I joined in on a fun discussion on Twitter yesterday. Every Monday at 1pm PST, Crafterminds has a chat with a specific topic. Yesterday’s topic was “Promoting Other People”. I think that I spend a fair amount of time promoting other bloggers. I have a “Pay It Forward” philosophy on blogging. If I promote other people, then they will promote me in the future. I have received more blog traffic and invitations to special events via other bloggers, because I have helped promote others. We all can’t be narcissists in the blogging world.
Source: Joy’s Hope
I’ve listed TEN (10) ways that you can pay it forward, or help promote other bloggers.
1. Commenting on Blogs
I make an effort to comment on at least ten blogs a day. Some days I get a little busy and I just don’t have time. I might add a few more blog comments on days when I’m less busy. Who am I kidding? I am always busy, but I make the time and effort to do so. I use Google Reader to read and subscribe to blogs. Although I might not comment on the day something was posted, I sometimes “star” posts to go back and comment later. I have actually commented on posts almost two to three weeks later. I might have done that last week with a few of my favorite blogs.
I also comment on blog posts that are tweeted out on twitter. I read “The Twitter” a lot. If I see a great post that I want to comment on later, I email the post to myself. I loathe commenting from the iPhone. But when I get to an actual computer, I make sure to comment on that post.
And bloggers, try and reply to comments on your own blog. Your readers appreciate it! When you respond back to the comments, you create a discussion. I love using WordPress and threaded comments. It makes a conversation flow much easier. I also use a plug-in for WordPress, replyMail, that emails my comment to the person that I’m responding to. I can’t always respond to the comments every day, but I try to answer all of the questions directed towards me.
I also love the SITS Website for blogger support and comment love. They feature bloggers every day, and you show them some love with comments. The site is also great for blogging education too.
2. Twitter
I love the Twitter. Twitter is my BFF (sorry Stacey, I have an online addiction), my boyfriend, my lover, my news, and everything else all rolled into one free website. Twitter has been amazing for bloggers and promotion of their sites, posts, events, etc. I’ve found so many new and awesome websites from Twitter. I usually go by a 10-1 rule. With every tweet that I put out there, I tweet 10 other things not related to me. Because really, Twitter is not all about me.
And people who just tweet out their posts, events, etc. and don’t reply, well that is not the point of Twitter. Did you see my hint….Twitter is good for Promotion of others. So why not share the love, and RT or Tweet out some goodness for fellow bloggers. P.S. True Story, I found out about Michael Jackson’s Death on The Twitter.
3. Facebook
I have a love/hate relationship with The Facebook. I love that I can connect with people without having to make zillions of phone calls, emails, etc. I can just pop on by their wall and say “Happy Birthday” or “Cute Kid”. But I loathe and hate the drama that Facebook creates. Why wasn’t I invited to your party? Why did you un-friend me. But for blogging, that “Share on Facebook” button is genius. It is so simple to share awesome material on Facebook.
I have a personal Facebook account (locked down for the privileged few) and a Facebook Fan Page (hate the term “like page”). I have my blog posts go to my Fan Page via Networked Blogs. I also posted relevant and interesting information from other blogs, websites, etc. on my Fan Page. It is about sharing the wealth, or content.
4. Stumbleupon
StumbleUpon is an Internet community that allows its users to discover and rate Web pages, photos, and videos. It is a personalized recommendation engine which uses peer and social-networking principles. (Wikipedia). Cheryl from TidyMom wrote an AWESOME post for Crafterminds on Best StumbleUpon Tips. It is such a great tutorial with visual graphics and everything. Not only can this woman bake, but she is a genius for writing blogging tips. I’ve had great success with StumbleUpon.
I use the tool bar for Firefox on my Macbook. I also make sure that I leave a review and properly tag my stumbles. When I do this, my favorites get more views. Not every Stumble will go viral, but many of them do. I get a large amount of traffic to my blog every day from posts on my blog that are from one to two years old. You can follow me or friend me on Stumbleupon also. I go by AngryJulieMonday.
5. Pinterest
Pinterest is a virtual pin board. Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes via Pinterest. Pinterest is invite only, comment or email me if you need an invite. I love it. I used to have all of this favorites and bookmarks on three different computers. Now, I can save all of my favorite things from the web on my Pinterest Pin Boards. One of the most important things that I can suggest us to use the FULL URL or otherwise known as PERMALINK for an item when “pinning it”. People want to know where to go for that recipe, or where to buy something. Plus, you also need to make sure to give credit to the actual and original author.
This site is great for discovering new bloggers and awesome posts. I love all of the recipes and craft tutorials. It was soo beneficial when planning my son’s birthday party. Oh, and here is my account if you want to follow me on Pinterest: AngryJulie on Pinterest.
6. Featured Posts or Link-Ups
Do a round-up of featured or your favorite posts for the week. Do you have a niche blog? I love all of the craft and DIY bloggers because they have the GREATEST link-ups. I get some amazing ideas from this link-ups. I used to do Spotlight Saturdays on my blog where I would find five of my favorite blog posts of the week.
I post my Project 365 posts on Saturdays now. But I share my favorite posts on my Facebook Fan Page wall now. On Fridays, I have been doing Friday Favorites where I have been finding great ideas and topics from Pinterest. On Wednesday, I have been doing a Wordless Wednesday link-up for almost two years. But seriously, Skip To My Lou, Today’s Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, Thirty Handmade Days, Tatertots and Jello, and Whipperberry are my favorite sites for craft/DIY link parties every week.
7. Guest Posts
Having or doing guest posts is a great way to grow your blog. You are able to gain a new audience who has never seen your awesome blog before. ProBlogger has some great insights on How To Guest Post To Promote Your Blog. I’ve written some guest posts on photography, and other things. I really need to have more guest posters on my blog. I need to figure out topics or something for them to write about. It is hard to figure out guest posts for my blog, because I have a weird non-niche or random blog.
But seriously, guest posts are amazing and a breath of fresh air. Guest posts are also great to have when you are on vacation, busy, or just need a break from your regular blogging routine.
8. Tribe Groups
When you form or gather a group of other bloggers to form a tribe, you become a superpower. Seriously! It is always nice to have people who “have your back”. I have several people whom are bloggers that I can toss ideas around with, email, or even call to complain to. These people get me. I have my tribe mates on Skype, Twitter, and on Facebook. I love the private groups that you can create on Facebook. This has been awesome for networking with like minded individuals. I’ve found some great online articles from Michaele Harrington and SITS Girls. I also am a big fan of forums and message boards. I started off blogging because of interactions on a message board.
I have sent and received emails from other blogging friends that have wording such as: “Can you please RT my last post on Twitter, Can you stumble this (with link), Can you send this around to your friends.” Really, it doesn’t hurt to ask. If you send it to a group of ten people, at least 1-2 people will follow through.
9. Social Media Icons
PLEASE put some kind of place to contact you or social media icons on your site. I want to be able to email you, put your RSS Feed in my reader, Tweet you, Facebook You, etc. Bloggers love Social Media Site Icons because it makes things easier. I have my social media networking links on the top of my right sidebar on my blog. I have my RSS, Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr Accounts linked. I also have a place for Email Subscription and my Pinterest account on my sidebar.
Here are some great tutorials for social media icons on Blogger and on WordPress. I am also a HUGE advocate for putting social media icons somewhere or on each blog post. If I read a great post, I want to be able to promote the post with one click. I use the Jetpack plug-in for my blog. Some other ones are TweetMeme, Add This, ShareThis, and SexyBookmarks. I may have sent messages to some of my favorite blogging friends to PLEASE ADD social media icons to their posts.
10. Proper Linking
Give credit where credit is due. Believe me, it is rare that I have original thoughts. I am always inspired by all of the awesome blog posts, photographs, projects, recipes, and crafts that I see online. But when I post about them, I make sure to give them proper credit or link back. Please CREDIT your sources. It is the nice and proper way to do things. Bloggers love when you talk about them. Make sure you link to them.
Use proper Blog Etiquette. I get sad when I see pictures that I’ve taken posted, without crediting the source. I don’t mind people using them, really I don’t. Just link back. Also, there is copyright issues. This can hurt you big time. These copyright issues involve REAL MONEY and ATTORNEYS. Sara an attorney, has a great series on Blog Law.
This is a fantastic post! I have a pay it forward philosophy too and I’m always trying to make sure I support other bloggers as much as I support myself. I think it does get noticed, too.
and Facebook? Yeah, I have a love-hate too. Mostly hate
Will be RTing this!
gigi thanks sooo much for RT’ing me and commenting. I really appreciate it. You are always a wonderful supporter of other bloggers.
Julie,
What a great recap of yesterday’s crafterminds chat! Everything you listed is SO important as a blogger ~ sharing and socializing is key to creating friendships, as well as becoming known and successful throughout the blogosphere.
I’m a new follower of yours!
~Jenna
Jenn thanks so much for being a new follower.
I really tried to recap everything that was said in the Crafterminds chat. It made a ton of sense to me. I hope to educate some of the newer bloggers more.
I’ve been blogging for four years, and I’ve learned a ton in those four years.
Great tips! I love the phrase “Basically, Twitter is not all about me.” Very good to keep in mind.
And I found out about the Charlie Sheen debacle, the crisis in Egypt, and the fact that Obama was about to speak about what turned out to be the death of Osama Bin Ladin on Twitter. Who needs news?
What? You mean Twitter isn’t all about me? HAHAHA I think it is hilarious when people/brands have Twitter accounts and they never reply to people. I mean really, what is the point?
And yes, I learned about Charlie Sheen, Egypt, the Earthquake in Haiti, and Obama announcing the death of Osama Bin Laden on Twitter too.
Twitter is faster than the traditional news and media. I think they probably hate Twitter for that. Oh well, their loss.
These are terrific tips! Funny enough this is my first time here and it’s because I just started following Gigi and she just tweeted this post out. Looks like it works just as described
. Thanks for the links to the resources….been meaning to check out pinterest as I see tweets about it non stop these days.
Gigi is great for blogging resources. She is a rockstar. Seriously, these are some great tips for new bloggers and anyone trying to figure this whole blogging thing out. Pinterest is fun, but such a time suck. I think I sent you an invite to Pinterest. I hope you got it. If you didn’t let me know.
Thank you, Julie, for linking to my blog posts. This is a terrific list of how to keep engagement going on different platforms with different people. However, I refuse to sign up for Pinterest for fear I may never leave my computer.
So nice to see you mention Jetpack. When that showed up on my dashboard I was so intrigued. It’s a hidden gem as far as WP plugins go.
Again, my sincere gratitude to you for your kindness and generosity in sharing my posts.
Sara
You are a Blog Law rockstar. You need to get that button up on your sidebar asap!!!!! Maybe something with a pic of the scales of justice…
And Pinterest is wonderful….I sent you an invite. You need to join. I love Jetpack. Darcy from my3boybarians recommended it to me. That WP Stats part is awesome for seeing your popular posts and referrals. It is so much easier to decipher instead of Google Analytics and Site Meter which I also use.
This was beyond helpful for me as my blog is in its infancy stages. However, it’s good to have this checklist as I move forward into the blogosphere. I’m happy that I already follow many of these tips!
We all had to start sometime. It is great to have knowledge and the tools in the infancy stages of blogging. And really, it makes everything so much easier in the long run.
Great post! I definitely need to comment more on blogs myself. And I’m addicted to twitter as well. lol
Twitter is like crack!
Thank you so much for your insight! I learned some great nuggets of info this post! I definitely plan on paying it forward!
This is really, really wonderful!
Awesome! These are all such great ideas; thanks for posting them all in one place : )
I LOVE this post!! Blogging is all about the support. I love pimping stuff out for people!
Which leads me to…time to Tweet this post!
Thanks for the tweet babe!
Pinterest is my newest addiction… seriously! Of course, I don’t think anything will ever trump “the Twitter” for sheer brain-numbing goodness
(and I just made another note to self about the Soc. Med. icons… maybe when the notes to self pile to the ceiling I’ll actually remember to figure out why mine still aren’t working?
Pinterest is a complete time suck and tool of awesomeness. I wish I had more time to complete all of the awesome projects, crafts, recipes, etc. that I have pinned.
YES, get those social media icons fixed. I still need to work on arranging my sidebar. It annoys me, but really I have no time to do anything…
GREAT stuff here Julie! Things I’ve never even thought about. Well done!
Aww thanks Wendy! I’m just here to help!
Thank you for this! I found you through Gussy Sews.
I’d love to join pinterest.
I love Gussy Sews. Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be sure to send you an invite. Let me know if you didn’t get one, and I will send it again. I sent out so many invites and I can’t keep track.
Great info Julie! I’m starting back up in the blog world and this post had a lot of great advice. I think tomorrow I’ll take a plunge with the wordless wednesday!
WHAT? You are going to start blogging again. Whoopeee!!!!!!!!!
great tips and links, thank you!
Lisa….this is so weird that you commented last night. I was at the gym yesterday afternoon and I was thinking about you. I said to myself, if Lisa can do all this working out etc. while pregnant, well my fat butt needs to do more not pregnant.
love these – happy that I do most of these – wish I had more time for the Twitter – I just simply do not! When I do have extra time- my husband does NOT want me to tweet but to focus on him – quite an dilemma!
I would love an invite to Pinterest though!!
My husband hates The Twitter. He is just jealous of my intimate relationship with my iPhone and The Twitter.
Great ideas! I spend so much time trying to figure out this whole “social networking” thing in order to streamline my time. And of course, there is a lot to learn and constant change happening. You make it easy to make a check list and start prioritizing.
Seriously social media and social networking is such a science. You can never figure out the exact ingredients or formula to make it all right. I’m glad that I could help you a little.
I think this is one of the best posts I’ve read, Julie. I currently do some of the things you mentioned, but I am still working on others. I’d love to be more active of Twitter, but I always feel like I’m talking to myself.
Aww thanks Whitney, you make me so happy. Twitter can be hard sometimes. I’ve found a core group of people that I chat with, mostly at night. Many of these people I’ve met and hung out with in real life. It is like having a big text message conversation for me. Just start replying to people, eventually you should get replies back.
I just wanted to let you know that I linked to this post as one of my favorite reads this week. (:
This is such a great article, thank you!
I get most of my news via Twitter. Without television or newspaper subscriptions, it has to come from somewhere! I love how much time it saves.
I found you through Gussy Sews, and know that she uses Pinterest. I visited once, and it looked like such a great way to organize everything- didn’t know it was invite only. I’d love to join.
Thanks again for taking the time to write this article.
You are very welcome Lora. Thanks for stopping by via Gussy’s link. She is soo nice to link to me. Twitter is seriously awesome for news.
I will send you an invite for Twitter. It is quite awesome.
I meant invite for Pinterest. See what I mean. I’m obsessed with Twitter.
Love this post! I’ve bookmarked it for reference. Lots of great tools that I wouldn’t have known about. Thanks, Julie!!!
You are very welcome. I need to send you an email…..
This is a great, great blog post! Thanks for all these wonderful tips! I already added some of your suggestions, like the sexybookmarks bar. That was a great one, so thank you again!
YAY!!! I’m glad that I could help!
Thank you so much for putting this post together! Well done. I’m somewhat new to the blog world, so much to learn!
We were all new once. I wish someone would have been there to hold my hand in the beginning of my blogging career. There is so much to learn. And really, I learn something new every day.
I added the replymail to my blog….thank you! It really helps to keep the conversation going.
YAY! I lvoe ReplyMail. It’s a great plugin. It makes the conversation between blogger and commentor so much smoother.
Thank you so much for this post! It is so great to have a group of helpful tips all put together!
You are very welcome. I’m glad that I could help.
What a great post! It is good to remember that blogging isn’t just about promoting ones own blog, but pointing readers to others that rock! Thank you, Julie.
This is an awesome post – I love that you do the 10 comment thing. I try to do that too. Receiving comments on a blog post is such a rarity these days!
What I love about you and this post… you actually live by the words you wrote. Which not everyone can say. Part of your charm and the reason I heart you.
I liked this article so much that I featured it on my website, papermood.com I hope that’s ok ! Refreshing and cool tips, some doh ! moments here ! Thanks for sharing your common sense ! X Fab
Great post, Julie–you’ve inspired me to attempt to conquer my frustration with Blogger and try to get some freaking social media buttons on my blog/posts. I’ve tried in the past and just been annoyed to heck with everything and quit–but I’m going to stick with it this time around.
great list!! i’m also RT’ing other blog posts I love, i’ll occasionally write a round up of posts i loved that week, I just don’t know why others don’t do stuff like that more often!! Although, I must say, I’m part of a small community of fitness enthusiasts who DO do those things.
I wish other bloggers would do those things more. sometimes i feel like i only get comments if i comment on theirs. but great list that all bloggers should follow.
Great post!
I, too, LOVE the Twitter. Haha. I treat it like a coworker sometimes. I’ve met so many people on Twitter, it’s unbelievable. It’s so great for networking and making new friends, and just connecting with people that you have something in common with. Love it!
And oh my, yes, about the proper credit! The magazine I work for recently got slammed with a bill for an image that hadn’t been properly credited FIVE YEARS AGO, like, before they even really knew how internet etiquette worked. Bloggers: Getty Images, man, they’ll find you. They’re ninjas.
What an amazing post! I’m keeping this in my favorites so I can refer back to it and check out all the links you provided. Thanks for taking the time to put this together!
This is a great post and came at the perfect time for me. I’m linking to it in a ’round-up’ post today on my blog. Which brings up a question…should I have asked for permission first? I hope the answer is no…
No problem! Go ahead and use it for a round up. I love when other bloggers mention my blog and posts.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Sing it sister.
Yes yes yes.
I’m singing it…..well actually I should be singing Firework by Katy Perry…ok, enough of my randomness…
Julie you completely and totally rock! Thank you so much for writing this…there are times that I feel like I’m forgetting one part or another about blogging and this is a great post to get back on track. I really need to find my “tribe” to belong to. There are times that I feel alone at this, but I also know that I need to put myself out there. I believe in the old saying that “you get what you give!” and I need to start giving a little bit more!
Ps. I too love The Twitter…
Aww thanks so much! And yes, The Twitter Rocks!
As I navigate the world of blogging, it’s so nice to have concise and knowledgeable articles like this one. Your mix of blog tips and blog etiquette is wonderful.
Thanks so much.
Jamie
p.s. i’m tweeting and stumbling your article.
Thanks!!! After four years of blogging, I think I’ve learned something. I hope to pass on some of this random information to my readers.
Love love love this post!!!! Thanks for taking so much time in sharing your blogging tips. I so so need to get out of my reader and comment more, this is the perfect reminder, along with great other advice! And also thanks for commenting on my rainbow cake post, I feel so special.
. I’ve been following your blog for a little while and once DrewB (we’re good friends) said how cool you are when she actually met you in person at Julie’s, of Joy’s Hope, I love your blog even more. 
. Happy Friday!!!
Aww thanks!! I love Drew! She is amazing. I’m glad that she didn’t tell you that I was a crazy nutcase….
Thanks for the tips Julie. I’ve been working on some of your suggestions, but I’d like to start using Stumble Upon and Printerest. Do you mind sending me an invite to Printerest? Thanks!
raejeaneasyaspie at gmail dot com
This is so helpful! I’ve just gotten started with blogging, and these tips will be on my mind each time I sit down to post or to check out other blogs. Thank you for sharing!
This is awesome — thank you! Especially love the ‘leave 10 comments a day’ suggestion. I use Reader, too & could easily use your method of starring things to go back & comment on later.
Thanks!
Kim
This is a great post. I know some of the items you brought up, but not others. Thanks so much for the links to the social bookmarking sites and to Tidy Moms (love her) post on Stumble Upon. This helped me understand SU much better.
My best- Diane
Great post, and even better bloggy loyalty!
This is an excellent post!!! Consider it stumbled and tweeted.
Excellent. Wish I had something to add but you COVERED it ALL!
This info is so great! Thanks for sharing! I am definitely going to use it!!
This post is awesome! I love that you share info about the olivine you use. I am planning on installing a few you mentioned!
Woww, it’s nice tips when blogging, thank you for your post!
As a pretty recent blogger, this is an incredible post. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your information, your style of writing makes it so easy for me to understand. I’ll be back for sure ~ Patricia.
You are welcome! Thanks for stopping by!
I love this. I’m going to make a solid effort every day now!
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Thanks soo much!! I’m making my late night effort right now by responding to my comments.
This is great advice. Thank you!
I’m a fan of FB but not so much of Twitter. I love being able to keep up w/ friends on my personal page and also interact w/ readers on my blog fan page. I think my problem w/ Twitter is that I didn’t jump on the Twitter band wagon when it started and now I’m still playing catch up and trying to figure it out. I’m sure I’ll get there.
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I love giving out blogging advice. Twitter can be complicated. I find that by using lists of people I know that I can be engaged more. It is too hard to keep up with all of it. It is also good for breaking news locally and nationally. I mean really, that’s where I found out about Michael Jackson’s death within minutes of it breaking news media.