Somehow posted a blog twice today.
Hey ho.
Getting views and likes on both versions
😁
Blogging101
Next Year
I am in a quandary – what to do with this blog next year.
This year I set up prescheduled posts – three a day for a whole year! Then I posted each day as and when I could.
This has resulted in two things.
- A lot of repetition, the same posts being seen over and over again.
- The highest number of views ever – more than doubling any previous year
This got me thinking – how do I match it? How do I keep the momentum going?
Then I thought again. Do I want to?
I realised as I was trying to plan out a new schedule of posting I thought about what it meant. What was the reason for it?
Last year I wanted to increase my views – but the reason for that was to increase exposure of my books – and try and boost their sales. Sure I enjoy the writing and enjoy the challenges I have become a part of. It has helped build up a and strengthen a little network of fellow bloggers that I now value.
But it has had detrimental effects too. As mentioned it has filled my blog with reams of duplicate content. But worse – it has taken up all the precious writing time I had. All of it. This means I have done nothing else.
On top of that – it has not boosted my book sales at all. So it failed at its main aim.
So, I have decided that this year I will take a new approach. I will probably try and write every day – do Ronovan’s Haiku Challenge on Monday’s as well as something for the Daily Prompt. But, I am not going to get hung up on stats and trying to reach targets. I am going to step back and try and produce some more books. Another poetry collection, and maybe another collection of short stories.
But I won’t be disappearing.
Chasing Stats Again
So, I have beaten las
t years views by a mile. I have even surpassed the year before by quite a bit. In fact, this has been the best year stats wise for my blog since I started it.
Just wish that some of it would translate into some clicks and sales of my books. Hey-Ho. Anyway, that’s not really why I do it. I enjoy it and I love the little network I have discovered of like-minded people.
But that doesn’t change the fact that I get addicted to chasing stats. As I have surpassed all previous records I have to aim for something new. So I am aiming for 10000 views by the end of the year and 1000 followers. The first is possible at my current rate. The second maybe not – need to add just under 100 in a few weeks.
Let’s see how it goes.
Chasing Stats
Not that I am obsessed with stats but I am two views short of beating the whole of last year.. and it’s only October.
Not Enough Sleep
Today’s blogging101 task was Try (Another) Blogging Event
So I chose this one – TAKE THE 50-WORD STORY CHALLENGE
It has ten prompts – I have only done one so far but will try to update all ten before the month is out! As if I didn’t have enough deadlines and challenges.
This is the first
Not Enough Sleep
By Scott Bailey © 2015
No time to sleep, Must get on. Much to do. Can’t be late. Sleep when you’re dead my old man used to say. Who’s coming I wonder? Here come the cars. Just take a peek Not many! Expected more at my own funeral! Oh well, what’s next?
#blogging101
#theCommons
The Silliness
Did get time to do blogging101 today – but have already done it really.
So in lieu – here’s an old poem of mine.
The Silliness
By Scott Bailey © 2014
We were the wise ones.
Wandering in from all over the world.
High on the haze of laughter and drink.
Occasional lovers, always just friends.
And game after game we polished our views.
Where did it go?
That time of the silliness, the time of the laughs.
Was it all crushed by the weight on our hearts?
Of life, of the world that we woke to and joined.
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AWOL – (blogging101 – day #7/8)
Completely failed at today’s task and yesterdays – life has gotten in the way. But some of that is good – more about that later – if I get the chance.
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#theCommons
#7/8
I am indecisive – I think
After seeing some great themes used in the Commons I have changed mine again. And added a randomised header picture.
Header – (blogging101 – day #6)
Today’s task done – added an image – changed some colours – done.
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#5
About – (blogging101 – day #5)
So I have added a text widget with the updated version of my about page on – a paragraph I hope will draw people in to read the fuller page. In doing this I have also changed back my theme to an earlier one and swapped about the widgets. Most importantly I have removed the widget that was advertising my novel to a page by itself – empty and in need of content at the moment – that’s a task for tomorrow.
Would appreciate any thoughts.
See the updated about page here
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#theCommons
#5
Themes – (blogging101 – day #5)
Today’s task was to look at different themes for the blog.
I have done this – I do it quite often – but have decided to keep my current one. There are plenty out here I like but like the one I have for now. But what do I look for in my theme?
Well I like to keep my blog clean and simple. I want my content to shine and not to distract from it. This isn’t right for everyone’s blog mind you. There are plenty out there were a more bright, frantic theme better suits the energy and liveliness conveyed by the blogger. And i enjoy looking at and reading that kind as well. But mine – I need it calm and simple – and functional.
One of the important things I look for is what features the theme has. I need it to not interfere with the layout of my posts too much – especially for the poetry posts. I also do not like the hidden menus that many themes seem to have now. I want the menu to be a prominent part of my blog – so it can inform the reader of what is available – which sections there are. It also make it easier for visitors to find the right content. I think this is important for me as I have several distinct areas. Those interested in ready poetry may not have any interest in our adoption journey and vice versa,
Anyway – that’s my thoughts on today’s task.
#blogging101
#theCommons
#5
Dreamers – (blogging101 – day 4)
Too brain-dead today – it’s been a long hard day – to do today’s task properly.
So here is a poem that reflects the task – I will catch up tomorrow
Dreamers
By Scott Bailey © 2015
Reaching out
To grasp our dreams
We find the hands
Of dreamers
Joining them
Holding fast
Maybe
Dreams can be made real
Maybe
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#theCommons
Updates – (blogging101)
The last few days have had me thinking – so I have updated by about page with some more info on what the blog is about.
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#theCommons
Hello Neighbour – (blogging101 – day 3)
Today’s task was say hello to the neighbours.
Well I have already been doing quite a bit of that :-). So I decided to check the blogroll on theCommons site and check out the two links either side of mine.
The first one – below mine – worked a treat and I said hello.
Going upwards I got several broken links and a foreign language site before I got to somebody I could say hello to.
Anyway – done.
#blogging101
#theCommons
Tagged you’re it – (blogging101 – day 2)
Today’s task is all about the title and the tag line. As it’s really aimed at new blogs I will keep this one brief.
I am happy with my title and it’s established now.
So I decided to look at the tagline.
My current one is accurate.
Poetry, short stories, adoption and family dreams
It could be better. So after some ruminations I have distilled the essence of the blog to something shorter and more succinct.
Yesterday’s exercise helped actually as during my long essay the theme emerged.
So my new tagline will be.
Destination Dreams
Being a place where dreams are both shared and found. Striven for and achieved.
So now to update it!
#blogging101
#theCommons
Scott Andrew Bailey - Author 