I
came back from the HAVEN conference one week ago.
so INSPIRED!!!
and Energized
and I could not wait to get home and implement
and assimilate
all of the new information I obtained.
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
Since HAVEN
I have been focusing on ways to improve my blog from all avenues…
…photography, appearance, traffic, content, readership, revenue, marketing
and more…
so along this lines…
The other day, I stumbled upon a Article
on a site called
… the ARTICLE HAD A rather Catchy title that caught my eye :
“You blog sucks Because you are Lazy”!!!
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
WHAT!
…I thought DEFENSIVELY…
hand on hip…
hand on hip…
“I am NOT lazy!”
But I do guess I DO want to grow my blog
so I DECIDED TO EXPLORE
seriously the advice of these experts.
seriously the advice of these experts.
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
In a nutshell…
Here were the 5 Things
they say I need to DO right now to get my blog off the ground.
It did not start off well when…the first one, I could not even paraphrase.
..it reads…
“#1 For the millionth time repeating this one – start building a list! If you don’t have money for Aweber, which I recommend, start with MailChimp!”
okay…I may not be lazy, but I might actually be stupid because I have NO idea what this first Tip means? What is “the list”. Do I have one?
AND what is AWEBER and this thing called “MailChimp”?
so I googled Mailchimp and this is what the site says
“MailChimp helps you design email newsletters, share them on social network, integrate with services you already use,and track your results.
Its like your own personal publishing platform”
okay….
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
#2 I am happy to say… I DO!!!.
It basically suggests you monetize your blog from the beginning and not to wait until it is the size you have
predetermined makes it worthy of advertising.
all blogs of all sizes that connect with people are worthy of making money.
okay. done.
I could be better at it,
so what ELSE is new,
…but I am also making an income from my paintings via my blog so I am “monetizing” it, JUST in a different way
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
#3 Okay, things are looking up,
I do this one too!!!
(not as well as I could though, WHICH GOES WITHOUT SAYING)
…it says to pick 2 social networks WITH WHICH
to promote your site and NOT to go anywhere else until you master those two.
to promote your site and NOT to go anywhere else until you master those two.
Okay, so here is the thing….
I personally think I am doing a DECENT job on pinterest. In a very short time, I have more followers on pinterest than on my blog!
and My pin puff number is something like 70!
(do you know what YOUR pinpuff is?
go to pinpuff.com and find out)
but I do suck on Facebook. I hate the new layout, it confuses me, and I have my “Lesli DeVito” Facebook page and my “Old Country House” page and my “Lesli DeVito Paintings” page…and no one really knows the differencE…
but sometimes, it IS how people find me…so I can’t bail completely.
but sometimes, it IS how people find me…so I can’t bail completely.
However, recently I got back onto twitter (my handle is leslide) and I must say…It is much more my speed.
So maybe I will make THAT my second one.
yeah. I will. TWITTER IT IS…done deal
next. SEE NOT LAZY!
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
#4 …Pick 10 blogs which are like yours or like what you want to be,
and follow them religiously, leaving comments frequently.
Well, I am half way there.
I do stay pretty in touch with at least 5.
But I will do better on this.
I mean I “follow” a ton, but not religiously
I mean I “follow” a ton, but not religiously
and NOT with purpose.
It makes perfect sense, people that like one kind of blog…
one that is similar to yours…might actually want to find you if they see your comments.
done.
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
finally…
#5 “Chose 3 well known blogs in your industry, do research like crazy on them, see what kind of posts are they publishing and what they may be missing and prepare a guest post for each of them. Make sure it is amazing and you are on a roll. Those 3 posts can bring you more success than writing 10 average ones on an average blog.”
….this one I have done in a sort of backwards way…they came to me…
…but you know, I am going to get right on this.
BECAUSE they are right…on the days those guest posts have been aired
my readership triples, even quadruples! and
BECAUSE they are right…on the days those guest posts have been aired
my readership triples, even quadruples! and
I can think of a million great posts and It would be another great way to increase my traffic.
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
Blogging
is a relatively NEW ever evolving field and one which is being taken more and more seriously…not only as a way to connect and educate
but for companies to advertise and for respectable income to be made.
Bottom line.
No, I am not lazy, but .NOT knowing What to do,sometimes immobilizes me…
can you relate?
I suppose that could me misinterpreted as Lazy.
Like with my Yard.
Or with learning yoga.
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
LASTLY-
Have I mentioned that I am at the beach?
I think the Best at the beach.
ALL distractions are gone.
I become very clear on my priorities
(my family)
and my work concerns are easier to iron out.
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
Beginning today:
I will have MY BLOG WEEK ORGANIZED AS SUCH:
MONDAY – MAKEOVERS
(todays makeover is THIS layout of my BLOG WEEK!!!)
(the makeovers may be simple or complicated,
just little changes in any area of my life.
blog, home, wardrobe, hair etc)
TUESDAY – ART
(MY Custom Pet portraits and Gallery Paintings AND artists who inspire me.)
WEDNESDAY – PUNCH LIST
(up to date information, including tutorials where applicable…about the latest home improvement work being done)
THURSDAY – DESIGN CORNER
(where I highlight a particular Designer I admire, or a blogger I follow, guest posts, even TV programs like “Design Star” that I was inspired by.
FRIDAY – DEAL OR DEALS OF THE WEEK
weekends are open…sometimes, I won’t post on the weekend if we are swamped and family time comes first, other times, I might have some time and something to share.
This is all just a template, from which to organize my Blog so we ALL can look forward to the posts and I welcome any feedback from all of you as to how you think it is going!!!!
 |
| artprojectsforkids.org |
PS- all of todays photos are from and AWESOME BLOG site
called ARTProjectsforkids.org
that I pinned on my Pinterest BOARD- entitled “ART CAMP”...
I am so excited..my ART CAMP for KIds starts in one week!!!
XO
Fun. Excited for your new regiment. I, too, have attempted to have a more set schedule, but in the end it just stressed me out more. Trying to make self-imposed deadlines on projects, scrambling around trying to find just the write thing to post about. My blog is small, so i gave myself a break. Of course, I’m not really growing…so your method makes much more sense. Can’t wait to see the results. Thanks for sharing, liz
Thanks Liz. I hear you. I am honestly hoping this stresses me out LESS…as I will have one one post per topic per week, and I can focus my energy..I tend to wander a bit….but only time will tell right? I am not much a of a routine person….I was not good at getting my kids down for scheduled naps …but I also think it is an area I could use a tad more structure since I work from home and my boss is me…
What a great post! I’ve never heard of pinpuff but I love it! Thanks for introducing me to this fun new tool and all the other great tips here! Thanks so much for sharing & educating!!