Blog Tips Part Two: The techy behind the scenes stuff

Blogging Tips Part Two:
The techy behind the scenes mumbo jumbo.

Button Up:
Give your readers the option to wear your badge proudly--to let others know that they think your blog rocks! Just think of how many fab blogs you have discovered by clicking a button on someone else's blog. I even suggest having two buttons: one with your blog logo and a featured button. 

<a href="http://littlemissmomma.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy313/dumplindesigns/April%202010/littleButton.png" /></a>

Now the important part--how to GET a button.
Option #1: You can design your own button and create your own html in a few fairly simple steps. You can thank Linda over at Craftaholics Anonymous for putting together step-by-step instructions HERE.  Linda also has a great tutorial to help you design your very own blog header, click HERE.

Option #2: Or you can hire a professional to make you a button.
I had Dumplin Design Studio create my button for me for a mere $10. Not only does she design the button, but she also provides you with the html code.

Make it Pretty:
There are some great places out there to find FREE blog templates, backgrounds, dividers, bling, etc. Here are a few of my favorite:
The Cutest Blog on the Block
Shabby Blogs
Leelou Blogs

And if you want a completely unique and super rad layout that screams "YOU", head over to Dumplin Design Studio and she will design you a blog you're sure to love {for a very reasonable price, might I add}.












Network:
There are wonderful Momma networking blogs and websites out there that will help you connect with future readers and learn about new blogs you may fall in love with. Here are a few of the ones I am a part of:
• Mom Bloggers Club
• SITS
• Top Mommy Blogs
• Mormon Mommy Blogs

Blog






Blog Stats:
Your blog stats tell you way more than how many people are visiting your blog. You can find out what are your most popular posts, what pictures people are clicking on, how long people are staying on your blog, what links people are clicking on {great for sponsors}, and most important--where people are coming from. Every day when I check my stats, I first go see where people are clicking in from. This tells me who is featuring me and what networking blogs are sending me the most readers. These are a few FREE blog stat websites that I have used:
1. Stat Counter {my personal favorite}
2. Google Analytics
3. Whos Amung Us {yes, that's how they spell it}

Blog Conferences:
Now I am certainly not an expert when it comes to blog conferences {I have only attended one}, but I have grand plans to be a regular at many of them one day. They ROCK, because you get to meet all the people you read about. And then you'll get all sweaty and anxious when you finally get the nerve to go introduce yourself to them {kinda how I got when I finally approached Becca from Blue Cricket Design--who is even prettier in person, btw}. You will also meet certain chicas and it will be love at first sight {like when I met this hilarious Momma}. Here is a link to a bunch of Mom Blog Conferences to consider.



Facebook:
I know it seems like a lot of extra work, but I strongly feel that these social networking sites go hand in hand with your blog. Case in point: I get the most hits on my blog from facebook. Every time I have a new post, want to announce a giveaway or let people know about a new item in my Etsy shop, I post a link on my Little Miss Momma facebook page and then people start clicking away.

Twitter:
Now Twitter is another beast entirely, one that still hurts my brain and I haven't yet taken the time to get it all figured out. But, once again, Linda at Craftaholics Anonymous has put together a very helpful Twitter Basics post that will get you set up with what you need to know--click HERE.

Getting Sponsors:
ETSY ETSY ETSY--the happiest place on earth {second to Target of course}! Etsy is the best place to find new sponsors for your blog. The first step, is finding shops you LOVE--if you don't LOVE the shop, don't bother--I don't recommend having a sponsor that you don't personally endorse.

Now, when you contact these shops DO NOT send out a generic email--they hate that. Make it personal. Let them know WHAT you love about their shop and WHY you think they will be a good fit with your blog. Include key information that will help them decide if advertising with you will benefit them: key stats, a brief bio about your blog and information on how you run your promotional programs--perhaps include links to some past giveaways or reviews that you have written so that they can see a sample of your work. {I could go on about this topic forever, so feel free to email me if you have any specific questions}.

Keywords and SEO:

I actually know very little about this topic, BUT I will tell you what I do know. Choose the titles of your blog posts thoughtfully--because those are what get picked up by the search engines {google, yahoo, etc}. For example, I wrote a post on how to make yummy and beautiful cake pops. I would like to have called this post something like "Yummy Awesomeness", but I also want people searching for Cake Pop Recipes in google to be able to find my blog. Soooo, I titled my post "Cake Pop Recipe" and now it shows up in google when people search for a cake pop recipe--YAY!

So that's all I can come up with for now folks.
Puh-Lease let me know if you have ANY questions--if there are enough questions, I will likely write a follow up post with the best answers I can come up with!

For now, if you're hungry for more, head over to Blue Cricket Design and check out her tips on how to Break Into the World of Blogging--she gives super fab and practical advice!

Did you miss Part One? Click here to check it out!