Alt Summit was amazing. I can say with 100% honesty, it is so, SO worth the investment if you are interested in monetizing your blog or if you just want to be inspired to be a better blogger. Really – for the job opportunities alone. There was major networking happening all over.
Plus! It was SO fun to finally meet almost all of my blogging friends in real life. If you’re on the fence about going next January, shoot me an email and I’ll do my best to pressure you further!
Lots of you asked for a recap on my presentation. I know not all of you readers are bloggers, and as I learned from my survey, only 2% of you have blogs that make you money. So, I apologize if the following is not very interesting. Come back tomorrow for a great post about using sheets as curtains! You’re in for a treat.
I spoke about building a blogging community on a panel with Meg from A Practical Wedding, Danielle from The Jealous Curator and Sarah from Babble. It was such a fun group of ladies. We all have very different blog communities and goals, so it was cool to learn from each other and to be able to speak from unique vantage points.
Sarah, Meg, me, and Danielle
It would take forever to write out everything I talked about in my presentation, but here’s an outline (still very long) of what I discussed for building traffic or developing a deeper more meaningful community on your blog. Kindly note that I do not consider myself an expert on building a blogging community. I developed the following ideas from talking with other bloggers, reading your survey responses and also a bit from my own adventures in blogging, which started in late 2007.
1. Preliminary idea: Set goals and maintain the right prospective. What is the end goal for writing a blog? The most traffic possible? A book deal? New friendships? New clients? Build your blog and develop your posts with your end goal in mind. Reevaluate often. “Am I getting closer to or further away from my goal?”
2. Part 1: Capture new readers
a) Most of you found my blog through a blog roll! So great! Let’s all share the blog love and keep up blog rolls of our own. If you are intimidated by the sheer number of people who want to be on your blog roll, consider having two – a favorites and a rotating (monthly or quarterly) list of new to you blogs.
b) Make your content buzzworthy so that other bloggers will want to share. What do I mean by buzzworthy?
i) Truly original content (try to post something completely yours at least once a week). Or at least put a really unique spin on the same photos that get recycled on blogs.
ii) Think about common problems (something someone would google to find out) and find solutions to those problems through your blog. “How to paint vintage furniture” or “How to sew pinch pleat drapes” or “How to shop at a flea market” etc.
iii) Start a conversation that other bloggers will want to continue. The two examples I used were Lauren’s Design Price Points post and Chelsea’s idea to stop complaining.
c) Get posted on a bigger blog. It’s hard to get a more golden ticket than that. A HUGE stream of traffic is your big chance. Submit never-before-seen projects to Design*Sponge or Apartment Therapy and see what happens. If they don’t bite, choose a big blog with your same aesthetic. Chances are, their readers will love your blog, too. Some words of wisdom though, from a gal who gets dozens of emails about this very thing every day:
i) If you’re using comments/tweets to get a blogger’s attention, make sure you have an interesting and unique sign-in name. And make your comments funny and sweet. Just be thoughtful.
ii) Try to network offline. Go to blogger parties or conventions. Be friendly and pass out your business card!
iii) Speaking for myself, I would skip the urge to send an email to your favorite blogger just introducing yourself and your blog. Try to only email if you have something specific to share (like a post idea) or a question to ask. Use the blogger’s actual name, spelled correctly, and make the email as personal as possible. Don’t say:
“To whom it may concern,
Please post about my crocheted baby diaper covers available for sale in my etsy shop. I read your blog from start to finish so you owe me one. I can offer a give away for free shipping to one lucky shopper?
Let me know by noon. Thanks.”
Flattery (as long as it is sincere) gets you everywhere. I asked Joanna for a quote on this subject and she said the exact same thing! We also agreed that submissions should be more subtle. Don’t ask a blogger outright to post something.
Do say:
“Dear Jenny,
I love your blog. I open up LGN first thing in the morning every day. And I cried when I read the post about Evie’s birth! What a touching story.
I just wanted to share a project with you that I recently finished. I thought it would be right up your alley since I know how much you love ikat. Here’s a link to my Flickr stream.
Thanks for all the inspiration!
Love,
Kate.”
Nice, right? That would probably be my favorite email of the day! Remember that you catch more flies with honey…
d) Consider guest posting on a complimentary blog (like, maybe I would post a flower arranging tutorial on a wedding blog). You’re capturing like-minded readers.
e) Keep the new readers on your site for a long first stay. Try to link back to old posts often. Put up your most successful posts in your side bar. Add a Link Within widget to the bottom of your posts. Expose the new readers to as much of your blog that first visit as possible so they can get a real vibe for your voice and your style.
f) Other things to consider: Don’t get too personal, but also don’t be too private. Readers want to know about your life within the context of your blog, no more, no less. Also, post as consistently as possible. I try my best to post Monday through Friday, with posts going live at 5:30 am EST. Also, try hard to avoid spelling and grammatical errors. None of us are perfect, but a little effort goes a long way here.
3. Part 2: Make those readers want to come back!
a) Understand your readers:
i) Who are your readers? What kind of content do they especially love? Or hate? When do they read your blog (morning? night? at the office?)? How did they find your blog? How many posts do they want to read per day?
Do a survey to answer these questions! Thousands of you filled out my survey and it was SO helpful and informative! If you’re just wanting basics though, you can find out the demographics of your readership on Alexa. My readers, not surprisingly, are mostly women, between the ages of 28 and 34, with children and with college educations.
b) Read other design blogs with your aesthetic to make sure you’re not overlapping on post ideas. There are so so many design blogs these days, I’m finding it’s easy to post about the same things, even if you’re trying to be original.
c) My husband and I talk about the idea of Blogger Capital a lot. If you think about your blog posting schedule as a bank account, and your posts as deposits and withdrawals, try your hardest to keep a positive balance on the account. For example, a post with 100% original content would be a major deposit. A post about a new sponsor could be a pretty big withdrawal if it wasn’t presented right, with no new take away information for your readers.
4. Finally, remember that blogging can sometimes get a little old. Life gets in the way. Or you’re simply feeling uninspired. Things that help me more forward:
a) My mantra is ‘I can’t do it all, but I can do a lot.’ I know I say this all of the time, but it makes me feel better every time I get overwhelmed with commitments (which, sadly, is a lot of the time. Don’t judge.). And actually, I’m most productive on the days I remind myself of my motto!
b) Focus back on those goals we already talked about. Want to know one of my big goals? I would love to write a big ol’ FAT book about decorating a house, from start to finish, top to bottom. Scrapbook style.
c) Celebrate what you’ve built! Remember when your blog readership consisted of you, your husband and your mom and dad? I sure do. It’s amazing how technology is providing a way for us to communicate with so many people every single day.
d) Remember what inspired you originally. I love interiors!! I always will. I still get all giddy when I flip through a new Elle Decor or when I walk in to a thrift store I haven’t visited in a while. Get back to basics and post about that common passion you share with your readers.
Wow – a lot of info. and all so relevant and spot on! Thank you for sharing all your wisdom and insights in to the blogging world! Wish I could come to the next session in jan! KG
hooray jenny! i loved watching the video. your blog remains one of my very favorites.
I am going next year!!!! No excuses, sounds great!
pve
This is probably one of the most informative poss ever, thank you so much for sharing, many useful ideas! Thanks Jenny!
First off–you are cute as a bug :) And, I'm not just saying that to flatter you and get on your blog. Ha!
Really, I loved this post and wish I could've been there for your panel discussion. Original content is why I was drawn to blogs like yours from the start. And, after starting my own blog and aiming for original content, it makes you appreciate all of the hard work that goes into keeping it up.
You are definitely a pro. Wish I could pick your brain for hours. Like either of us have hours!
Thanks for the post.
Thank you for posting this!! For those of us who were not able to attend this alt summit, but have penciled it in for next year!
Absolutely love your blog, your style and motivation!
Lauren
Wow – I'm one of the many who answered your survey and doesn't make money or advertise on my blog, so I wasn't sure this post would be interesting to me – but I loved every word! So very interesting! A great read, for sure!
This was exactly the kind of information I need right now. Can't thank you enough!
This post comes at a perfect time! I am new to the blogging world, officially having started right before the new year, and am trying to learn as much as I can about building my blog better. Thank you for all of the information!! :)
Hi Jenny!
While I do not have a blog I still read this post bvecause I like your blog alot and know that I will learn something. Being better educated about most things broadens your horizens and hopefully makes us more interesting people. Thanks for sharing.
Fabulous information. I really appreciate you sharing this with us, it was very helpful! =) ~Liz
This was so incredibly helpful and interesting to read! Thank you so much for sharing.
jenny,
thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this. i filled out your survey and currently do not make money on my blog…yet! i definitely have some goals in mind and your post is just what i needed. i feel like you wrote it just for me! thanks so much. love your blog!
~elisabeth
Jenny, thank you so much for this post! I've been blogging on and off for a while now, but feel like my blog is really beginning to evolve. Your insights made me think a lot about my goals for writing. Love your blog and all of your creative energy!
This post was really good to see. I love the analogy of blogger capital. You really know when you added to your blog's niched culture with a post that's true to you… and when you are posting for the sake of posting.
Thanks for the encouragement, and the cliff's notes. I wanted to go this year, but it was too far from Oxford!! Next year, let's host it at a ski resort in France. :)
Oh wow-if we can get great info like that at Alt Summit then count me in!! Thanks SO much for sharing your advice with us!
I have a blog but it's really just more or less a little journal of life & inspiration…I'm not trying to "build it" per say & I still had to read your whole post! Intriging really. Congrats on having a really fun blog to dive into.
Very informative! Thank you! I need to get back to "why" I am doing this and "is it worth it" for me to continue. Hmmmmm. You've given me a place to start as I make decisions.
Thank you! Enjoy your day!
-Trish
This was such a great post. Thanks so much for posting this. There is a lot that I took away. Very helpful!!!
Hi Jenny!!! Your perfect post came at a perfect time for me. I am new to the blog world and am trying to balance the blog with my full-time job as a CPA. Its difficult but I love it! I have printed off your post and will reference it often. Thanks!
Jenny, thanks for such a great recap on your panel. I love the idea of Blogger Capital! Makes so much sense.
-Katie
Excellent post, good reminders regardless of the goal of your blog! I am totally going next year, will it be in SLC again?
As always, great advice, Jenny. I need to print these out and refer to them on a daily basis! Thanks for the blog inspiration!
That was awesome. Thank you for all that amazing and insightful information about blogging.
I was so hoping you'd do this post! So cool seeing you in the video. You look great! What an amazing experience. Thanks for all the tips.
Great post! Thanks so much for writing all this out! I don't have a blog, but I have been thinking about starting one for awhile, and these are great tips. I read your blog every day, and I love it! :)
Jenny,
Thanks for all of the great insight. I am new to blogging so this really is helpful.
Thanks to all of you for your really kind comments! I wish I could have delved into more of the details, but I would have given you all a little nap by the end I think. Bottom line is that Alt was so fun and inspiring for me. I hope you all come next year so I can meet you and talk shop!!
Aunt Spicy – I'm pretty sure the plan is to have Alt in SLC again next year, although I am doing my best to convince Design Mom to change the venue to Paris! Can you imagine!?
Terese! I miss you guys! Michael was in Cambridge last night for a recruiting dinner (he was helping to recruit new ppl – he better not be looking for a new job yet!!). It was last minute and an in and out sort of thing, but next time I think we all want to come with him! I'll email you.
PS I'm not the hugest fan of that video, but whatever, it's still fun. It was live and I basically ran on to their little set just as the filming started. Not much time to compose myself and think about what I would say!
Jenny, this recap/takeaway was fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing it with us in a way that isn't overwhelming. Even as someone who does monitize and has been at this for awhile, we all need reminders once in awhile. Fabulous.
Thanks for all that wisdom Jenny! I think I emailed a project to you way back and was dull as a doorknob – sorry. Regardless, I have admired your blog, your tenacity and how you are following your dream! {You living in New York is icing on the cake!}
What a wonderful post LGN! I don't have a blog, nor do I plan on starting one-I'll leave that up to you all who are so awesome at it-but if I was going to, this would be my go-to post-wow! I don't know how you do it, but I can honestly tell you, reading my morning blogs with my cereal, oj, and 8 month old is one of the major highlights of my day! THANK YOU beyond words!
Jenny, thank you a million times over! As a newby blogger, one of my goals for the year has been to build readership (and followers) and to have a project featured on a popular blog (just as you said!).
Your posting inspired me just today to start a new feature on my blog to add to the variety of content. Thank you for the inspiration and expertise you offer!
Jenny, thanks for sharing highlights from your presentation! It was truly a "Deposit" post in my book! Thanks again!
I'm so glad you posted this! I wanted to be at Alt Summit SO BADLY this year, and life got in the way. I WILL be there next year!
Anyway, thanks for posting this – I'm really enjoying reading all the recaps, especially from some of the speakers.
Great advice! Which I could have been there in person, but am glad you could share some of the presentation online.
Jenny, thanks so much for the advice. As a new blogger, this was very helpful information and just confirmed my intuition about what people want in a blog. I read Little Green Notebook regularly precisely because of the original projects and ideas you share. Thanks again!
What a fabulous post and so, *SO* many questions answered that I was too embarassed to ask the more experienced bloggers (I am assuming that I wasn't the only one…oh wait, maybe I was (c; )! It's so great to have a concise list! Thanks for all the inspiration, I will always come back here for more!
Thank you so much for all the info! I so badly wanted to attend ALT but it was just a little to expensive! Maybe i will save my pennies and go next year!
Thanks for all the great info! Maybe if I get the nerve I'd think about going next year.
This was a great post! Thank you so much for sharing with those of us who were not at Alt. As a blogger just getting started, it's nice to hear from a "pro" like yourself. Very nicely done.
you rock jenny…thanks for the info!
oh, jenny, thank you! this information really helps streamline my vision for my little blog, as i feel like i've been winging it from the beginning. thank you.
and… when can we pre-order the LGN design book?! go for it!! xo
Jennie, reading all of your tips reminded me why this is my very favorite blog to read. You're awesome at keeping the blog "bank account" balanced. Thanks!!
Thanks so much for the info and insight, Jenny! I, too, check out your blog every day, and I think it's been a huge help in figuring out my own style! I should totally wear a What Would Jenny Do? bracelet when I'm thrift-store shopping!
I have a blog myself, and I appreciate all the tips on how to grow my readership. We love you down South!
Thanks again!
THANK you for such a helpful and motivational post!
Great post Jenny. I am still really new to blogging and appreciate everything you wrote … and … I did cry when I read the story of Evie's birth!!! Love your blog. Sherri
Thanks Jenny! I have always wanted to start a blog aside from the family one but have been so intimidated by it all. I am moving into my first house and think that now I might have a little more to offer. Great tips! Love your blog every day!
Way to go Jennica! I'm so excited for you. Are you going to AZ in the beginning of March? Please say yes!
Way to go Jennica! I'm so excited for you. Are you going to AZ in the beginning of March? Please say yes!
Like many others, this post was perfect timing. I started a blog this month and this gave me so much insight! I would love to hear more if you can stand to share more details. I'm so glad I haven't pestered any of my favorite bloggers before reading this. haha. Have a wonderful day. XOXO