Happy Saturday Ladies!
I know there are lots of bloggers among all of you and I thought I could share some simple blogging tips as I go along. Going at it for coming on nigh 5 years does lend some authority yes? LOL! 😛 I will not and cannot commit to a weekly space like Tine but I’ll throw them up now and then if you enjoy reading it. Otherwise, say the word and we’ll move onto something else 🙂 I will try to keep it relevant for new and beauty bloggers. Let’s leave the detailed nitty gritty to the probloggers so if you have questions, ask away! 🙂
Last week, I threw up some questions about social media and whether you use it on a day to day basis. I do think most of you do, one way or another. However, from a blogging standpoint, if you are interested in getting yourself out there, I might venture the suggestion to get yourself on at least one social media platform outside of your blog. Its not necessary of course – but its fun to connect and “talk” to others.
Social media platforms allow you to connect with other people of similar interests and if used properly (i.e. no spamming) can help you get your blog noticed by people who may enjoy reading what you have to say.
Here are some options you can consider and some quick thoughts I have on their use. If you are a reader, I think it would be very helpful to know which social media platform you like following bloggers on 🙂
Ok I lie – there are only 2 real popular social media platforms to get onto but there’s no need to do both 😉
The hottest social networking tool in recent years. You can opt to have a Facebook profile or Facebook Fan Page. Whichever you choose depends on what you plan to do with it or how much you want to share. I use a Fan Page only because I bowed to pressure and I’m not personally active on Facebook myself.
There are many people who are active on Facebook and having a Fan Page allows them to keep in touch with your blog and updates. You can use it for a myriad of uses – I use mine mostly for information that moves quickly like sales, special offers, quick announcements and blog updates.
I find that the Facebook Fan Page is popular with those who naturally use Facebook a lot. So if you yourself are an avid Facebook user, you will know best how to get yourself out with your Facebook page. I’m a bit of a FB dodo so I pretty much just use it for what I’ve mentioned, without too much cross-promotion. Some may say I’m silly, but there you go. Can’t force these things 😛
You could take a look at what I do with the MWS Facebook page. I do notice that many Fan Pages of popular beauty blogs aren’t very active socially outside of blog updates. Take a look at the fan pages of Temptalia and Beaut.ie for example. I do notice also that locally (Malaysia) bloggers enjoy being on Facebook more but as I don’t, my page does tend to be a little impersonal. That said, popular blogger Karen of Makeup and Beauty Blog doesn’t go the Fan Page route at all!
Twitter is my platform of choice because its quick and its personal. I opted to co-opt my blog updates and Facebook updates into my personal Twitter timeline. This makes my Twitter account Paris B first, and MWS second. I’m happy with this as for me, Twitter is a more personal tool.
It is like chatting and sharing your thoughts with the world and I prefer to deal with the world as a person as opposed to a blog. I must stress that it is a personal choice. Many bloggers I follow on Twitter use their blog name as their Twitter handle – it is again a personal choice and it does not detract from my enjoyment of chatting with them.
Because I’m active on Twitter, this means that I’m exposed to other blogs and bloggers through ReTweets and Mentions and twitter conversations. I’ve found that if I enjoy a Tweeter’s tweetings, I’m more likely to get a look in on their blog and to follow it. Again, the keyword is no spam. Spam and excessive self-promotion will get on everyone’s nerves.
Stumbleupon, Digg
I was on StumbleUpon a few years ago. I don’t think it and Digg are useful for beauty (or food) blogs. They are very good platforms for tech blogs however. I found through trial and error that most people who read about beauty (or food) are less likely to stumble or digg a post simply because they don’t know what it is or what it does! Hands up anyone among you who actually know what these platforms are. It is already nearly impossible to get someone to like or retweet one’s post, much less stumble or digg when the reader has no idea what they are 😛
Link to other blogs
Remember that your blog is a social media platform too. But no one will know about it if you just stay within yourself hoping to be discovered. One quick way is to link out to other blogs within your post.
Did you read something you liked from someone else that is relevant? Do you think another blogger’s post might assist or provide contrast to yours? This is a whole different subject matter to be dealt with, but its a way for others to notice you and your blog when they notice traffic coming in from your end. Linking to others isn’t a bad thing at all!
Grow your blog with social media
If you are interested in getting your blog out there, then do consider indulging in at least one social media activity outside of your blog. Social networking makes one more visible and by extension, your blog becomes more visible.
Blogging is a social activity – its discouraging talking to the wind – and interaction is what makes blogging so much fun. Social networking too is great fun if you don’t treat it as “work” but as a natural extension of yourself. Sometimes, I see an interesting link to a post on someone on my Twitter timeline and click through to their blog so I can say for certain that it does help get the word out.
It is however noteworthy to not spam. Spamming includes flooding another person’s Facebook Wall with links to your blog and pleas to “follow me” or doing the same on Twitter or in a comment box. As with everything, there is no short cut if you don’t want to fizzle out. So take your time, socialize, build your network and keep updating your blog consistently so people have something to read once they do visit.
I hope this has provided some food for thought for the bloggers amongst you 🙂
Do you already do this with your blog and which social media platform have you found most suitable for you or that you enjoy the most? If you have not already started to participate, will you?
If you are a reader (not a blogger or an avid blogger) do you use any social media platform to follow your favourite blogs or bloggers? Do you have a preference?
Food for thought on the weekend 🙂 If you have a specific blogging question you can leave it in the comment box or email me at parisb(at)mywomenstuff(dot)com if you prefer, and I’ll try to answer it as best as I inexpertly can 🙂
Paris B
S says
Happy Saturday!
As you know I am no Facebook fan (and of course, I haven’t garnered enough ‘fans’ to have my own Facebook page) but I just might… one day! I do not really follow my favourite bloggers on Facebook either… I simply stalk their blogs (like how I stalk yours 😉
ParisB says
Of course you will – think big, think big! 😉 Thanks for stalking my blog else I’d never have gotten my personal shopper 😉
Tine says
I’ve always wanted to blog about blogging, but didn’t want to start a new blog for it lest I can’t finish what I’ve started 😛
But great tips Peebs! For social media, Twitter works best for me. My Facebook page is catered readers who aren’t bloggers but who still use FB to stalk their friends and family like I do 😛
ParisB says
Thanks Tine. I have some ideas but never enough to dedicate a whole blog to them – I prefer to leave it to the probloggers who do it so well 🙂
Ling says
Good on you girlies for giving us great bloggie tips 😀
ParisB says
Thanks so much Ling!
Lily says
Thanks for this post, Paris. Very informative. I just started a Facebook page and the number of likes is way more than the followers through Google Connect (I use blogger)! LOL! Blogging is fun though. This new hobby of mine is starting to pay off with some followers. Heheh =)
ParisB says
Glad you found it useful Lily. I think followers on Google Connect and Facebook are quite different. There is no interaction on Google Connect, since its mainly a tool to allow you to know when a blog has been updated, or rather to follow them. Facebook however, is more interactive and interestingly, I think few people on Facebook actually know how to use Google Connect!
Lily says
Maybe I should try twitter… so many people use it but that bug hasn’t bit me yet 😉
ParisB says
Its worth a try, but I’ve learnt that social media can’t be forced. Its whatever grabs you and what you enjoy best. I’m not keen on Facebook but everyone was on it so I joined but I couldn’t bring myself to like it or enjoy it at all and it became a chore.
lyn says
I really like Twitter and although I don’t have many followers, I do have fun chatting with the few on my list 🙂 I use FB to follow beauty brands mostly but don’t really check frequently. Google+ is relatively new and still quiet. I don’t really use social media to promote my blog but it’s more to keep in touch with like-minded folks.
After a long, hard day at work, quite often I find myself tuning in to Twitter just to see what’s going on. It cheers me up instantly! The chatter and random thoughts thrown out there are so entertaining sometimes.
ParisB says
Twitter is so much fun! 😀 i love it when chats go nuts and get out of hand 😀 Its also a great way to stay in touch and to share and get quick ideas. Love it!
xin says
Maybe it’s really time that I bow to fb page too now.will u ‘ like’ me? 😉
ParisB says
Haha! Not necessary if you don’t want to, to be honest. Twitter’s just as fine! 😀 and of course, if you’d set it up i’d like you – already do 😛
xin says
coz what you said its true – if i had one, i’d use it for posting promotions and stuff. since i am a frequent mallie (mall-ie)
ParisB says
Oh yeah it’s super useful for posting sale info 😀
Hanny says
Thanks for the post. I’ve only linked my blog to Twitter, but I constantly post updates of the blog on Facebook. Still I don’t have as many followers as anyone here. >.<
*Oh, can I please thank S (1st comment) for her lovely emails? She's my first ever reader who did that. I LOVE YOU GIRL! ^.^ *
ParisB says
Yay for S 😉 keep at it. Also link your profiles to your blog so people know they can follow you there 🙂
Stephy says
Hi, how to link out to other blogs within my blogs? Sorry… I’m still new…hehe
ParisB says
Do you mean to link to other blogs in a blogroll or to link in a post? To link to another person’s blog post, highlight the word you want to link out to, click on the link button in the blogger dashboard and insert the link you want.
If this isn’t what you wanted to know do drop me a line and I can take a look 😉
Stephy says
Yup! Thanks!
I guess that is what i mean..hee…
Thanks Sue!
ParisB says
You’re welcome! Glad to help 🙂
Nikki says
Ahh nice to know about the Facebook, I’ve been asked by many to create my own fanpage but I just can’t force myself to do so for the time being as I have a feeling I will be neglecting it anyways as I enjoyed Twitter too 🙂
Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips! 🙂
ParisB says
You’re welcome Nikki! You can actually link your Facebook and Twitter accounts but I know what you mean. It’s easy to ignore one or the other so stick to the one you enjoy! 🙂
Sam says
Great post, I really enjoyed it. Good to know that others aren’t into Facebook, I’m a Twitter gal myself! Blogging is so much more than just posting these days!
ParisB says
Thank you Sam! I was afraid it would be too random lol! I do agree with you. You can’t be too personal if you want to grow your blog although you can limit the amount of info you share.
Kristina B. says
Wow, this was really helpful, thank you! I am a starting blogger myself, and not so great at knowing how to get my blog ‘out there’. Thanks for the posts about blogging!