A PSA (and Giveaway) About Getting People to Read Your Blog

When I have time to read blogs, I do it in one of four ways:

1) I click on your name in a comment you left on my blog and follow the trail of breadcrumbs to your blog.   Half the time, though, like Hansel and Gretel, I find no crumbs; I'm led to a dead end, and as much as I love you, I don't have time to go searching for your blog via your name. If you take the time to set up your profile (and add your blog's url) to whatever platform you use for commenting (Discus, Blogger, etc.) it makes it easy for people to return blog visits. If you're wondering why you haven't had a lot of replies to comments you've left on blogs (or return visits to your blog), you might check to be sure you have set up a profile set up on your commenting platform of choice.

2) Another way I might end up at your blog is by seeing a comment from you on someone else's blog.  I love bumping into friends this way; it's keeps things interesting.

3) I use my Google Reader to check in on the blogs I've got there. If you don't use a reader for blogs, I highly recommend it. It beautifully simplifies and organizes your blog-reading. This is something you really should consider if you currently use Google Friend Connect to keep up with your favorite blogs--GFC is being discontinued in March of this year. That means that all of the "Blogs I'm Following" list will disappear. Adding a blog to Google Reader is simple to do. You don't have to have a Google email address to use Google Reader. Click Google Reader for Beginners to learn more.

4) When I see interesting blog posts that catch my eye on my Half-Past Kissin' Time Google+ profile, I visit the blog. Since my blogging circles are all attached to that profile (instead of my Barbara Jean profile), I know just where to go to catch up with blogs.

I'm sure other people use these methods as well. In short, the way to get people to read your blog is to make it easy for people to find it and establish a presence in the social networking world. (Of course, there are many other important factors related to getting people to read your blog more than once, but that's an entirely different post.)

And now, to reward the crumb-droppers among you, I am having a giveaway. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment (and a trail back to your blog). Here are some helpful links for how to do this:

*Create a Disqus Profile (SO easy! Just enter your email/username and then add your blog url.)
*Make sure your Google Profile has your blog listed (You don't have to be a Blogger blogger to enter it.)
*If you use the Blogger commenting platform (instead of Disqus), choose the Name/Url option.
*Email me if you need help!

The prize? Oh, yeah, the prize....Hm. How about a dozen cake-pops (or maybe cake bites)? (They ship nicely during the winter.)

*There will be two winners.
*Deadline:  Saturday, January 28th at 12am.

Ready? Go!