Build A Better Blog

I have been taking a free course called 31 Days to Build a Better Blog from http://www.problogger.net/. Each day we are given a task to complete which should help to increase traffic to and comments on our blog pages. We are on day 8 and I must admit that it is working so far!

Day 1: Create an “elevator pitch” for your blog
Day 2: Create a “list” post for your blog
Day 3: Promote a specific post rather than your whole blog
Day 4: Analyze a successful blog in your area of interest
Day 5: Email a new reader of your blog
Day 6: Learn from successful bloggers about blogging

(reading list)
Day 7: Write a “link post”
Day 8: Interlink posts within your blog

I am very pleased with the results:

1. Learned a whole lot about blogging

2. Actually found focus by writing down my elevator pitch

3. The list post was fun to write and seems to have

generated more traffic and comments than I anticipated

4. Visited many blogs with similar interests I may never have found

5. Sent and received email from readers

Five Ways to Boost Your Creativity

I've been reading an interesting book The New Creative Artist, a Guide to Developing Your Creative Spirit by Nita Leland. Here are some tips from her...


1. Get To Know Your Creative Self
· What do you love to do most?
· Where are you most creative?
· When are you most productive during the day?
· What most motivates you to undertake a creative
challenge?

2. Prepare Your Environment for Creative Activities
· Create an atmosphere that energizes you
· Music can bring you into a creative mood
· Gather and organize all your supplies for projects
· Schedule time each day to work on a creative project

3. Get Going With What Materials You Already Have
· Don’t worry about completing a finished project
· Scribble, doodle, draw or paint with what’s at hand
· Use pieces of colorful magazine pages to make collages
· You don’t need art materials to get started, just get started

4. Start An Artistic Sketchbook/Journal
· Write notes, lists of ideas and projects
· Doodle and draw
· Never erase to tear out a page
· Date every entry

5. Try New Things On A Regular Basis
· Drive a different route to work
· Change your lip color
· Wear a necklace instead of a scarf
· Change up a recipe with a different spice


(As paraphrased from the New Creative Artist by Nita Leland)