Written on June 10th, 2009 at 11:06 am by Darren Rowse
Ask Me a Blogging Related Question [Bonus for Workbook Buyers]
Do you have a question about blogging that you’d like to hear me answer?
As a bonus to those who buy the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog workbook I’m going to record a podcast later this week that tackles as many blogging related questions as possible.
The recording will be made available as a thank you/bonus to anyone who has previously bought the workbook or who buys it in future. Get Your Own Copy Here if you’d like to get access.
If you’d like to ask me a question – feel free to either email it via the contact form here at ProBlogger or leave it in comments below. If you use the contact form make your first line of the email include ‘question for 31DBBB podcast’ so I know what it is for. I’ll credit people with their questions unless it specifically says to keep them anonymous.
Questions can be related to 31 Days to Build a Better Blog project, any of the daily tasks in it, or any other blogging related question. I’m not sure how many questions I’ll get but I’ll attempt to answer as many as I can during the recording.
75 Responses to “Ask Me a Blogging Related Question [Bonus for Workbook Buyers]” - Add Yours
Tech eSpot - Jenney MaC.
June 10th, 2009 11:21 am
OK, let me first make an order than i’ll ask a question.
Regards
Jenney Mac.
Seth W
June 10th, 2009 11:21 am
Wow… what a wonderful opportunity!
I would like to ask you… What is the single greatest tip you would offer for bloggers who are trying to go from part-time blogging to becoming a problogger?
Vincent Sparreboom
June 10th, 2009 11:25 am
There is something that I’m curious about. Now that you’ve reached 5000 posts and manage multiple blogs what was your biggest mistake/misjudgement involving blogging.
We all make mistakes and we should learn from them; maybe we can learn from yours;)
Josh
June 10th, 2009 11:33 am
Is there any evidence to suggest that doing different blog post types (review posts, list posts, etc) scheduled on particular days and advertising this fact is better?
ie. Does this create more connection with what readers can expect from you regarding predictability? How does this effect subscription numbers? etc etc
Rod B
June 10th, 2009 11:37 am
What tool/method do you use to keep notes or jot ideas down for your blog posts? Notebook, smartphone?
Manshu
June 10th, 2009 11:40 am
What is the right way of creating a Newsletter, can you point to some resources that give a little guidance on creating a newsletter for bloggers please?
Marcus Goodyear
June 10th, 2009 11:41 am
I’d like to know what processes (and human resources) you use to manage online communities–especially as they grow. How can a blogger continue to be accessible as a community grows larger and larger? Or is a blog really just a media outlet with little sense of real community.
I guess that’s three questions, but they’re related.
Clara Mathews
June 10th, 2009 11:51 am
My question relates to privacy policies and disclosures and how and when a blog needs to publish them. My blog is 7 months old, i have less than 100 subscriber and I am just now starting to use affiliate ads (problogger is one of them). Do I need a disclosure statement?
How do I create a privacy policy? Or do I even need one?
(I guess that’s more than one question. But I have a lot to learn.)
Alyson B. Stanfield
June 10th, 2009 11:52 am
I’d love your thoughts on combining a TypePad blog and a WordPress blog. ArtBizBlog is well known and among the highest-ranking art blogs out there. But I want to change it to a WordPress blog and add my newsletter feed (Mondays) to it. They really have the same content and it doesn’t make sense for them to be separate.
If it helps, the newsletter is at http://artbizcoach.com/newsletter
Thank you, Darren.
Jasom James
June 10th, 2009 11:56 am
I just set up a new blog and I have spurts of traffic like 550 yesterday and only 75 today.. whats the secret to sustained day to day traffic? Thank you.
Jeff
June 10th, 2009 11:56 am
Darren,
31 days is great, I am really enjoying it and learning a lot. I may have missed it, but what are your criteria for affiliates and advertisers? How in-depth are your background checks, and do you continue to screen them as time goes on to ensure they are maintaining the level of service you aspire to?
Thanks!
Ed Mercer
June 10th, 2009 11:56 am
question for 31DBBB podcast
What is the process if I want to use a post from someone elses blog on my blog. Do I need to get in touch with them and get their permission, or do I just make sure I credit them in a bio box at the end of the post.
Donald Giannatti
June 10th, 2009 12:03 pm
I am trying like crazy to get my bounce rate down. It seems that I have a lot of people hit the site, but not go any deeper than a page or two. They are coming in with the good keywords, but it is almost like they don’t know there is more content there.
The emails back that up a bit as well. Sometimes surprised that they had stumbled on to other pages. I am linking pages in posts, but they don’t seem to be getting the job done.
thanks,
–don
needmoney.com
June 10th, 2009 1:05 pm
What would you differently if you were starting your blog for the first time tomorrow.
Chip Loan
June 10th, 2009 1:05 pm
Hi Darren,
Great workbook and book. I read both over the weekend
I’ve only been blogging for about 6 or 7 weeks and I love it. But I do run into problems that I haven’t really seen you touch on.
The blog I run is centered around gaming news. I report important stories and write reviews and opinions. What advice do you have for folks like myself? People who are passionate about a niche that may be bloated, very competitive and news driven?
lunaKM
June 10th, 2009 1:18 pm
How do you tell someone that the question they are asking for advice with is one you don’t have interest in, aren’t experienced with or is not in scope with the blog without them feeling like you just don’t have time to answer their question? I don’t like letting people down.
In developing my first e-booklet, I’d like to know if there is an appropriate length that people will consider worthy of purchase? Right now I’m looking at 40 pages.
Gerry Faehrmann - YourLawnAndGarden
June 10th, 2009 1:33 pm
Notice how all the above comments are asking a question…how cheeky!!!
Now Darren, who do you think will win the AFL this year?
Katrina
June 10th, 2009 1:40 pm
Do blogging has it’s own limitations?
Molly W.
June 10th, 2009 1:53 pm
Besides commenting other people, putting your blog in directories & such, are there any other good suggestions for increasing blog traffic & getting more comments??
Amanda
June 10th, 2009 2:22 pm
Darren, I thought about a question for your podcast, and here it is:
Should you mix personal posts like it’s my child’s 13th birthday here’s the photos-type with the ‘business/advice/info posts on a single blog? Or should you have a personal blog to do this?
@gerryfahrmann I know nothing about AFL (and really couldn’t care less about it), but how bout the Demons rising up from the bottom and sinking everyone?
However, in the REAL football – not that girly Mexican game- St George is finally going to kick some serious butt this year. After a 30 year drought.
Eric Cummings
June 10th, 2009 4:19 pm
Question for Podcast:
- For my website, my fellow blogger and I write our posts way in advance of when we publish, so we set up a “upcoming articles” widget that shows our visitors what we will be publishing a week ahead of time.
I haven’t seen anything else like this on the internet, is there some negative side effect I haven’t thought about? Is it a good idea? What do you think?
Of course, I love this blog and it has been a tremendous help. Can’t wait for the podcast.
StockTradersBlog
June 10th, 2009 4:25 pm
Darren,
I read many advice on blogging. One of them is to use your real
name for your blog. I have seen many successful blog including yours do that.
Me on the other hand is always posting anonymous on my own blog. Do think this is going to cost me a lot of readers?
I was thinking to disclose my identity on the internet but I real don’t want to do that for the nature of the Stock Trader Blog What is your take on this?
Hope to see and convincing answer here. Appreciate your help
Eric Cummings
June 10th, 2009 4:27 pm
Sorry, second question for podcast, just thought of it:
How valuable is the workbook for a brand new blog? My co-blogger and I want to buy it, but we were thinking about waiting for two or three months. Thoughts?
Gerry Faehrmann - YourLawnAndGarden
June 10th, 2009 4:45 pm
@Amanda I was only being polite…actually I (like you) follow the Man’s Game (Rugby League), and I am a Dogs supporter, so the Dragons have to get past the Dogs to break the drought. Mmm, don’t think so.
Nina
June 10th, 2009 5:29 pm
Hi,
for the “hour long blogging Q&A”, it would maybe be good to do it in segments, maybe by topics.
Maybe it’s just me, but I find it hard to find time to listen to one hour of podcast uninterrupted on my computer. Too many job or family intrusions. And without knowing what will happen in the podcast, even a 10 minute podcast already seems long. So maybe giving little head-ups at the start of each segment, what it will be about, would be good.
—
My question:
I am quite new to blogging and setting up my first website currently, using a Magazine Theme. That one will not be like a regular blog, but more “static”, showcasing my books and services as a writing coach.
I am torn very much on whether to include on the site also an introduction to the books that I am currently searching a publisher for (fiction and nonfiction)- or only the ones that were already published (only non-fiction).
The target group for the published ones are potential readers, the target group for the unpublished ones are publishing house editors. But I guess chances are slim they would even look at the site …
Do you think it makes sense to attempt to make the unpublished books more accessible to READERS instead of editors?
And how?
I am pondering on offering podcasts of the first chapters (I am told I have a nice reading voice). Maybe to offer one of the books as an ebook?
But I am not sure if that would be a lot of work for little effect. What do you think?
Bibokz
June 10th, 2009 5:36 pm
That’s an awesome freebies… I’m tracking every step of the way, looking forward to hear the questions later on.
Martin
June 10th, 2009 6:31 pm
@Ed Mercer: you definitely need to get in touch with the blog owner to get their permission. You certainly cannot just take content and republish it without permission.
(In fact, I’ve submitted a number of DCMA requests to blogger and other places to take down copies of my content that people had “stolen” without permission.)
Paresh
June 10th, 2009 6:57 pm
Hello Darren.
I am reading your book and working through the workbook. My question is that I am strugglnig to find enough resources in related to UK for affiliates and articles. Any help in that area would be appreciated.
Paresh
Dr. Dave Hale
June 10th, 2009 9:06 pm
Thank you for this opportunity to ask a question to you, who epitomizes the trueness of Professional Blogging.
1. Being a fledgling blogger, I want to know what is the best strategies to drive traffic to my blogs?
2. What are the first and easiest ways to monetize my blogs?
3. Are there opportunities on the Web to blog for companies who advertise this?
Thanks agian and keep up the great info.
Dr. Dave Hale
The Internet Marketing Professor
http://www.drdavehaleonline.com
Marc
June 10th, 2009 10:06 pm
what suggestions would you have for a site that has no peers? it seems that my idea has little to no competition. i am curious how one would market such a site
Laura Simmons
June 10th, 2009 10:09 pm
Believe it or not, Word Press help is very hard to find. Since many of us use the free themes, we haven’t a clue what they include or exclude with the theme. Is there some other resource than the WP forum (I have had questions go unanswered and had some really nasty people make fun of my questions and refer me to Codex).
Codex is very hard to search and hard for non-techies to understand it seems like it is written for people who want to develop themes.
I am simply trying to get trackbacks to show up and find other people’s trackbacks. I don’t know where to look and I use 2.7.1 which has some options in settings for trackbacks. I have marked them yes, but still can’t see them.
Salman
June 10th, 2009 10:19 pm
Hi Darren
Wonderful opportunity
My Question is how to get backlinks?
Regards
Salman
http://www.tips4blogging.co.cc for blogging tips and hacks.
العاب شمس
June 10th, 2009 10:30 pm
Thanks Darren, i’m grateful to you.
Hamilton Wallace
June 10th, 2009 10:46 pm
Question: My blog is part of my website, I’m a consultant and my goal is to convert more visitors into leads (I don’t sell a book or report). My question revolves around conversion. What two or three mistakes do bloggers make that hurt their conversion rates? Or, what two or three things do you find yourself recommending bloggers do to increase their conversion?
Faige
June 10th, 2009 10:58 pm
I have a few questions for you Darren.
1-Do we only leave comments on recent posts of other bloggers? and use the old posts to link to
2- Are our pillar articles to be done as pages or posts?
3-Which is the best plugin to use for recording right into wordpress without having to make a file and then upload it (I tried mtr recorder but it was giving me an arror while installing)
4- How do I turn anchor text into links when I leave comments on others posts. I know it works in my blog but doesn’t seem to work in others.
Thanks so much
Your book is invaluable
Faige
Faige
June 10th, 2009 11:06 pm
Another question.
I checked out the theme thesis that some of your linked to post recommend. It seems great but I cant spend that money now. what is your resource for really great themes without scrolling through hundreds of them in digg.com
do you have particular one that is really good and free or really cheap?
Aruna
June 10th, 2009 11:38 pm
I just got your book but haven’t found the time yet to start it.
My questions is about organizing blog posts, and using categories – do you recommend using many specific categories (right now I probably have at least categories 30 going) or narrowing it down to a smaller number, how many?
This would help as I’m doing a blog & website merger and redesign.
Thanks,
Aruna
P.S. my other question is something about time management but I don’t have time to formulate it!
But what do you think of slow blogging – only posting once a week but a more refined post? How to maximize a slow blog?
Chris
June 10th, 2009 11:54 pm
Thanks Darren,
I would like to know if you have any design layout lessons to maximize ease of reading, etc? Im specifically interested in column layout and sidebar suggestions. Thanks
Chris
Stan Dubin
June 11th, 2009 12:02 am
Which method of “following” your blog do you consider more valuable: thru the RSS feed or via a newsletter?
Melissa O'Connell
June 11th, 2009 12:03 am
Hi Darren,
I have been reading your blog tips for a few months now and really get a lot out of them. I am still new to the bloging world and appreciate all of your advice and experience. As a family we are majorly penny pinching until our apartment sells so I haven’t allowed myself to buy your book yet, but have been following the posts regularly and look forward to having it as a reference in the near future.
On to the question. Recently I wrote a post about a modified Vegan muffin recipe that my family and I have been enjoying. I gave credit to the book and authors who I got it from and added their book to an Amazon Carousel on my blog site. Do you think this was an appropriate way to introduce it to my readers and give proper credit where credit is due? Hopping so…
Thanks in advance for your time,
Melissa
aka: Mama Melly
See
June 11th, 2009 12:08 am
Do you think it is important to have dates on posts? Doesn’t “dating” an article make it less likely to be read?
kosmo @ The Casual Observer
June 11th, 2009 12:09 am
@ LauraSimmons -There is actually a “Wordpress for Dummies” book. I bought it, and it looks decent, although I haven’t had the time to read it in great detail.
Mr. I
June 11th, 2009 12:19 am
Here’s mine small question:
I have no problems with content is it is fine but what I lack is promotional strategy! How can I build a good strategy and most importantly stick with it?
Laura Simmons
June 11th, 2009 1:08 am
Hey Kosmo, yes I bought that book as well and it was already outdated when I bought it and there are many things not covered in it. Plus there is the fact that different free themes can be coded differently.
Laura Simmons
June 11th, 2009 1:14 am
Hey Faige,
I wanted to contact your personally about this in case you are not following this thread, but you can no about me or contact page on your site.
However, what I wanted to let you know is if you go the free themes are wordpress, you will see a listing of the most downloaded themes. There is usually a reason for this.
I use one of them but I probably won’t spell it correctly because I think it may be German since the author is from Bavaria. The theme is Atahalupa (or something like that). It is extremely flexible and the author also has a support forum. It’s free but even small donations are sincerely appreciated. He is trying to make a living at this.
fas
June 11th, 2009 1:41 am
How do you manage spam comments? How do you manage to read all comments and approve them manually? And then how do you manage 3 blogs? Do you spend more time in blogging then 9 to 5 job people?
David Stillwagon
June 11th, 2009 2:59 am
How to find the best affiliates to work with is my question
thanks
David
Molly Clark
June 11th, 2009 3:58 am
Do you recommend that bloggers use a known blogging site (e.g., Wordpress or Blogspot) or setting up their own website? Pros and cons of each?
Jazykový pobyt
June 11th, 2009 4:24 am
It is very good idea but I have not any question.
Marni Derr
June 11th, 2009 5:03 am
First, thank you for the book and your blogs.
My question, how do you get over “perfectionism as a serious form of procrastination”? Wanting to have your site perfect out the gate, which then prevents the site from ever going live? I am building a network, but still working on the site. Should I just get over it and run with whatever happens?
Thanks again,
LatteLibrarian
wanida
June 11th, 2009 6:13 am
I have a question that I have been struggling to find an answer to and am hoping that you might be able to point me in the right direction.
I have tried to take on board the comments that you made in 31DBBB and, even though I still blog from Wordpress, I would like to self host. As part of that process, I would like a good design. I would therefore like to have my own gravatar for my blog that represents me in all my forms but,
I am a public servant as well as working for someone high profile and I am also studying so blog anonymously for now. I have no idea where to go about getting one. Do I approach an artist, a web designer? I don’t want to buy one “off the peg” but would like one that is unique.
Any suggestions?
Vivian Love
June 11th, 2009 8:22 am
How do you manage 20-30 affiliate link? Is there an application for it? Are you using Commission Junction? Is this how people organize links?
thanks
(Please…Please…please… get to my question and answer it..crossing my finger)..
Tim
June 11th, 2009 9:59 am
What’s the best way for a small business owner to set up a blog that has additional functionality such as interesting (and well presented) ads, links to their social media activity and other useful applications…all this without having to spend a fortune or do it themselves!?
Faige
June 11th, 2009 11:18 am
Laura I checked out that theme. I am awed.Thank you so much
Now I have to spend the time figuring out how I want it customized and if I end up using it I will definitely give the guy soemthing for it.
do you know how I can insert or create my own image in the header?
Faige
Waida
June 11th, 2009 11:56 am
Darren,
Thanks for the opportunity.
What would you do, if a blog that has been steadily growing (in terms of readership), but still lack of direction and focus. Then, in order for it to have direction/focus, you need to re-branding back the blog?
What would be the best way for doing it without losing the readership that has grown? Thank you
Gisele
June 11th, 2009 12:32 pm
Increased Traffic, Increased Traffic, Increased Traffic
How do I get it?
Laura Simmons
June 11th, 2009 9:40 pm
Reply to Faige about Atahualpa now the second most downloaded free WP theme. (probably spelled wrong since I think it is Bavarian)
Sorry Faige, I haven’t looked into changing the head. but when you activate the theme you will see a link to the BFA forum where you can get answers to all types of questions fairly quickly. Usually in less than 12 hours.
I am so glad you are awed, this is indeed a fabulous theme and many changes that you might want to make are under ATO and clearly (but sometimes a bit technically) explain what the options are so you know which boxes to check mark.
If we all believed that the way to live well was by helping each other the world would be such a happier place.
Hope that helps.
Kerry Dexter
June 11th, 2009 10:26 pm
Darren,
I’d like your suggestions on good ways to grow connections/traffic outside my niche. The content (Celtic and folk music and creative practice of being a musician) lends itself to travel, education, specific destination and, other areas of music, for example. I’ve done some things to connect, such as joining blog directories, leaving comments, doing guest posts, interested to hear your ideas. and thanks.
Kerry Dexter
June 11th, 2009 10:28 pm
how important is twitter to blog strategy? what’s the best way to use it? is it useful to be on twitter if you are there only infrequently?
Serge Van Cauwenbergh
June 12th, 2009 1:07 am
question for 31DBBB podcast
1. When I started blogging I had no real idea what kind of articles I wanted to share with my visitors. Almost two years later there are some topics I don’t write about anymore because they didn’t give an value to my visitors (some of them are also potential clients). What is your advice about older articles? Can I delete those who don’t fit anymore in my actual vision/strategy? (most have no comments though). I have a personal 404-page where visitors can land when using a link that doesn’t exist anymore. I presume it’s no real danger to delete them?
2. A second question is probably not really related to blogging or writing articles, but I’ll give it a try :-) I’m a photographer and my portfolio and blog are 1 website. I use the Thesis theme which organizes everything very smoothly. My blog page is also the landing page but I’m struggling lately if it won’t be better to have a static and more inviting welcome page for visitors because most of them are possibly potential clients who don’t want to land on my blog but maybe rather on a welcome/info page or my portfolio. What’s your advice on this matter?
http://www.sergevancauwenbergh.be
http://www.sergevancauwenbergh.com
@CuriousDina
June 12th, 2009 3:51 am
Darren, please discuss how the proposed legislation that would hold blogger legally responsible/liable for their comments/reviews will impact bloggers, and the best ways to make disclosures. Thanks.
turisuna
June 12th, 2009 3:59 am
Why people always run after high PR ? I have blog with PR 3 but only few visitors, while the other blog with PR 0 precisely has many visitors, if high PR doesn’t mean has more visitors, so what it’s for ?
Faige
June 12th, 2009 4:57 am
Serge,
Cant you make a page your default landing page. Visitors dont have to land on a post page but you can customize a page to be a landing page (you get to kill 2 birds with one stone this way)
Lean Ni Chuilleanain
June 12th, 2009 8:09 am
Hi Darren,
Thanks for the opportunity to ask you questions. I’m working through 31DBBB (on my not-yet-launched blog – not ideal, but you do what you can!), and I’ll be waiting eagerly for this podcast.
My question: What impact, if any, has your geographical location had on your experience as a problogger? I’m in Ireland, and I’m wondering whether that’s going to be a disadvantage to me. The US seems so dominant in the blogosphere – to the extent that many bloggers don’t even seem to realise that they have a global audience. Is it harder for us peripheral types to make our voices heard?
çocuk oyunları
June 12th, 2009 6:54 pm
question for 31DBBB podcast
What is the process if I want to use a post from someone elses blog on my blog. Do I need to get in touch with them and get their permission, or do I just make sure I credit them in a bio box at the end of the post.
Shekhar
June 12th, 2009 7:31 pm
I have a question. I have a new blog and I am planning to put new contents every day, can you tell me is there any benefit of putting 200 blogs in a week or is it better to put 50 blogs per week…
Dawn Pedersen
June 13th, 2009 10:06 am
Hi Darren!
I was inspired by your method of writing a posts series and then turning that into salable material. I’m working on a structured series of lessons suitable for the classroom (plus instructor materials). I’d also want to sell to interested individuals. I want some material to be free to generate interest and trust. What would be a good approach for monetizing this material? Bonus question: how does one set up a subscription-type service with Wordpress? If you have time, you can see the skeleton I’m building at 60lessons.com.
Masatake E. Hori
June 13th, 2009 9:42 pm
Hello Darren,
You have been an inspiration for me in creating a fairly popular blog here in Japan.
But here is my question. It seems like after a certain amount of growth in a blog, the amount of newcomers diminishes and one has to reach out to new readers.
I’ve been trying this for the past year by diversifying my post, building a community and using alternative media such as Twitter or FriendFeed, but so far it hasn’t materialized into a substantial growth.
What advice do you have for a blog that successful, but is a step behind from the top notch?
Stephen Baugh
June 15th, 2009 3:00 pm
Hi Darren
Awesome book thanks. Two questions related to comments on blogs.
Your comments use “no follow”, as there is lots of debate about this, especially since spammers spam anyway, on what basis did you decided to use “follow” vs “no follow” links.
Also you don’t display pings from other blogs. I’m often curious about who links to other blogs and why. How and why did you decide to do this?
Thanks
Stephen
owen
June 17th, 2009 12:11 am
Describe a weekly posting schedule.
Describe a typical workflow, idea to post to promoting the post.
What wordpress plugins are popular but really a waste of time?
Faige
June 17th, 2009 12:18 am
any news as to when we will be getting that podcast.? I thought it was for the end of last week
Catherine Cantieri, Sorted
June 17th, 2009 12:28 am
How do I get other blogs to link to mine? I’ve been commenting on blogs for months now, but I haven’t gotten any incoming links. I think my content is pretty good; is there something I’m overlooking?
Laura Simmons
June 17th, 2009 8:17 am
Hey Catherine,
Did you participate in the blogging challenge. I sort of missed the opportunity to find all of the blogs in my fields.
If your is relevant to mine, I’ll help you out by linking to yours.
Mines is investing/economy and natural health.
Darren Rowse
June 18th, 2009 11:13 am
thanks everyone for the questions – I’m overwhelmed! These plus the 50 or so I had via email are going to take some answering and I’ll attempt to do as many as possible when I record it over the next day or two. I hope to make it available to workbook buyers early next week all going well.
Ed Hardy bags
July 22nd, 2009 10:28 pm
Describe a weekly posting schedule.
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