This may seem like a odd topic for a review, but I’ve gotten a lot of questions lately about how some of you are following so many blogs you don’t have time to write. Of course I’m also hearing from some who haven’t committed to following any blogs because of a fear that there won’t be any time to write.
Either extreme will blog…er…bog down your career.
All kidding aside, as a writer it’s vitally important to continue your education. And blogs can be an extremely efficient way to do this. I can hear the chorus of complaints now.
- There are millions of blogs out there—how do I find one that’s worthwhile?
- How do I narrow down my choices—do I have to read hundreds to find one that fits what I need?
- Where do I start looking—it’s gonna be like finding a needle in a haystack!
Enough already.
Finding high quality blogs, that pertain to your situation are just not that hard to find. You find a good blog the same way you find a good book. Think about it, we’ve been shopping for books for years, choosing from millions of titles, and finding success.
- First, look for recommendations from people you trust.
- Second, most blogs have blog lists as a part of their layout. If you like blogger A and he likes blogger D, chances are you ought to give it a try.
- Third, look for blogs from familiar people. Now days, most bloggers have or are at least affiliated with more than one blog.
So how do you manage following blogs and keep from eating into valuable writing time?
I have a plan for that too. I like to use a three tiered approach.
- I start with three to five blogs that I follow regularly. These are blogs I almost always read.
- Then I have a second level of six to eight blogs that I watch closely. I read these about one half of the time and I decide when by paying close attention to the subject lines and titles of the posts.
- Finally I have a third level of about twelve to fifteen blogs that I watch the subject lines and titles and read when they sound interesting.
This is the method that works for me. I’d love to hear how you manage your blog life.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
I hadn't thought about it, but I have been restricting my Blog intake. I am open to a few more helpful blogs. But I agree about the waste of spending too much time of random surfing.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts on something I have been thinking seriously about. There are so many to read out there I feel overwhelmed. I need to get a plan. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions! Like Tammie, I need to get a plan!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking a lot about this lately! Timely advice! I need be cautious of my time spent reading all the blogs. I then sometimes get overwhelmed with the thought..."I don't know what to write", all the blogs I've been reading are so much better. Who's that talking in my head?? Yep, the enemy again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post!
Not nearly as well as you do! Thanks for this post. Hopefully I can get my blogger under control!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Tammy. it's easy for me to get so caught up reading blogs that I not only fail to write but feel like anything I write wouldn't be worth reading.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice regarding how to choose which blogs to read and how to manage my time. The latter is a continual struggle for me.
I've said it before and I know I'll be saying it again: I like the way you think, Edie!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your three-tiered approach, and for having such a helpful blog!
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