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Friday, April 1, 2011

Friend Friday: Rules of Engagement




1. Guest posts are a good way to gain new exposure.  What do you think is the appropriate way to go about securing a guest spot?

  •  I have never personally approached anyone to do a guest post.  I don't think I am that bold.
  • I do host a monthly guest post for someone that I chose 
  • I am part of a guest posting group.
That s the extent of my guest posting.


2. Leaving comments is essential to growing your blog. But how can you
leave a comment without coming across as ‘Follow Me. Follow Me!’?

  • When I comment on a post, I make it personal and relevant to the post.
  •   Not just "you look great"
  •   I want to try and form a relationship with the person I am commenting to

3. We’ve all gotten a mass email at one time or another asking for
blog exposure, a link exchange, etc… But the mass emails don’t work.
How do you make your email stand out from the crowd?

  • If and when I send an email, it is a personal email
  • I am asking a question
  • following up on a question
  • I do not send mass emails
 
4. In interacting with other bloggers where do you draw the line
between seeking support and begging for exposure?

  • I comment on posts I like
  • I hope that I will at least get a pop over from the person whose blog I commented on.  I always like to see who is commenting on MY blog
  • I will not check out someones blog that asks me to follow them
  • I want to visit blogs I enjoy, not blogs I feel obligated to visit 
*side note:  When someone consistently visits your blog it is probably because they enjoy IT.  I think it is be nice to send a comment or email their way just to acknowledge that you appreciate their support even if you are not gong to be a regular commentor or visitor.




5. What’s one rule of engagement error you made and how have you
remedied that?

  • I don't know that I have made any mistakes on contacting someone
  • I have been duped in the beginning by a troll, spammer or mass email


Please visit Katy's blog Modly Chic to read what other bloggers have to say about this subject.


13 comments:

Shybiker said...

Good advice. Connections need to be real and natural, otherwise they lack depth. Compiling numbers is, by itself, self-defeating.

Rebecca said...

Great answers. I agree that being sincere and getting to know other bloggers is the best way to grow your blog.

Tinfoils Tiaras said...

These are hard questions but you answered them well! I think we can sometimes worry about our readership but I think as long as you are genuine and aren't FOLLOW ME FOLLOW ME (which I agree can be quite annoying) then people will generally gravitate towards your blog (like I do to yours- like a bee to honey :)

Tracy said...

I feel that you reached out to me in a way that made me fall in love with you. So, whatever you're doing, you're doing it right. Unless you don't want stalkers like me. hmmmm. Maybe we should rethink this. haha. xoxoxoxo, Tracy

Fabienne Jach said...

Love your candor, Brett. You broke it down so simply. Ever since your vlog, I can totally hear your voice when I read your posts. Love it!
xo,
f
The House in the Clouds

Kristen said...

This is an excellent post. I am a new blogger, and it seems like I am inundated with "follow me I'll follow you" requests. It all feels very cheap to me. I started blogging to open up conversations, not to have a fake popularity contest with people I don't know. Anyway, it is nice to know I am not the only one out there thinking this! But enough, now I am on my way to Kohl's to purchase that amazing sweater a few posts down...

(S) said...

You know, it took me this far into the list to realize that we all share similar opinions because we are all in a group and actively participating in the community... the people who are begging for followers or guest positions are not the same people who are putting in time and effort to creating and maintaining relationships. I'm not sure what it was about your post, but something made that click for me, so thanks for the insight. (:

Sunnydaysandstarrynights said...

I really like how you answered the questions above. I think we all should make relevant comments not just love your blog follow me please type things. I love stumbling on blogs that I like, but I do not ask them to follow me even if I do follow them. I have never had a guest post spot either, and I wouldn't know what to do about getting one. I would hate to ask someone.

In honor of our blogs recent birthday we are hosting a giveaway. Stop by and enter if you want too.

http://sunnydaystarrynight.blogspot.com/2011/03/birthday-giveaway.html#comments

Debby said...

So interesting to read another blogger's take on things. I am always flattered if someone asks me to do a guest post and I have come right out and asked others and usually find everyone is generally happy to oblige. I like when someone is new to my blog and they let me know. I always try to give them the courtesy of visiting their blog in return! xo

Writeitinlipstick said...

You know the whole follow me get's me sometimes. I will follow a blog if they leave me a genuine comment and at the end say I'm a follower or hope you can stop by and follow. they made a genuine attempt to read my blog so I shall do the same, that is my logic on it. Sure I'm not very logical but you get the idea.

Write it in Lipstick

Vanessa said...

Love the bits about visiting sites out of interest and not obligation! I agree completely. I think it's pretty evident when people are only visiting my site to reciprocate a comment I left for them. I appreciate all feedback, even the obligatory kind, but I'd never want someone to feel like they HAD to stop by my site simply because I left a comment for them!
These are great Friend Friday questions. I wish I had done them this week!

silvrgurl said...

thanks for the feedback Vanessa
would love to check out your blog, but don't know where to go.

Paula said...

Brett~ I havent done a guest post yet. I dunno--dont really read them on someones blog so I'm wondering what is up with them? Dont really get it...

I was telling Serene the other day of The Elegant Bohemian, how lately, I am really craving for my blog relationships to go to the next level. I want to talk to you and all my other blog friends in real time. Not that I dont appreciate the comments, but do you know what I mean? Its like a relationship that isnt going anyway....