December 5, 2011

The Hows, Whys, & Whats of Blogging

Good Morning!  
Guess what I did this weekend?  
If you guessed that I spent Saturday night with a group of beautiful, smart, lovely ladies you are RIGHT!


This weekend was our 2nd annual Columbus Blogger Meet Up! To say we had fun is an understatement, we had a BLAST!  Seriously these girls are the best group of bloggers any state has to offer {I may be biased, so what!}.  We laughed, we talked, we ate, we drank, what's not to love?  And to make the night even more special, Lindsey and I hit up our local Kroger Marketplace and stocked up on baskets and pillows galore, I told you Columbus girls know how to have a good time.
I love blog events.  No one gets it unless they are a part of it.  Last year we told our waiter that we were all strangers and had never met until that moment and we got strange looks followed by the best service in Columbus{someone was afraid all the bloggers would end up writing bad reviews}.
A common question was "how did you start blogging"?  There seemed to be one common answer, we all wanted a creative outlet and had no idea it would turn into "this".  "This" being the most awesome hobby I've ever had, well the only hobby I've ever had if we're being honest.
Some started as a way to connect with family members, some use it as a way to pass time, and some don't even tell their family and friends about it, sneaky sneaky.  But we all agreed on one thing, we love it.  
One thing we all chatted about, and a question I get lots, was how to blog.  How do you know what to blog about?  When do you blog?  Why do you blog?  How do you get followers?   And what, in the world, is Twitter all about?
For me I blog about life, obviously.  I write about the haps of the Dew family, celebrity gossip that amuses me, and the occasional moving post.  I write about things that interest me and hope that everyone else feels the same.  I rarely think about my audience when I blog, not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing though. I do have family that reads and sometimes I'll wonder if I've ever posted anything I might not want them to know and then I realize my life is an open book and I really have no secrets.  I've never really received negative comments or feedback so I guess I'm doing ok.  Basically, I blog for me.  I love it, it makes me happy and you all reading and commenting and sharing is just an added bonus.  Also, and this is a must, be honest, be you.  I've heard a lot of people say that "so and so" isn't really like that in person and that makes my heart sad.  The only way we "know" you is through your blog and what you tell the world, so be true to that.  People love honesty and reading things they can relate to.  Could you imagine meeting your favorite blogger in person just to find out they are nothing like they perceive them-self online?  The horror! 
I blog when I have time.  Sometimes that means I blog at work, oops.  Actually I think most of my blogging happens at work {we are REALLY slow right now, FYI}.  Sometimes I will think of something while I'm out and about or right before I go to sleep and in these cases I usually jot something down in my phone, really quickly, so I don't forget.  Many times I blog when Kendall goes down at night, if it's an off night for running, or during nap time.  It's important to me, like exercising, so I make time for it.
The most common question I get from new bloggers is, "how do I get so many followers?".  I find this question annoying.  If you have asked me and are thinking, "well gee, thanks", don't fret, everyone does it.  Here's my stance.  I don't blog for followers.  For a long time I didn't even have the followers feature on my blog because that's not important to me.  Of course I love all 585 of you, of course, thank you thank you so much for reading {for real}, but I'd blog whether I had 585 or 2 readers.  I think when people get caught up in the numbers of blogging it takes away from the blog.  No?  To me it's just an added perk of it all.  I love to blog no matter who's reading so the fact that there are 585 people out there reading what I have to say, still amazes me.  But I will say this {in regards to followers}, it doesn't happen over night.  I didn't get 585 followers the first day I started, heck I think by the time I hit my one year bloggerversary I only had like 23.  So be patient.  Also when I first started blogging it seemed like if you followed someone they'd in turn follow you back but that doesn't seem to be the case {for me anyway} now.  The more you blog, the more you comment on other blogs, the more publicity you give yourself {your blog} and then in turn the more followers you get, or so it seems.  Also having mad writing skillz helps.  
And then there's Twitter.  I had no idea what all the Twitter hype was at first either.  I heard about it and said {to myself}, "no way am I getting sucked into that, not me".  I didn't get it, seemed like it was going to be a fad and I didn't have time for all that nonsense.  Then, my good friend Katie said it best when she told me "Twitter is for everything you can't say on Facebook", and she is SO right.  I have family, old high school classmates, and my husband to answer to on Facebook, they don't need to hear that it's "that time of the month" or that we're having brinner tonight, that's what Twitter is for.  Twitter doesn't care that  I update every 30 seconds minutes, that's what Twitter is for. Twitter is for all those random thoughts that you just have to word vomit all over the internet.  And if you are a mom, Twitter is better than any What To Expect bullshit out there, trust.  Do I have you convinced yet?
Blogging, to me, is the greatest community I have come across.  I have learned so much about myself through blogging, I have grown so much from blogging.  I have found a passion for something I never knew existed before.  I have made great friends, some I've met in real life and some remain my closest pen pals.  This community, although so big {worldwide for that matter} seems so intimate at times and I love that.  I love the feedback, both negative and positive, because it helps me be a better blogger, a better person.  

Happy Monday, have a great week!

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22 comments:

  1. This sounds corney, but I want to grow up to be a blogger, just like you! LOL!!! I love you!

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  2. Great post! I bet you'll have 600 followers by the end of the day, not that you care ;) You're awesome! PS - I may just hitch a ride with @growingupgoomba for the next meetup - if I can invite myself hehe! It would be sooooo cool to meet people I read DAILY (on Twitter too) IRL :) Fun times!

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  3. Shannon- this is another amazing post! I love that you are true to your core and that you blog what you feel- honestly! That's exactly why I started blogging also and I couldn't agree more with the follower sitch- I'm totally fine with having a small following because I feel like I "know" my audience a little better since they leave comments and such. Thanks so much for being such a great writer! I always look forward to reading what you write! Xo

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  4. I'm so glad you're carrying on the tradition and making it an annual thing! I'm so glad I got to join you all last year before moving. Crazy that tomorrow, the 6th, marks 1 year since Todd's interview in NY. Ya'll were GOOD LUCK! :D

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  5. You look fabulous my friend! Wish I could have been there with you.

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  6. You know how I found you and Lindsay? The post at Running in Stilletos about the blogger meet up last year. Yeah, I'm a stalker.

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  7. Great post! I totally agree, Twitter is way better than any parenting book or google search! It's the best way to get quick and helpful parenting advice:)

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  8. Aww, FUN! You all look amazing :-) Sounds like a wonderful time!!

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  9. That is so fun! How did you find other bloggers in your area? I have met a few in mine and would love to meet them in real life!!

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  10. Great post, woman ;) I used to get the followers question all the time. I think I shut people down/scared them away because I rarely get asked that anymore. I always said "blog because you love it. they will come." and I think I annoyed people :P

    Anyway :)

    Glad you joined us in the dark side...aka:twitter. Where people keep it real yo'.

    I need to host a meetup I think in my area. Yes. I think I need to do this.

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  11. What a wonderful post! I feel the same way about blogging. It is such a big sphere of people, even just the mommy blogging community. But often it feels like our own little getaway. It's so wonderful. I'm glad you take the time to share your life with us!

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  12. Word. I loved your post! So happy I got to see you this weekend! Let's hang out again soon! Mean it.

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  13. totally totally totally agree about twitter... i so often end up using it to vent about stuff that i just can't share with anyone irl. its so nice just to be able to let out what it is you are feeling and then move on.
    :)
    xx

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  14. Thanks for the post! I have the same question- how did you meet other bloggers in your area? I guess once you find one it makes it easier. :)

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  15. So true about twitter! You can say things there that you can't say on Facebook!

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  16. So I want to live in Columbus just so I can come to this meet up next year!

    I agree with everything you said about blogging. Do it because you love it. I cannot say enough about the amazing friends I've made through this outlet. You ladies rock!

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  17. I like this post! I love that "twitter is for everything you cant say on facebook" so true

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  18. Shannon - I'm new to the blogging world and you're blog. I love it thus far and am going to venture in to more than a once a month post of what's going on in my world. You're post is encouraging and motivating. Thanks for all your insight!!!

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  19. So cool that you know so many local bloggers! I am seriously jealous!

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  20. So I've been searching and searching for Columbus bloggers(thank you google)...I'm moving to the area in a couple of weeks. Please tell me that you will be doing this again this year:)

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