It's Your Blog: Use It When You Need It

Sometimes, your writing is actually better when you just relax.

Sometimes I, as many of you other bloggers out there might, get too caught up in the business aspect of a blog, rather than the other, less work aspect of blogging. The writing. When I feel like I'm up to my ears in traffic-increase articles and SEO tip blogs, I take a step back from it all and think.

Why did you start blogging in the first place?

What were you thinking when you opening Blogger, full of fresh ideas and ready to change the blogosphere, or maybe the world? You were going to take the world by storm, remember?

Now, you may not be exactly like me in that sense, but I'm sure you had some reason for starting your blog. Regardless of what it is, sit back and think about it.

I started a blog because I love writing, it seemed fun, and I wanted to experience a new kind of community. When I think about that, I realize that it's not a big deal sometimes if you just can't figure out what the heck SEO is.

Because frankly, I don't think too many people have it down pat either.

This post is a spawn of one of those hectic times, when I needed to sit back and think about why I love blogging, and do this everyday, aside from being a full time student. I do it because I love that feeling when you publish a post, that feeling when you see you have a new comment, that feeling when your page views for the day reach a new high for you. I love the feeling of being a blogger.

So, I opened a new tab, because those other articles can wait. I opened up a new post, and just wrote out whatever I was feeling.

And you know what? I feel ten times better. Thank you for that.

Because without my readers, my commenters, my subscribers, my wall flowers who skim yet never come forward to leave a comment; I do this for you. My blog would be nothing without you. And this is your thank you.

Next time you want to post something, but you're not sure how it's going to sound, or if it's going to look right, or you don't feel like doing research for yet another pillar article; just remember these four words:

That Is Your Blog.

You are the only one who can wholly decide what goes and what doesn't, what gets posted and what becomes a regular in the draft folder. When you need to vent ideas, or rant about someone in the Starbucks line, go Nike on those thoughts and JUST DO IT.

You'll feel better, and if your readers are as loyal as you think, they aren't going to mind. They may actually like the change from the informational and dry posts. Giving a glimpse of your thoughts is sometimes a great thing for readers.

Remember that not every post has to start in your head as hard work. Not everything you type has to start with you trying to make it your "best ever".

Sometimes your best posts will be the ones you just put your heart into. Next time you sit down to peck out another article on whatever niche you're in, try sitting down and just writing what comes to mind.

You may just be surprised with the results.

How To Get More Traffic To Your Blog: Craigslist

Okay, I discovered something last night, and I just had to share it. While trying to think about ways to promote my blog and advertise, somehow this idea popped into my head, and I'm so glad it did.

Last evening I went onto Craigslist, and went to my town's Computer Gigs section. I typed up a quick ad, and posted it to the site. I'm not sure if advertising on Craigslist is allowed, or white hat, or anything, but all I know is it worked extremely well.

I went to all the big towns (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc) and posted on their page. I put the exact same ad for each one. After ten minutes, and five posts, I checked my page views for the day.

They had tripled. And it wasn't just quick click, then leaving. People were staying, people were commenting. I was shocked.

Here's a picture of what my ad looked like:

I placed this ad on multiple "Computer Gigs" post lists on Craigslist.

So before writing this post today, I check my feeds subscribers. They were increased 110%. I was again shocked that so little work had such great results. I realized then it's all about getting your name out there.

So here's how I did it, step by step:

Step One: Pick a Town's Craigslist Posting Page
You can do that by going to Craigslist here and picking a town.

Step Two: Click on anything under "Gigs"
I picked "Computer Gigs", since it seemed fitting.

Step Three: Pick "I Need To Hire".
It really doesn't matter, but you'll get more views that way.

Step Four: Finish that, and enter in your information. 
I picked a title saying "Blog Readers Needed" and put the location as "Anywhere".

Step Five: Type Up a Quick Ad.
Fill in your email, and click "No Pay" (Unless you're paying people to read your blog).

Step Six: Submit It and Confirm by Email
Once you do, it'll be live on the site.

I'm not sure if Craigslist will keep these ads up or take them down for spam. I didn't do it on my account so I'm not worried about being banned or anything, so if you are I wouldn't recommend this. This is just a way to get your blog's name out there, and maybe gain some readers or subscriptions from it.

If you're worried about Craigslist getting upset or something horrific happens from Google because of this, this is my warning (and way of not getting angry comments from it). I don't know if it will work for sure, but it definitely worked for me, and I want to share my success.

What was your biggest advertisement success?

Also, a great site to view for a plethora of advertising ideas is SEOMOZ, it's a great site and has helped me out a lot.

Happy Blogging!

Five Hundred Views! (You guys are the best)

At least I'm not the only one excited about this.
(10 Points for Cuteness)

Okay, maybe five hundred views isn't something to get excited about for you. If you are one of those people, I'm sorry this post might seem a bit frivolous.

As for the others...

I'm seriously pretty excited! I mean, five hundred views isn't breath-taking. It isn't phenomenal, and it isn't top-notch by any means. And I am aware of this. Yet, I still was very happy to see that number in my page view box last evening. (And yes, I turned off tracking my own page views, so these are all legitimate.) Why am I excited?

Because before you can hit fifty-thousand, you have to first pass five hundred. So this is my milestone.

Maybe your baby rolling over isn't huge in the scheme of things, and they will probably do it many times in their lifetime, but that first time your pretty happy.

And can you honestly say when you first entered the blogging world, your first little achievements didn't make you even a tiny bit excited?

Not even a little?

So October 10th was my first full week with Balescene. It's been a really fun experience blogging and getting used to all the features and things that go along with it. I've enjoyed it, and often found myself looking forward to writing during classes. This has been a fun beginning.

So what my comments are still very sparing, and my page views might be small depending on your own? This is my first time around, and I feel pretty darn happy about it.

Celebratory hot chocolate anyone? :)

UPDATE: By the way, by the time I posted this, I had already gotten to 600 views! You guys are the best!

Make Money With Your Blog: Google Adsense

With Some Work, Your Blog Can Be Making Money With Adsense, Too.

Most people who own a blog know at least something about  trying to monetize it. Making money for your blog can help with domain name costs, help increase your advertising budget, and just help you have some extra money on the side. One way to make money from your blog is to use Google's Adsense feature.

Google Adsense is nothing more than text and image ads. They use words that are written on your page to make ads that go along with your articles. You earn a percentage of the amount paid by the advertiser, depending on how many people click on the ads on your website.

Google Adsense is defiantly not a get rich quick scheme. Your money directly reflects on how many page views you have and how many people click on your ads. Google will monitor your blog once you put them up though, so don't try to post ads saying to click on your ads, because they will shut down your account.

Step One: Make A Google Adsense Account

You can do this by going to www.google.com/adense. You log into your Google Account, and then go through the steps on the screen to set up your account. You may need to verify your email address, also.

After finishing the set up, Google may take up to three days to review your website, and to make sure it is legitimate and you're not just trying to scam them out of some money. Once they approve you, you're ready to start making money.

Step Two: Ad Placement

After you've been approved, you need to think about where you're going to place the ads on your page. Where you place them can directly impact how much money you make. Try experimenting with different positions, but don't over fill your blog with ads, because Google might take it as spam and ban you.

Along with ads placement comes ads coloring. You want to try to make the ads look appealing, and make people want to click on them. For this, you can try hundreds of different combinations and pick what you like best.

Step Three: Start Earning

Basically, that's all there is to making money using Adsense. Like I said earlier, this is no get rich quick scheme, and it usually takes a long time to even make pocket change when your starting out. So don't rush things; just sit down, write good posts, and get more traffic to your site, and the money will start to roll in. There are many good pages to read to learn how to monetize your blog, and some will give you more tips, but be careful with what you try, because Google can dock your search engine rankings for trying to cheat them in their own game.

I hope this blog helps you with making a little money on the side with your blog. If you have any questions just leave them below! Follow @Balescene on Twitter for news on any new posts or upcoming contests.

Your URL... Live It, Love It, Promote It.

Getting more viewers is easy when you know how.

How many of you caught my slight “The Game Plan” reference? Great Movie. Anyways, an idea for a post came to me while checking up on my favorite blogs today.

How Do You Feel About Your Brand’s Name?

How many of you love your URL?

You may be thinking how strange of a question that is, but really think about it. What do you think when you hear your brands name? What made you pick the brand name you did?

Once you pick a name for your blog, and you start promoting it, there’s usually no going back. If you really wanted to change it, you could, but it would result in confusion and a noticeable loss of viewership. 

That’s why picking a name is so important. It’s like naming your child; once you pick it, it usually sticks.

Live It

What I mean by “Live It” is that you need to incorporate your blog’s name into your every day life. Whether it’s checking your blogs social media pages daily, or replying to emails it’s generated, it needs to become a part of your routine for it to have the success you desire.

Love It

If you cringe every time you hear your brand’s name, you might have to change it. Even if you’ve done a lot of promoting, you can’t truly give it your all to a blog with a name you hate.

You need to love the name; love saying the name, love writing the name, love posting the name. The quicker you learn that, the quicker you’ll be able to move on to the next step.

Promote It

Whatever advice people have given you on promoting, take it and put it aside. Don’t get rid of it, but always be willing to let more come in and to give the new ideas a chance.

You never know what will bring in subscribers. Put a hyperlinked version of your blog name in your email signature. Mention it during a lull in conversation. 

If you feel like you talk about your blog more than anything else, this can either be a great thing, or a not-so-great thing. Great if you’re promoting it on social media, mentioning it once in a conversation, attaching it on an email; but bad if you’re over doing it.

Over-doing it can be as simple as mentioning it more than one time ever in a conversation with a person. People don’t want to hear about the same thing over and over. They get bored. Once you’ve said your piece, step down and let the seeds you’ve planted grow.

What have you done recently to noticeably gain readers? Have you ever had to change your brand’s name? Join the discussion in the box below.

 

Quick Way to Fix a Crack in Your Phone Screen

So it happened. You were walking on the sidewalk, rocking out to some awesome songs, when your phone or iPod took it's final skydive, and now the screen's shattered.

Usually, taking it in to your provider can result in either you having to buy a whole new phone, which can get pricey, or you can buy a replacement screen and kit for about $100.

If you're looking for ways to avoid that burden, here's a couple of ideas to try to mend the crack, or at least keep it from spreading.

Warning: Once you do any of these, your warranty may be voided. Take caution in doing this. If you're not sure if it will void your warranty or not, ask your service provider.

Use Clear Nail Polish, Superglue or Nail Glue, etc.

A few years ago, after getting a shiny new Apple iPod Touch, I inevitably cracked the screen. It was a combination of their easy-to-crack screens, and me carrying it in my back pocket and leaning over the edge of a chair. Nonetheless, The bottom left hand corner of my iPod had been shattered.

I knew I couldn't get another as this one had been a gift, I had to do some thinking. I knew I didn't have a warranty on it, so basically I was stuck with it. Once I cut myself on a piece of glass trying to use the screen, I knew I had to do something about it.

What You'll Need:

- Your Cracked Screen

- Clear Nail Polish, Nail Glue, or Super Glue

This kind of fix is for small cracks only! This would probably not work as well in a full on shatter.

This method is not perfect, but it kept my few cracks from spreading for five months (until I completely shattered the screen in another horrible, yet unrelated, incident.) 

I cleaned off the cracks as best possible, took out some clear nail polish, and followed the lines of the crack using the brush. I made sure it filled the cracks without them overflowing, and I kept it on only that part of the screen.

I let it dry and made sure that it was smooth, and I never had another problem with it again. I'm sure nail glue or small amounts of superglue would work the same way as the nail polish did.

If your screen is shattered or has more than a few cracks, visit any of these websites that have detailed descriptions on how to fix your screen:

How To Fix A Cell Phone Screen

C.R.A.F.T. # 76: How to Replace a Broken/ Cracked iPhone Screen

How to Fix A Broken Screen on your iPhone 

Do you have an interesting story on how you shattered your phone screen? Tell me in the comment section below, along with any other questions or suggestions you have.

Five Easy Ways to Get More Readers on Your Blog

Getting Readers On Your Blog Isn't as Hard
As It Seems When You Know How

Everyone wants to get recognized for their work in their blog. One of the best ways to get the online traffic you desire is to get your name out there.

1. Pick a niche.

Just as Balescene is a blog revolving mainly around technology and social media, your blog needs to be about something.

That may sound obvious, but you wouldn't know how many people have blogs about, well, nothing.

Pick something you're passionate about, or something you can't stop thinking up topics for. Once you have a niche, you can move on to your next step.


2. Post on fifty blogs matching your niche.

Fifty might sound like a lot, but the main way to get recognized is to get your blogs name out there.

Find at least fifty or more blogs that pertain to what you like, and post a comment. Don’t post something like “Good work!” or “Check out my blog!” because people won’t pay attention to those comments, and you won’t be taken seriously.

Write down whatever thoughts are in your head as your reading it. Be constructive, but don’t be afraid to disagree. Chances are, longer comments draw more attention and look professional, and people out there who have the same opinion as you will be more inclined to check out your other work.

Tack on a signature; something like “Amy Bales, www.balescene.blogspot.com” and remember to keep it simple, yet tasteful.

3. Make your posts interesting.

This may seem like another obvious suggestion, but it’s an important one.

Blog posts need to stay on topic so readers stay interested. Pick a topic, write all the detail you need, and publish it. Don’t go on a tangent with too many with stories and side notes, because people are looking for information, and usually will lose interest.

As long as you’re staying close to your niche topic in a post, readers are usually pretty open minded.

4. Promote, Promote, Promote.

Whether it’s Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or any other social media, the more your brand is out there, the more people will hear about it.

Get a Google+ and make a page promoting your brand, and make sure to send it out to all your circles. When you set up a Facebook page, promote it and  keep it updated with new information. Tweet often about current trending topics and watch your followers grow.

Don’t over do it, but the more people who see your name, the more people you’ll get checking out your site. Use your link in your signature everywhere, and never forget to add it in before you post anything.

It's like advertising a business, and putting effort into this could help you later on.

5. Write with your own voice.

Everyone has their own voice in writing, and the best writers express it in all their works. Instead of thinking about how you’re typing for the whole internet to see, create your ideal reader in your head.

Think about your target audience; their age, gender, and personality. Imagine a person matching that description in your head. Give them a name and a short biography, and make them seem real.

Now when you go to write, sit down and pretend your writing a post directly to that person. Talk comfortably, like how you would with friends, and relax when writing. Chances are, your writing will noticeably improve, and writing will feel more natural for you.

I’m not guaranteeing you to get a plethora of new readers, or even overly improved traffic; but if you do these things, you have a better chance of getting noticed.

Your blog or website's success is directly based on your input to it; how much time and effort you spend each night will show. Nobody ever said it was easy to get an award-winning blog, but it’s definitely not impossible either.

If you have a blog, what ways do you use to bring in subscriptions? What ways do you recommend?

Tell me in the comment section below, along with any other questions you have. Oh yeah, don't forget to subscribe to my RSS feed! (as seen on the right above "Blog Archive")