It isn't even a requirement for hosting, just one I set for myself last year when I hosted, and chose to continue this time. I actually made it through the whole list last year, believe it or not, when we had thousands of participants.
We have a goal to hit 1000 sign ups by March 1. Are you A to Zee'd yet?
Now, here's the thing. One should have a clear reason and purpose for signing up. Peer pressure isn't it. A few excellent reasons--
To find great new blogs to follow
To attract followers for your blog
To show some alphabet love
To show some alphabet love
To achieve renewed focus for your blog during the mad month of April
To dress up your blog to attract more visitors and commenters
Sometimes people begin blogs and then don't know what to do with them. They don't know to get focus, how to find followers, how to attract commenters. Anyone you know like that? Please help them out by telling them about this opportunity!
Regardless of where your blog is now, the Challenge presents an excellent step for taking it to the next level. If you're ready to get A to Zee'd, go here to sign up!
I admire those who choose the challenge, as I have for the last few years. I'll live vicariously through the participants, though!
ReplyDeleteI'm on board. My plan is to have my 26 posts ready in advance. That's my plan...
ReplyDeletemood
The benefits are just beyond words!
ReplyDeleteKaren, I admire your energy and drive! 1000 sign ups is going to be mad but think of all the creativity it'll engender.
ReplyDeleteI won't be one of the sign-ups (I've got other stuff on the blogging plate) but I follow many who regularly sign up and will be cheering for you all.
Jai
Yay for you all A-Zeders!!
ReplyDeleteTake care
x
It took me a few years to feel comfy with my blog. It's amazing how comments from friends can make it worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be so epic.
ReplyDeleteYour 150 is better than I've done--I think, though I'm not totally sure. But I do find it very interesting whenever I do hit the list directly. There is an amazing diversity on that list and so many surprises to discover.
ReplyDeleteYour post today encapsulates the reasons to join in the Challenge fun in a concise and logical way. More posts like that from more other bloggers and we'll hit 1000 by March 1 with no problem.
Great post. And a textbook example of creating a short post packed with good information.
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Holy moley! You sure are industrious! Good luck in fulfilling your quest.
ReplyDeleteI am signed up! That is amazing that you have hit 150. I need to set a goal like that and make my way around. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDelete"Sometimes people begin blogs and then don't know what to do with them."
ReplyDeleteThat's EXACTLY what happened to me. My blog has improved by leaps and bounds since I joined the A to Z challenge. Being part of the challenge helped my blog find purpose and direction.
Jenn, That is so cool how signing up has already helped your blogging activities, and it's not even April yet! Yours is one I found through the Challenge, and that I chose to follow, and one I'll keep going back to.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to sign up, but it said something went wrong. I have no idea what. Any suggestions on what I can do.
ReplyDeletecarolynfrank at rocketmail.com
Never mind, the linky thing worked the next time I tried. I'm signed up and ready to go.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, Glad it worked for you. Welcome to the Challenge!
ReplyDeleteYay Karen! I love your enthusiasm. I'm in - I loved it last year and plan on loving it this year. My fun was in finding a theme that fit my blog (last year it was qualities of a writer) and in finding those wondrous types who met the challenge with verve and wit! See you in April...
ReplyDeleteHmmm...dressing up my blog. Maybe it's time for that. I'm glad you visited today. I'm looking forward to this challenge. :)
ReplyDeleteThis was my first and is my most loved challenge to date and I can"t wait. I just followed you with my FabReads blog Karen because the one I follownyounon is on sabbatical.
ReplyDeleteSense of community is another great reason to join. This challenge had a life of it's own.
I'll have a new baby in April, will probably be here first week so I also have to do some post scheduling.
Hi Karen! Thanks for stopping by Here's the Story. It's always nice to meet a fellow Illinoisan! I'll be in Utah next month; going to be staying in Kanab for a week.
ReplyDeleteSee on the A to Z blogging trail!
I'm all signed up again for the challenge. I've got some plans for what I'll be blogging but I hadn't thought about why. Last year I met lots of lovely bloggers who are still regular blogging friends today but I thing my main reason is that I love alphabetical lists. It's one of my strategies for getting to sleep at night. I think of a topic and A to Z it.
ReplyDeleteLots of good reasons to be challenged the A-Z way.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
Thanks for visiting my blog today, Karen.
ReplyDeleteYou've given great reasons to do the Challenge. I've already found my focus, I think I'm looking to share my blog with others beyond my current readership, to meet some new bloggers, and to challenge myself with something I've not tried before.
Good luck with the 1,000 milestone. Be great if you could break it before the Challenge..
ReplyDeleteI've signed up! I planned to write the posts in advance. So far, I only finished A. Aaack!
ReplyDeleteI've done A-U as of this morning. The rest will have to wait until next month or later. I've backed up on all the rest of my writing life! This is WORK--I'm here to tell you. But it's fun, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to hopping around the A-Zers and see what they have in store.
Even though I won't be participating (my book and magazine work has to come first this year), I'm still visiting the people who signed up. I fully support you all and wish you luck.
ReplyDeleteI have a question: I was just going to enter the subjects for each letter of the alphabet in a calendar when I noticed that April has 5 Sundays this year. So one Sunday must be used for the challenge, but which one? First or last? Please let me know.
ReplyDeleteInger, I tried emailing you back but your comment came from noreply at blogger, so hopefully you see this response. April 1 is on a Sunday, so that's the Sunday we start with, taking the following ones off.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome goal. I'm excited for the A to Z challenge this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm stopping by on my rounds to thank all the kind folks hosting the A to Z challenge. This is my first year, so I'm a little nervous, but I think it's going to be a ton of fun.
ReplyDelete