₦airaland Forum

@Larrysun

Well you don't have followers because you've neither been posting, nor interacting with bloggers of the niche.
May I make suggestions?

Rather than make your blog a place for your stories alone, how about you talk about your writing process too? People like to know about the lives of their favourite bloggers/writers coz like I said, emotions is a universal language.


So diversify. Leave your stories for a certain day of the week. Talk about writing, how people can become better writers. Talk about books you've read etc.

I'll recommend you take a look at Itunu's blog at www.glowingscenes.com
You must have seen her story in the Lit section at some point. Or visit www.ericjbaker.

These are brilliant writers whose blogs I've come to love.

Writing is an art. Share the art and what it means to you.

P.S I love the layout of your blog

Hope this helps.

@CoachDX thanks so much for your input

Chiclara:
@Ujsizzle mizmycoli please can I get Ur bbm pin. I really love ur advice and I have lots of questions to ask cos I just started. Please bbm pin pls

I'm not on BBM, but you cab send me a mail.

90sgirl:
@UjSizzle thanks for the post. Two things

1. Please how can i copy the Ad codes given after applying for adsense to my wordpress blog? www.firstadvancebusiness.com and

2. How do i make some few dollars with this? i have downloaded so many youtube videos and they are not really helpful. can we talk one on one my email is brendasimon82@yahoo.com

thanks

You'll need someone with a bit more technical knowledge to answer this.
@Kidprogrammer, help please?

pxjosh:
thank you UjSizzle. this came at the right time. I want to open a blog using WordPress, but I don't want it to end with a I prefer just .com and..I don't have shishi to pay right now. is there how I can get my blog just with .com on WordPress for free?

Nah. Domain names don't come for free...sorry.

You might want to start it anyway with the , and when you have money, you can upgrade to a private domain name. Just work on building your community for now.

DONOCSO:
UjSizzle Baby you badoo... but I love you. nice tips for all bloggers, not just beginners.

Emm sweety err err UjSizzle pls can you review http://blog.sureguys.com for mee? would appreciate if you pm me your contact info so we can Interact with the blogosphere.

Thank You.

Site looks good to moi.
You don't need contact infos to interact with the blogosphere. You just need to take yourself to a blog and leave a comment

freezyprinzy:
abeg waats d name of dat bird in ur d.p its face is scary ma dog go get helper

Lol! I don't remember, honestly. The face just looked....expressive, so I saved the image.

striktlymi:
I feel you...


Sounds quite odd.


I know I will laugh so hard and step back a bit if my mum would call and say that to me.


By God's grace, my home will be different.

Actually I think if either of my said it now, I'd smile and give 'em a hug.

We're a lot more conversant with expressing our feelings via our actions, than saying the words. But I feel it's important children are told often enough. It's so easy to think your parents are being mean and wicked when they make tough calls which you consider unfair. But when they explain their actions were motivated by love, it's easier to accept.

Nigeria has a huge problem with talking about feelings.

First time my dad said the L word, I was 6. It was so weird, i had a frown on my forehead and stared at him like something had gone wrong

I say it to my siblings though, but they just laugh and say I've lost my mind. Basically it's just something we say for the sake of it (more like 'Ah roff you').

Hopefully my kids will be hearing lots of it.

Nonso23:
I'm being honest jor! Flattery is not my forte.

Alright, will be expecting it although I seriously doubt there'll be much to edit given your level of expertise but I'll do my best.

Ah, now you are talking. I was expecting it to be more ... err romance based. I score very poorly in that quarter.

I'm most grateful. Thanks!

Romance? Definitely not my forte. When I manage to get that aspect of my life running smoothly, maybe I'll have tips of life Until then, I can talk about everybody's romantic experience (more fun if you ask me)

JOETYNO:
pls ah need help on how to own a blog


thanks

Visit
www. and click in start a blog (or something similar)

Or

www.blogger.com and do same there.

These are free blogging platforms. If you want to own a personal site with full control, then find a web host and enlist the services of a web designer.

GodMode:
There's need for one if you're a serious blogger and want more links to your site.

Blogging is not just about writing its about seo, link building, getting followers e.t.c

If u just want to write then go and write on established blogging community websites like hubpages where people would read your stuffs and see your blog and u'll earn faster that way and get more exposure.

Thanks. I'm working on SEOs and link building next. Though the former hasn't made much sense since I began reading up on it. Too much tech talk that's too big for my non-Sci brain

If you understand how that works well, I'd like to send you a mail please for an in-depth easy-to-understand explanation. If you don't mind that is...pls?

Nonso23:
I will be on your neck till it is ready oo! You write so well it is hard to resist the temptation to bring it up.

Alright, I don't mind at all. Since it's a story (closest to a book) I'm all ears eyes. Whenever it's ready do let me know.

Forget say na family section I dey frequent pass, my interest is deeply seated in technology especially energy. If ever I decide to channel the famous WWII replication power it's most likely going to be in that direction.
But I won't mind a collabo though, in fact I think i'm looking forward to it.

You're gracious with your compliments....thanks

I'll send you a mail once I'm done with the second draft. Your job will be to edit it, move the paragraphs around a bit, read out loud to yourself and tell me where the flow seems to 'jam' somewhat.

About the collabo. Promise it won't be anything out of your scope. It'll centre around culture and society, and that's something I think you can handle well

jaybee3:
I'm here

Lol and I see ya

@Nonso23

Excellent piece! Where is our book?!! The way you put it has already got me thinking: maybe all the energy channeled into replicating WWII in family section can be put to better use

Thanks. And abeg suffry for that book na It'll be written when its ready.

Meanwhile I've been trying to tell a story for a couple of months now. Do you mind being a beta reader? Just go through it, tell me what you think before I hit publish....pretty please?

And er when you're ready to do something more than replicate WW11, I'd love you to do a teensy weensy collaboration with me (I'll give you the details when I'm ready)...if you don't mind, that is.

lalasticlala:
UjSizzle

No source link?

There's no need for one. I wrote it.

ireneony:
how do I remove it....
Please use opera mini first
You are using a Lumia phone that why....
I will try and correct it.
Thank you for your advised

You could report to Microsoft that your site is safe.

@Brandnew2

Then I became a geek.I'm finding myself back again to my passion.

I hope your passion finds you too

ireneony:
thank you

When safe search is active, your site keeps showing this:

No. 6

KidProgrammer:
i trust u,nd you did it,what a gud post you have up there,really love it,nice 2 have you here.

Thank you

prof800:
A+

Thanks

AgapeCharis:
wow! Thanks I'm grateful. Will work on it

You should try different themes and see how that works out.

AgapeCharis:
rhemadiet..com

Constructive criticism is welcome pls

Thanks! Cool site, nice content too (view on mobile though).
I think your tagline is pretty lengthy though. You can consider shortening that, and making I more detailed in your 'about page'.
That way your header isn't clustered and anyone can get a quick info of what your site's about at one glance

@Mizmycoli

Talented kwa? Lol I'm flattered. Thanks

The facebook page is a bold move. Not bad at all.

Talk about anything that interests you in the world, even politics. People want to connect, so they will

ebukasoso:
Ujsizzle Nice One U Got There. I Love Your Blog. It Is Interesting And Educative. Have learnt some stuffs here today. Waiting for more to come from you.

Thank you. I hope you remain a regular visitor

ebukasoso:
Cc UjSizzle , I Noticed Something, People Do On Wordpress Blogs More Than On Blogger/ Blogs. Why??

Glad you asked this.
Unlike blogger, WordPress is more than a blogging platform. It also runs a tad like a forum....meaning there's a wider 'community' and general ease of reaching other blogs within a niche.

P.S That's just my observation though, and why I chose to start my blog on WordPress.

Blogger though has it's unique advantage. Since it's hosted by google, it's the ideal spot for bloggers who want to make money and increase the numbers since it avails you more visibility.

AgapeCharis:
wow! Just what I wanted. I just started blogging January 1st to be precise and this piece will go a long way. Thanks UjSizzle

You're welcome What's your blog addy?

Greyworld:
I enjoyed dis article especial d "patience preachin" so professional just lyk a cousellin section....... Pardon ma ignorance, who pays bloggers abi blog owners?

Thanks! So many people remember to give patience to others, but don't extend the courtesy to themselves.
Normally when a blogger registers for Adwords, they get paid by the host (google etc) for placing ads on their blogs.

MizMyColi:
Errr
It's totally okay to book space here I think.
Lawd! I am so excited!
I'll be back to read properly and comment.
You should consider making this a blog post by the way

I will lol. Each post is tailor-made for an audience. So if I decide to make one for my blog, then it'll take a different format (most likely broken down into single detailed posts and sprinkled with a story of how frustrated and weird doing the actual thing was ).
Waiting for your comments.

Primary school
I love my brothers.

"Starting a blog is kind of like buying a house: you decide what neighborhood you want to live in, pick a house, and fill it with your stuff. For a blogger, that means deciding on a blogging platform, picking a theme, and publishing posts. "

I assume if you're here, then you must own a blog, or intend to own one (or just want to see what this person has to say).
I've been an active (hopefully) member on the blogosphere for a little less than a year now, experimented with a couple of things and learned lots more. Today I'll try to explain some of the most basic rules beginners/prospective/dissatisfied bloggers could use to get their sites running.

Like the quote above, starting a blog is a lot like owning a house. You need to pay attention to your needs and that of your visitors too.
I'll be keeping each point raised as simple as possible (each one could fit into an individual topic), so if you need further explanation don't hesitate to let me know.

Note: Everything here is based on personal experience/experiments with my own blog Click here

So let's get started:

1. Know why you are here:
People blog for different reasons. It could be for financial purposes, community building, rendering your quota of help to a dying race, advertising your company etc.
So the first thing you need to ask yourself is, "why do I need a blog?"
Do I want to pursue excellence, create something for myself, become more visible on the web, or just because Jack owns a blog too?
If you don't know why you're here, then we don't know either.

2. Choose a suitable platform
Once you've successfully figured out the 'why', the next step is to find an appropriate location to help you actualize your goal. There are so many platforms that allow you create a blog for free. Most common in this part of the world are Blogger/ and Wordpress. If you want a more professional feel and full control over your site, then you can find a suitable web host who charge meager fees annually.
Make sure you study the proposed environment before pitching your tent. Some common questions you might like to ask yourself are: How interactive is this platform? Is it easily assessable? How much control do I have? Is it reasonably safe from hackers? Do I feel at home here?
Once you've gotten the nitty-gritty down, you can pitch your tent and choose a unique address for yourself.

3. Content is everything
Or so the saying goes. Remember you're here for a reason, be it connecting or just plain gossiping to/about the human race. Pay adequate attention to the things you write and how they are presented on your site. Last I checked plagiarism was still an offence, so if you are not going give visitors original content, then have the courtesy to give credit to Mama Emeka who was kind enough to cook it up.
If and when you do decide to create something of your own, then be proud enough to display it. Proof read for typos because no one wants to be hit by roadblocks at every paragraph. I believe there's a writer in everyone, and something must work for you. Find your voice and stay true to yourself.

4. Find your voice
Have you ever heard someone speak, or the sound of their footfall and even without looking, you could tell exactly who it was?
If your answer is yes, then you can create the exact feeling on your blog. Every writer has a voice even though it might take a while to find and hone it. Most times we spend our time trying to sound like someone else--that's a lot like living another persons' life. Finding your voice is like finding yourself, a very unique you. If it helps, you can try free-writing for a couple of minutes (first draft) and do that without editing. When you read aloud to yourself, what does it sound like?
Your readers want you, so give them the authentic version of yourself. There's no point lying to score cheap points--practice honesty without full disclosure if you must.

5. Content loves design
Your theme is your colour book and the one thing that makes your content shine. One rule of thumb is to keep your design as simple as possible, using only very necessary widgets to create the best user experience (including loading time). Remember, your purpose of blogging is for people to pay attention to what you're trying to communicate, not ooh and ahh over your struggle with the rainbow.
Most themes come ready made with template options--headers, widgets, so tweak and play with everything until you find something that feels comfortable and easy on the eyes. Otherwise you could purchase Premium themes to give more options if what's available is unsuitable, or just pay someone to tell you want you need. Also ensure to choose a theme that allows for a cluster-free mobile/tablet view.
If memory serves me well, I tried our over 10 different themes within the course of 8mths all the while publishing posts before settling for what's currently in use.
If you want, you can pick one theme now, start publishing, and then revisit themes again once you have a number of posts on your blog. This will help you see just what is suitable for you keeping your content and readers in mind.
Don't hold back. Your blog will be your home for as long as you decide to keep it running. Choose a suitable design and love it.
P.S There's more to this than I actually said (eg fonts, colour palettes, images etc.) so we can further discuss it if you want.

6. Interact with the blogosphere
If your purpose of blogging is to create a diary or make money, then please jump to 7. If you are interested in community building, please read on.
There is something extremely boring about living in housing estates: Nobody wants to see their neighbors, or feel the need to see them to begin with. If that's the kind of environment you want--a blog without comments or life--then by all means be a loner.
Otherwise you can get out of your hole and find people.
It's a rich community out there, and if there's something I've learned, it's that people want to talk. Seriously. It might be difficult to find one blog in a sea of a million, but when you start getting those likes, shares, comment and appreciation mails, it's accompanied by a warm fuzzy feeling.
Chances of people locating you are really slim, but you can speed things up by visiting others sites and leaving meaningful comments. And by "meaningful" I don't mean 'nice one', 'cool', 'ok'....no. Say something that tells the author you've actually read their post, you understand exactly what they are talking about, or that you don't get what's going on but you wish things will go well for them in the future...or share your story too.
Emotions is a universal language and people connect through it (something our politicians have on lockdown)....take advantage of that and you'll see people--authors and their guests-- returning the favour by visiting your site to get more of you. Life is give and take. And so is blogging.

7. Take advantage of social media
When the stats monkeys on WordPress sent my annual report for 2014, I found that my top referring sites were Nairaland, Facebook, Twitter and of course other blogs I'd visited. This tells me there are people out there who are curious enough to click on links, like what they see and share with their community too. It's basic networking and you can get that to work for you. Just add those share buttons to your site and encourage your readers to share whatever they like. They might not be saying much but at least you know they're coming. Also remember to tell your friends about your blog and request their support. You can only be so good to attract people like bees, but you also need to make them feel needed.

8. Find support
You are not all-knowing and the epitome of supreme knowledge. Even after following these, you'll still need a second and third opinion, beta readers and explanations for all the techie stuff that'll improve your site. Best way to approach this is by seeking help from people who are more knowledgeable and don't mind extending a helping hand.
When I started my blog I got super confused at some point that I had to ask some nairalanders for help. What I got in return was priceless.
If you don't know where to turn, find someone from the webmaster section of this forum, create a thread stating your difficulties, consult search engines or contact support from your host platform. The world is filled with people who want to extend their knowledge and skills to others.

9. Be patient
We all like to believe miracles happen--and sometimes they do--but they don't always come when we want it. The best gift you can give yourself is patience. It can be a bit daunting waiting for something big to happen, but it will happen if you stay true to yourself and work a little harder. Everything comes with a price and yours will be time and dedication. If you put in effort to improve your site, content and relationship with people, I bet you'll see results.

10. Remember how small you are on the web. There will always be people who write better than you, communicate better and are way better at blog-hopping. When you see those stats displayed at the bottom of their page, or the 50-200 comments, you will wonder when and if you'll ever be as big as they are. But never forget how big you can become. Push yourself, experiment, have fun, steal ideas (duh!), buddy up and for goodness sake love your blog. If you can't love it, then neither can we.

Note: I am not a pro-blogger (or whatever those are called)....just one person among billions discovering a new community and enjoying it. You'll get more tips when I'm done tweaking and exploring (no, you can't call me a lab rat )

Questions, Comments, Additions, Subtractions.....??

Please don't quote the entire post. If you want to get my attention, just type my name. Thanks


cc Mizmycoli, Kidprogrammer, Ebukasoso

@Mizmycoli,

Blogs/websites are usually enabled for pingbacks/trackbacks--something that alerts the quoted blog.
I don't know if it works across platforms, but if it does, then I'll receive a notification.

And you're welcome.


P.S I'm actually considering doing a post here for new bloggers. More like a beginners' tip

Alfred200825:
Here is mine www.allspired.com

Love the look. Simple. Beautiful content. On mobile at least