Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Adding Followers with No Pressure Blogging

In April I plan to post fast and easy. No pressure. Which gives me more time to go around visiting a whole lot of new blogs. Right now the A to Z Challenge list is pushing 300. Many of these are new to me. I intend to stop by, introduce myself and become a new follower. And the challenge will be to do it without increasing my typical blogging time.

I'm looking forward to doing short posts daily and alphabetically. Anyone who has followed me for awhile knows that my posts tend to be long. Plus (you don't know this, big secret coming) I edit the crap out of them before clicking publish. I'll still blog about writing, editing and publishing issues. Only with a lot fewer words. Ha! There's the real challenge!

When I hosted the Labor Day BBQ, many who participated reached new heights of follower counts. It's simple really-- something like this gives you an excuse to go visit new blogs and introduce yourself. In turn, people will come to your blog, leave a comment and follow.

There were more than 200 participants in the Labor Day BBQ. The A to Z Challenge looks like it will be at least twice that, judging by how fast people are signing up. If you are looking for a fun way to get a whole lot of new followers for your blog, this is it. However, I'm having modem problems on my laptop. Thinking perhaps I need an ipad... by April....hmmm, yes, definitely an ipad.

43 comments:

  1. I think an iPad is definitely in order for the month of April.

    I think you make a great point. It's fun to stop by, introduce yourself, and let everyone know that just like them you are here to have a good time. No strings attached. A great way to meet people, mingle and have something in common.

    I loved your Labor Day BBQ it was so much fun!

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  2. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoy your Blog. Looking forward to more.

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  3. I am certainly intrigued as to how you will be able to take on more, but without adding time?

    I like the idea of the A to Z Challenge, and will probably jump around a bit to read new blogs (along with the posts from the ones I already follow, of course...), but I wonder if I'm too random to do something like that? I mean, I am fairly sporadic with my posting as is... Although, maybe something like that would give me some much-needed focus?

    Hmmmmm. I suppose I'll have to give this some thought.

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  4. jm, I've been random with blogging lately too, altho I think I've been pretty good about hiding it LOL, and yes, I'm doing it for 2 reasons -- to get some focus for this blog which I love & want to keep as active as possible and to get a ZILLION NEW FOLLOWERS!!! Because I LOVE followers!! And 1000 is the new 500.

    Kim, See this is just how it works. Kim stops by, makes a brief but pleasant introductory comment, I go to her blog and add myself as her 9th or 10th follower. Easy Peasy.

    Jen, so many people who participated said they really liked the excuse to go meet new blogs without feeling like a stalker. Of course, you know all about being a stalker but most of us aren't comfortable with it.

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  5. Hmmm. Maybe I WILL be able to do this.

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  6. I don't have time to participate in the A to Z challenge, but I was at the BBQ and it was awesome! Thanks Karen.

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  7. Matthew, I'm glad you enjoyed the BBQ. I fully intend to start it up again in September. So the A -Z Challenge and the Labor day BBQ will be the two and only blogfests of the year for me. Because really there's stuff like this going on all the time. Every time I turn around there's another blogfest happening. Nobody can do it all.

    Ann, It might be a good idea for you considering you have a book soon to be released.

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  8. First time visiting from here in the Hollow and I just might take you up on your wonderful challenge. It's nice to "meet" you!...:)JP

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  9. You offer some excellent advice, Karen, that I hope everyone will heed. I jumped into your BBQ after it started and picked up about 25 new followers, several of which I continue to correspond with thru blog comments.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  10. I hadn't even considered post length in with the equation of time and the A to Z Challenge. Thank you for being the voice of commone sense!

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  11. And for those of us who participated last year, it was a blast! Thanks for touching upon post length - I intend to do the same. I think those who create shorter posts will reap the most benefits.

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  12. I really need to do a great blogfest! A bbq may be just what I need.

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  13. I feel very bogged down sometimes. Don't know how you manage all the followers and the following. I do enjoy the blogfests and finding new blogs though. But I need to keep my blogging time in check. I just don't know how to manage it.

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  14. Yay for iPads! I need one too. Yes, quick and easy will be the name of the game for April. I'm looking forward to it!

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  15. I have no idea how I managed to do last year's A-Z Challenge (okay, 75%, I discovered it a week in) and this year, what with me actually having a blog schedule(!), I think I'd have to be a lot more organised and schedule short posts in advance. The siren song of new followers though-- Tis a dilemma.
    - Sophia.

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  16. I loved the BBQ, but I'm like Matt--don't have the time this April. But I look forward to reading the posts of participants!

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  17. Hi Karen, I'm in that challenge. I will probably try to hit 100 blogs each day and rotate who I will visit. I've already got some post scheduled.
    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

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  18. I really really want to increase the number of blogs I'm connected to but how to find time to do that, continue with my writing and 'real life' at the same time??? Wow. I need a few more hours in the day, don't I?

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  19. I recommended the A -Z challenge to one of my followers and I'm happy to see she read your blog and commented. I hope she signs up, she's one of those cliff-hanger bloggers, where you just have to read the next one to see what happens. I guess I may be aiming too low here, but let me ask you: Is it strictly writing or can I use photos and follow my usual blogging format of short lines under photos? That I can do.--Inger

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  20. I'm in. This is perfect timing for me. I've been doing an a-z challenge for myself every Sunday for a couple of years. This will make me focus even harder. Focus is hard to find sometimes...time to hop around to all the blogs is even harder. But mind over matter...here I go!

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  21. Stephanie, "all the blogs" will be very ambitious! But hey, why not? As long as people don't mind a one line comment, a new follower, and a hi! I'm KarenG

    Canyon Girl, I think anything goes. But I'd recommend posting on things that you normally do, that help visitors decide if this is a blog that interests them or not. I remember last year Niki at Wool n Nuts featured New Zealand, with pictures and everything. I loved learning so much about her native land.

    Betty, It's a dilemma, that's for sure. I cut my blogging time in half this year, just so I could do everything. And I'm still trying to figure out when to finish my final edits. Of course I'm the first to admit that I waste a lot of time just staring out the window. I could stop doing that and have 2 more hours in the day.

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  22. Bahahaha Karen that was supposed to be my secret!! Apparently the secret is out. I guess everyone is allowed to have at least one stalker... now you know I'm yours. Take it or leave it sister, you can't put a restraining order on this awesome ;)

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  23. Sounds like so much fun! I have no idea what I'm going to blog about but I want it to be simple and not much hassle.

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  24. The challenge sounds like fun! I'll bow out this time, only because I'm revising two novels and want to focus on that. BUT, I'll stop by some of the blogs and check out the entries.

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  25. Hi,

    I'd love to join with the A-Z challenge and up the follwer count, but I know I simply couldn't keep pace with blogging on a daily basis and, achieve around 2,000 words a day for present WIP plus editor induced revisions for another novel.

    Have fun!
    best
    F

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  26. I want an ipad too! :-) Take care
    x

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  27. Hi Karen .. you've got the right approach .. and getting the ipad will be an added incentive .. I love your idea of introducing yourself to everyone .. I'll be following that thought along ..

    Cheers Hilary

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  28. I'm in the A-Z but more for the writing challenge. I'm loving the whole alphabet bet idea :) New followers and meeting people will be great as well.
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  29. I think the A-Z challenge sounds like fun, but there are so many people signed up for it, I don't think I could get to everyone's blog...I did your BBQ last year, it was fun. :)

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  30. The challenge sounds fun, but the thought of visiting 300 blogs nearly makes my heart stop. I have enough trouble getting to the blogs I already know and love! I know, I know, I shouldn't turn down new "friends" before I even meet them, but still...

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  31. Hi Karen!

    There was a lot in your post I recognise: tendency to write long articles: check; editing like crazy: check.

    So yes, April will hopefully teach me to write short posts and stay relaxed about it all. Sound advice, thanks! :-)

    Love,
    K.C.

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  32. I like your excuse to get an iPad :) I've been trying to think of one myself!

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  33. I'm doing the Blogger Crusade right now and it definitely takes a lot more time. I tend to blog long, too--I think it almost takes more effort to blog short, but I bet shorter posts, in these mad chaotic events, are more likely to get read and commented on.

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  34. Thank you for popping by my blog today. I will posting a follow up to the comment question tomorrow!

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  35. I'm signed up for the A to Z. It's gonna be a toughie, I'm sure. My first problem: I'm going to Hawaii for the first 10 days in April (what a horrible problem, right?).

    Anyway, I will make my posts small and sweet during that time. Thanks for the advice.

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  36. That sounds like fun! I'm going to go check it out!

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  37. Great points; I look forward to reading your posts! I may use your idea to go shorter posts.
    It will be a challenge, but a fun one at that~

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  38. I'm a long blog post gal too! I talk too much in real life, too. Ha! I need to try shortening them up someday.

    Fun challenge!

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  39. Blog time management is something that has crossed my mind a lot. Still working on it :O)

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  40. Blogging really is a full time job. And there's so many wonderful blogs out there. I actually have a list of blogs I found which I'm really interested in. There's about 143 of them (including this one) and I just wish I had time to comment on all of them everyday

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  41. Great ideas all around. We need shorter blogposts if we're going to get around to everybody. I'll check out A-Z.

    and ditto what nutschell said.

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  42. I'm delighted to be taking part in the A-Z challenge. Greetings from Australia...I am a newly published writer and an avid blogger. This sounds exciting and I love new and innovative challenges.

    Bravo all.

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