Then, because you are a blogger, you feel the need to spew that useless information onto a blank page.
That is called a “blog post”!
Not that you should listen or take heed.
It took me over two years to figure out what the acronym HTML meant.
1 -Turn Off The Silly Letters
If you do anything today, turn off your Captcha option.
For the love of all things blogging, turn that ridiculous option off.
If I take over one time to enter those little number-letter combo codes? I am out of there like lickety-split and I am sure most of your readers will be too.
So get rid of it.
2020 note- does anyone remember this? Holy hell has blogging come a long way.
2- Respond to Every Comment
It used to be easy for me to do so before I moderated my comments because I used to email you back right from my inbox.
Now I can’t, so I have to go back and comment the old-fashioned way.
But if you can, please do that for your readers.
They will appreciate your effort, and it’s just a nice thing to do.
3- Respond to Every Email
** warning this one seems to generate some debate. Let me start by saying this: I AM OVER THIS. I DO NOT SPEND MY DAYS ANGRY AT THIS CHICK FOR NOT RESPONDING NOR DO I SEND HER NASTY EMAILS AND COMMENTS, UNLIKE SOME HATERS WHO ARE RESPONDING TO THIS. IF YOU DISAGREE, I WELCOME YOUR OPINION. JUST DON’T LEAVE IT ANONYMOUSLY OR IN ANGER. THIS IS A SARCASTIC BLOG, BTW. SO THOSE WHO ARE TAKING OFFENSE, READ MY OTHER STUFF. I AM DAMN FUNNY. ***
Even if it is just one line.
I reached out to a bigger name blogger over two years ago and asked her, in a polite three-line email, if she could offer me any advice on how to grow my blog.
Nothing.
Not even an, I am too busy to answer your email email.
Never get so full of yourself that you can’t help out a colleague.
I am so excited when I get emails from beginning bloggers who want advice.
It is such a compliment, so even if you’re busy try to send back a Thanks! or I am so swamped but let me send you this link to someone who might help! Or have your social media team do it for you.
2020 note- most of my comments on older posts were deleted because of the migration of my blog from Blogger to WordrPress.org to WordPress.com. But I remember this post because it was the first post to get a mean comment; because of this particular tip. A blogger who had thousands of followers was mad at me for telling readers that bloggers should respond to every comment. She was livid, actually. I don’t remember what exactly she said because I honestly was a little afraid of her. But I do remember thinking HOLY SHIT, I NOW I NEVER WANT TO HAVE THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS.
4- Moderate Your Comments
I used to get a heap of spam comments on my blog telling me, “good job on this post. I think Viagra (insert link) helped me the most.”
The above comment isn’t from an actual person; it is spam.
And I used to see it every time they left it.
But now I never do because I moderate my comments.
That is what you need to do (on the Blogger platform) to enable moderation.
It is under Settings/ Comments and click ALWAYS where it asks you about Comment Moderation.
Basically, it will not post your comments until you have read them first.
If you have haters, this is a pleasant option because their nastiness will not grace your blog ever.
Unless you want it to, which makes you a little masochistic.
And just like that, you won’t see your spam anymore!
Sometimes an occasional spam comment makes its way through my Blogger team, but mostly, it goes right to your spam folder without you being hassled by it.
5- Don’t Only Post Giveaways and Link Parties
This might be a personal thing, but if you only do the above, you have lost my attention.
I want more from a blog than just those two things.
Those two things are a lot of fun when mixed up with blog posts about life or DIY or food, etc.
But only those two things will not a regular reader make.
Give your readers something to read as well.
6- Get on Bloglovin.
Or any other popular blog reader.
Google Reader will go away on July 1.
And since I have hooked up with Bloglovin, I notice that I am not seeing some of my favorite blogs.
Because you haven’t migrated over there.
Do this so that no one misses out on you and your awesomeness.
And so that you don’t have to add the blogs you love to read one by one after July 1st.
Go!
7- Thou Shall Not Steal
Don’t be a blog ass-hole. Sorry, ugly word, but they are out there.
In droves.
Don’t steal content from other bloggers.
I can’t come up with new stuff all the time.
But if I am inspired by someone, I cite them.
Whether it be from a Pinterest pin or a blog article or even a Twitter conversation, cite your source with a link to their blog/Facebook page/ Twitter profile/ Pinterest pin.
8- Social Studies
Social media is huge now.
But it can also overwhelm with all the forms of social media out there.
Let me tell you the one social media tool you need to have if you blog: Twitter.
They talked about this at the mini Bloggy Boot Camp I attended in May, but I knew this way before May.
Twitter gives you access to your readers, other bloggers, and brands like no other form of social media.
I had a Twitter account for two years before I started using it.
Back in August, I had 25 Twitter followers.
Today?
1,000.
And I did no promoting of myself.
My tweeps pimped me.
In a good way.
I found some amazing blogging friends on Twitter in the fall and they brought me some amazing other blogger friends and so on and so on.
It was a beautiful thing to watch, really.
I also have a Twitter strategy that works for me but is not for everybody.
I only follow people I really like and companies that interest me.
There’s a novel concept.
I know, some people will tell you to follow anyone and everyone and follow as many people as possible.
No.
Don’t do it.
Twitter will actually suspend your account if you are following way too many people or if you follow a ton of people in one sitting.
They think you are a computer.
And suspend you.
True story.
Moral- be yourself, follow only who you want to follow, and your followers will come the natural way.
I hope this helped someone.
ANYONE.
I feel all professor-y!
Ooh, look at me in my tweed jacket at the front of the class!
SPIT OUT THAT GUM!
A Grace Full Life 
I love you, o wise one.
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The feeling is mutual. 🙂
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HOLLA! So true. All of it. Especially that darn captcha. It gives me the heebie jeebies.
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p.s. for those non-blogger peeps-if you're not on blogger, there's an awesome plugin called akismet that will filter your spam for you. no kidding. i also have it set so that once i approve a comment from someone, they're always approved.
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Hi Kari! Thanks for the tips! You're so funny!
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This post was exactly what I needed to read today. I just started blogging in April. It's hard putting yourself out there and sometimes I have no idea what the hell it is I'm trying to accomplish with my blog but I'm determined to stick with it. I think I will try Twitter. Thanks for the advice
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Karri- That captcha thing has made me use words I don't like to use. LOUDLY. 😉 Julia- thank you so much!! Jenna- your comment was EXACTLY what I needed today, so thank you so much!
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I don't blog myself – but I LOVE reading other people's thoughts! You're so funny – and a joy to read! I couldn't agree more about the captcha! I always feel like a complete moron – like… I don't know what the heck letter that is!!! Thanks again for the hard work you put in – it's definitely appreciated 🙂
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Thank you for this comment. And just like that, I like people again! 😉
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Super great advice! I live reading your blog. It brightens my day and I'm always garunteed to giggle at least once! 🙂
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I so agree with these points! I cannot stand Captcha!! But, I do have to say that #3 made me a bit sad. All I can offer is that we don't always know what someones story is or what they are going through in their life. And we can't do it all. I know for me, that I have let some comments slip through the cracks, and I remember them and feel bad that I can't answer them all, even though I want to. I try really hard.
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Thank you Jenn!!
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Joanna- thank you so much for your perspective. Respectful and I appreciate that. I get that people are busy and AGAIN, am not holding too much of a grudge. It bothered a small potatoes blogger like me two years ago. That is the take away. I just never want to be THAT busy that I cant respond to everyone. And I stated that in the beginning. Again, my point of view but so appreciate your point of view as well. Thank you. 🙂
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I'm with you on that captcha thing. Hate it. MIGHT try once, otherwise forget it. I'm not on Twitter and don't want to be…I spend way too much time online as it is. Between personal email, FB, blogs, goodreads, and Pinterest, it's already too much. If I'm not as popular as I could be, oh well. 😉
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I like you and think you are popular, Melanie.And I hear ya on being online.And NOW I am addicted to Candy Crush. I need to give something up…..
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Totally love the one about not just posting linkys and giveaways. Good pointers!
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I hate Captcha more than anything in the whole wide world, except maybe tiny ants. These are some good, solid, basic words of blogging wisdom and I think I shall tweet them out on the Twitter right now. Good bye.
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Happy soon-to-be 3rd anniversary! Thank you for telling people to stop using Captcha, it drives me batty. Great tips. Thanks!
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Definitely helps me! I need to continue to work on some of these things… But I remember when I emailed you, back i the start of my blogging days. I emailed you and was SO PLEASED to see a personal response with some genuine advice.Thank you, thank you!
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but I don't know what Bloglovin is!!!Come over.Soon.We're doing Temple, right?
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These are such great tips, Kari. I wish everyone starting out could read them! And I loved your new post about "Where have all the projects gone?". {But for some reason I couldn't leave a comment there.} OBVIOUSLY we are kindred spirits, because your last post is exactly what I've had on my mind lately. I am going to blog about some of my stuff – the hits & misses so to speak. Hope your summer is great.Warmly, Michelle
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Jeanette…I hate those ants too.Mel-thank you!Kathy- coming from you, this is a huge compliment!Kizzy- thank you for making my heart melt. :)Marianne-TOTALLY doin temple.Michelle- I look up to you and your blog so much.
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Thank you for the great tips! I just started an Art Teacher Blog TODAY! I have a lot to learn and soooooo much appreciate your tips!
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Good luck!I am sure you will be amazing!
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Love the hint of sarcasm! I learned something, too!
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Good!!!
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