Monthly Archives: July 2011

Areavoices Digest #39 – Learning more about Home Schooling

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In the past few months Areavoices has been happy to welcome dozens of schools into the blogosphere. From preschools to elementary schools from  high schools to colleges, administrators, teachers and students are publishing their own news right on the homepages of our Forum Communications news websites.It’s a wonderful way to share news with parents, alumni and the community that the papers can’t always cover. If you’re interested in learning more about school blogging, by all means give me a jingle. I’d love to get you up to speed before those little kiddies go back to class.

But of course, not all students, walk the halls of our public and private schools. Some are home schooled and until now we hadn’t seen much representation from the home school community on Areavoices. However, last week, a home school parent out of Grand Forks, North Dakota told me about a new blog entitled, “Homeschool: Exploring Alternative Education.”

For anybody interested in learning more about home schooling or even those critical of it, this blog provides some interesting insights. I would highly recommend it and these other four blogs in this weeks’ Areavoices Digest:

Homeschool:  Exploring Educational Alternatives – http://k12educationalternatives.areavoicesc.om

Jesse Light is a homeschooling parent who started this blog as a place where anyone concerned about k12 education alternatives can discuss and share ideas about what educational options outside traditional institutional schooling.

 

Shelf Life: Discussing Books,What are your thoughts?  - http://shelflife.areavoices.com

Carolyn Fiechtner is the moderator of what could be called an online book club. She hopes to select books and read write along with her audience and follow that with some great discussions.

Eye on Kid’s: Thoughts on growing up it today’s world and encouraging children to discover their own personal strengths – http://uflipp.areavoices.com

This blog is written by 3 child experts whose education and experience working with children in individual and group settings, collectively spans over 50 years. They work in clinical psychology, school psychology, counseling, social work, special education, and speech/language pathology.

 

Look at This – http://lookatthis.areavoices.com

Tami Tagtow is a librarian and researcher chronicling life in Atwater, Minnesota.

 

Red River Valley Fair – http://redrivervalleyfair.areavoices.com  The fair, located in West Fargo, North Dakota says it’s blog is all about family, food and fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does blogging make you happier?

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Carolyn Baana’s blog is one of my favorites. It’s succinct and full of usable information to better your life. Understandable, I guess considering what Carolyn does for a living. She’s spent the last few years as a career coach helping people achieve their career and life goals. Luckily for us, she shares her expertise on Areavoices at http://carolynbaana.areavoices.com.

I like her attitude about blogging so much, I asked her to write a guest blog about what she’s enjoyed about writing her blog and why she makes it a priority.

Thanks Carolyn!

 

 

A few years ago I spent several weeks working my way through The Artist’s Way with a group of talented and ambitious women.  For those who haven’t heard of the book, it’s about finding and expressing creativity.  As I went through the process, I felt as if I was never going to find a true creative outlet, being that my artistic side pretty much consists of me purchasing art, never creating it!

 

Enter blogging.  As I wrote my first posts and sent them to friends, one of my Artist Way cohorts replied back, “Carolyn, these are your Morning Pages!” …referring to a daily process of journaling three pages in long-hand each morning (augh!).  Blogging is so much easier!

 

After consulting with a few bloggers, I decided to write every weekday but to keep my posts under 500 words (most are about 250-300).  I also had an epiphany on my format while on the treadmill one day – such an odd occurrence that it must have made my brain’s creative juices splash around.  I then, as my first post indicated, made my mark and began blogging.

 

Here are some surprises:

 

  1. I’ve really enjoyed it!  Since I began blogging I’ve learned that a side-benefit of blogging is that it makes the blogger happier.  Similar to journaling, only better.
  2. Blogging makes me think about things a little differently.  I’m always seeking “lessons” that I can incorporate into my posts from daily life.
  3. I seek to learn so I can share.  I’ve sought out books, articles and blogs that I wouldn’t have otherwise found – in search of information to support my posts.
  4. It’s delightful to run into friends and acquaintances that share how they enjoyed a particular post or topic.

 

It can be work, but a post always comes forward when I sit down in front of the keyboard.  Thinking about starting up a blog?  I encourage you to make the mark and begin.

Areavoices Digest #38: P-P-P-Penny Keep Posting that Blog!

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If you’ve had children anytime after 1990 or so, you undoubtedly know what my headline means. If you haven’t you probably think I’m weird.  You might think that regardless. But let me explain.

Young children in the upper Midwest are nuts for “Penny and Pals.” Penny and her Pals travel around our region entertaining and educating children through her music. My kids went bonkers for her when they were in preschool. Now you’d think I would have gotten sick of those tunes we had to play over and over again in the mini van. But Penny’s songs never did get old.

I’m not going to say people didn’t look at me funny when, one day, I kept singing  “Uncle Underwood’s Unbelievable Ugly Underwear” at work. What was I going to do? It was stuck in my head. Even so, I wasn’t tired of the tunes. (Today’s headline is in reference to Penny’s friend Bernie and his need to keep bouncing “that ball.” Look it up on Penny’s website. )

Penny’s popularity with the under 8 set makes me all the more excited that she’s joined us on Areavoices. Penny’s blog is just the first of the blogs I’m recommending in this week’s digest. And remember: “R-R-R-Readers, keep reading these blogs!” Okay, that was going too far. I apologize. Nonetheless these are some great blogs!

 
Penny and Pals: http://pennyandpals.areavoices.com
 Children’s entertainer Penny Andrist shares info, news and photos from her appearances around MN, ND, and SD. 

Gooseberry Park Players
http://gooseberry.areavoices.com
A blog written for the Gooseberry Park musical theatre troupe for youth in Moorhead, Minnesota. Fargo-Moorhead Properties.
 
 
A Minnesotan in China – Learning about the world, learning about ourselves:
http://newplateaus.areavoices.com
Brandon Ferdig  was raised in Blackduck, MN, spent 10 years in the Twin Cities, and now lives in Zhuhai, China. This blog shares his travel experiences.  
 
Move that body:
http://movethatbody.areavoices.com
A blog designed to highlight the excitement and hilarity that goes along with an active life. This blog has a nice look to it. Very sharp. 
 
Roving Reporter:
http://rovingreporter.areavoices.com
Roving Reporter is written by Eric Ludy, a native of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin and former Minnesota newspaper journalist. After getting laid off Eric decided take off and do something he’s always wanted go outside his comfort zone. Specifically he’s now working from Lima, Peru. He says, “I’ll use this blog to document the journey, from brushing up on Spanish at home to (hopefully) hiking the Inca Trail on my way to Machu Pichu. Expect tons of pictures, stories of people and places, and lots of lengthy descriptions of food.”

It’s My Opinion:
http://itsmyopinion.areavoices.com
James Bushey is a Minnesotan who writes a little bit of everything. He focuses on pop culture, entertainment and “funny, and cute postings just in-case someone is having a bad day. He says, “The goal of my blog is to show my opinion on things without being mean.”

Fugitive Focus:
 http://fugitivefocus.areavoices.com
A weekly profile in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead featuring the most wanted criminal offenders in the Red River Valley.

Making your blog better: tips from a top five blogger

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“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” It’s something I tell potential bloggers as they join Areavoices. Sometimes it’s daunting to think about starting a blog. They ask themselves, “How will I find the time?” “How will I set it up?” “How often should I write?” “What should I write about?” “How do I get people to read it?”

Good questions, questions that some of our most popular Areavoices bloggers have already answered. The good news is many of them are willing to share their expertise with you.

I’ve contacted some of our popular bloggers to write guest blogs for me. Today, Sue Doeden gets us started. Sue writes “All About Food,”  which is consistently in the top five Areavoices blogs, often taking the top spot. Sue has a great way of sharing her knowledge about food in a conversational and fun way. You can almost smell and taste the food through the photos on “All About Food.”

Thanks to Sue for sharing her thoughts:

When I first ventured into the blogosphere, I considered it another way to engage with the people who were attending my cooking classes and reading my food writing. Today, my All About Food blog continues to be a platform for delivering greater depth of information with a constant flow and change of content.

Visitors to my blog seem to enjoy the fresh, friendly and fun conversational tone in each of my blog posts. I can thank my mom for urging me to write letters and notes to my relatives who lived many miles away from me when I was a child. Writing my blog is similar to writing letters, sharing experiences and telling stories. Little did my dear mother know that she was preparing me for life as a blogger.

As my blog began to develop a following, I felt a responsibility to add new posts regularly. At this point, I add new content twice a week for sure. My readers know they will find new information every Sunday and Friday. If I have time to post in-between those days, I do. It’s a nice surprise for my loyal readers.

I do use social media to “get my blog out there.” Because I am an independent contractor and do freelance work, I want to connect with other food writers, food stylists and photographers, culinary instructors and recipe developers. Social media is a form of networking. Networking is all about developing relationships, and that’s exactly what happens when you use social media. It seems the whole world is on Facebook. And snappy, fast, quick and simple tweets on Twitter can spread like wild fire. I must say that communicating regularly on Facebook and Twitter takes time (and practice), but they are nice places to create links for your “friends” to easily get to your most recent blog posts. You know that adage, “one thing leads to another.”

There are very simple things that can be done to help people discover a blog and then, hopefully, keep coming back:

  • Include a link to your blog in the automatic signature at the end of each of the email messages you send.
  • Respond or acknowledge comments that are left on your blog in a timely manner.
  • Provide readers content with value – cool tips, great recipes, interesting resources, new places to check out.
  • People love photos. Include them in your blog posts whenever you can.
  • When you leave a comment on another blog, sign off with a link to your own blog. This takes time, though. You may need to add “blog-reading” to your calendar.

But, bloggers, beware. You’ll most likely discover that when you’re not writing for your blog, you’re thinking about it. It becomes a part of your life. When you feel connected to your readers, your blog may even make you feel pressure and stress at times.

But in the end, you’ll feel satisfaction and delight when you hear from a reader who finds your blog relevant and worth taking the time to read. And, you’ll want to continue blogging.

By Sue Doeden

Visit my blog at www.sdoeden.areavoices.com

Read my newspaper column at http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/tag/tag/sue%20doeden/

Catch my weekly food segment on Lakeland News at 10 and find more of my recipes at:

http://www.lakelandptv.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=97&show=1

Cool changes for Areavoices bloggers

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Sometimes I get a little scared when my co-worker Zac Echola comes to me with news of systems upgrades. I’m afraid I give him that deer in headlights look and insist he speak to me like I was in the 4th grade. (That backfired awhile back when another techy co-worker reminded me of the technical proficiency of most 4th graders.) Anyway, he proceeded to tell me about the upgrade to WordPress 3.2 effective today.

The upgrade brings some technical changes. To see a complete list go to https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_3.2

But let me tell you about the changes that will most affect you.

The new default theme for new users will be called Twenty Eleven. That means if you sign up today for a blog it will automatically start your blog in Twenty Eleven. Prior to today the default was Twenty Ten. Twenty Eleven is very similar to Twenty Ten, but has a few more features for handling different post types, which was a feature that came with the last update. I think Twenty Eleven is a really sharp looking theme. I changed one of my blogs from Twenty Ten to Twenty Eleven just by going into the Dashboard, clicking appearance and selecting Twenty Eleven. Here’s what it looks like on my “Ear Candy” blog (that’s my blog where I celebrate embarrassing music).

Besides the sharper looking Twenty Eleven theme, users will also notice increased speed when loading things in the admin. There’s been a lot of optimization done to make things go faster there.

You’ll want to make sure you have updated browsers to use WordPress 3.2. That’s because support for IE6 will be dropped completely. IE7 users may notice problems in parts of the admin. WordPress and Automattic will be dropping support for IE7 soon.

Anyway, we think you’ll like it. If you experience any problems at all please email support@areavoices.com. You can also email me directly and I’ll forward to support if I’m unable to answer your questions.

How green is your thumb?

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I’ve always had a brown thumb. Plants don’t stand a chance in my house. I haven’t had much luck with my garden either. That is, until I planted strawberries a couple of summers ago. They’ve gone completely nuts this year. This is just about 3/4 of what I harvested in June. Suffice it to say my relatives have had their share of strawberry jam and strawberry rhubarb pie.

Maybe my luck is changing because I’m reading more gardening blogs these days. (Sounds good right?)  Two of my favorite gardening blogs are The Dirt and East of ‘Weedin. When I read how real gardeners tackle their issues, I’m inspired and the proof is in my ginormous strawberry harvest.

I decided to highlight these blogs a little more by adding a category to our directory. They can now be found under “Home and Garden” instead of “Special Interest.”

But I’m also excited about another blog under Home and Garden. It’s called Randomly Remodeling. The author is a wife and mom of 4 who calls herself “easily distracted.” It should be fun to follow her do-it-yourself projects.

If you’ve never looked through our directory of featured Areavoices blogs, check it out at www.areavoices.com or under the Areavoices section of our FCC newspapers.

Sometimes I listen to myself

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I guess it’s better than talking to myself.  I recently wrote a blog post on what to do with your blog while on vacation. I offered 5 tips from leaving it altogether to posting in advance to finding some guest bloggers. I’ve decided to take my own advice. I’m gunna git’ me some guest bloggers.

The fact is Areavoices continues to astound me with it’s success. We’ve gone from a couple hundred featured blogs last year to nearly 600 hundred this week, from 100,000 people viewing each month to 250,000 people viewing this month. That’s according to Quantcast. That’s pretty amazing. The main factor behind the success is simple: the bloggers. They are providing interesting, relevant, entertaining content that people want to read. I’ve learned so much from them since starting this job back in September. Now I want to share this with you (and they were nice enough to agree).

So over the next few weeks, I’m going to provide space on this blog to some guest bloggers. I selected a handful of bloggers who continue to be among the most popular on the Areavoices platform. All of them are continually in the top ten most read blogs attracting thousands of readers every month. They write on varied topics from sports to spaghetti.

I told them they could write about whatever they’d like to write about. But I hope they’ll provide us with a little insight into what makes their blogs so popular. Tips like: what to write about, how to make a story pop, how to use pictures and video, what they like most and least about blogging, how do they work with Facebook and Twitter and what they might do differently if they started their blog today.

Let me know what else you’d like to  learn from them. And also, let me know if there is an Areavoices blogger you’d most like to hear from. If I tell them they were specially requested from you guys, they might feel the love and know they can’t say “no” to writing a guest post.

5 things to do about your blog while on vacation

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We’re deep in the heart of summer vacation season and avid bloggers might wonder, “what should I do about my blog?” It’s not like the dog, the paper or the mail. You don’t absolutely have to figure out how to handle it in your absence. But it’s worth thinking about. Here are my recommendations for what to do with your blog while you hit the beach (or the lake, or your in-laws house):

1) Let your blog have a vacation too:  It works hard. Getting commented on and Google searched – it’s exhausting! Consider just walking away for awhile. Clear your mind of all blog thoughts. Isn’t it more fun to count the little umbrellas in your drink than worry about your next blog post? The downside: your traffic will fall.

2) Blog a bit on vacation:  I know that’s kind of like being just “a little pregnant” because the true meaning of being on vacation is getting away from it all and that means your blog too. Even so, while on vacation you might find all kinds of new things to write about. There’s potential for fun photos and video as well.  The downside: What are you a machine? Sometimes your brain needs a break. You risk burnout.

3) Get ahead of the game: Word Press allows you to post-date your publications, which means you can write all kinds of blogs ahead of time and set when you want them to be published. It fools the reader into thinking that you’re right there diligently blogging to your heart’s content. The downside: You might set a post for publication that might be irrelevant by the time it hits publication. IE: When you write a post on how to cope with extreme hot weather and it gets published on the coldest, rainiest day of the summer.

4) Along the lines of advance publishing consider a “Best of” post: We all have those posts we think were better than the others. Consider bringing that back to life. Add a brief updated intro and you’re good to go. The downside: Some of your more loyal readers might feel cheated. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve already read this one…”

5) Consider finding a guest blogger: Think about having someone post in your place. Maybe it’s a friend or family member. Maybe it’s someone with similar interests or even their own blog. If you write a cooking blog, for example,  think about all those great chefs you know. Perhaps they’d like to write a post for you. It’s win-win. You get activity on your blog. They get to promote themselves or their business. The downside: you lose a little control of your blog content, unless you can see exactly what they write ahead of time.

Think it over. Decide what to do. And have a great vacation!