We have had such a great response to The Blogging Buddies that I took the group to the next level.

We are now The Blogging Buddies Social Network

So hop on over and leave your blog lin and don’t forget to fill out your profile page!

Hope to see you there!

Also: Looking for a few good bloggers to feature on my radio show, Get Bizzy Blogging.

If you blog for a purpose, I want you!

So of you write about raising a child with a disability, helping an aged parent, blog for a company, a charity, etc…you could be my next guest!

email me at carolee@bloggingbizmom

Sometimes we get to a point in our blogging journey where we just are stuck.

Not just stuck, but STUCK!

Not a THING to say!

I talked about a lot of ways to get unstuck  in the last post,  Starting your blog is the EASY part.

But what if you are still stuck?

Get out of the house!

Find some of  “your kind of people”

Mix with like-minded people.  If your blog is about gardening,  join a gardening club.   Perhaps you will glean some new ideas for posts at club meetings.  You may meet other gardeners who blog.  If not,  you may at least gain some new readers.  It is so much easier to come up with ideas and write when we know  people are visiting!

Teach a class

Between creating a curriculum and questions students may have,  you may come up with some new ideas.  Again, you may gain some new visitors to your blog as well.

Take a class

Take a class that is in your niche- or not!

Maybe you have a blog about “being green”.  Why not take a writing class or learn to meditate? Why not a cooking class?

Expand your horizons!

You would be surprised at who you meet and the ideas you will create.

Take the kids to the playground

A break from the computer and some fresh air may be all you need to get back on the right track. Again you may meet some interesting people, and they may even become blog visitors!

In house…..

Find a guest blogger or two

Do you have a few favorite bloggers?  Why not have a guest blogger once a week?  This will take the pressure off you, provide fresh content, and bring in new visitors to your blog.

Alternate blogging ideas

Do a podcast, video, top 10 list, or a post with just pictures. Every post doesn’t need to be a 1,000 word essay!

Before throwing in the towel….

Try some of these ideas and the ideas in the last post.  See if that gets you back into the swing of things.

There is nothing sadder than an abandoned blog!

Blogger, WordPress, Self-hosting…what does it all mean?  If that’s the easy part, I don’t even want to start!”

Take a deep breath and listen to me…..

It’s really not as bad as you may think.

There is a ton of help out there for the beginning blogger (I even have a FREE ebook you can have!) and in the beginning of your blogging journey, you are bubbling over with great ideas.  Right?

So getting started should be as easy as reading an ebook,  going to a website and reading some instructions or even obtaining a bit of coaching.

From there, you just post your merry little heart away….

…..for a month or two.

Then you find that you have said everything you can thing of to do with your niche.

Or no one’s reading your stuff anyway, so why bother?

Now what?

There are a few things you can do to help you come up with ideas for future blog posts and to bring that enthusiasm back into your blogging experience.

Expand your thinking

There is probably more to talk about than you realize .  Let’s say your blog is about Step-parenting.

Every blog post cannot be about how rotten the step-kids are and how hubby just doesn’t see it.

Nor can it be all technical goobly- gop about child custody or visitation issues.

Most people coming to a step-parenting site are looking for answers to step-parenting issues.  Of course personal stories are helpful, but if all people see is depressing, negative content they will leave and not come back.

They are looking for hope- the magical answer.

So, what are some things that one could write about step parenting?

First, go to Google. com and search step parenting. On the left sidebar, look under “all results” for The Wonder Wheel.

I love The Wonder Wheel. This is similar to “clustering” that your children may do before a writing assignment in school.

Based on what is here, you could write about great step parenting forums you’ve been on, or a group you’ve started on a forum.

Maybe you have a great magazine or book you want to review/share/sell on your blog

How about that dirty “D” word…   Discipline…….especially in “steps”. Any good advice?

You could take it all one step further and click on one of those links.  I clicked Step Parenting Magazine and got links for Step Mom Magazine, step parenting newsletter and more.  Maybe you could create a post of helpful links.

Do a list of 100……..

I’ve spoken about this technique in my other blog.

It is an exercise I use in my Journal Writing Classes.

I vary it depending on what I’m using it for.

Basically, number a paper from 1-100.  Now sit down and write as many things as you can about your subject matter.

One idea or word per number.

Do this fast, don’t over think.

Fill in as many blanks as you can.

You may be surprised that you had more ideas in that brain than you thought!

Now keep that list so you can refer to if you get stuck for ideas.  As you think of new ideas throughout your days, add them to the list.

Weird, but sometimes it works….

While you are sitting around the doctors office, check out the posters and notices on the walls, and the articles in the magazines.  Write down some of the titles and headlines that pop out at you.  You would be surprised how a simple title can get your creative juices going.

Here are a few from one of my dream boards

Alert, playful and energetic….

This makes me think of writing about playing more as a family, maybe how to plan a family game night.  Or perhaps a post about staying alert to the needs of the stepchildren or your spouse.

What else comes to mind when you read the words Alert, playful and energetic…?

How can you apply that to your blog, whether it’s about Gardening, cooking , camping, kids….?

The long view

This makes me think of  how circumstances effect children in the long run….strife between biological parents, how a child is treated by the step parent and more.  Maybe a post could be written on on how to avoid these issues.

These three words also remind me that the kids will grow up one day- hope is in sight.  That is another blog post- about hope!

Milestones

What great milestones has your family reached?  Is there a post you could write about creating a memory book for milestones, or a post about how to celebrate milestones?

Life is what you make of it

This is a whole  blog in itself! What we think, how we manifest what we think.  Meditation or Exercise to reduce stress. Over reacting, allowing ourselves to be pushed around….

There are 1,001 blog posts that you could write pertaining to step-parenting with just these few techniques.

Now, you need to get out there…………………

Get on Facebook, Twitter, CafeMom…anywhere that you have an account and let the world now you have published a new post.

Join a blogging group like Blogging Buddies and get some guaranteed visitors to your blog.

How do you keep yourself motivated and churning out new content on a  regular basis?

Please share- we all learn from each other!

I have also whipped up a new blog just for the buddies…anyone can come and visit and leave comments, but only the buddies can guest post there.

We are always looking for new members and blogs, so why not give it a try.

Benefits:

• Dedicated followers and commenters to your blog
• Guest post opportunities- guest posts will be “pinged” to friendfeed, twitter and facebook
• Learn from others
• Make some great connections!

If you are interested in the Blogging Buddies groups, email me at :

carolee@bloggingbizmom.com

Also, check out our blog at:

http://bloggingbuddiesgroups.blogspot.com/

Have you subscribed to my Tuesday Morning Blogging Tips Newsletter?

Check it out- the form is on the sidebar! ———————————————————————->

I found this blog this morning:

Singing through the rain

Basically most of the ideas have already been presented here or on my other blog.

But she has a great list of communities you can join, and there is even one for military families!

Go check it out and see if you can find a nugget or two to push you along your blogging journey.

Another good one I found is Pot pie girl. in this post, she talks about backlinks, and how you can overdo them!

Check it out!

She hasn’t updated in over a month, but it’s good info…..

And finally, do you have something to say?

Why not say it with your own radio show?

Do you know BlogTalk radio is FREE if you just want a 1/2 hour shows….

If you want to be able to broadcast for a longer period, they have paid packages.

Check it out….I have been having a great time with my show!

Just click the pic to get there!

Would you be willing to (religiously) follow and comment on 10 other blogs, if you knew you would get 10 people doing the same for you?

I am hoping to help new and struggling blogger’s by starting Blogging Buddies groups of 10 bloggers each.

These bloggers would commit to visiting each others blogs and maybe even writing about each other/ guest blog on each others blogs.

It would also be great if everyone is on Face book and Twitter so we can retweet each other and such.

Wouldn’t you rather hear about your spelling errors or format problems from a buddy, rather than a reader?

The only obligation is to post to your blog a few times a week and visit the other blogs at least 3 days a week and comment.

So what do you say?

Just email me at carolee@bloggingbizmom and say:

Yes Carolee! Find me some Blogging Buddies!!!

****All blogs will be reviewed before being accepted into a group. We want REAL bloggers, not spammers!****

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`

Blogger or a self-hosted WordPress.org?

The difference explained……

But there are!

You can hear all about it tonight on the Get Bizzy Blogging online radio show.

Linda Dickerhoof, of VIPdesk will be my guest tonight.

Join us as she shares what VIPdesk is, the companies they work for and the application process.

Show is at 6:30 p.m. ET

If you have questions, you can call in to the show at 6:50 p.m.

Call in number: (213) 816-0308

Missed the show?

That’s ok….it will be recorded!

In fact, go listen to my older shows NOW! please?

For anyone seeking to create an income with blogging there are a number of Freelance Writing Job sites.   Following is a list of resources to assist you in finding a paid blogging job.

Problogger

Indeed.com

Freelance Writing (.com)

Things you want to know before your search…………….

Most potential employers will want to see your blogs.  This can tell them a lot about you.

How many blogs do you have?  What do you write about?  Is your blog family or business friendly?  Free of   profanity and other offensive content?  Are you a whining, sniveling shrew or a kind,  helpful person? Do you seem to have a handle on your life in general?

Some of the jobs offered pay VERY little, but they do help get your name out there and provide you with published writing samples.  As you gain experience you should be able to demand a higher rate of pay.

Many of the jobs accept bids, so you will want to learn what the average pay-scale is for the niche you would be writing in  before your actual search.

Many of the ads don’t clearly state who you will be writing for.  That seems like a waste of time to me.  Why would someone apply for a job with an online Golf Magazine if they hate golf?  If they knew what it was, they wouldn’t! Time saved on both ends!

Where else can you find writing jobs?

Keep an eye out locally.  Often newspapers and magazines are looking for ways to bring their print publications online.

One of my former clients got her start at her local paper.  They were looking for local bloggers for their online version of the paper.  That led into other online writing jobs.

She still writes for the original blog- check it out:

Her name is Cindy Haskin-Popp and the blog is called Simply Fit

I just picked up a blogging job with Kids Standard, a children’s  newspaper – check out the information HERE

Other places to check:  Local businesses, schools, churches,  youth groups, sports teams, non-profits, social networking sites.  Put on your thinking cap and you can probably come up with a million ideas.

Even if you offer your services for FREE for a few months,  it could lead to a paying gig.   It would also give you another writing sample for your writing portfolio.

Just remember that if you take on an ongoing project  that you must have some interest in the subject matter you will be blogging about, especially if you are responsible for creating the content.  Nothing seems more like WORK that researching and writing about a subject that you care nothing about!

So if you are just lovin’ the blogging experience and want to earn a little bit of extra income blogging, check out the links above.

For other online money making ideas, check out Bits and Pieces of Income

Yes  it happens, and more often than you would think.  The “Power’s That Be ” in television, publishing, and even individual companies themselves are watching, always looking for the next great story, the next great columnist, the next great__________(you fill in the blank)

Check out a couple of stories that have been on Good Morning America:

http://www.shannonlane.com/blogging-for-money-on-good-morning-america/ Money Blogging- Good Morning America

An “anonymous” teacher eats school lunches for a year:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/mrs-eats-school-lunch-year-stomach-food/story?id=10134520

This fellow started blogging about his weight loss…..

He was picked up by the media- a CBS affiliate station, CNN and Newsweek!:

http://www.344pounds.com/2010/04/featured-on-cbs-affiliate-wltx/

There are a ton more out there…..

So, will you be prepared if Good Morning America come’s knocking on your door?

I handle MORE people better than one-on-one…and the show would probably be for the most part scripted ahead of time – ie:  you know questions beforehand.

And I was a child star of sorts…I was on The Magic Toy Shop TV show when I was a kid and Salty Sam.  In high school I belonged to the AV club and we made a movie at a local bar that was supposed to be on cable TV

If it was, I missed it!

When I was a child daycare worker, I was on the news  concerning child care issues .

So am I ready? Yikes…I don’t know about that!

How about you?

Please share- has your blog been noticed by the media?