How to Get to the Blog Linky Party First and Get Your Blog Post Seen

Don't be late to the linky party!  Be one of the first and get your blog post seen by everyone who's anyone.  It's easier than you think to be organized and run your blog on the go. 

I have to admit that I'm glad that summer is slowly winding down.

I'm ready for the fall holidays and the themed crafting.  I think I may have a form of Crafting ADD in that I like to jump all over the place with trying new mediums and doing new ideas.  It's kind of hard to keep my brain focused, which is why I have structured my blog to concentrate on one theme from beginning to end.

I'm not sure it's the best blogging style since it seems that a lot of readers like to jump in to get ideas for whatever party theme they are working on and then run off to find more ideas or start creating projects.  I am totally fine with that, but it means I have to constantly work to get my new ideas out into cyberspace for readers and creaters to find.

Which is why I absolutely LOVE blog linky parties.  They are such a great way to pin new ideas, meet new friends, and get that blog post that I love out to where people can see it and remember it for when they need it.  If you are into blogging at all, you have seen these parties and read the posts on how to make your post stand out in the crowd.  You need to have good pictures, creative tag lines, and get to the party early enough to count.

While I am no expert at the first two, I have learned how to get to the party early and my page views have really benefited from that.  There are thousands of blog parties out there with each one on a different day and starting at a different time, so it's really important to be able to find a system that works to keep each blog linky straight so I can be the first to the party.  That took me some serious trial and error to figure out.

I finally found the LocalCalendar.com website.  (I am not an affiliate or anything, I just LOVE their service.) It is an easy web calendar that allows me to add each of my favorite blog linky parties.  I can add all kinds of information to the entry so that I can know the name of each party, where it links up, the day and time that it starts, and any other information that I want to add. 

I try to add little notes to the entry if the party has a specific theme or I put an astrix by the party name if it's a group linky party so I can remember to try and get there first.

Since I always have my phone with me, I attend a lot of blog parties on there.  So to help me, I always have two windows up in my phones browser.  One has my Blog Linky calendar  (I posted it on the "Linky Parties" page on my blog so I would always have access to it) and the other has my most current blog post.

This allows me to quickly access the calendar when I know a blog party is about to start.  I can bring up the page and click on the next linky party.  Since I already have my post qued up and ready to go, I can quickly jump into the party and add my blog post.

Sometimes, the blog owner doesn't have a set start time, will start the party early, or I haven't quite pinned down the exact start time yet, so I will try and look ahead an hour or two in the party calendar to check out the upcoming blogs when I'm standing in the grocery store line, waiting to pick up my kids, or just sitting at work during a quiet moment. 

This system has worked wonders for me in my party attendance, and my blog views.

If you want to see where I like to party, check out the Linky Parties link on the toolbar above.  And be sure not to miss our Dare to Share Saturday linky party each Friday night at midnight EST.

SNAP Conference, Instagram Tips and Dare to Share Saturday

Hello friends!

I am doing things a little different this week by not sharing the 5 features.  I'm thinking I will create a special post of my favorite Dare to Share features on Tuesday, so don't freak out that your wonderful posts won't be shared or admired.  Plus, my co-host and friend, Pam from Pams Party and Practical Tips is still sharing fun features throughout the week, so be sure to check out her blog to see if you were featured.

I am currently at SNAP blog conference out in Salt Lake City.  I admit, I was super nervous about coming to this and I'm still super nervous about being here, but it's been an absolutely wonderful experience.  I am so glad that I got to do this before all the craziness of moving starts next month.

I wanted to share a few things that I learned this week for all you wonderful bloggers that stop by and share your projects.  It's only fair right?  Maybe I'll make this a regular feature on Dare to Share Saturdays.  Would you guys be interested in some blogging tips and things that I learned?  Let me know in the comments what you think.

I'm definitely not the biggest or best blogger, but every now and then I learn some awesome tips and by sharing them, maybe I'll find a little karma and be able to help others at the same time.

I just got out of an amazing class on Instagram by three amazing bloggers, Violet Tinder, Lines Across, and Canary Jane.  (I'm not sure I can use the word amazing enough after this weekend.  These new friends are totally inspiring and awesome.)

I think I wrote 5 pages of notes and can't wait to check out the class write up to look over all the things that I could have/should have noted.    The five things that I learned the most from this class are:

1. Branding is the key to success  -- Be consistant in your feed, your point of view, your posting times.
2. Find your voice -- tell your story, your why.  Let people know who you are and why you blog
3. Ideas to share on Instagram -- exclusive content only to IG, share teaser photos, don't use text in pictures, include bit.ly links in bio to track clicks
4. Don't use hashtags in the caption, add to first comment  -- @violettinder uses * * * to separate first comment  and hashtags from her caption.
5. Track your analytics -- what time, hashtags, and types of post do best? Track for a few weeks to a month to find out.  Can use apps like Followers, Crowdfire, Planogram, and Iconosquare.

And a bonus tip that I received at the end and feel is so very important, not just with Instagram, but with everything you do --

HAVE FUN AND DON'T TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY!

#plaidcrafts has the motto of my life! "Craftiness is Happiness" #snapconf2016 #snapconf #plaidcrafts #crafts

A photo posted by Kim (@kimskandykreations) on Apr 15, 2016 at 10:20am PDT

I am just starting out with Instagram and haven't quite found my groove there yet, so these tips were super helpful.  This weekend, I've been sharing a lot of pictures of the SNAP conference, the parties and some awesomeness from the sponsors.

Definitely go check out my Instagram feed and follow it to see all the #SNAPconference fun.

Starting next week, I'm going to do my best to start implementing these tips and tricks, although I admit it might be kind of funky as I prepare to move and figure out that groove, but I'm going to try and give you some super party fun and great projects to make your every day more of a celebrations.

I can't wait to see what you've been up to this week!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Average, Ordinary, Everyday Mommy Blogger Song Parody

When my kids were really little, I would come upon them playing in their rooms singing out their stories.  It was not uncommon to find them singing about the "bad" guys or needing to clean their rooms.

I don't know if it was due to too much Disney when they were little, because I'm certainly not blaming it on the hours of Barney we used to watch.



But now that they are older, we constantly have music BLARING in our house, and it's not rare to find full blown musical numbers break out in the kitchen.

Maybe that's how this song was born or maybe it was too much time sick on the couch last week.  Whatever the reason, I had a lot of fun writing this song and making this video.  

Ignore my terrible singing and drawing and enjoy my fun parody of Smash Mouth's Everyday Superhero.

Every morning I wake up just the same

Trying to blog as a way to keep sane

I don't see how I can juggle it all

There's just so many balls.

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

Trying to feed my kids

While taking lots of pics.

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

Surfing Pinterest

While stirring up the mix.

Just a tweet now

That I quickly need to send

While writing up my post

With the things I need to tend.

Trying to make it look easy

Gonna write it up good

Before doing what I should.

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

Carpooling all the kids

While working on my gigs.

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

Cleaning up the mess

Is all I seem to do.

My life's like anybody else

I just do it on my blog with pics

I keep my Facebook page so well.

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

I'm trying to craft my world

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

I try to blog about cleaning up the house

But then the kids all need a drink.

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

Trying to write a post

While staying up too late.

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

Wanting to attend

A Conference far away.

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

I'm trying to blog my world.

I'm just you're average, ordinary, everyday Mommy Blogger

10 Great Podcasts to Help Your Blog

School's out.  Summer's here.  And we are getting ready for all our fun summer activities.

Since we live in the middle of nowhere, it takes us forever to get to any of the "Big" cities with fun.  That means a lot of driving time this summer.

I've decided to spend that time learning how to be a better business woman and blogger.  Podcasts are the perfect answer for long drives, doing dishes in the kitchen, or long summer workout walks.

It's taken me a long time to find podcasts that I like and are really helpful.  In case you are looking to muti-task this summer, I thought I would share my favorites with you.

1.  How They Blog
From the website: "Have you ever wondered how your favorite blogger…blogs? What does their workspace look like? What tools do they use? When do they get their work done? How do they manage family and blogging?

That’s what HowTheyBlog.com is all about. I’ll interview your favorite bloggers and introduce you to some new ones. I’ll get your questions answered so that you can learn from some of the most talented and passionate bloggers around."

2. Crafting Your Biz
From the website: "Are you a crafty business owner, you are gonna want to listen to this most excellent podcast from Lain Ehmann and THE Traci Reed."

3. Entrepreneur on Fire
From the website: EntrepreneurOnFire, 7-day a week business podcast, hosted by John Lee Dumas, interviewing today’s most successful and inspiring Entrepreneurs. We share the journey of our spotlighted guest, highlighting a failure and lessons learned, an AH-HA moment and the steps taken to turn that moment into success, and the LIGHTNING ROUND where John asks five questions that extract nuggets of wisdom from his guests."

4. Oh So Pinteresting
From the website: "Not only will you’ll find the tactical steps to having success with Pinterest, you’ll also read and hear how people are using the inspiration and information found on Pinterest to enrich their businesses and their lives."

5. Biz Chix 
From iTunes: "We interview amazing women entrepreneurs, and a few cool dudes, five days a week. Each entrepreneur shares work life balance and productivity tips as well as their journey! Amazing guests who run international brands and still balance all that life throws at them. We hear all the secrets of how it gets done. We'd love to have you listen in! Host: Natalie Eckdahl Guests: World Moving Entrepreneurs - 5 days a week!"

6. Street Smart Wealth at Home
From iTunes: " Jackie Ulmer, Network Marketer, WAHM and MomPreneur shares her Profit In Your PJs series weekly, offering proven tips, tricks and systems for creating Street Smart Wealth from home in a Direct Sales Business. She offers solid business and marketing techniques with plenty of Blogging and Social Media concepts. She also interviews other 6 and 7 figure income earners."

7. Todays Leading Women
From iTunes: "TodaysLeadingWomen is a podcast with you in mind, THE WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR, YOU, the Small Business Owner, YOU, the Aspiring Entrepreneur. Everyday, 7-days a week, Marie Grace Berg brings to life the stories and the journeys of these Successful Women Entrepreneurs.

Their true stories are aimed at helping you understand how to turn that dream of owning and running a business into a reality. While these women can be described as extraordinary because they all seized an opportunity, and, with determination and commitment, turned it into a successful business, they are also just like us. They all had to battle with day to day challenges that face the rest of us - making sure we have enough money to survive, feeding our children and juggling the many different priorities in our lives!"

8. Online Marketing for Dummies
From iTunes: "Facebook Marketing All in One for Dummies" co-author and online entrepreneur Amy Porterfield shows you exactly how to monetize your online marketing and blogging efforts using her own tested, ACTIONABLE lead generation strategies -- so you can successfully launch and promote a new program, grow your email list, get more leads, build your authority, turn your customers into raving advocates OR simply find the time (and mindset!) to rock your social media and content marketing. 

9.  Social Media Marketing
From iTunes: "Social Media Examiner's Michael Stelzner helps your business navigate the social jungle with success stories and expert interviews from leading social media marketing pros. Discover how successful businesses employ social media, learn new strategies and tactics, and gain actionable tips to improve your social media marketing."

10. She Found(h)ers
From iTunes: "Ashley Murry interviews today's most inspiring female entrepreneurs and shares actionable advice from experts, coaches, and life-hackers to help you find your personal state of flow in business and in life. Stories of success to inspire you along your journey and insights on everything from productivity and idea generation to sleep and nutrition will leave you feeling motivated and empowered to grab life by the horns and tackle your most ambitious goals."




Do you have a favorite Podcast that you like to listen to? I'd love to check it out. Leave me a comment and share please!

Check out more of our Blogging Tips.

5 Bloggers to Follow for a Great Blog This Year

I've been blogging "seriously" for almost three years now.  Alot has changed in how I do things around here in that time, and I'm still trying to find my way around "the block".  Lately, I've been focusing on trying to improve the little things to help make my blog posts easier to read, easier to navigate, and easier to enjoy.

While doing that, I've done a lot of blog surfing.  I've found some great bloggers who are willing to share there success tips with us "little guys".  As you make your new year's resolutions for your blog this year, consider these ten bloggers to follow for a great blog this year.

1. Moms Make Money
Deby grew her blog from brand new to an amazing following and income source in a very short amount of time.  She shares all her ups and downs, as well as her tips, income sources, and blog success.

2. MommComm

In Melissa's blog, "you will find is real, can-do advice geared to both the blogger just starting out and the blogger who’s been around a while. Despite the name, this blog is for ANY lady who wants to improve her blog, one stellar step at a time."

3. Anyonita Nibbles

Anyonita usually blogs about great tasting food, but every Thursday she has a great series to help you with your blog.  She has some great basic tutorials as well as posts that will help spruce up your blog and income if you've been blogging for a while.

4. The Blog Maven
I found Jeni by accident one day when I was searching up how to expand my email list.  Her site if full of great tips to help your blog to grow.  I've found that some of her advice goes against a lot of other sites I've read, especially her idea to get rid of your social media buttons, but for what it's worth, I think she has a point and some great tips.  A lot of her advice leans towards those with a wordpress site, but there is still alot to learn for us blog spot holdouts.

5. Spice Up Your Blog

Paul started writing his blog as a hobby and quickly found others who wanted to hear more about his expertise.  So he has grown his blog and shared alot of tutorials, tips, and blog designs.

I hope you'll check out these bloggers if you're looking to "up your game" in 2014.  I've found some invaluable resources and some great ideas.

What about you?  Do you have a favorite place to go to for blog help?

Check out more of our Blogging Tips.