We are now 11 days into 31 Days to Build a Better Blog and have all been working hard. Check out Darren’s 31 Day project page for the daily tasks we have to complete.
Participating in the project has caused me to reflect on the following:
- Confused about which blog site to use?
- Is Twittering Shifting Blogging into a new Phase?
- What does your Blog look like to your subscribers?
- What does your Blog look like in Different Feed Readers?
- SlideShare Needs our Support – Lets Help them Out!
- How to keep track of comments on other bloggers’ posts
But this has meant I have not had time to record my progress with each daily task, so I will do a quick update here!
Day 7 – Plan a Weeks Worth of Posts
Been struggling with this so decided to ask my readers, my fellow twitters and members of my forum. Used an open ended question “need to plan week worth of posts are there any topics you would like to read more on?” – NO RESPONSE.
Tried again, but used using Twitter – here is the question.
Please vote on which of the following options you would most like me to write a series of posts on:
A. How to audio and video podcast
B. Different Web2.0 tool each day with examples of it is actually being used with students
C. Different mobile device each day with examples of it is actually being used with students
This had a tremendous response – with heated discussions between Twitterers on which series I should write on. I have not decided yet – so you can still vote by leaving a comment. Special commendations to Kathryn for working hard on trying to influence others (you need to work harder B. is in the lead) and Brian for turning B + C into D (Web 2.0 tools on mobile devices).
Day 8 – Comment on a Blog You’ve Never Commented On Before
With 11 blogging participants so far in our 31 Days Chocolate Challenge I have definitely achieved this. As an organiser of the Chocolate Challenge, it is important that I visit all blogs and take time to comment on the great work they are doing.
I hate the fact with commenting that it can be time consuming to find out if there has been further comments on the post unless the person has a notify by email on their comments. Thankfully Cammie helped me out here by telling me about Co-mment (which is way better than being notified by email). If you have the same frustrations check out how to use Co-mment.
Day 9 – Run an Advertising Audit on your Blog
As most of us in the challenge are not interested in ads on our sites Michelle gave us two alternative tasks:
- Go back to something you didn’t do or that you’d like to do again
- Write up your best tip for new bloggers–or a tip for more advanced bloggers
So I spent this time catching up on commenting on new blogs – 10+ blogs is hard work. Task completed 🙂
Day 10 – Declutter your sidebar
Well I really hate clutter in sidebars so have tried to keep this to a minimum – but it is really hard. I have used the 3 column template to balance it all visually. The widget I in my sidebar I think I could remove is Recent comments. In our community having Blogs I read is important – although it makes me feel like the parent that did not invite all the kids to the party. If you leave someone off and they notice – will they get offended.
What are your thoughts:
- Should I remove Recent Comments?
- Am I missing an important Widget in my sidebar?
- Is it more cluttered than I realise – what else do I need to remove
Sue Waters 
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