How To…Keep A Conversation Going on a Blog You Have Commented On!

Image by antigone78 via Flickr

This is the third guest post by Karen from Blazing Minds. She’s a recording artist with the Electronica Duo band Remergence and a top-notch blogger. Karen’s blog is DoFollow.

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Most of us who are reading this blog have commented on a lot of blogs and sometimes it can be quite hectic trying to remember where you may of last posted a comment and sometimes you would like to keep an eye on the conversation that you may have started.

My tip for anyone who is new to blogging and even those have blogged for a while is this:

When you are commenting on a blog, look out for tick box that says something in the lines of “email me with follow-up comments” or something along those lines, these are really useful as these are perfect to keep an eye on what is going on the blog post you have commented on.

From the moment you submit your comment, you are now ready to receive followup comments made, there are also other options that you may see on blogs that ask if you want to receive all new comments made on the post you have commented on, I would recommend using these options.

Not only does this bring you more chances of commenting on the blog and the possibility of giving you some more back links from the blog as you reply to comments made to your comment or other comments made on the post.

So don’t lose out when you see these tick boxes on blogs, tick them and don’t just comment and run, never to return again, as a blogger myself I appreciate the constant return of many of the commentators on my blog and I know other bloggers generally feel the same.

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Guest Posting Contest – Will I Be A Winner?

[tweetmeme source=”ileane”]Guest posting is an excellent way to gain exposure for your brand and promote your blog to a new audience. I’ve done a few guest posts recently and I’ve even hosted guest posts from other bloggers, but for the first time ever I’ve entered a guest blogging contest!

I briefly mentioned the contest in my last post when I gave a Grand Tour of FamousBloggers.net and that helped me build the confidence to actually enter the guest blogging contest myself. Now I’m really nervous about my chances of winning because the competition is so steep! Take a good look at the prize sponsors from Hesham’s list and you’ll start to get an idea about what I’m going after.

Take a look to our sponsors once again

FamousBloggers.net – contest organizer

MyBlogGuest.com our contest media partner

WebmasterFormat.com – Webmaster Resource *new

MMO social network – making money online tips

DesignGizer.com a new design bookmark site

Better Blogging for Bloggers blog

DennisEdell.com – Dennis Edell *new

IBlogZone.com a making money online blog

CrazyEgg.com heat mapping tools

SimplyFreshThemes.com Fresh Journal WP theme *new

Kiesha @ WeBlogbetter.com Blogging tips & tricks *new

JohnPaulAguiar.com – Twitter Dummy Guide *new

Ok so now you are going to think that I totally lost my mind because I going to tell you that you can take part in the contest too if you hurry (and I mean right this minute) and contact Hesham on his blog. Full details are available at Guest Blogging Contest. March 31, 2010 was the deadline but I think he will make an exception for you if your nice to him.  When the doors are shut I will edit this post accordingly.

Support fellow bloggers!

Even if you decide that you’re not going to participate, you can make a contribution to the blogging community by visiting these guest posts and leaving valuable comments. My guest post To Buzz or Not To Buzz? That My Friends is a Great Question is one of over 20 that were submitted. And I know you are going to think I’ve lost all common sense now when I say this:

Pick any post from the list that you want to support it doesn’t have to be mine!

Really I haven’t gone “completely” mad. I just realize that the whole point of the contest is to be supportive of one another and to build a strong blogging community. So any post that you want to leave a comment on or Retweet, StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit – even a share on Google Buzz will be appreciated. This will give you a chance to possibly meet a new blogger and find someone interesting to network with.

The Prizes!

We started by giving a way $248 worth prizes, and we have got more then the doubled the prizes thanks to our sponsors, we have raised $712.75 for our five winners!

Unbelievable right? Can’t say I didn’t tell you ahead of time, but I think I really have your attention now. I promise you, this is NO April Fools Joke!

Dealing with Negative Blog Comments

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This is a guest post from Alison Moore Smith. Alison is a homeschooling mom of six amazing children, ages 6-22. Married for over 24 years, she and he husband are best friends and business partners. Alison is a public speaker, author, blogger, web designer, singer, actress, ballroom dancer, and chocolate lover. She helps people start blogging and wants you to make your life amazing.

Her goal is to be ready for anything!

The first time I ever spoke at a convention, my intent was to get through the ordeal without being pelted with overripe fruit. The fact that attendees would later vote on the speakers was a tidbit I chose to pay as little conscious attention to as possible.

A number of weeks later I was informed that I had been voted favorite speaker of the convention. But it could easily have been otherwise.

Currently I’m performing as Buttercup in Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore. Having spent most of the last 20 years behind the scenes, I’m greatly relieved to know that the community theater I’m performing in gets fact-related newspaper coverage as opposed to serious arts reviews! I’m not sure I’m ready for a prime time critique.

Blogging is the most public of venues. Forget “worldwide web,” it’s a worldwide stage. And when you decide to blog, the very format of blogging software says that you are not only committing to share you thoughts and ideas with the world, but you’re open to hearing the world share back with you.

If you write interesting and insightful posts, if you make claims — if you have an opinion about anything — someone will have an opposing view. And if you can broaden your circle of readers beyond those reading out of familial obligation (generally a desired goal!) your readers might speak up to challenge you.

Are you ready to handle that with civility?

Say Goodbye to Family, Friends and A Good Night’s Sleep!

As a blogger, you’ll find yourself short on free time. The hours you used to spend in front of the TV guzzling Diet Coke and eating potato chips – Gone. Those romance novels you used to read at night before bedtime – Outta’ here. Those family picnics on the beach or late nights up chatting for hours with your mate – Au revoir. [tweetmeme source=”ileane”]

You’re a blogger which means you sleep, eat, breathe and dream about blogging. Don’t even try to convince yourself this doesn’t describe you. Because just when you’re ready to sit back and rest on the laurels of that fantastic post you just published and submitted to 101 different social sites – along comes 2 new ones that are so compelling you simply can’t resist. Well, at least I can’t resist and when you hear about them I think you’ll want to join me in pulling a few all-nighters to flex your blogging muscles, and perhaps earn some extra cash.

The first new opportunity is the latest offering from Brian at Blog Engage.  This is a new site that’s run on software from WordPress known as Buddy Press. Brian has deemed this site Blogging Wire and I jumped at the chance to become part of it. I’ve started 2 new blogs already! Here’s the list of blogs from Brian’s post Who’s Blogging on The Wire.

We got Quirky Jessi

We got Keith Hughes as Dirty Chickens and Dirty Chickens 2

We got the one the only Ms Ileane Speaks

We have Online Marketing Secrets by Benjamin Hübner

We also have the beautiful Karen from Blazing Minds

Once again Ms Ileane with her new and amazing Pod Cast Blog

We also have Element 321 from Evolutionary Designs

The unique blog of Archon Digital

Next, we come to Hesham. If you’ve ever visited the Blog Engage website you’ll find Hesham there being very supportive. He is always shining the spotlight on creative bloggers by offering them interviews, guest posts and memberships in the Famous Bloggers Club. Now Hesham has introduced a network called the MMOSocialNetwork. This is another opportunity you don’t want to miss. Hesham is offering a contest with loads of prizes to commemorate the launch of his new enterprise. They are well worth the effort, see which one you like best.

• $100 via PayPal from Making Money Online Social Network (make sure you have PayPal account)
• $282 worth 6 months course “Income Blogging Guide Course” from WeBuildYourBlog &BlogTechGuy
• $97 worth 3 Day Money course from David Risley
• $67 worth Ultimate Blogging Theme package from Carl “Kidblogger” Ocab
• $19.95 worth ElegantTheme membership for one year from Lawmacs of Blogging The Future

So say hello to energy drinks, black coffee and brand new social networks to infiltrate. I’m taking roll call, and you can leave me a comment to let me know if you are coming along for the ride.

Smooches!

Fun Twitter Promotions for Your Blog

[tweetmeme source=”ileane” style=”compact”]Using social media to promote your blog is a must. If Twitter is your social media outlet of choice, it pays to keep up with the latest Twitter tools and applications. Some are better than others, and not to long ago I talked about using Buzzom to manage your following. Here are a couple of tools that I think are fun to try.

Twitter Meets Screenr

Check out this short podcast I created and find out how to quickly send video tweets with Screenr, a web-based video recording application from Articulate.  Screenr is surprisingly easy, fast and convenient to use.  You can create an introduction video for your newest blog post, a quick tutorial, or share a slide show featuring scenes from your vacation. Be creative, video is a great way to personalize your blog and add something unique and memorable to your twitter stream.

For more information, check out the review of Screenr that I did over at Shvoong.

Blog Engage Activity for Ms. Ileane Speaks in November

Joining a Community of Bloggers

In early November, I became an active member of the Blog Engage Community and it has been an amazing journey and an extremely rewarding experience. This image represents a small sampling of the bloggers that I’ve networked with since joining Blog Engage.

I was somewhat timid in my initial approach because I’d heard talk that it is not a good idea to join a lot of blog directories. You know, everyone is afraid of the big, bad, wolf known as Google and what might happen to you if you don’t follow every rule they make to a “T”.  Yet, for every article that talks about not submitting your blog with too many directories, I find another that says directory submissions are the best thing since sliced bread.  So I have to go with my gut, forget all about Google’s rules, and just “do me“.

Building a Social Network at Blog Engage

I looked around the Blog Engage site and right away I noticed something unique. I quickly caught on to the the fact that BE doesn’t look or feel at all like a directory but more like a place to hang out and rub shoulders with some of the finest bloggers on the planet!

Introduction: The Blog Engage Community [Video]

Register Your Blog with Blog Engage

In my last post, Top 5 Blog Topics I mentioned how I am a member of  the Blog Engage community and I urge other bloggers that are interested in promoting their blog to do the same.

In this first screencast, we will visit the BlogEngage.com website and I’ll show you how easy it is to sign up.

New Benefit – Google AdSense

The second video, explores additional benefits of the BlogEngage website and a major announcement from Brian, owner of the BlogEngage website that you simply do not want to miss!

I’m more than happy to answer any of your questions and after you join the community, please let me know so that I can vote on your posts.

You can follow my Blog Engage List on Twitter http://twitter.com/Ileane/blogengage. If you’re a member of Blog Engage and don’t see yourself on the list, let me know I’ll add your tweets. I also recommend that before you get started read 10 Tips for Better Blog Engage Results from Extreme John and check out Brian’s list of articles from Share the love, who’s talking about Blog Engage.

Smooches!

UPDATE: Blog Engage has seen a surge in activity recently including several new members and mentions:

Shvoong review

Whatawebsite review

Alexa Ranking

Posterous – Lifestreaming or Not?

[tweetmeme source=”Ileane”]I recently created another blog on Posterous but I wasn’t really sure why I would need it. To fill you in on what Posterous is, the tagline from the homepage: “is the dead simple place to post everything. just email us.” And after all, my tagline and the purpose of this blog states:

I’m here to learn, to teach and to connect!

Therefore, I consider adding another blogging platform to my social media arsenal, as a golden opportunity to share the experience with my readers.