Blogging Tip #12

Be sure to do regular housekeeping on your blog. Every few months, check all your sidebar links and make sure they still work, or that they lead to blogs and websites that are being updated. I have to remind myself about this, too, because time does get away from us, doesn't it?

Blogging Tip #11

What about contact information? If you're offering something to the public, it makes sense that you should provide an email for readers to contact you. Many blogs don't, and it's very frustrating to the reader to have to hunt that down. The best place to give contact information is on a separate page with its own tab that says "contact me". If you offer your email in a blog post, be sure to make it a clickable link rather than type out your email address for spammers to harvest.

Blogging Tip #10

What about those cute little blogging awards that people give out? Should you add them to your blog? It's hard to say no when someone gives you a gift, and most professional bloggers won't burden you that way. They might offer a badge that you can grab and add to your blog without any pressures. If you do accept these "gifts" find a way to add them without making your blog look too cluttered. Also keep in mind that these third-party widgets can slow down the loading of your blog if you have too many.

Blogging Tip #9

Keep up with latest blogging tips and advice. I like Problogger and ChrisG. Just discovered today is the Fuel Your Blogging site. You should visit them regularly, and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter, too. They all have links at their sites, as any good blogger should!

Blog Tip #8

Be sure you have a hit counter installed. You can use Statcounter, Sitemeter, Google Analytics, and now most blogging platforms have built-in analytics, too. Be sure to use them, if not daily, then at least weekly to see how your promotion efforts impact your traffic. This is particularly vital before, during, and after a blog book tour.

Blogging Tip #7

Pay attention to the tips and links that your own blogging platform places in front of you! For example, I just saw a link to the Blog World Expo with a 20% off coupon code from Blogger. I linked to the site and found a wealth of information about more than just the expo. Tons of great blogging tips you don't want to miss. This is a blog you might want to bookmark for more information. Oh, and BLOGGER20 is the coupon code.

Blogging Tip #6

Have lots of links in your sidebars, and think of them as added content for your reader. These are outside blogs and websites that support your own theme in some way. I thematically categorize my blogs and many are potential hosts for future blog tours. If you're planning a blog book tour, you should also have a separate list of blogs you've pre-vetted for you tour. Those blogs should demonstrate the same blogging tips we're discussing right now!