... aka 'how do i get readers to my personal blog' ?
"ask not what your blog can do for you ..."
ok, so you’ve been here a while now, you’re enjoying your blog and you’ve decided to make it an ongoing project. me too !. so, like me, you might be becoming interested in adding some “extras” to your blogging experience. (yet, also like me, you might find that things like “rss feeds” or “offsite posting” sound a little like medical procedures).
i admit to reading numerous excellent articles on ways to promote your blog. yet, (through no fault of the respective authors’) i still lacked the good sense to apply their advice in any practical way. (i am not what one would call pro-active. i am also borderline stupid on all things "it"-related).
so, with thanks to several of my more-advanced/nerdy friends, (who elect to forego any potential praise rather than have their names mentioned in such an embarrassingly basic article), i present to you ...
the lazy girls’ guide to blog promotion part 1:
“contributing to online publications”
although a blog technically is an “online” publication, it's guidelines for publication are determined by it’s author. in the case of "e-zines" and similar, submissions are invited, but what ends up actually getting published usually depends on the site or “zine” editor or admin.
these publications cover every imaginable topic and are constantly on the hunt for quality material to include. they will provide, as a general rule, the option for you to display contact “details” for yourself. including your blog-link in this “contact” area will provide any interested readers of your article with a quick and easy way to visit your blog directly.
as daunting as it initially sounded, i have looked at a few of these publications, and not only are they an excellent way to reach readers for your blog, the majority of them actually seem to be of a fairly high standard with a regular readership.
so, you may have posted an article on ju that you feel has some wider appeal. or you may have some work from your blog that is ready for it's "next step". you may even specialise in an area or subject and find your readership limited by (or to) that.
whatever the reason, finding yourself readers you may not otherwise have reached is what you want to do if you're writing to be read.
here are a very few of the (innumerable) sites i found using some very general search terms. they represent the tip of the proverbial iceberg in terms of subjects and specialities, and a narrower search in any subject area would locate a suitable publication for almost anything you can think of (and some things you would never think of, too).
so, what are you waiting for ? ... go forth and be published !.
3am magazine - a huge ezine with writings on fiction, poetry, politics, the arts and music. this is apparently one of the toughest to get published in, and the quality reflects that. it currently features articles entitled "bed-street-grave", "politics and tv" and "poems". i think you'd call that diverse. (perverse even ?).
you can view the site here: Link
you can submit (via email only) to: submissions@3ammagazine.com
globalpoetry.com - not just for poets!. this site seeks poetry and articles which "motivate people to write, empower them, and create value". it sounds corny but the international flavour of the site attracts some very unique perspectives, and the "open" subject base makes for a very diverse mix of contributors. (not a huge site, but apparently growing very popular).
you can view the site here: Link
you can submit here: Link
"cyberista" - this site states its' requirements as: "well-written, solid and informed commentary on timely international and domestic sociopolitical-economic and cultural issues". (phew). they are currently featuring articles entitled: "rational choices guide iraqis" alongside "death by choice" and "liberte, egalite, fraternite and stupidite" (on the french vote to ban students from wearing religious apparel in public).
you can view the site here: Link
you can submit (via email only) to: contribute@cyberista.com
there are so many inspired and informative articles on ju just waiting to be read, and if you can get your writing across to like-minded readers, and enrich your blogging experience at the same time, then that's got to be worth consideration.
with my apologies to the readers of this who found this mind-numbingly basic (ie: nearly everyone except me hehe), i wish you good luck and happy posting. may you all become gratified. or something.