I’m getting a lot of questions about guest posting here, which I understand because so many of us are trying to get back links or promote blogs or books or whatever. So I wanted to let you know about my other blogs, in case there is a fit for your post there, too. You can do an interview here, guest post there. Or whatever. Promote away! I’m an author too and understand where you’re coming from. It’s hard to get attention for your book or blog when there are so many great ones out there. Here’s an update on where you can guest post with me, and if any of these interest you, contact me.

Working Writers

You’re here already! We have a lot of guest posters and interviews here, and then I chime in too and give my opinion. A lot of things have already been covered, so to not duplicate, it’s a good idea to take a look around and see what we might have already done. Things like the basics usually won’t get you the views, but if you can personalize it, that’s better. For example, an article on the basics of making money on a blog might not work, but if you can say, “here’s how I make money at blogging” that would be great. Basics on getting an agent has already been done, but if you want to talk about how you personally did it, that would be of interest.

If you’re writing a guest post, see if you can help out a fellow writer. We all love tips about how to get more out of our creative juices, so make your post helpful (and not just a promotion for your book!)

And do I need to say this? This blog is about writing. Now, it’s pretty broad, because we have a collection of different writers and bloggers here, so you can write about blogging, freelancing, or the like and anything that goes with it (clients, publishing, making money, running a small business, finding inspiration, etc.). Just don’t send me a blog about how to wear the perfect black dress. Which someone did. That doesn’t apply here. (Even if you’re wearing a black dress to write. It still doesn’t apply.)

As of December 2011, Working Writers traffic was:

Unique Visitors: 8,000 per month
Number of Visits: 25,000 per month
Pages: 99,000 per month
Hits: 315,000 per month

The Dating Blog (aka “Ms. Dating Consultant”)

The Dating Blog is my oldest blog, because I started as a dating and lifestyle writer. (And guess what? I still am! Isn’t that awesome when you can write about what you love and make it a niche?) Topics for the blog include everything related to finding a relationship: dating, date ideas, wedding stuff, knowing when you’ve met the one, etc. The focus is on relationships and not sex.

Again, since this blog has been around a while, a lot of things have been covered. So if you’re submitting, try and see if you can put a new spin on something. There is always something new to talk about in the dating world, so find that special viewpoint or relate to your own experience, and write something up.

What types of writers might like to submit to The Dating Blog? Dating writers (obviously), relationship or lifestyle experts, and novelists. Yes, novelists! If you have any type of romance or struggle for love and acceptance at all in your book, you’re the perfect candidate to guest post. Talk about your process for getting your characters together, or how you’ve drawn on your own experience, or what you think about romances in pop culture today, and the like.

As of December 2011, The Dating Blog’s traffic was:

Unique Visitors: 4,500 per month
Number of Visits: 18,000 per month
Pages: 40,000 per month
Hits: 85,000 per month

Her Geek Life

Her Geek Life is a lifestyle site especially geared toward girly geeks. While this may sound very specific, it’s actually very inclusive of all those odd facts and articles you might not be able to place anywhere else. As a geek girl myself, I like a variety of things, and so do a lot of other girly geeks out there. Anything related to health, beauty, fashion, your love life, happiness, odd facts, movies, gadgets, technology, rants, TV, food, and you name it. Check it out and you’ll get an idea of what’s on there.

What types of authors or bloggers might want to post there? A wide variety. Anything nonfiction or fiction could apply. That sounds very vague, but the site covers a lot, and I’ve yet to find anything that doesn’t really work on it. It’s a lifestyle site, so the focus is on things you like or favorite things or ways to improve yourself, etc.

As of December 2011, Her Geek Life’s traffic was:

Unique Visitors: 3,500 per month
Number of Visits: 12,000 per month
Pages: 45,000 per month
Hits: 85,000 per month

Eiffel Trifle

Eiffel Trifle really is a random and specific blog. I started it because I love Eiffel Tower stuff, and wanted to blog about it. So I write about things I find that are cool. Because this is such a random blog, I don’t update it very often, just when I feel like and/or have time. I bring it up here because every once in a while someone will ask me if they can guest post on it. I haven’t accepted guest posts on it yet, mostly because I can’t imagine that someone would want to post on such a random blog! But some writers or blogs have focused on Paris or the Eiffel Tower in some way, so if that’s you I’ll open it up to guest posters. The traffic reflects the randomness of the blog and the blogger’s posting habits (meaning: it’s small).

As of December 2011, Eiffel Trifle’s traffic was:

Unique Visitors: 1,000 per month
Number of Visits: 2,000 per month
Pages: 6,000 per month
Hits: 20,000 per month

Promotion

If you guest post on any of my blogs, I do promote every post on Twitter and Facebook for sure, and usually some other sites as well.

More on Blogging and Guest Posts:

• ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
• Creative Blogging: Your First Steps to a Successful Blog
• Virtual Book Tours

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One thing I adore about the blogging community is just how friendly and generous they are. Connie Brimmage from Salvage Savvy says something similar at the end of this interview. Connie’s blog is fairly new (less than a year at the time of this interview), so I hope you’ll all give her a big, hearty, Working Writers welcome.

Enjoy this interview.

I really adore your blog. When did you decide to start it? Was there a “I’ve got to write about this” moment when you were doing a project?

Thanks so much Cherie! I decided to start Salvage Savvy in March of 2011. I’ve always loved interior decorating, and I am constantly doing DIY projects around our home. However, I didn’t spend a lot of time on the computer and had never read home decor blogs [I had NO idea what I was missing!]. One day I stumbled upon a blog via Nate Berkus’ website [I just love Nate, don‘t you?!] and something just “clicked“ inside of me. It was like finding the missing piece to my creativity puzzle. I called my sister and told her I wanted to start my own blog and then immediately began designing and writing ideas for it [well, once I got her blessing… you know how important that is if you have a sister!]. The idea of sharing my passion with others was SO EXCITING and I couldn‘t wait to start. Looking back, I realize that the timing was pretty much insane! You see, our baby girl was three months old at the time [which is the perfect time to start blogging… if you love utter chaos and despise sleep] and I really had no idea that beginning a blog is essentially equivalent to having another child!! Nevertheless, I’m so very glad that I went ahead and took the leap and wouldn‘t change a thing. This is truly my passion so all of the hard work is worth it.

How often do you update the blog?

I’m still a fairly new blogger [I can use that excuse until Salvage Savvy is a year old, right?!] so I’m still figuring out what posting schedule works best. Here’s the thing: I don’t have alot of extra time to sit around reading blogs all day and I realize that my readers don’t either. Therefore, I only write two or three times each week but I really want each post to inspire, inform or make people laugh in some way [and if I can do all three then it's a really good day!]. I try to keep Salvage Savvy a fluff-free zone! Also, because I focus on sharing projects with my readers, I add one new project to the blog each week. Yes, that keeps me busy, but I recognize that DIY projects are the “pulse” of Salvage Savvy so it’s important!

More DIY Resources:

• DIY Projects for the Self-Sufficient Homeowner: 25 Ways to Build a Self-Reliant Lifestyle
• DIY Art at Home: 28 Simple Projects for Chic Decor on the Cheap
• Real-Life Decor: 100 Easy DIY Projects to Brighten Your Home on a Budget

There’s writing for free, and then there’s writing for free. What I mean is, there is a difference between exposure for exposure’s sake, and backlinks. We all write for free these days occasionally, but there is usually a good reason for it. You’re guest posting to get backlinks, you’re doing a favor for a blogger friend, you’re promoting your book or blog, etc. After all, much of what happens on a virtual tour is free writing in the form of guest posts on other people’s blogs.

But then there’s the notion of exposure, and that’s what I want to talk about here. The other day I saw a note on one of those places where writers look for resources and interviews, and this person posted about needing “contributors” for their “upcoming magazine issue.” What I found made me mad. Let’s talk about it.

Pay in the Form of Exposure

It took me several clicks at the magazine’s site to discover that they were strictly an online mag that charged a hefty monthly fee to subscribers. Nothing wrong with that, and at first I thought it was encouraging because with a large fee they must pay their writers. Right?

Wrong.

They paid in the form of “exposure.” Their site looked terrible, so maybe they were a startup. Still, though, they were going out to recruit writers for several free articles for their magazine for February in a variety of categories.

Now, the question is, should you write for them? What’s the difference between doing a virtual tour or guest post, and writing for exposure?

Virtual Tours

I want to focus on virtual tours for a minute because so many authors are doing them, and I can attest that they are valuable if you have a book to sell. They give you plenty of backlinks that stay long after the “tour” is over. In many cases on these tours you’re writing specifically about something related to your book, so you get to talk about it, link to it, and get readers interested in it.

Is this worthwhile for writers? Absolutely.

Guest Posts

Guest posts are trickier, in my opinion. I still do them occasionally, especially for other bloggers that I’ve gotten to know or people I’m trying to get to know. For example, when I first started writing about friendship, I was asked to do a couple guest posts from other friendship bloggers. (One was about understanding about your girlfriend’s healthy problems at Girlfriendology and the other was about “What I Know Now” about friendship at Girlfriend Circles.

These bloggers were “competitors” of mine to a degree, but we decided to band together and help each other out. (Which is just one reason I love other bloggers. They get that we can all benefit from helping each other.) Another scenario with guest posting is when you’re trying to just get some backlinks, or get to know other bloggers, or establish your name in the area in which you write.

Is something like this worthwhile? You bet.

Before You Do Guest Posts

Before you do a guest post, however, you need to be clear about your goals, and this is where the distinction will come in when you’re comparing guest posting to writing for exposure only. In guest posting (virtual tours, etc.) you’re able to link to your website (and if you’re not, why the heck are you doing it!), you’re able to give a short bio of yourself, you’re probably blogging about a subject you have chosen and really enjoy, you’re probably able to talk a little bit about something near and dear to your heart, and on and on. You need to decide what the value is in a guest post for you.

For example, when I first started out as a freelancer I needed to accomplish a couple things. I needed people to come visit my website and I needed to establish my name as a serious blogger. I wasn’t a hobby blogger, but no one knew it back then because no one knew me. I’m not famous now (that’s not what I’m talking about), but I do have a reputation as being a serious blogger and freelance writer. One thing that helped me establish that was guest posting on various places where I could show that I was an expert in things like lifestyle and relationships. I made sure that the sites I chose were getting decent amounts of traffic, and had an influence of some sort with the audience I was trying to attract. If I wrote a guest post that helped me with the criteria I wanted most, I did it.

Writing for Exposure

Magazines or sites that hire, search for, and recruit writers to work solely for exposure, though, are tricky. They are more tricky than guest posts, because if “exposure” is all you’re looking for, you need to make sure that the site is really going to give it to you. As I said, when I clicked through to that online magazine in question, it was obvious they were new and probably didn’t have much traffic. Will that get you exposure? Doubtful.

Also, if exposure is what you want (and that’s not a bad goal), you can always get it other ways than just guest posting. Think about offering yourself up as an expert for radio or TV shows, get exposure in your community by volunteering to teach a class at your community center, enter a reputable awards contest, get interviewed by another blogger, and on and on. There are a lot of ways you can promote yourself if you want exposure.

Getting Experience

The other argument with writing for a rinky dink magazine for free is that you get “experience” and writing credentials. Well, yes and no. I did this too when I first started out, and anywhere I wrote for free didn’t hold a lot of weight with the people I was trying to get a paid job for. If you write for a non-profit for free, that’s something different. What I’m talking about are those magazines who actively recruit writers on job boards and on places like HARO for work, promise a lot, and don’t deliver. It can be difficult, especially when you’re new, to protect yourself against them.

• Before you take a job writing for free, ask yourself:
• Is this an opportunity that is better (traffic-wise, pay, connections) than if I posted on my own blog?
• Will doing something for free for this person help me get other paying jobs? (In other words, is the editor really connected where they would hire you again for a paying gig down the line? Do some checking.)
• Will doing this gig establish that I’m willing to write for free. (That’s a hard precedent to break.)
• Will doing this gig take too much time away from promoting myself in other ways?

More on Guest Posting:

• How To Market Your Business With Guest Blogging
• Guest Posting Secrets-Building Business With Guest Posting On High Traffic Websites-AAA+++
• Virtual Book Tours

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It’s one thing to get traffic to new blog posts, but what about all those gems you wrote long ago that need a little more attention? Here are some ways to get traffic to older posts.

Suggested Links

As you’ll notice here, I use Link Within to show relevant blog posts at the end of a current post. This is done automatically through their WordPress plugin, so I don’t need to do a thing. If someone enjoys a current post, they may like one of the suggested posts at the end, and read both. I like this one because it shows a graphical link, which I think makes it more interesting. There are other plugins like this that use links only. You should use what you like what and what works for your blog.

Tweet Old Posts

There is a Tweet Old Post plugin for this if you’re on WordPress, or you can just choose random posts from the past and tweet them out. Too often, bloggers will tweet once or twice when a post is first published and then never again. The problem with this is that if someone doesn’t catch your tweet the first time, they’ll miss it for good.

Popular Posts

If you have some posts that are continually popular, it might be good to list them somewhere on your blog. You’ll see this here on the right. I use the Popular Posts plugin for this, which automatically tallies the posts people read here the most and puts the links in my sidebar. Again, I like the fact that I don’t need to mess with this once it’s set up, and I also like to see what you all find interesting. It helps me in creating new posts.

SEO Smart Links

Another WordPress plugin, SEO Smart Links, lets me link to affiliates, articles, or old blog posts. I’ve had to play around with this plugin, and occasionally it links to things I don’t want it to, but overall it has been a good way to highlight old posts. If you use this plugin, you might need to tweak it and play with it a bit before you get it to work the way you want. I have this set up on most of my blogs, but the settings are different for each of them.

Round Up Posts

I don’t do these very often myself, but I’ve seen bloggers use them and they seem to work. One that I did here was during National Global Entrepreneurship Week where I talked about Rates and Making Money. I wrote several new posts that week, but when it came to money, I’d already written several that would apply, so I linked to them. I like the idea of a theme like that where you write something new, but then also highlight other information you’ve given before.

Links to Posts Sporadically

A strategy I use there (and really, at most of my blogs) fairly often is one where I just link to posts here and there when I write new posts. There isn’t any exact science to this, of course, and it depends on how good your memory is! But if I think of a post I just did that applies to what I’m talking to, I’ll mention it and give it a link. This is particularly good if someone new is reading your post, and can see what you did in the past.

Link From Other Blogs

Do you have more than one blog? So many of us do. I don’t crosslink very often, but occasionally it works. I do this more often on my personal blog where I talk about all the different things I’m doing. I’ve also linked to my dating blog where I’ve generally talked about love or romance, or my geek blog where I’ve mentioned nerdy-ness or anything related to being a geek. Again, I don’t do it often, but if the occasional presents itself, I’ll use it.

Linking News Items to Old Posts

I’m a news junkie, so on various posts I comment on things going on in the world today. Those are golden opportunities to highlight old posts because if you wrote something related, it’s an easy thing to link to.

Have You Used All the Social Media You Can?

One thing to check with older blog posts is whether or not you’ve used all the social media you can. Not every post is Stumble or Digg-worthy, but if you revisit a post it may have more meaning now than even when you first wrote it. If you haven’t given it the full social-media experience, consider doing it later. It’s a good way to get new attention for it.

Your turn! What do you do to highlight your old blog posts?

The list function in Twitter has really been a lifesaver for me. Many people complain that there is so much info on Twitter it’s almost too confusing to use. I think it’s a good resource, and the way to manage it all is with organization. Lists are one way you can do that.

Following Someone Else’s List

If you click on Working_Writer’s Twitter page, you’ll see that I follow three different people’s lists.

These are from:

• @Girlfriendology/friendship-circle
• @kdawnbyrd/acfw-friends
• @Bookgal/fabbookpeople

They’re all related to writing, but in completely different ways. The Girlfriendology list has blogs in our Friendship Circle, which is a group of bloggers who regularly write about the topic of friendship. I’m with this group because I write for friendship at About.com.

The second list is from another writer in ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). This isn’t a complete list, but rather an informal listing of writers that @kdawnbyrd/acfw-friends has noticed are on Twitter and are also a part of ACFW. Since I’d like to follow a list like this myself, I followed her already made list (saves you from having to create your own.)

The final list is from Penny Sansevieri, otherwise called @Bookgal. She is a wonderful resource for writers, so anyone she thinks is “fab” is someone I probably want to follow.

To follow someone’s list, you click on their profile name, and then way over to the right you’ll see the word “listed.”

See how mine says 175? That means I’m on 175 (at the time of this writing anyway) lists. If you click on the “listed” link, it will pull up all the people following you (or whoever you are trying to get list info for.) Once you do that, click on the “Lists” link that is directly beneath the profile info:

You’ll see lists by them and lists that they follow. You can follow any of these lists.

Creating a List

Creating a list is easy too. Hit “Home” and then “Lists” and you’ll see an option to “create a list.” You can name it and then search for and add people to it. Or, you can create a list and then just add people here and there as you remember and come across them.

For instance, if I were to add my other Twitter account to a list, I’d click on the profile, and then the little person icon, which brings up the option to “Add to list.”

I then have the option to add the person to an existing list, or create a new one from there.

How I Use Lists

I love Twitter lists for two main reasons. It helps me to be a good Twitter friend, and RT some of the links I really like from people, and it also helps me to find relevant info. I can locate tweets more easily from different groups or people. If I want to focus on tweets from ACFW writers, for example, I can easily do that with a list. This is especially good if you have people who constantly RT you. When you want to return the favor, you can locate them easier (like those in my friendship circle for example) with the help of a list.

In the past, I’ve created different lists relating to books I’ve released or writers I wanted to get to know. Lists are easy to create and also disband. When you’re done with one, simply delete it. Your contacts stay but you don’t have the list anymore if you don’t want it. Lists help you zero in certain topics, which, when you’re trying to promote a book or blog for example, is extremely helpful.

Do you use Twitter lists? What are some of the ways you’ve found them helpful?

As you know, I’m a fan of blogs that show repurposed and DIY projects. Well, I have a soft spot for bloggers of any type, but I really like blogs that teach me something. That’s one reason I was happy to find My Repurposed Life, and even more delighted to talk with the blogger behind it, Gail. There are a lot of things I like about the blog (the design, the projects, and especially the spirit). I also enjoyed Gail’s answers to my questions, especially the last bit she added. I know you will as well.

Enjoy this interview.

How did you get started blogging?

Over the last few years I had several life changing incidents. I separated from my husband of 29 years, then I lost my job of 19 years. For all those years I had been a wife, a mother, and a teacher. I had lost sight of who I really was. To keep myself busy I picked up some tools and started creating and repurposing “found” items. I had some online friends from the HGTV Trash to Treasure message boards that shared before and after photos. I started taking pictures and keeping a record of my projects.In July 2009 I jumped in and started writing My Repurposed Life on a whim! I woke up one morning and decided to do it. My daughter Jamie helped me come up with the name. Not only was I repurposing unwanted items, I was also beginning a new journey of repurposing my life.

How often do you update the blog? Is there a set schedule you adhere to, or do you write when inspired?

My blog has become a huge part of my life, I’m not sure if I work on projects so I can blog or if I blog so I can work on projects. I try to update My Repurposed Life 5-6 times a week, having a goal of at least one new project. Most of my projects are step by step tutorials so that my readers can get a real sense of how they can also start repurposing those unwanted items.

I generally do reviews and/or giveaways a few times a month. I love winning giveaways, and it makes me even happier to give something away to one of my readers. They are always so giddy to win! I have a weekly Link Party on Thursday nights, Catch As Catch Can. My daughter Jamie also helped me pen that name. The phrase Catch as Catch Can has been in my family for a few generations. It refers to making do with what you have, generally referring to dinner. When I was younger, my mom worked full time, and on nights when she was too tired to cook, that was my favorite phrase. It meant that I could dig around the cupboards or refrigerator and eat whatever I wanted. The projects I do are a lot like that, making do with what I have on hand to build.

I occasionally have “guest bloggers”, but the content on My Repurposed Life is 99% mine.

What appeals to you in a repurposed project? Are there certain things you look for more than others?

I am drawn to items that are free or cheap. I work on a very tight budget. I find a lot of my items at thrift stores. I have a $5.00 limit. I have found that having a limit cuts down on impulse buys and buyer’s remorse. Rarely do I have to think about purchases. If it is under $5.00 and has good bones, it quickly finds its way to my car. While curb shopping, items I never pass up are shutters, bi-fold doors, old windows, sewing cabinets,cribs, and of course headboards. One of my most popular posts on search engines is my Headboard Bench Tutorial.

Care to share a favorite blog post(s) or project(s)?

I’ve repurposed a lot of items and built many from scratch, however some of my favorite DIY projects are the ones I’ve done to improve my home. I’ve been in this home for 36 years, and it has seen many changes over the years. Times change, tastes change, I’ve changed! A couple of years ago I decided it was time for some updates. In a little over a year, I redid the living room/fireplace, master bedroom, and the kitchen! It would be like choosing a favorite child to say which of those would be my favorite.

Where can we learn more about you?

To learn more about me and why I do what I do, you can check out my blog-My Repurposed Life. The easiest way to view my past projects is in my Picture Galleries, year 1, year 2, and year 3. I hope that you find something that inspires you to think outside the box and look at something different. Interested in “meeting” me? Feel free to stop by my About Me page.

I love blogging, and the blogging community. It is amazing how we can be friends . . . good friends with people we may never meet in real life. We DIY bloggers have a real kinship, we understand one another.

More on DIY:

• DIY Projects for the Self-Sufficient Homeowner: 25 Ways to Build a Self-Reliant Lifestyle
• DIY Art at Home: 28 Simple Projects for Chic Decor on the Cheap
• Real-Life Decor: 100 Easy DIY Projects to Brighten Your Home on a Budget

Guest post by Jason Scott

If the title of this post speaks to you, then your blogging experiences are probably similar to mine. Let me take a guess. Do you work your backside off getting your blog just right, filling it with great content, editing, re-editing, and making it look so hot that you could cook a stack of blueberry pancakes on it? You press that “Publish” button and steady yourself for the stampede of traffic your amazing blog is sure to get. You wait and wait until, you feel you could burst. Finally, you click the stat reports button and you are swallowed under a massive tidal wave of… zilch. I know, ouch, right?

That ego punting disappointment happens to most new bloggers, and it stings like hell. The problem is that you don’t want to be like most new bloggers. You want extraordinary success, and you want it immediately. The truth is that immediate blog success doesn’t happen unless you’re already famous, someone famous endorses you, or you already make gazillions of dollars being awesome at something else. No? Not you? Me either.

If you want to get through a locked door and you don’t have a key, you find out who does and see if they will open it for you. Blogging success is similar, and guest blogging can be the key to getting you through the door as a writer. Guest blogging on established sites gets you what you really need, which is exposure. If you are festering in the prison of your own invisible site, you need to seek help from someone willing to open doors and show you the escape route to a more expansive blogging existence. That is what I did.

How did I do it? I stopped being so proud and stupid, and I sought help. I did my research and found a helpful site, www.bloggerslinkup.com, and submitted a request to their members for an opportunity to guest post on one of their sites. I was very quickly contacted by Cherie Burbach, with a guest post offer that I would have been a total idiot to refuse (Thanks Cherie, you rock like Woodstock!). The rest is not history, but the future.

What do I expect to get from this guest post? Noticed, followed, and appreciated. That’s the truth in three words. However, I also get the satisfaction of knowing that I might encourage someone else to step out of their comfort zone and to try a different and proven tactic toward their blogging success. One more reason? Hopefully, someone reading this might want to connect with me, and we can work toward one another’s success. See, I am just like you, really hungry to get my momentum up. If exposure on a great site like this can help me, then such exposure can help you too.

A few tips to get you started:

• Submit your request on a site like www.bloggerslinkup.com. It worked for me.
• If someone makes you a reasonable opportunity, take it!
• Show your worth by giving insightful and relevant comments on established blogs in your niche. Just don’t become a nuisance or a pest.
• Just ask, but a thick skin is paramount. Popular bloggers are inundated with requests. Remember that tidal wave of zilch?
• Remember to reciprocate if someone gives you a chance. Give your benefactor a bit of love and a voice on your blog if they wish for it.
• Pay it forward. Give other new bloggers the same opportunities you long for.

Guest blogging works if you ask the right people, the right way, and if you have something relevant to say. Now get out there and find a blog to bless with your talents.  Good luck!

By the way, if you are looking for a guest writer to post on your blog, then you can find me at www.ma… Okay, okay, I won’t be that shameless.

Please comment with your thoughts and tips on the benefits of guest blogging.

Jason Scott, a tireless supporter of those that are hungry to make something of their lives. Although software engineering with GE has been my primary trade for the last decade, I do have a more people focused calling that I feel privileged to respond to and live for. Software is the Clark Kent to my people loving hero(ish) personality. My community volunteering work keeps me busy when my family doesn’t. I will speak, write, coach, and roll up my sleeves to dig ditches for people in need of a helping hand.

The intent of my blog is to build a community of like thinkers, hell-bent on making a difference for people that need help along their paths to greatness. Those of us that can help should help, and we know it. We should embrace our ability to make life happier and more whole for the people that look up to us. So, if you have the patience, please endure my ramblings, but embrace the core of my intent. I just want to help others to believe in themselves, and share any knowledge and resources to enhance their lives.

My blog is at http://www.makethemgreat.com

More Resources on Blogging:

• WordPress Power Guide – Using WordPress to Blog Your Way to Success – Blogging Guide
• ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income Chris Garrett
• Creative Blogging: Your First Steps to a Successful Blog

We’re continuing our interviews with the artsy bloggers today with Cyndi Lavin. If she looks familiar, it’s because we talked to her once before when her fabulous ebook, Every Bead Has a Story was released.

I’ve mentioned before that I met Cyndi from a previous blog network we both worked for. It goes to show you that you never know where new jobs or writing assignments will take you. I like her blog a lot and find so many helpful tips and tutorials, so it’s good that you’ll be meeting her here. I hope you visit her many sites!

Enjoy this interview.

What made you decide to start your blog? When did you begin?

I began blogging back in 2005, but I deleted some of my earliest posts after I changed my mind about what my blogs should be. In the beginning, I posted only pictures of finished pieces and occasionally a link that amused me. As I gradually began to figure out what a valuable platform a blog could be, I switched my primary focus to education, how others could make the pieces that I was making. Secondarily, I focused on what inspired me, creativity, and the design process itself.

Where do you come up with your mixed media ideas?

Usually from the materials themselves. Working in mixed media, whether wearables or non-wearables, every bit and bauble that you pick up seems to have a story to tell, and there is no end to the inspiration that is available.

Please share a favorite blog post link.

I am probably most proud of the e-book that I wrote last year on mixed media bead embroidery, titled Every Bead Has a Story. I released it as individual chapters, and the first chapter with all the introductory material is a free download. So I guess that would be my favorite post as well!

I want everyone who ever thought that they’d like to try expressing themselves through bead embroidery, but thought it would be too difficult to learn, to be able to see how easy it is to get started. Like many other art forms, bead embroidery is easy to start, difficult to master, and impossible to ever be finished with learning. My goal is to never stop learning, and to take others along for the ride!

Let’s switch gears to books. Do you enjoy reading? What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

I love to read, and I run two book groups to prove it The most interesting book I’ve ever read besides the Bible, which is my all-time favorite, is whatever I happen to be reading at the moment. This month it’s the children’s book Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson and The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent.

Where can we learn more about you?

You can learn more than you’ll ever want to know on my blogs and websites:
http://www.beading-arts.com
http://www.mazeltovjewelry.com
http://www.wildestdreamsdesigns.com
http://www.mixed-media-artist.com
http://www.why-not-art.com
http://realfoodfast.blogspot.com

Guest post

If you are thinking about setting up your own blog page, one of the first things in deciding about which platform you want to use is exactly what you want to use your blog for.  Many, many people still run blogs for the pure joy of having everyone and anyone who is interested listen to their rants.  More and more, however, people write blogs because there is money in it for them.

What do you want your blog to do?

Blogging (web logging) existed long before Facebook and any of the other social media sites, and started out as a way for people to let other people know what was going on in their lives, just as the social media sites do now.  An early blog I remember was a daily listing of a young Washington, D.C. intern’s sexual escapades.  The point that made it interesting to the wider world instead of just her 200 closest friends was that she was taking money for sex because her intern salary was so paltry.  She had six or seven high profile (according to her) lovers who took her out to dinner and subsidized her apartment rent so that she could continue to live the Capital life style.  The birth of the celebrity blog- everyone was trying to figure out who her lovers were.   If you are not interested in titillating the general public with your blog, what do you want? Do you want to make money, albeit in a more traditional way, or do you just want to keep your adoring public informed?

If you want to make money

The first thing you have to realize in deciding on whether Twitter or WordPress is better for your blog is whether you want to make money on it or not.  If you do, you must realize that WordPress does not allow their bloggers to monetize their blogs.  If you are interested in blogging purely for informational purposes, WordPress makes it easy to use and to disseminate your information.  But if you plan on making your blogging hobby into a money making sideline, Twitter, with its wider reach, is probably the better solution.  Remember, you do not directly make money with a twitter blog, but using redirects on your tweets, you send your customers to what they are interested in: your ebay account, your adsense ads, or to clickbank to buy your product.

If you have a message

If the purpose of your blog is to inform, arouse and motivate, Twitter is the format for you.  Tweeting about a hot topic has become the way news is now distributed, quickly, easily and to the most interested parties, all at once.  When hot events are unfolding, when you want to attract people around a cause, the viral nature of Twitter gets the message to all the right people in an instant and can rally them to the cause.

Whether blogging on Twitter or WordPress is better completely depends on what you want to do with your blog.

There are many types of blogging that you can possibly do in the internet. Depending on your purpose, you can either start with sharing your experiences through WordPress or have a quick go at Twitter. Check out http://www.findermind.com so you can determine the best blogging for you.

More on Blogging:

• WordPress Power Guide
• ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
• Start Your Own Blogging Business

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Guest post by Emilee Butera

Are you reading this post or is this post being read by you? This difference between the two may seem minimal, but it’s actually very significant. Many people know that they should write in an active voice instead of passive voice, but they may not always realize the difference between the two. If you want your blog to do well, then it’s important that you write with an active voice as often as possible.

Subjects and Verbs

Try not to groan, but in order to understand the difference between passive and active writing, you need a quick grammar lesson. In the active voice, the subject of the sentence takes an action. For example, “John rode his bike.” If you rewrite that sentence passively it reads, “The bike was being ridden by John.” Do you see how the bike becomes the subject of the sentence instead of John? Which one do you think it most important? Additionally, the bike isn’t actively doing anything, it is passively being ridden. If you want to write actively, make sure that your subject is doing an action and instead of having subject that is acted upon. See, that wasn’t so painful, was it?

Help For Word Users

If you use Microsoft Word, you are in luck. Every version of Word since 2003 has a feature called “Readability Statics.” The location for turning this feature on varies across different versions, but, in most versions, you can find it under “Word Options” and then go under “Proofing.” Turn the feature on and Microsoft Word displays what percentage of your paragraph or post that you wrote passively every time you do a spelling and grammar check. Unfortunately, it doesn’t tell you which sentences are passive and you will have to figure that out using the tips in this post.

Other Signs to Watch Out For

Some people feel that writing formally makes them sound more professional, when in fact; it’s an example of passive voice writing you should avoid. Don’t write, “The theories of physics that was most dealt with by 20th century physicists was Newtonian physics.” Instead write, “Most 20th century physicists dealt with the theory of Newtonian physics.” Do you see how the latter is much easier to read? It speaks directly to the reader. Keep your sentence as clear and concise as possible. Another good thing to remember is that most versions of the verb “to be” such as were and was are often passive verbs depending on how you use them with the subject.

You may run into occasions where the only way you can phrase something is in the passive voice; that is unavoidable. However, you should write with an active voice whenever you can. Examine every sentence of every paragraph of your blog posts to see if there is a way you can rewrite them to make them sound active. After you do this for a while, you’ll start mentally cataloging your most common mistakes and they will creep up in your writing less frequently.

About the Author: Emilee Butera is a full-time writer who enjoys sharing her love of the written word with others. She also helps human resource departments connect with groups like Adecco USA temp staffing services to fill their staffing needs.

More Blogging Resources:

• ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
• Blogging All-in-One For Dummies
• Creative Blogging: Your First Steps to a Successful Blog

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net