Best Practices for Facebook in 2018

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Last week I shared Best Practices for Twitter. This week I’m following that up with a follow-up post about Facebook.

While there haven’t been any major changes lately with Facebook, it continues to make changes and updates regularly—especially in the Edge Rank Algorithm.

Blog Numbers Dropping?

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I’ve had a number of similar conversations this summer. They always begin the same way, with an inquiry about how he/she can improve the numbers that are dwindling at an alarming rate. These worried bloggers are certain they’ve either done—or not done—something to cause the drop in views, comments and shares. And my answer is always the same.

A drop in blogging numbers is normal during the summer.

My one-sentence assurance is rarely enough to calm a blogger’s nerves. And that’s understandable from someone who’s seen consistent growth through out the first of the year. So today, I’m going to break down the normal ebb and flow of blogging numbers throughout the calendar year, to help you evaluate the health of your own site.

Recent Facebook Changes in Groups & Professional Pages

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

One thing we can count on in social media is the fact that it's always changing. This is never more true than when we're dealing with Facebook. 

We can whine and complain all we want, but the truth is this: Facebook is valuable to authors as a way to connect with our readers. Because of that, we need to stay current with all the changes.

Facebook has made some pretty major changes in the way we find certain things, especially in regard to GROUPS and PROFESSIONAL PAGES. Last week I posted a screencast on the Author Roadmap site, giving a tour of these changes. I'd love to introduce you to the site and let you have a chance to view the screencast. So if you're interested in learning more, Click 

Recent Facebook Changes in 

Groups and Professional Pages. 

Get Your Blog Found with SEO and Keyword Basics

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I know the title of this blog may strike fear in the hearts of some of you. 

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Keywords sound like such technical things. But they are NOT difficult concepts to pick up. 

Today, I’m going to give you a crash course in the basics to help you get your blog found.

Blogging Success is as Easy as ABC - Blogging Basics for Writers, Part 7

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

As Easy as ABC

Today I’d like to give you 26 tips for success with your blog. I’m calling this my ABCs of Blogging.

A is for Accessibility—Make sure your blog is easy to find, easy to navigate, and easy to read. And don’t forget to make it accessible to those who are visually impaired. 

B is for Basics—Whatever you’re doing, make it excellent. That means take time to check for typos and readability, in your posts. Also be sure you’re using giving accurate links. There’s nothing more frustrating than clicking on a link that takes you nowhere.

What Do I Need in My Blog’s Sidebar—Blogging for Writers, Part 6

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I’m going to break it down and answer the question, “What do I need in my blog’s sidebar?”

Definition: Gadget, Widget, Whatever

Depending on which blogging platform you use, the names of the plug-ins for your blog are different.

How Fast Should a Blog Grow—Blogging for Writers, Part Five

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson 

How fast should a blog grow?

There are lots of exceptions to how fast a blog can grow. All I’m giving you is reasonable expectations for blog growth. 

We can all find examples of blogs that have grown incredibly fast, but we should never judge the growth of our own blogs by the exceptions.

That said, I do believe there are reasonable expectations. That growth is predicated on certain variables:

The Dos & Don'ts of Blogging—Blogging for Writers, Part Three

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Dos & Don'ts of Blogging

I love to blog, and I try to share my love of blogging when I teach at writing conferences.

I also know that many of you aren’t such fans. Many try to love blogging because it’s a good way to connect with readers and build an online presence. Others, don’t even try to love it, but do it out of necessity. The rest are like me, and enjoy the process as well as the connections it brings.

No matter where you are with blogging, it’s important to do it well. Whether you blog twice a month on a group blog, or daily on your own site, there are some essential dos and don’ts of blogging that I’d like to share today.

Blogging is a great way to build relationships with our audience. 

But a lot of people forget that, just like building relationship in person, it’s never a good idea to talk so much that others don’t have a chance to share their thoughts. 

I often visit blogs where I want to ask the blogger, “Are you blogging or lecturing?” There are things we can do to make sure our posts encourage conversation. And there are things we can do that discourage interaction.

Blogging for Writers, Part 2 - So What Do I Blog About?

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Now that we’re all on the same page about blog versus website, the next step is deciding whether or not blogging is a good fit for you personally. Blogging takes a commitment. It’s almost like the decision we each had to make when we decided to call ourselves writers.

There is rarely a blog that is an overnight success. I have seen it happen a couple of time, but we should begin expecting growth and benefits to take time.

Do You Have Unrealistic Expectations for Social Media? Part XI, Social Media Basics for Writers

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

“I’m not getting any traction with social media,” is one of the complaints I hear a lot as I travel and teach writers how to connect.

There are a lot of reasons people feel this way, a few are legit, but most are just unreasonable expectations. Today I’m going to address the unrealistic exception for social media that many have.  

Unrealistic Expectations