Do You Blog?

Like anything, you need to promote it.

Michel
✈ http://blog.travelnotes.org/.

I share why I create art, my blog at:

http://originalartstories.blogspot.com/

I have a BlogSpot blog, I'm not as regular about posting to it as I should be I guess, but even when I am I can't say I've seen any real benefit from it, definitely not sales.

http://davidkingstudio.blogspot.com/

Dear Brooks

It certainly can't hurt your search engine optimisation to have more text on your Pixels or FAA page, search engines don't read images, as you probably know. So yes, for that reason I would say it's not a waste of time and I do use the blog here.

Even if people are not reading it the bots probably will.

Stevie :)

its not really a waste of time, but i don't have one. i don't have the time and don't want to waste it... :)

any place your on helps. but only if you have fresh info, and are attracting buyers and not other artists, it might help.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

I did a couple of blogs once - it's not something I know how to do nor that I find interesting. I think I've seen only one or two blogs on the internet that I followed because they were interesting.

I did a few here, but haven't done so in quite awhile. I'm just not that talkative a person with the desire to consistently ramble-on about [photography related] stuff. :)

My blog is on WP. The blog shows what is on my website, plus the blog tab shows some of my progress as an artist.
I use the blog as information to add throughout my marketing campaign.

https://davidbridburg.wordpress.com/

Dave

I blog...No one reads or if anyone reads they sure don't comment....
In the old days, I started some really hot debates here in "discussions." hahahahahahahah....
But I am a kinder gentler blogger/discusser now....electric shock therapy works....try it sometime.

I blog regularly....My blog gets a ton of traffic, so it must be liked by Google. I don't get a lot of comments and likes, but enough to keep it going!

https://sharoncummings.wordpress.com/

Lol, Greg, I get your drift; not a walkie-talkie. I'm pretty quiet myself, thus the need to blog once in a while to share my thoughts. Just wondered if other folks were getting any feedback. I do get lookers, but not a lot of comments. One blog I saw had a thousand comments, so I checked it out...and everyone comment was from the blog creator. Funny.

Thanks for your feedback, Roy...and Mike, too. Certainly what we say in a blog needs to be entertaining enough to spark some sort of interest and/or enthusiasm. Of course, every one is going to be a little different re what makes a subject and/or its matter attractive to them, as in worth reading and, then, replying to.

Hi Stevie! Appreciate your take. Makes sense!

Thanks, Xueling. Good to hear from you.

David K., I try to post once a month, at least, to be consistent...and try to vary the topics, personally-artistically-philosophically, as well. I guess to appeal to a variety of folks, it's good to do so. That way they get a feel as to who you are as a person and/or artist, what makes you tick & all.

I do promote Travel Pics...well, I don't promote 'Travel Pics', but rather my blog to be clear, lol, which in itself is just another way to promote. Thanks, though.

Sharon, not surprised your blog would be quite popular! Thanks for the link. Have a good night.

Er, RFG, kinder & gentler is good. Maybe not so much the approach that got you there, but such is life in the fast lane. I'll go read your blog.

Brooks,

Outside of the forum I am not social here on FAA/Pixels. I am all about SM. I have the numbers in many different SM formats, but that does not translate so well into traffic across many different SM/Blogs. I also have a Tumblr Blog. I have more faith that when I am Googled people will opt for what they want. If they want to follow me at all and eventually be a buyer.

I like that with my WP blog, I can auto post to FB, Twitter, Linkedin, Tumblr. And then with my auto pin button add the blog post to my Pinterest Blog Board. That is part of a top down management.

Dave

Dave, missed you up there earlier! Thanks for your reply & suggestion[s], of course. Good idea re the marketing and blogs. Smart use of space & time. Good to see you.

I really want to blog because I love to write but every time I think about it, 2 things keep getting in the way -
1. Can't imagine anyone caring about what I'm up to, art-wise or otherwise.
2. The stuff that may possibly be of any interest to anyone is not what I'd be comfortable blatting about to strangers.

Oy, Kathleen! I guess because folks tell me they think I'm interestingly entertaining in real life that, perhaps, it just might translate, as well, to the written word and, more specifically, via a blog if it's creative. Life is short, so, for what it's worth, share who you are, I say. Have a good night!

I get a LOT of mileage out of my Pixels blog. I mostly post my group features there. Each time I get a new feature I update the post for that image and tweet it ... I usually get about 4-7 RT's on Twitter and 60 + views on the blog. I also share feature updates via the blog in my weekly email campaign newsletter. ... and of course the SEO value.

I truly blog on LinkedIn, but find posting my group features on my pixel blog works like a 3rd party endorsement. Said another way, I can toot my own horn but when others recognize my work it gets way more mileage. ... and I've found that people after they view my blog posts that I link to, they start clicking tabs and find my images and galleries.

I have a blogspot. Don't have much time to blog. I write about my funny adventures behind the scenes.
Getting ready to post my most excellent adventure in France. Processing 2000 photos first.

My blog - This Redhead Can Paint! http://janifreimann.blogspot.com/?m=1

I tries to make a hyperlink and it didn't take so here is my clickable link: http://janifreimann.blogspot.com/?m=1

Thanks so much for sharing that, Jani! I'm eager to check out your 'most excellent France adventure' as soon as those thousands of pics are ready for prime time viewing. I'm hoping to get to the south of France this autumn. That's the plan, anyway!

Frank, I knew of your blogging experience & expertise. We can [all] learn a lot from you! But, if I posted every feature I got here, I'd never get any rest! Lol. Will check yours out, btw. Thanks.

I have never met anyone in person that "religously" reads blogs...they might stumble on an article here or there, but its not like they have to read the new writings of so and so....just my experience - personally, when i search for something, article or historical data or evidence, I will never select the search result that is a blog unless I have exhausted all other credible sources... Just my two cents.

I write a blog every Monday and Friday. I started off writing a blog on FAA and it got quite a lot of views that increased over time but I wanted something with more functionality so I started one separately attached to my personal website. I still post in my FAA blog but just a line of introduction, perhaps with an image, and then point the reader to the full blog if they want to read it. I gave my blog a massive overhaul a few weeks ago (I put some research time in over Christmas on how it could be improved) and my view count has doubled. As well as general SM I also share it on LinkedIn and I average 80-100 views per blog on there. http://www.shannathshima.me.uk/artblog/

In addition I write for other people as a guest blogger and for 1stAngel Arts Magazine.

In terms of topics, I write about any new collection, a trip that will be leading to some new art work (like my trip to Copenhagen before Christmas), my animals, my lifestyle here in Italy, my writing etc. Sometimes I get stuck in which case I look at what the national/international day is (for example yesterday was National Hug Day), or what a hot topic is in the news and see if I can work something around it building in some of my images.

I think it is scary when you start, what am I going to write about, will anyone be interested in what I have to say, am I going to look a complete idiot etc, etc but you get into the routine of doing it and I have found my style has developed over time and I really enjoy it.

Dorothy, if i was interested in that type of reading, I would certainly look you up, I like your drive and passion

Dorothy, thanks much for your excellent input & advice. I believe I will take it up a notch myself. Friends love my blog, but haven't seen much action at all on FAA, just once in a while. So, definitely will look into what you did. Appreciate that. Being a writer, as well, from the simplistic radio-TV script to poetry books & songwriting to bio editing/rewriting & short stories, creating a [monthly] blog just seemed a natural progression, plus it's something offered to us members for free, so why not take advantage of the opportunity? Congrats on your readership numbers, btw!

Newman, so true. One, the blogger, of course, would need to move the readers [bloggees?] in a way that would make them return for more....and, like I said, everyone is different as to what that looks like. You're right, Dorothy does exude passion...good thing!

I blog. For me, writing is a part of the creative thingy. Fun, and I try to be amusing, well, most of the time. Also read somewhere that Google likes blogs. Who knows if that's true ... read it on the internet, though, so it must be true, right?

Here's my latest: http://1stangel.co.uk/loisbryanphotography/counter-seating-available/

Brooks, a WP blog should be pretty straightforward. My difficulty was in using a WP website, the template was WP blog enabled, maybe they all are, that would make sense. I'm sure my mediocre computer skills didn't help. Still, it didn't seem the easiest thing to use and maintain.

Lois, Jetpack sounds familiar but I don't remember using any plug-ins for spam. I probably didn't, as I did get some spam, (assuming any spam blockers worked) actually that was all the comments I got I believe. They do come up with some neat names for the plug-ins, and templates, and the businesses/companies that develop WP templates. Not that that helped me, lol

My (very) new art website is wordpress http://dorothyberryloundart.com and I found it very easy to set up and easy to update regularly. You do have to think a bit about the placement of the images but I am pleased with the results though as it is new I am still tinkering round the edges. There are so many free templates you can choose from for a website and they can all be customized. The main difference between developing a website and a blog is that you work with pages rather than posts.

Yes to Jetpack. The plug in for spam I use is Akismet. Yoast for SEO. There are lots of different plug ins (including the social media share buttons I mentioned to Karen), I would recommend looking at reviews of them before installing them and make sure they are compatible with your version of wordpress. Also keep an eye out for all the regular updates.

Re the dashboard there are bits I think I have never even looked at, or maybe I clicked on, had fog come across my eyes and clicked out of it quick LOL. You do get used to it the more you use it.

Ken, if your computer skills are mediocre, then mine are [probably] hardly adequate, lol. I try, mostly with a little help from my sweet husband, who is a little more savvy, not much, but enough.
I don't have enough hours in the day, it seems, with painting & creating & hosting contests & writing & editing & gardening & house/self maintenance & life in general! So, he can be the one who stays somewhat current re the latest gadgetry & computers.
I actually don't even have a cell phone, if you can believe that! How do I exist without one you may ask? Very nicely, thanks. Have never even texted or tweeted...and proud of it.
I get what you are saying about WP, yes, pretty simple to set up the blog. The only reason I'm toying with the idea is that it might be worth it for promotional purposes. Hope so.

Dorothy, hmmm, a wordpress website, not a blog, you say; sounds intriguing. Thanks for all your valuable information & advice. I & others appreciate it. Nice site, btw, just took a peek!

I must say I am enjoying blogging so far...too much to say I guess! I am curious as to how it will affect sales...if at all. But for now I am willing to try
Here is the latest: https://karencookfineartphotography.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/meet-the-whites/

"I actually don't even have a cell phone, if you can believe that! How do I exist without one you may ask? Very nicely, thanks. Have never even texted...and proud of it. "

I knew there was a reason I liked you Brooks. I have a cell but it's an old pre-pay flip phone and I only have it because it's cheaper than a land lane for how little as I use the phone. It's never in my pocket either. It's always either sitting on the kitchen counter or in my car.

Lol, David! My husband always tries to get me to take his old cell phone with me whenever I go off on my own, just in case. But, I never do! Gee, I wonder how I've made it this far without one? Haha. Good to know I'm not alone...great minds & all.

Thanks for the update, Karen! 'Meet the Whites'...very cool.

Dorothy, nice website, clean and simple. WordPress blogs I think have a nice look to them.
Maybe I could have tried a different template, it was okay, mostly, once I was familiar with it, but it could be puzzling at times. There are independent developers who make them and allow free use. I'm going to go with it having some glitches...though maybe it didn't really.

Brooks, that's good you're happy and getting by without a cell phone, there's something to be said for keeping things simple. It seems you're so busy you wouldn't have time to be talking much on a cell phone anyway!.. but they are handy at times. Good luck with your WordPress blog. I have a site on FASO.com, so might try that blog.

I agree with Ken, Dorothy! Nice job...good luck. You can change the look of your site, right, if you wanted? I did see the ads for 'free' templates offered by others. Re-thinking the idea of creating yet another site, though.

Lol, Ken, I get what you're saying about the 'handiness'; agree with you. Husband John has one for biz & such, so he mans all the calls, even when one comes for me. But, most everyone knows it's a land-line call, if they want to talk with me! Just not going to give that up...ever. Lol.
I will check out your suggestion re the other blog. Thanks for the 'good luck'...I'm going to need it!

I occasionally blog on FAA - I don't think anyone reads them - and I delete them after a while.

Thanks for the kind comments on my new website I appreciate them.

Brooks, the same as with the look of your blog you can change the template for your wp website. Only note of caution there is making sure the plug ins you are using work with the template you select, sometimes thing go a bit weird if they are not. There are so many free templates available - I spent ages looking at different sites and templates before settling on the one for my website. I had to play with it quite a bit, removing sidebars and widgets etc.

Going back to the blog, I wanted a clean look so I went for drop down menus rather than lists, I decided not to have certain things shown (like tags as they had started to take over the right hand side of the blog - I started with them and then took them off). I have seen the visitors to my blog triple since Christmas and my views here on Pixels are up quite considerably too. Combine that with a few sales here and elsewhere and it is a good start to the year for me. I don't just blog of course, I write as a guest blogger and promote quite a bit on social media. But I was also doing that before Christmas, the difference is the blog I am sure. An unanticipated impact of my blog is the number of people interested in my writing and what I have to say which is encouraging too.

Tonight is blog night for me (Monday and Friday) and after a not very good night's sleep I have it all planned out LOL.

My latest FAA blog:
http://fineartamerica.com/blogs/hosting-faa-contests-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.html

Dorothy, sure appreciate your input & ideas. We all do. Thanks so much. I'm guessing your blog is about lack of sleep!? Lol. I posted a thread about that once, which proved quite popular & entertaining. Hope tonight offers a deeper, more restful slumber.

Thanks, everyone, for your posts, links & feedback!

Today, a short piece on pareidolia... https://searching4theshot.wordpress.com/2016/02/19/in-the-minds-eye-pareidolia/

Thank you for the comments on my website and Karen thank you for commenting on my blog - which was all about Graffiti Brooks LOL. It would be a very long blog if I were to write about sleep distubance :-)

I am going away next week and won't be able to do my Friday blog as I will be with my parents in the UK so I will be writing it this weekend and setting it up to be published on Friday - I love that facility on wp. Then all I have to do is promote it to the usual outlets (which I can do easily).

How many blog posts were written today?
http://www.worldometers.info/blogs/

That's a lot of competition for attention!

Michel
✈ https://traveltwip.wordpress.com/.

"That's a lot of competition for attention! "
Life's a challenge - this is just one more. I'm up for it with my ramblings :-)

-Richard
https://searching4theshot.wordpress.com/

I put various things on my blog, including artwork, rants, music & book reviews, more rants :)

https://thedoxietruth.wordpress.com/

I love rants, Manda! :-)

Rants, you say? I'm in, if expressed well...as in making sense, expanding the conversation and not dumping on others, like a certain link we have [all] unfortunately seen, via the 'outlaw' thread, written by someone who has 'issues', to say the least. That person went way off on a tangent in an entirely incoherent way. Can we say insane ramblings, was different from righteous rants! Oy. So, yeh, let's not re-visit that, okay. Cool.

Richard, thanks for your update & recent link! I will have to go check out YOUR 'rantings'.

Michel, there's a LOT of artists, too, and musicians and singers and actors and doctors and politicians, etc. Always has been & always will be competition! Remember Cain & Abel? So, you gotta make your particular place in & vision of the world stand out...somehow. Ya never know who will be reading what you have to say!
I blog because I enjoy it, but, of course, it would be great to get more people to pay attention, as you say. It's not my main goal, though. I act like 'they' have already arrived...so, it's worth my while to write in an interesting, humorous & informative way about life, me & my work. Can't hurt.

Manda has it right; variety is the spice! Good luck...and thanks for sharing your link & comments. Good to see you.

Dorothy, hope you got some good sleep. Can so relate. Let me know if & when you do post a blog on sleep, or lack of! Til then, graffiti will work! Have a great weekend. Enjoy your visit w/the parents. Good to know one can write their blog & then set it up to be published another day on wordpress.

My latest blog...a trip to a new location brought me joy, a photo I will always love and a new perspective on what is art

https://karencookfineartphotography.wordpress.com/2016/02/21/a-different-perspective/

Just for you Brooks

http://www.shannathshima.me.uk/artblog/sometimes-i-just-cannot-sleep/

And just in time, Dorothy! Lol. Will go read & report back.

Karen, thanks for your most recent. You are a natural-born blogger!

Dorothy, you might well have been channeling me when you wrote that! Lol. Pretty much the same here, but in our household hubby is the culprit re the snoring. And, he is, as they say, asleep before his head hits the pillow, as well. And, no, I don't want to get out from under the warmth of my comfy comforter either, whether I've hardly slept a wink or the whole night through.
Like you, I've learned to 'go with the flow'. What else can we do? You're right re real or imagined worries building & causing havoc. Once my mind 'goes there', forgetaboutit. I already lay there for an hour, as it is, going over my day. And, the creative ideas cropping up during the twilight hours, yep. I write poetry & songs, as well, so when a thought comes to me I simply must jot it down. Then, comes the next line...and the next.
Deep breathing does help to relax & calm the mind-body, I agree. That, and, sometimes, just repeating a simple affirmation over & over [instead of 'counting sheep'] will help me ease into a gentle sleep rhythm...for a while, anyway.
With all the construction noise going on nearby these days, starting very early, if I haven't gotten much sleep by the time it begins, I'm not going to get ANY...not even a nap later. I have an FAA blog re that titled 'One of Those Days!'
Good news is, no matter whether I'm 'sleepless in Ashland' or not, I'm thankful for my blessings, like that warm duvet & a comfy place to, at least, rest my body-mind-spirit...and think!

Glad you liked it Brooks. I had an email from my Mum that said 'that's me!!!!' - I think we are not alone LOL.

Yep, good one, Dorothy. And, no, fortunately or un, we are not the only 'walking sleep-deprived'! That's especially true on FAA, lol. Our peeps.

I do post short little blog "notes" here on FAA, mainly to announce new things I've got going on. I finally got my blog set up on my new website platform yesterday, and have starting posting to it, which is better for me than the FAA one because I like to add a lot of photos to help tell my stories about my wildlife adventures. I've called it "Wildlife Tales", Stories From The Field. So far, my response from people who have seen it has been good, so I guess I'm on the right track! http://www.jaiart.com/wildlife-tales

Welcome, Jai! What a beautiful website! Your photography is a-mazing. Wonderful presentation & story telling!

If I may ask a couple of [silly] questions ~ the RSS tab you have there down on the right, how does one add that? Karen mentioned earlier that we have to have this option available for people to subscribe to our blog. Also, did you custom design the site yourself or have help? Curious, as I'm thinking of going for a website that includes a blog rather than just creating another blog.

Look forward to hearing from you! Thanks for sharing your comments & link. I can see why the response has been good/great!


Karen, just saw your lovely post by chance via my 'age is just a number' blog! Hate that we don't get a notification when someone leaves a comment? Was going to make one there myself when I saw yours. Thanks so much for your kind words! Glad to be of some inspiration re your leap-of-faith into the blogosphere. You are a natural; excellent job!

Thanks Brooks! I appreciate your kind comments.

That RSS tab is automatically on the blog page when I set it up. My site is hosted via Weebly.com. Been with them for years for several websites and I am very happy. I chose one of their templates for the site, but of course, added my own logo {and my own header image on the blog to replace the one they had on that template}. It's very easy to work with....drag and drop the components you want on the pages.

Hope that helps! :)

My pleasure, Jai. Your work is, as 'they' say all over FAA, 'stunning'. Your 'Winter Eagle 2' is one of my newest faves!

Appreciate the info; it does help, yes. Will check out Weebly.com to see if it's a good fit for me, too. Hope so!

Saw that your beautiful butterfly imagery came in 4th in my 'Winged Beauty ~ butterflies' contest. Good for you. Would've liked to see it place 1, 2 or 3, but, 4th is good, too!


One of my most recent. Anyone is welcome to leave a comment.
http://fineartamerica.com/blogs/the-art-of-reworking-older-pieces.html