Unique Times

I have a few discoveries I made this week about blogging I wanted to share with you but first a poem:

Today’s misgiving is tomorrow’s Thanksgiving
so no matter where you find yourself today,
give thanks for where ever life finds you. 
As the colors change and leaves drop
rebirthing of buds and new growth 
bring the promise of hope

First of all, if you celebrate Thanksgiving, I just want to say that I hope yours was full of abundance, joy and blessed moments. If you don’t, I hope you take a moment in your day just to be grateful for something in your day or life that you have either had or have that fills your heart with joy. Also, Happy Hanukkah to all of my Jewish friends of faith that celebrate. I usually try to make latkes to honor the day but with Thanksgiving so close and so many people over, I had a brain fade. The good news is I am long on potatoes and Hanukkah lasts for 6 days!

While I had a wonderful time with family and friends and mixed things up quite a bit this year with our guest list and numbers, I missed all of you.

Seriously, it’s only been 2 planned posts I missed but it felt like eternity. I know that might sound a little weird and down right crazy to non bloggers, who let’s just say think we’re a little “touched” or probably a lot and maybe we are.

I can’t say I blame them as I would have NEVER understood before I started blogging, so I can’t expect them to. So are we blogging addicts or junkies? IDK (saved for another post) but withdraws were difficult and I wanted to wish you all a wonderful day but with a full plate… yes, amazing people and delectable food, it was impossible. Missing a Fun Fri-Yay was hard for me when I had promised pictures and Haiku’s I wanted to share with all of you.

When I finally could come and visit, one of the things I was struck by was how far behind I was in reading everyone’s post. I know I miss some but I do my damndest to stay up on what you are all doing as much as I can or at least let you know I’m thinking of you with a like until a later time. When I can comment I do, or I go back later and read what you’re up to. However I was tongue tied and hand tied and with a full house, so I had to abandon it all together. It made me realize a few things a little more clearly in the blogging world. Although I knew these things, having an experience of them brought them to light. I’m sure they’ve all been said before but hopefully you will find them useful.

Blogging Secrets you Realize Later:

1. People have Their Own Schedules of Reading Posts:

Not everyone reads and responds to posts everyday, just because you do. I am pretty adamant about checking comments and commenting every day.
I try to read my followers posts as soon as they write when I can or within a day or two. People often say, how do you do that with so many comments and I truly don’t know how I do, but it’s important to me so I fit it into my day and keep weird hours, just so I can, but that isn’t the norm. I used to wonder where my friend so and so was and why I hadn’t heard from them yet. Then one day I asked a blogger how he manages and he said “I have life, I try to schedule people in when I can”. I was so perplexed but it’s making more sense as my following grows.

2. As your Following Grows, you still only have so many hours in a day so use them wisely and start with who actually follows you:

I personally like to reciprocate to everyone who follows me or likes me every day but you will find time running out and you have to start somewhere, so start with your followers first. If and when you have time comment, when you feel moved or go back later by bookmarking a page. Next, go to your likes and if time permits you can check out their post as well.

3. Remember to Check Out Who’s Following You:

When I can actually go to their page and it hasn’t expired, it doesn’t look like advertising and they have some information about them I can peruse, I will follow them back but if not, I move on or leave a comment thanking them for their follow. If they respond back we start a dialogue and I am happy to teach them how to make an about page. I usually tell them to google it and when they come back if they are legit, I follow them. If they don’t, I don’t waste my time. I probably won’t have time to do that in the future but for now it works for me.

4. Have a Home Page and some information about Yourself:

There are so many scammers and salespeople so it’s really helpful to let people know who you are. Again, just Google Word Press homepage here for easy steps. Great, now that you’re done with that, you are getting there. Our community is very supportive and want to know you, even those of us that have large followings.

5. Be Consistent with your Writing even if it’s once in awhile so people get to know you:

If you start a blog and drop off the planet, it’s hard to build traction. You don’t need to blog everyday and certainly not several times a day. My own pet peeve is seeing someone posting several posts a day as I can’t possibly keep up with that so I pick one or 2 to like.

6. Build Relationships by Commenting on Bloggers sites you like:

Let them know what you enjoyed about their post. You will have to be the one to reach out. I know plenty of bloggers that will not take on more followers but I know many that are thrilled to so DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY, just move on and look at sites and people you want to connect with. You’re the new kid on the block so remember that. Their dance card might be full.

7. Reciprocity: Don’t be a Writing Blog Hog:

For me, I can’t write unless it’s a 2 way street. In other words, while you might like to write a lot (like most of us do or we wouldn’t be here), make sure you take time to read other people you values work.

8. Write Good Material:

It speaks for itself. There is a lot of talk on the proper length of a post and you can research that but I find if I trust my instincts, throw in pictures and quotes to mix it up and mix the long ones out with the short ones, it balances itself out. Just remember we have the attention of a gold fish. At least one of our friends pointed out once, who come to think of it, I haven’t seen for awhile. I kind of agree with him since we are bombarded so much these days.

9. People Come and Go Here so don’t get too attached:

I haven’t learned this yet because I love my friends here and I truly can’t wait to read them everyday and hear their comments. The relationships formed are part of the fabric of my day but like friends in life, some leave. They die, they have unfortunate circumstances that keep them away for whatever reason so know that. Just today I reached out again to some of my old friends that are no longer with us but keep the faith, sometimes they show up again.

10. Make a Manageable Schedule You Can Sustain:

We are human beings, not human doings and sometimes it can feel like that.
Do what you can and work how you are comfortable working but I will warn you, you must factor yourself in.
As I said I like to check things ASAP and when I trust a fellow blogger’s work I will give them a like but be prepared that some people will not like it.

Much to my dismay, I received and email from a post follower that said;

I just noticed you liked eight my posts in under a minute. While I appreciate the gesture I wish you would stop doing it. I suppose some people might be shallow enough to “serial like” everything to boost their own numbers, gratefully I am not one of them. Please, be so nice and unfollow my blog and spare me more insults. I prefer readers who actually can (and will) read. 🙂 All the best.

My response:

Soooo sorry to hear you are taking this personal and as an insult. I’ve been so busy and wanted you to know that I find your work honorable and that I was thinking of you since I couldn’t respond at the time. I go back often later and make comments when time affords me to. I actually appreciate knowing people trust my work enough to like it and realize they are busy and have a huge life other than blogging and can’t always comment and am trying to catch up. This has nothing to do with boosting numbers. It has to do with being respectful when people have been admirable of my work which you have been in the past. I will unfollow you, no problem.
I wish you well. 🙏🌷

She said thank you and I said Pleasure!

I had a new friend Mike that came to my rescue and was very kind which I appreciated very much. Thank you Mike. I truly am diligent and do my best to let others know I care but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.
P.S. if you like me and don’t comment I’m good with that and appreciate your time. Even that takes time…I know.

11. Finally Limit your Time Blogging:

I still haven’t mastered this as it’s like the laundry, it’s never done so it’s vital that you set your own parameters. When I learn it, I’ll be back with some new found secrets to make your life a little easier.

In the meantime, it’s a new week so make it great and do what you love and remember, you can’t please everyone all of the time as much as you try, so please yourself first.

And one more thing before I go:

Please follow me now on Twitter too 🤣. I told Gabriela from Short Prose Poetry and Prose that if I was on Twitter, I would follow her but I can’t manage one more thing right now. She responded she understood but if I wanted to write poetry it was the number one thing that took her book Woman: Splendor and Sorrow to the Amazon # 1 Best selling list. I’m trying to get a post in once in awhile and doing my best.

Blessings of Gratitude and keep trying new things, back out if they don’t work for you and keep laughing,

💖

Cindy