Category: Bloggiesta (past/present)

Where did the weekend go? It just seems like it was Friday morning and I was working on Bloggiesta. I guess I was so busy that I didn’t see it pass. Which is a good thing because I am really happy that I was able to tackle an ever growing list of things I have wanted to do on my blog and just never really had the time to do it. There is still things I want to do and I plan on tackling this gradually.

Before I go any further I have to send out a huge THANK YOU to Natasha the host of the Bloggiesta .Who manages to pull this together two times a year. I got to meet Natasha last year briefly at BEA.

With any kind of marathon there just never seems to be enough time to get things done on your list and I think I managed to tackle a good chuck of it and I managed to put in 20 hours for the bloggiesta.

What I accomplished:

• Some goals (short term and long term)
• Google Documents
• Wrote up some reviews to save for back up
• Wrote up some interview questions
• Organizing (books coming in/review dates/commitments)
• Worked on some button ideas
• Worked on a new blog look
• Worked on a blog schedule
• Worked on Mr Linky
• Redid my review policy
• Backed up my blog

Still looking for:

• Anyone who designs blogs.
• Guest posts

So this is how I did, how did you do?

One of my goals for this past weekend was to learn how to use Google Documents and to be able to incorporate that form into a blog post especially when I am running a contest. Alot of bloggers swear that this is the absolute best thing out there and use this when they are running contest.

The main reason I love entering contest from bloggers who use the form is simple: 1) I don’t get hit with a ton of spam because the only person who sees your email address is that blogger and 2) I am able to leave my mailing address in that form and not have to worry about a lost email and losing my chance at the giveaway.

Thanks to Jen at Devourer of Books for hosting this mini challenge. She explained this in easy to do steps and I have to say that I am not technically inclined but her step by step was easy to do and I have the proof check out my google document:

What do you think?

I have to say I spent the past hour playing with the themes and I am really looking forward to being able to add this feature to my blog very soon.

Thanks Jen for sharing this how to.

The first mini Challenge that I am taking part in is being hosted by Amy fromMy Friend Amy. Her mini Challenge is about Setting Goals.

Amy posted this:

Here are some things to consider when making blogging goals.

-Think about you blog as a whole. Do you feel that your blog reflects who you are as a person? Do you have a mission statement or purpose for your blog, and if so, are you meeting it?
-What isn’t working? Are there design elements or technical problems you’d like to change or fix?
-What do you love about your blog? What do you think you’re doing right?
-What do you wish you could do with your blog?
-What are your favorite blogs to read? (not your favorite bloggers as people!) Why do you love them? Can you figure out what they have in common?

After reading this it got me thinking about my blog.

In my personal opinion I feel as though my blog reflects who I am. It reflects what I read and feel.

When I started blogging my purpose was to share my love of books, to perhaps expose the reader to an author or book they might normally not pick up and to share my thoughts about books and anything book related.

I feel as though I am meeting that purpose, am I?

I love the look of my blog but I feel like I need a change to refresh the blog. To give it a over haul. So I think this weekend I will be looking into a new blog look. I have a few ideas that I am hoping to put together.

With a new look I am hoping to learn more about html etc all that technical stuff I should know to make my blog better. That will mean a trip to my library to get some books on that and reaching out to ask bloggers if I need to know something.

Personally what I find is not working is sitting and writing up reviews. I need to work on some kind of template so that I am able to fill in info and links. (to the book publisher, online store, affiliate links)

What I love about my blog is my header. It took me awhile to find it and when I spotted it I loved it so that I plan on putting into the new look. I love the three column look.

My wish for my blog is to get it out there more and I know that I really need to get more active in that. In other words I really need to pimp the blog more then what I have been.

I won’t list my favorite blogs because I always feel as though the ones who don’t make the list aren’t worthy when they are. One thing that makes blogs onto my favorite lists are the content and with content I mean reviews constantly and with relevant info. I tend to get turned off by blogs like that.

So with all the reflection I guess I have to say I have a few goals that I am hoping to achieve this year as a whole.

My over all goal in 2011 is learn more about blogger and anything that goes along with having a blog ie HTML etc.

By Sunday night to tackle at least half of my goals that are listed here.

By March/April to have a whole new look and along with the new look having business cards and bookmarks made.

Natasha from Maw Books is hosting the 4th edition of Bloggiesta. Ole!

The Bloggiesta is scheduled for January 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. What better time then January to sit down to evaluate your blog and get things done that you have been saying you wanted to do. This has been one of my new years resolutions and I can’t wait to tackle my growing to do list.

If your new to blogging and are wondering what the heck is a Bloggiesta? Well Natasha from Maw Books came up with this idea a few years ago and it runs from 8am Friday morning (where ever you are) until 8pm Sunday night and it gives you the opportunity to get things done on your blog that you have been putting it off. Tons of bloggers take part.

I love the mascot. His name is Pedro (Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize)

If you are interested or want to find out more info then head over Natasha’s blog Maw Books to get all the info.

Here is what I am hoping to accomplish this upcoming weekend:

Write reviews.
Write up back up posts/reviews for a rainy day rainy.
Write up some author interview questions.
Work on writing a template for my reviews.
Clean up my labels.
Look around for a new blog look.
Look into copy writing my blog and find out what to do if my content is taken.
Clean up blog roll.I want to figure out how to put a slide show in a blog post.
Think about bloggiversary give aways.
Learn what my numbers mean.
Learn how to link Twitter and facebook to my blog.
Catalog my books onto Goodreads along with reviews.
Organize and clean up my emails.
Document book commitments into my agenda.(books that have come into my house)Inquire about guest posts or author interviews.
Learn how to use and add google documents to posts.
I am sure my list will change or other things will be done over the course of the weekend but I am hoping that I will be able to get alot accomplished.

Wish me luck.

So its a little before 8am. I officially won’t be starting till 8:30am that is when I get back from taking Michael to his bus stop.

Don’t forget at anytime I think you can still sign up to take part all you have to do is go visit Maw Books to join. Its alot of fun.

So the first thing I plan on doing is tackling my labels/tags and bringing some kind of order to them and then perhaps condensing a few together. That will probably take awhile and then I plan on tackling my email and calendar.

Good luck everyone.