Archive for November, 2006
November 30, 2006· Filed under Blog Carnival, Blog Tipping, Blogjolt, Working from Home
Wow! That title ended up a bit longer than I had hoped. Anyhow, when I started blogging I was so happy if I had one or two readers a day and I just didn’t know how I was going to build the traffic to my sites. I did plenty of research and started following a few successful blogs. Here are 5 of my favorite ways to gain new readers, meet new bloggers and cure writers block!
1. Go Blogtipping
Blogtipping is a concept inspired by Easton at Business Blogwire. The idea is easy. On the first day of each month, write about three blogs that you like and list three things you like about each blog. For added measure, give each blog a tip as to how they could improve their blog. Bloggers love to be tipped! Chances are they will leave you a nice comment, give you a little link love or become a new regular at your blog.
Added bonus: Easton does a wrap up post after the fact and highlights the blogtippers and tippees!
2. Join the Carnival
Not quite a circus, but fun, none the less! For a carnival, the host/hostess of the carnival picks a topic for the post and you write a post at your blog about the topic. You link to the host blog/post in your post. The carnival host will then list everyone who participated. My favorite Blog Carnival is the Red Hot Bloggers at MomGadget.
3. BlogJolt
I recently discovered this activity at eMoms at Home. The eMoms Blog Jolt Group hosts weekly “Jolts†in which the group members feature a chosen member blog to flood with traffic and inbound links.
Added bonus: There is an archive page and if your blog was jolted, you have a nice permanent feature.
4. Open Mic Night
Liz at Successful Blog is the Queen of Conversation in my book! Each Tuesday night she hosts Open Comment night at her blog. She picks the topic and bloggers from around the globe create an ongoing conversation that often lasts well into the night.
Added bonus: She also creates a great post-event wrap up post.
5. Stop lurking!
Leave a comment on a post that makes you think, laugh, or taught you something. Chances are, the blogger will visit you, too. Find a few forums that fit your personality, area of expertise, or area of desired learning and stop lurking. Use the forums to gain new blogging friends and share your knowledge – you won’t be disappointed.
I know there are other creative ideas to generate blog traffic and meet new blogs/bloggers in the process, but these are my favorites right now!
November 29, 2006· Filed under Blog Carnival
Do you want to be a Red Hot Blogger? It’s easy, join the MomGadget blog carnivals and you too can display this badge on your blog.
Participating in blog carnivals is a lot of fun, but it also:
- Inspires new posting ideas
- Increases the traffic to your blog
- Lets you meet new blogs/bloggers along the way
There are new blog carnivals going on each week and there are a variety of topics being featured. I am sure you will find one or two that will inspire you. And you can pick up a saucy new badge for your blog, too!
November 29, 2006· Filed under Recipes
I found this recipe on FoodTV.com and made it for Thanksgiving. It was extremely easy to make and delicious. The lime crema was the clincher – it would be great on a variety of other dishes, too.
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
2 halves roasted butternut squash
2 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon curry powder
Salt and ground black pepper
Lime Crema, recipe follows
Lime zest, to garnish, if desired
Scoop flesh out of butternut squash with a spoon. In a medium saucepan, combine broth, flesh of butternut squash, garlic powder, onion powder, curry powder, salt and pepper. Set pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer, about 10 minutes. Puree soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Ladle into bowls. Serve with a dollop of Lime Crema and garnish with extra lime zest, if desired.
Lime Crema:
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/4 teaspoon lime zest
1 tablespoon lime juice In a small bowl, combine sour cream, lime zest, and lime juice. Whisk to combine. Serve over Curried Butternut Squash Soup.
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November 27, 2006· Filed under Shopping, Uncategorized
It’s Monday, Cyber Monday that is. Shoppers are returning to their offices (and for many their high speed internet access), kids are returning to school (did I hear an applause from all the moms) and it is beginning to feel a bit like Christmas. Today is expected to be the busiest on-line shopping day of the season and it is my kind of day!
I’m not one to fight crowds, stand in line or get all worked up about the must have toys. Me, I like the ease and comfort of shopping from my office – a mouse in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. The deals have been coming into my inbox from all my favorites, courting me and my Visa, luring me to their sites with great bargains and offers of free shipping – ahhh, technology – I love it!
So, I will share with you some deals that I have found and intend on taking advantage of (some of these are affiliate links and some are not):
- My daughter needs some items to go with her room decor – Bombay Kids has a $20 off $100 code (WBWRM6AZ)
- Amazon
always has great deals on the hottest toys, gifts, and such, not to mention FREE SHIPPING.
- Etoys is advertising 60% off deals for Cyber Monday.
- Coldwater Creek has a $25 off $100 deal going now (code is FROSTY)
- If you have little ones, don’t forget Personalized Letters from Santa
I’ll add more deals as I find them, but in the meantime, Happy Shopping! 
November 22, 2006· Filed under Blog Carnival, Shopping
I have never been one to face the Black Friday shopping frenzy head on and this year will be no different. If there are some great deals to be had, I am more likely to log on to my trusty computer, coffee in one hand and a mouse in the other and do my shopping that way.
I know that some people love the rush and thrill of Black Friday shopping, but I am just not into crowds. After hearing the stories of lines, violence and heartbreak over the release of PS3, TMX Elmo and others, I am just not doing it. There is nothing on my holiday gift list that will sell out on Friday and if it does, then no big deal.
This post is part of a Blog Carnival that is being hosted by Holiday Mom on Friday. Check it out and see what everyone else thinks of Black Friday!
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