You know that girl in school who moped around cause she only got 97% on her exam? Well that was me. What happened to the other three percent? What if that was the knowledge that would have saved someone’s life? I’ve been told I have a tendency to be hard on myself.
That trend continued in to my working life and I’ve always put in the hours, made the effort and strived for excellence, doing more than my job description and pay check demanded.
Now I’m a SAH mom, I had hoped that trend would spread in to my housekeeping skills, but sadly, they have not. It seems domestic wasn’t my thing after all.
Instead, that little bit of journaling I used to enjoy 
doing has become something of an ‘all my spare time’ thing. Which means the dishes tend to pile up and the dust bunnies blow around in the wasteland of my hallway. Or something like that.
So in my search for (ever illusive) perfection and blog world domination I’ve come across some great articles with advice on how to improve your blog, your blogging and everything that goes with it.
First off, have a look at Michelle from Scribbit’s Blogging in Pink. She deals with everything from picking your platform to focusing your blog, being an efficient writer and commenter, and going pro. In addition, Michelle is highly approachable, and really does respond to emails. She practices what she preaches and is successful in return.
Next, head over to 40 Lessons Learned Over Five Years of Blogging by Deb Ng. She has some great tips that every new or growing blogger would do well to learn without the five year wait!
One of the tips they offer is to join a blogging network. As a ‘mommy blogger’ I’ve joined:
The Secret is in the Sauce, British Mummy Bloggers and London Bloggers Weblog Explorer because these correspond with my interests, but there are many others. You might have to look around and try some out for a little while and see how they work for you.
In slight contrast, Henrik Edberg has similarly great advice in his article How to Build a Somewhat Successful Blog – 16 Lessons I Have Learned, but he recommends limiting the time you spend on other blogs and focusing on your writing. I found this very valuable as I sometimes spend my whole online time just reading and playing catchup, so I often don’t have time to do any writing at all.
There are many more sites where you can gain valuable insights and learn so much from the experiences of those who’ve been doing this for longer. It’s just a matter of searching for them, and taking some time to decide what’s important for you and your blog!
If you have great resources you’ve learned from, please add the link in the comment section below!
Thank you for all you wrote and I will have a look around to the links,’MB
.-= maria Berg´s last blog ..137. Kladdig =-.
@maria Berg, Thank you for stopping by my blog!
Thanks for this info. I came across your blog through Henrik’s info on blogging. You offer a lot of good sources for more info and there IS A LOT! Deb Ng site is particularly fascinating. I am considering starting a blog about a book idea that I have been tossing around in my head for almost 2 yrs now and I am trying to decide if blogging is a better way to go. Instant gratification in a way, so to speak. Thanks for your info. I like the title of your blog -it’s what initially drew me to your site.
@Regina, Oooh.. I’m intrigued! Where did you find my details on Henrik’s blog? I looked and can’t find anything myself! I’m glad you have found it’s useful and I’m glad you like the blog title! That’s the first feedback I’ve had on my blog title! And if you do decide to blog, stop by again and leave me your url!
@Luschka, Hi, here’s the link that show’s where you are linked under the part called 5 trackbacks toward the bottom of the page http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2007/09/24/how-to-build-a-somewhat-successful-blog-16-lessons-i-have-learned/
Definitely will let you know if and when I blog. I’m a first time Mom too (and I think last time since I had Gabby at age 40) and ooh boy is all I can say for the moment. Saw someone on Oprah that had an interesting mommy blog that maybe you can exchange links ? It’s called Dooce. Have fun with your blog and more importantly with your child.
Hello great post thank you for writing it . I smiled when I was Reading about piling dishes and dust bunnies. I can relate to that… I look forward to Reading the other articles. I hadn’t thought about blog networks until you mentioned it here. Thanks Again . Moira Kiely
@Moira Kiely, Glad you have thought about it now. Check out SITS – it’s a GREAT community. And yeah – if I don’t look at the floor, I can’t see the dust bunnies, they’re not there, right!?
Stopping by from SITS – Like you I struggle to find writing time within a busy life… sometimes I get on a roll and write a week’s worth of blogs in one sitting and others I struggle just to find time to get on the computer and look at a page… I’m going to spend some time checking your sources – they look great! I also struggle with balancing two blogs (two sides of my personality) and making sure the housework is done… am now following you.
.-= Heather ~ Acting Balanced Mom´s last blog ..Sunday Family Stories – the valentine’s day edition =-.
Hi there found u via sits on iPhone after unsuccesfil attempts on computer! Great blog, will try and read those articles when I have some time!!
@It’s a mummys life, Glad you finally got on! I’m sorry you’ve been having trouble. I believe it’s something to do with I.E. 7, but I have NO idea how to fix it! I hope you enjoy the articles!
Ah ha, a fellow Londoner! I’ve been touring the globe through SITS so it’s nice to feel at home again 😉
This is a really useful post, I’ve bookmarked it and also hope to add you to my blogroll.
Do stop by mine, I’m running a Valentine’s giveaway for sexy Amoralia lingerie for pregnant and nursing mums. They’re gorgeous and they’re FREE so do enter the contest and spread the word 🙂
.-= Babes about Town´s last blog ..The Ages of Love (gifts for kids) =-.
@Babes about Town, I would be honoured to be on your blog roll, thank you! I’m also always on the lookout for London bloggers – I’ve joined your RSS feed! Hope you had a lovely Valentines!
Great tips, I will make sure to check the links you shared with us, om already doing something which is being part of the SITS girls. Happy Saturday Sharefest!
Stopping by from Twitter! This is was a good post – I am going to read the ariticles now!
Hope you have a happy Valentine’s Day!
.-= Lynne´s last blog ..Talk about stretching a buck… =-.
@Lynne, Thank you Lynne, you to! I hope you gained something from the articles!
Blogging does seem to suit my need for achievement, but I’m hazy on what the end-goal is here. If we dominate the blog world will we bet a paycheck? Writing for free is cool, but writing for financial gain would be awesome. Are people launching themselves somewhere from blogging or are we all just typing away into the dark? That’s what I’ve been thinking about for these past six months of blogging.
.-= Joey´s last blog ..Still my valentine =-.
@Joey, Interesting question Joey! I would love to write features and so on but its not exactly coming to me! I guess for now I’m just writing to stay connected to an outside world?
I was the same about that missing 3% 😉 I try not to take blogging quite so seriously….
.-= Rachel Cotterill´s last blog ..A Sweet Deal =-.
Thanks for stopping by, i was actually going to comment on your blog but got busy with my kids.
By the time i came to to comment i noticed you left not one but 2 comments LOL
I love this post and always love reading about blogging tips will defintely have a read through them.
Like you, I tend to spend a lot of time just playing catch up. I want to return the commenting favor to everyone who stops by my blog. I feel like I’m being rude if I don’t. One of the @SITSgirls helped me with this. If it’s not a well-thought out comment and just a generic one-liner, I shouldn’t feel obligated to return the favor. I can’t wait to visit all of the links you referenced in this post. I love learning about new ways to improve my blog. God knows I need the help! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I really appreciate that you contine to come back. 🙂
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
.-= Kristi´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – It’s Snot Funny! =-.
Thanks for the mention! Glad you found it helpful.
.-= Michelle at Scribbit´s last blog ..Blissdom 2010, Rain Forests and Oatmeal =-.
I can’t wait to read all these articles! Thanks for compiling them. What I’ve learned so far, I’ve learned from other bloggers on Twitter. 🙂
*coming from SITS
.-= Maya´s last blog ..The Worst Winter Weather =-.