New to SITS? Welcome!! Go read this to get started.
The end to our 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Summer Challenge is getting closer! We’ve just completed week 3 and are quickly approaching the final countdown to the finish line.
Here is your rundown of what happened in the SITS Girls Community in BlogFrog this week. Hope you are finding the blog tips and tricks as helpful as we are!
Day 14: We were asked to update a key page on our blog, such as Who I Am, Contact Me, or even our front page. Some pages are much more powerful than others and deserve that extra tweaking.
Day 15: We made friends! Bloggers who work together often have more success in building their blogs. Beth from Beth: A Work in Progress showed us how connecting with a bloggy buddy helped her to improve her blog so that it loads faster.
Day 16: We addressed and solved a problem for our readers. Melissa’s post on How to Improve Your Writing (Without Improving Your Writing) on Adventuroo accomplished this beautifully. Kittie from Indigo Girl – As I See It! also helped out her readers by explaining how she kick starts her writing creativity.
Day 17: We watched someone navigate our blog for the first time to see how they use and experience the site. Within just a few minutes, we were able see our blog more objectively and obtain unbiased feedback.
Day 18: We created a sneeze page, which is a page on our blog dedicated to highlighting our favorite or most popular posts. This helps readers to avoid scrolling through an archives list to discover our best content on their own.
Day 19: We wrote an opinion post. Whether you’re simply an authority in your niche or maybe even a bit controversial, people are interested in reading what you really think. Melissa from Confessions of a Dr. Mom wrote a poignant post on how breastfeeding broke her heart that’s definitely worth checking out.
Day 20, which is happening today, is the perfect challenge for the SITS community. It’s all about leaving comments as a way to build traffic.
I think we’ve got this one in the bag!
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It’s Saturday Sharefest today! If you’d like to play along, then leave a comment below linking to the best post that you wrote this summer. This is your time to shine!
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Tickets for Austin and St. George, Utah, our final Bloggy Boot Camp stops for the year, are on sale now! Don’t wait to buy yours. We’d love to meet you in person!
And, as always, when you see this:
Twitter: Rikki
says:
I’m really enjoying this challenge. I tried to do it by myself a while back, but didn’t stick to it. Having a whole community of support has made all the difference.
am i really at the top? that would be a first!
have a great saturday!
I definitely agree with that you’ll have can have more success working with friends, to build a better blog. It’s always great to have that type of support and it feels great giving the support to others too.
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
Sigh. How I do adore your comments, Moondancer.
Personally, the little tribe that I have around me is what has kept me involved in blogging over the years. Without them, I’m not sure I would still be a part of this space.
Thanks, I really enjoy the posts made by you and the others at SITS.
I had taken a break from personal blogging for about two years. I mainly focused on my niche sites at that time. They were nice but didn’t have the community that I enjoyed. Interacting with like-minded folks on sites like SITS always makes me smile. SITS totally gets how important it is to have and be a supportive community, so thank you. It’s appreciated.
I look forward to Moondancer’s comments too! Always so thoughtful and wise.
the best post I’ve written this summer was probably…
http://www.actingbalanced.com/2010/07/book-review-last-queen.html
This is a great summary. Today is my day to play “catch up!” Enjoy all!!
Charlene
http://www.beamingbalance.com
PS: I think this is one of my favorites. Wee bit embarrasing but I feel like people can relate somehow! http://www.beamingbalance.com/2009/04/taking-out-trash.html
I am running behind, but will start again. It’s very hard for me to me to stay focused on improving my blog, after all I am an absent minded artist. Today I will work on my third day again.
Thanks for all your support, I am glad that you are all here
xoxox
Heidi
Plays with paints
Good morning! I’m even farther behind on the challenge than I was last Saturday. But I will finish. I’m on the 63 DBBB challenge, I guess.
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
63 days is good, as is 95 and 124.
Never worry about how quickly you’re moving ahead. Just stay focused on doing what you can, when you can!
I really need to get on board with the bloggy challenges before it ends.
Hope your Saturday is everything you want it to be!:)
Have a great day!
Cindy
http://www.chalkaboutit.blogspot.com
I have a lot to catch up on! Happy Sits Sat!
I am a little behind with the challenge. Probably will finish it by Christmas! Loving it though when I have time to read all about it. I can’t wait to have time to catch up.
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
Christmas is a very good goal to have. Slow and steady wins the race!
I REALLY need to get on the 31DBBB train!
This 31 day challenge is so amazing. I haven’t been able to keep up, but I know that I can always come back to the incredible ideas!
You HAVE to come read the hilarious comments that readers left on this post: http://www.holyokehome.com/2010/08/what-is-morgan-thinking.html
With TWO wedding this weekend I’m definitely going to be a little behind on my 31DBB ‘homework.’
SaucyB’s latest post:
Fashion Statement or Torture Device
http://bit.ly/aZMzmQ
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
Two weddings? Wow! Just reading that makes me a little tired.
Enjoy!
Happy Saturday, SITStas!
I hope you all have a great weekend… this is my last two days before I meet Goji Berry (that’s the baby growing in my ute hehe)… first OB appointment on Monday and I’m scared AND super excited.
Keep me in your thoughts!
Checking in…
I’m getting an allergy/sinus cold – again. I’m thinking I might have to see an ENT if this keeps up.
Have a great weekend everyone!
I’m not “officially” participating in this challenge, I just didn’t think I was ready for it and my blog is in a very, very tight little niche, but I have really, really learned a lot by playing along occasionally! Thank you SITSahs!
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
You’re welcome, Gina! Just checked out your blog. Love that you post about books becoming movies. You’re right. It is a tight niche, but a very intersting one, for sure!
Really enjoy all the new ideas going on with the challenge!
Celebrating grandson’s 2nd BD today! Happy weekend!
Goal for today is to find the last item on the school supply list. So far no luck! 4 Walmarts, 1 Target, and 1 Walgreens. I’m headed to a teacher supply store next.
Well, I totally missed the 31DBBB boat, but the info is great!
Happy Saturday!
Im trying to convince my boss to purchase 31dbb for the store – but not really getting anywhere atm. I think its great that you all are sticking with it and working your way through! Its a lot of work and super time consuming some days.
Happy Weekend!
Have a great weekend everyone!
http://blog.winkatme.com/2010/07/mtv-presents-ew-jersey-shore/
Twitter: greenyourclean
says:
Thanks for the great info and support. If you need a great new gadget for your clean up check this out! http://bit.ly/9whF1m
Ok, trying again… looks like my comment didn’t go through. I can blame my kids, right? They’re talking to me and they know I don’t talk until after 8am. Sheesh.
Happy Saturday!
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
Kids! They get in the way of everything.
Glad that you comment is here now!
Good morning all. I’m learning so much from the challenge and have connected with so many bloggers. Looking forward to next week’s posts.
Jumping right in… I haven’t blogged a ton this summer as I just rediscovered my blog, but here’s my best post of the summer:
http://www.tattietats.com/2010/06/i-never-thought-id-have-to-deal-with.html
It’s been superb to see how active women here are!
The other side: so much to learn, too much to read – where do I find the time?!
How do you find time to all this?
Are you still active visiting other blogs?
Oh boy…are you all super women?!
Happy Saturday!
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
Super women, no. Just trying to make the best of the time that we have.
Cutting out sleep helps too. Haha!
Twitter: thewahwife
says:
You guys are doing great! Have a great weekend.
So bummed I couldn’t participate. I will be going through this as time permits because there is so much valuable info!
One of my favorite posts was:
The Realization Of No Pink Tutus
http://www.lifewithoutpink.com/2010/06/28/the-realization-of-no-pink-tutus/
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
Not to worry, Tina! We’re already thinking ahead to our Back to School/Back to Blogging event for September. It will be much shorter, but still just as rewarding for the participants. Maybe you can jump into that event!
Wish I had time to do everything!
Wanna win $150?
Enjoy your day!
Twitter: ziggy1962
says:
Everybody in my house is asleep. I want to be asleep but woke up and can’t get back to sleep so I’m enjoying a little quiet time.
It seems like the month is flying by!
Can’t believe it’s already August.
I missed the writing one. I will definitely check that out. Thanks for reposting. Work has been crazy busy.
Happy weekend!
I need to take the challenge, but I’m glad I didn’t this time since I would still be sitting around day 2 or so. It’s been quite a busy time around here lately.
Best post this summer? How about this week? LOL
http://thingsicantsay-shell.blogspot.com/2010/08/out-of-my-comfort-zone-life-changing.html
I’ve really enjoyed reading & learning what everyone has been doing with this challenge. It’s great to see how creative everyone is.
I’ve enjoyed reading through the 31DBBB challenge. As a new blogger I’ve learned some helpful hints!
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
That’s really what this is all about, Teisha. So glad that you feel the challenge is worthwhile. Thanks!!
Happy Saturday everyone!!! HOpe you have a great weekend.
I wrote a really great post this Thursday about adding a tweet and facebook like button under your posts. You can find it here.
http://thismamablogrocks.blogspot.com/2010/08/tutorial-thursday-how-to-add-twitter.html
I wrote a really great post this Thursday about adding a tweet this button and facebook like button under your posts. A great thing to have for traffic!
http://thismamablogrocks.blogspot.com/2010/08/tutorial-thursday-how-to-add-twitter.html
Hmm, I’m going to go with this week as well, LOL. This post is about us changing out breakfast habits within our gluten-free lifestyle
http://shiningsee.com/2010/08/05/bigger-breakfasts/
I am super busy right now but the support to make my blog better has been encouraging. Most of the ideas are filed in my head for “later” but the encouragement is great. Happy weekend, everyone.
Wow – what a great week in the challenge! I wish I could have participated in this but with work wrapping up before mat leave begins, a baby due in just 4 weeks and a move to coordinate in that time I just couldn’t squeeze it in! I am looking forward to grabbing a cup of coffee and reading through all of these great tips from the last week though. Happy Saturday everyone – enjoy your weekend!
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
Baby in the belly? Yup. I can definitely relate. It makes for quite the wild ride as you try to fit everything in, doesn’t it?
Good luck to us both!
lol – yes! Thank you so much. And good luck to you!!
whoops! For some reason my comment love didn’t work – here is the link to my last post. Happy weekend!
Thanks so much for featuring me! I ALMOST didn’t join because I’m so busy already but it’s been the most rewarding thing I’ve done for my blog yet!
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
You and your blog are truly fabulous, Melissa. I have to tell you that the community leads for the challenge sent your URL our way. I loved checking out your site this morning. Such a fabulous design AND content.
Good morning, SITStahs! Stop by my blog today for a little Saturday Silliness; guaranteed to make you grin!
Haven’t done a sharefest in a while. I’ll stop by some of your pages today.
Favorite post of the summer? Hmmm….
Normally I write slightly humorous posts but this one, http://www.mandimillerblog.com/2010/07/make-difference-by-feeding-hungry.html was very different. It’s about feeding the hungry and event though it didn’t get as many comments, it’s my favorite post this summer!
Happy Sat. Sharefest!!!
Here is my Fave post of the summer!!
http://projectmommyhood.blogspot.com/2010/07/this-is-storyof-baby.html
Happy Saturday. My kids are still sleeping and it is 945! hooray!! I love summer!!!
It’s been wonderful reading along with everyone and realizing how a few minutes concentrated in the right direction can really improve your blog as well as your readers experience.
Twitter: SITSGirls
says:
I couldn’t agree more, Rita. It really only takes a few minutes a day to make a big difference on your blog!
I think I need to do this 31 day challenge!