Like most bloggers, when I first started out, there was one question that completely eluded me: What is a meme? And once I figured that out, I wanted to know how to start a meme. Lucky for our SITStahs, Shell from Things I Can’t Say is here today talking all about blog meme ideas and giving us the low down.
Before we dive into her wonderful how-to, let’s go over a short definition:
What is a Blog Meme?
A blog meme is a list of questions or an idea that is propagated via your blog. It could be a writing prompt that you decide to answer and share with others. In blog land, this means that you’ll start by creating a post on your own blog and then link up to a website that can host the meme. In the process you invite participation and engagement, and give your content the opportunity to travel further. The nice thing about memes is, if popular, they can go viral.
Blog Meme Ideas
I was actually inspired to take the leap and start a weekly link-up when I attended Bloggy Boot Camp in Baltimore in March of 2010. Which is also where I learned that I had been saying the word wrong, as Scary Mommy taught us that it rhymes with “dream.”
Every Wednesday, I host the Pour Your Heart Out blog meme, which encourages my readers to share a post from the heart. Something that they are really struggling with or celebrating or an issue they feel strongly about. We get the heartbreaking and the joyous.
How to Start a Meme
If you are looking to start your own blog meme, here are a few things to consider:
1. Be Original
Know what else is out there. While you can’t possibly scour every blog to make sure that no one is doing exactly what you are planning, try to avoid copying if you are aware of an existing blog meme. Not only is this good bloggy manners, but it’s tougher to compete with something that already has loyal participants.
2. Be True to Yourself
Once you commit to hosting a blog meme, you are going to have to participate every time, too. So, choose something that you will have an easy time writing. I was already writing a post each week where I was pouring my heart out, so it was a natural extension to invite my readers to join in. Don’t pick something that you won’t be able to stick with. I could never host a poetry link up because I could only spout poetry that I’d be willing to share with others about once every five years.
3. Know Your Readers
Do a lot of them already participate in a weekly blog meme? There was no way I was going to schedule mine for Thursdays because that is when Mama’s Losin’ It hosts her weekly Writer’s Workshop blog meme. What are your readers’ interests? While people will occasionally step outside of their comfort zone, if you choose something that isn’t relevant to your audience, you won’t get many participants. You want to be original, but hosting “Cooking with Kids” if most of your audience doesn’t have kids won’t be a smashing success.
4. Decide on the Details
- Choose a name: You want something catchy that will give people a general idea of what you are doing.
- Choose your day of the week or even day of the month: I have started hosting a monthly themed photo blog meme that opens the second Monday of each month in addition to my weekly Pour Your Heart Out. The frequency is up to you.
- Get a button designed for your link up: Cynthia from NW Designs does a fabulous job with all of my blog meme buttons.
- Choose a linky system: There are free ones like Inlinkz or subscription services like Linky Tools. I currently use Linky Tools, though it was free when I started using it. Check out other link ups to get a idea of which one you like.
- Make an announcement about your blog meme a few days or a week ahead of when you plan to start: If you wait until the day of, most people will already have their post done or planned for the day and you might hear crickets. So, give people notice!
5. Go For It!
There is much to be said for enthusiasm. Jump in. Maybe even beg a friend or two to participate in your first blog meme. Visit and comment on everyone participates in your blog meme. Tweet out some of the links. It’s your blog’s baby, so take care of it!
About the Author:
Shell uses her blog, Things I Can’t Say, to share all the things she won’t say out loud. It is her space to write exactly what she wants. Everything you read is always completely open, honest, and real. Shell is also a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom to three little boys (ages 6, 5, and 3). Please don’t ask her if she is going to try for a girl. She’s had three kids in the span of less than 3 1/2 years. She’s done.
More Blog Meme US and Writing Ideas:
Before jumping into the world of blog memes, it is a good idea to have a few basic writing skills down pat. Here are several posts you want to be sure you don’t miss:
- How to Determine What to Blog About (www.thesitsgirls.com)
- How to Become a Better Writer (www.thesitsgirls.com)
- Writing Fundamentals (www.thesitsgirls.com)
- How to Effectively Market With Memes without Forcing It (www.blueglass.com)
I love Pour Your Heart Out and your blog, Shell. Great piece!
Mary Lauren @ My 3 Little Birds recently posted..Highs and Lows
Thank you!
Shell provides a wonderful home for people to share their feelings, voice the fears …
Pour their hearts out!.
Lovely to see her here, she is a ray of sunshine in the blogosphere!
You are so sweet, my friend!
Loved this. Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom!
Sue the Desperate Housemommy recently posted..Anatomy of an Eight Mile Run
Kind of cracking up at words of wisdom, but thanks.
Twitter: BoonieSooze
says:
I’ve participated in a few, but had never even thought of hosting my own, so thanks for the practical tools on how to make that happen.
Susan in the Boonies recently posted..A Change in the World Order
Just some ideas.
Great post Shell!
Thanks, girl!
Great info Shell! Love your meme!
Bernice
Living the Balanced Life recently posted..Taking care of unfinished business
Thank you!!!
Great points!
I’ll add that it takes a lo of bravery to start a meme, and to keep it going with low numbers. I started Saints and Scripture Sundays as a way to share my faith, and have wanted to throw in the towel some days. I’m so glad I’ve kep it up, since I’m now hearing feedback from others about how much they enjoy it.
It is hard. And usually doesn’t take off right away. I was definitely so nervous. Even now, I still feel some nerves to see if people will join in.
Twitter: candilandco
says:
Thanks for the insight, I had been researching them this week, but that was very clear. I look forward to trying it it.
Candi Elm recently posted..Live from Candiland, Palm Springs, CA
Good luck!
Once I get myself to Japan I am hoping to start a weekly linky of sorts. I think it’s great to get your readership engaged and help boost traffic around the internet! I just need ideas hmmmmmm
Kaley recently posted..Getting a Working Visa for Japan (in Miami)
Good luck! Hope you come up with a great one!
Think in my earliest days of blog-dom, I just naively jumped right in and created two….and thankfully, they’ve been great fun. What great tips these are….you SITStas are the best!
Happy Weekend, Ladies!
Cheryl Lage recently posted..Brother. Bear.
That’s awesome that you have had some fun ones!
Great advice! I hate when bloggers create new meme’s with no consideration for what’s already out there. There are a lot of great topics I’d like to link up to but they fall on wrong days or days that are already scheduled.
Life As Wife recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Hello there!
It’s really hard to know what all is out there and when everything is. So, it’s always possible to step on toes or to choose the wrong day. But, a little research can cut down on at least some of that.
I love Shell. She always has such great tips.
I started a meme this summer called Share Your Awesome. All people have to do is link up their favorite post from the week for a chance to be featured the following week. I host it every Friday and I love doing it, but it seems like it hasn’t really taken off yet. I’m hoping when school starts back that I’ll get more participants. Here is a link if anyone would like to join in this week:
http://www.mommamadeitlookeasy.com/2011/08/share-your-awesome-3.html
Jennifer recently posted..Share Your Awesome
Summer is slow, girl! You have a great idea!
Twitter: anoptimisticmom
says:
Thank you so much!! I had no idea what meme was referring too!! I feel so enlightened. I agree that it is important not to copy an idea that is widely known….seriously, why compete?
Optimistic Mom recently posted..Are you Serious? Men and the pill
There’s always the chance that someone just isn’t aware. A little research helps.
Thank you! Great advice!
Katie Eschbach recently posted..Insta-Friday…
Thank you!
Twitter: TimeCrafted
says:
Thank you for clearing up my biggest meme question…..how the heck you pronounce that word!!! Thank you! :>:>
Karen @ Time Crafted recently posted..Friday { Flash Mob } Fun
I had no clue! Though I guess since no one knew the wrong way I was saying it in my head, I was okay.
Love it!! These steps are so helpful especially when there are so many of us (or me anyway) who would be clueless! Thanks Shell
Ashley recently posted..Showing off my summer
Shell is a meme queen
I love that she has PYHO to bare our souls and then the photo memes to show off our lighter sides (or heavier when it was Rockin’ the Bump).
Great tips from a great blogger!
angela recently posted..Empty Drawer
Wow. I just started a weekly “What if?” meme on my blog and wasn’t really sure how to go about the process. I’m glad to see that I have done some things correctly, but I would have LOVED this post about a month ago!!
It’s a work in progress and I am always looking for new participants, so anyone interested in blogging about some big “what if” questions, it would be great to read everyone’s responses!!
Nicole Rivera recently posted..What if #2
Sounds like a fun idea!
Twitter: greenearthbazar
says:
Great tips – I tried this for a while last year but didn’t get too many participants and decided to quit. I guess there weren’t too many green bloggers at the time.
Have a great weekend all – peace.
Michelle recently posted..From Juice to Soup: Two for the Price of One!
Lots of them now. Maybe try again?
Thank you so much for teaching me how to pronounce MEME. I have been saying in wrong all this time.
Hanneke Nelson recently posted..Trickster
This is such great information Shell! I have always wondered how someone begins this process!
Paula@Simply Sandwich recently posted..Celebration!
Twitter: onemixedbag
says:
Thank you so much for this. A couple friend’s and I were thinking of starting one. Now we have some great tips!!
Bernie recently posted..To Infinity and Beyond
Good luck with yours!
Twitter: csiracusa
says:
This is very timely advice for me as my mind runs in 100 different directions. So, just to be clear, a meme repeats weekly? And a one-time link up is called…a link-up? Does that sound right? So many questions…I need bloggy boot camp. Please come to NY!
Christine @ quasiagitato recently posted..Pimping My Fiction and Spreading Bloggy Love
I tend to think of the terms as interchangeable. Though I’m not even sure about that one.
What a great post. I tried a meme for a while with showing off kid’s art work but it didn’t take off so I stopped.
Can’t win them all.
I joined in yours once or twice.
Twitter: luvspugs07
says:
So thaaaaat’ what it is! Sheesh I was even pronouncing it wrong!
Cool idea. I already do something similar but I don’t have a linky or invite anyone else (although everyone is free to comment) it’s called Thankful Thursdays.
It’s something to think about.
Thanks!
Patty recently posted..Thankful Thursdays {A Teacher’s Heart}
Good thing no one could hear how I was pronouncing it in my head.
Twitter: kg_photography
says:
I’ve been saying it wrong too!
I would love to start a Meme, but find it difficult to figure out how to incorporate it into a photography blog. Although I’m happy that I’ve specialized and it saves me loads of stress to be focused, I find that I don’t get to have fun with these things so when I come across them I participate in the comments.
Through the Lens of Kimberly Gauthier, Kimberly Gauthier Photography recently posted..Photography Giveaway to Celebrate 1,000 Facebook Followers
I think most of us said it wrong!
Lots of photo linkys out there- and lots of people who join in those, too!
I had no idea that meme sounds like “dream”! I’ve been saying it wrong all along! Very informative and helpful post Shell! Thanks!
Emily recently posted..Back To School…With a Purpose
Good thing no one can hear our pronounciation through the screen.
This is tremendously helpful! Thanks for breaking it down for us… and teaching us how to pronounce meme.
Heidi @ Show Some Decor recently posted..What a Coat of Paint Can Do {Family Room Update}
I had no clue how to say it. LOL
Great advice as usual!
Thanks.
These are great tips. A meme seems like such a straightforward thing, but it can be done well or badly. Shell is the Meme Queen, of course, so how awesome that you got these tips from her! Lots of great things to think about.
Robin @ Farewell, Stranger recently posted..Puns and All: It’s What I Love About Him
Cracking up at queen. But, hey, I’ll take it.
I wish there was a clearer distinction between a meme (a writing/photographic theme) and a blog hop (linked up posts either related to a theme or not). Most memes have become glorified blog-hops where comment is king and content is pauper.
Cheryl recently posted..Laughter really IS the best medicine
Ugh. It’s usually pretty easy to tel them apart, thankfully.
Twitter: elizabeth_agd
says:
I have always been interested in starting a Blog Meme but how do you get interest and followers?
More Than A Mom recently posted..Knit Sweater for Me
It does help if you have somewhat of a following before you start one, otherwise no one will see it to participate. You don’t have to have a ton, but some regulars who you think would join in would help. SITS has great advice on growing your blog.
Thanks for the tips. I participate in a couple of meme’s from other blogs, and I do some weekly posting events (not really memes), but I’ve been thinking about a book-related meme to go with my blog. I wasn’t sure exactly where to start. I’ll be sure to keep all of this in mind.
Jessica Boudreaux recently posted..Song-lyrics Sunday 8/14/11
Twitter: culinarythymes
says:
Great tips. Thanks!
Alyce recently posted..I’m Not Cooking Because of the Facelift
Twitter: Beccaeby
says:
I’m thinking of starting one, but am trying to figure out the specific topic. I’m leaning towards either “Prayers for our babies” or “Babies and Bumps”. Thanks for the advice.
Becca recently posted..Frugal Monday with Eversave.com ~ Review & $25 Giveaway
Shell rocks! Great information!
Minivan Mama recently posted..Rut Climbing Here
Shell is definitely my bloggy idol. I love her memes. She is so creative and such a wonderful writer. I also love that she genuinely cares about everyone and makes it a point to check out every link-up. Not everyone does that.
Jayme (Random Blogette) recently posted..Alpacas and Zebras and Giraffes, Oh My!
Thanks, sweet friend!
Great tips Shell! I always thought it was pronounced as me-me. I would like to start my own one day and these tips will certainly come in handy. Thanks!
mom2kiddos recently posted..Experiments – Me, Myself And I
That’s how I thought it was pronounced, too!
Great tips Shell! Having just started a weekly meme, it is definitely something that needs to be thought out well in advance! And you my friend, are a pro!!
Thanks so much, girl!
Shell is the perfect woman to write about this. Great advice.
MommaKiss recently posted..MK Mubmles
Great tips! I love each bit of advice.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Pause Life for a Moment- Mama Track
I think yours was the first meme I ever linked up with. I had no idea what a meme was either–I’d never even heard of the word! I do like participating in them and just a few weeks ago started my own that I co-host on Fridays. I’ve been so happy with the response it’s gotten too!
Rach (DonutsMama) recently posted..I’d Rather be a Benchwarmer
You have a fun one!
Twitter: rustilyn
says:
Great tips Shell!! I should have read these before starting mine a few weeks ago… maybe I’d have had a few more participants
At least I have some tips going forward though – and it was pretty silly of me to plan it for Thursdays – especially as I sometimes link up with Mama Kat’s WW, but it’s hard to have a “S.H.I.T.-SoHappyIt’sThursday” linky on a day other than Thursday 
oh well!! Live & Learn 
I’m definitely enjoying your monthly photo memes – and am hoping to join in regularly with PYHO – my first received a great response, THANK YOU!
Rusti recently posted..Our Summer Fun
TUESDAY girl!
Glad to know I was saying it right!
I’ve got my mommy and me monday meme, which fluctuates a lot. I try to encourage moms to get in front of the camera one time during the week, and post and link up on Mondays!
http://www.reallyareyouserious.com/category/mommy-and-me
I’d love it if more people came by and linked up!
I have to remember to get in front of the camera more!
Great tips! And I would never start on a meme on Wednesday as yours is so popular
Emmy recently posted..How a Photographer Get’s Family Pictures
LOL Most of the ones I saw on Wednesdays were photo ones- and you know I don’t have your fabulous photo talent!
Some of the most powerful posts I have read have been on your “Pour your Heart Out” . You, are an inspiration…oh and an incredible twitter twin:)
ModernMom recently posted..Quickest Ways To Destroy Your Marriage
So nice to hear that, my twitter twin!
OMG, all this time I’ve been pronouncing “meme” wrong! I’m not a HUGE meme person but I’ve loved participating in your PYHO memes. It’s been extremely therapeutic and the other posts I read from fellow PYHO’ers have been very touching!
Twitter: TheMommyMess
says:
I LOVE Shell! This is all great advice! Most of which I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. I am totally pronouncing meme wrong! Who knew?
Great feature!
Adrienne recently posted..Let’s Talk Curriculum!
Twitter: speedchic1
says:
Thanks so much for all the info! Very informative and well done AND I learned a new word today–”Meme”…cool!
Irene Penny recently posted..Sharp Shootin’