Consider infographics for your blog

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This is when you as a blogger love traffic, isn't it.  Of the pointers that Jayson Demers offers in Bring Traffic to Your Site With These 4 Blogging Alternatives, I am keen on infographics.  Besides Piktochart, have a look at Free Download: Five Infographic Templates in PowerPoint from HubSpot and also the work of Anna Vital on her Google+ profile and in Funders and Founders.

Do what works best for your blogging

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In reference to Have Writer's Block? Here Are 5 Ways to Come Up With New Story Ideas. I blog quite a lot, and I do so regularly.  My algorithm (strategy) is to do what works for me.  I read and watch stuff everyday, as I've nurtured my curiosity for years.  I think about things regularly, and write often in any of my many journals.  I'm in the midst of a very hectic stretch, but I enjoy going out there, hobnobbing with people, and observing things.  In recent years, I've increasingly schooled myself to write everything electronically, that is, on laptop and mobile, and in fact hardly hand write anything anymore.   I keep as close to paperless at my desk as possible, so no pencils or crumpling anywhere.  I do have writer's block, but thankfully only once in a blue moon.  So what works for you best to keep the rhythm of your blogging going? 

Focus on relevant ways to boost your blog

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In 26 Ways to Bring Your Blog to Life, James Parsons offers very straightforward, practical advice.  So highlight, say, three to five pointers that resonate best for you, and actively give them a try with your blog.  Here are a couple of things to consider:

• Whether it's a popular, niche or controversial subject, be clear first on your purpose for the blog and make sure you are truly interested enough in the subject to write about.  Writing on a trending topic that bores you will end up boring would-be readers as well.  
• Blogging and social media go hand-in-hand, but certainly not just for promoting your blog.  I am turned off on bloggers who post in communities, for example, without context lead-in, relevant comment, or active engagement.
• Video series, regular podcasts, and running polls are things I don't do but ought to consider.  How about you?  There are many useful tools, platforms and forums at our disposal, so it may be worth trying something you hadn't done before.

 

Let creative ads inspire you

On my Tumblr blog Create, Simply Create, I occasionally post creative ads.  They're images, not videos, but scanning these (and others you might Google) can inspire you on the kind of promotional ad you want:

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Canon insipres aspiring, struggling writers

In just 46 seconds, Canon tells a tale of inspiration, not just for aspiring but struggling writers, but also for the rest of us who aspire and struggle.  It's a commercial, so that tale is evidently fictitious:  I couldn't find Susan Dryson or anything on her book.  But I love the cut-to-the-chase heart of the drama, and the fact that she prevails happily in the end.  So Canon isn't just about images, but about self-publishing, too. 

You see, the thing is, I am an aspiring, struggling writer, among a number of things. 

Pleasant surprises with the new Buick

So picture this:  The young man walks his grandmother to the driveway, and shows her his new Buick.  She says "It sure doesn't look like a Buick."  Their next door neighbor, also an older lady, chimes in "That's not a Buick!"  "That's what I told him!"  So funny.

That's Buick's gambit for a series of ads: The weary businessman gets an upgrade, before his flight (which has happened to me, too).  The eager woman finds out her painting is worthless, but the exquisite frame has a $35,000 value.  Then, a pool-playing bar patron finds out that longtime rock star Peter Frampton (rf. Show Me The Way) is replacing a band member on stage.  It's about a pleasant surprise, when you give the new Buick a try, and who doesn't like pleasant surprises, right? 

Facebook: 3 pluses, 3 minuses

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This week I offer quick hits on social media sites, that I use actively:

Pluses

1. Facebook is the first mover, first shaker of social media.  The fact that it has over one billion users makes it one of the most staggering draw online, and that's intriguing to me.
2. I've been on it the longest among social media and seen a range of changes and maneuvers by its highers up.  But the ease and convenience of its site in general are the best, and virtually any article, video or image I like has a Facebook share function.
3. I've been many good friends in the past, and had meaningful exchanges, some of which I've collated onto my journals.  

Minuses

1. In the year or two leading up to its IPO, Facebook made notable changes that, to me, served advertisers better than members.  For one, I used to get a lot of advertisement via my Inbox and a lot of invites via notifications.  I could delete them en masse, until it took away this function and I had to delete one by one.
2. On the same note, about three years ago, I distinguished a page from a group, which was fine.  Except that friends, or anyone, it seems, can just add me to a group, without even asking.  I detest being roped into something I don't even care for.  Again, I have to leave each group one by one.
3. Spam messages were streaming in steadily into my Inbox, and it aggravated me that reporting them didn't temper the stream in the least.  So I just deleted the conversation.  It's a bit better now, but I was baffled as to why Facebook didn't seem to revise its spam algorithms.