent post to begin with!)

I'm not getting into pinterest. Not really enough photos on my blog!

I struggle to post comments in Wordpress and I am with Blogger. Perhaps they don't like eachother!

I have started to host some other work but still haven't monetised the blog yet.

Anyone any ideas on how I might be able to make some shoes money out of it maybe?!

Hello all. Can you help me with this dilemma?

Hi Dilly I've been thinking exactly the same thing. Not because I have yet ventured into other areas, but I often feel the urge to post about something that's bothering/interesting me, but haven't because of the nature of my blog. I do have plans to write a travel blog - (we are planning on taking a year out of life in five years' time and so hope to blog about the planning and execution of the travels), but I think I will do two separate blogs with a link.

I reckon you'd get frustrated doing just a separate page on your current blog, as you wouldn't be able to distinguish it as clearly, or separate it out once your other writings/musing cover more topics. So, I would do another blog. It is my humble opinion only though. :)

Well, I've been busy sorting myself out for a stall at two craft fairs !!EEEEEEK!!. Mad or crazy. I'm definitely one of those two :o

Wow exciting about the craft fairs. I'd love to do one but would have to work all year. Plus my stuff is pretty niche so I think I might start an etsy shop.

I'm really interested to hear about your travel plans (mainly how the hell can you afford it?!). I was talking to dh about your plans a few days ago. We'd never be able to afford it.

Hey Dilly We're saving like mad each month - and have been doing for the last year or so. I've only made rough plans of where we'll go at this stage, but much will depend on how much we can save - I reckon it'll cost the five of us about £45k so we're saving at £500 a month atm, (and scrimping on everything else - serious budgeting going on here) but we'll need to up that at some point and dig into any savings we have.
So far, our plans are to spend 2 months in Nepal & India, 3m in SE Asia, 3m in Central and South America, 2m in North Africa and hopefully a few weeks in Oz or NZ. All our plans though depend on budget primarily, and my dream plan is to have a big atlas on the wall with flags the kids (and me & DH!) can put on places when they find stuff out about things that interest them, and I'd love for that to determine our route!
Ooh, getting all excited about it now!! Just another four and a half years to go! :o

We have travelled a lot with out kids and, if you are adventurous - camping saves a ton of money!

I mean - with our kids!!!!!

Hi PetiteRaleuse,
Regular blogging is not about blogging each day. Regular blogging could be that you're posting an article every 2 weeks. As long as you're doing this, and your readers expect that there will be a new post every other Saturday - you're blogging regularly.

The way to get around this might be to write up 4 posts (or so) when you have time. Then schedule them to be published at regular intervals. It's so easy to schedule posts - and so useful too.