4 Weeks, 4 Amazing Bloggers - Ten Tips for Better Blogging - Grace

Hello everyone!

Meena - thanks for asking me to guest post! This is super fun!

My name is Grace, I am 12 years old, and I have been blogging since I was nine. My blog is {growing up grace}, and this is my first time guest posting. I enjoy photography and animals, and currently own four rabbits and a lamb.

I'm going to post about a few bloggin' tips I've picked up since I started blogging in May '09...

10 TIPS FOR BETTER BLOGGING
Everyone wants more readers, right? One way to get more is to visit other blogs and participate in Design Challenges, Photo Challenges, or just comment!
If you decide to comment on a blog.... DO NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:
This. Is. Annoying. To tell you the truth.... I am most likely not going to visit a blog who comments that. If there is a really nice comment, and I can tell the blogger really does like my blog, THAT is when I will go visit their blog. But my example above is just spam!

*Want to enter a Design Challenge? Click here*

Another way to get more readers is to button swap, set up a Facebook page for your blog, get a Twitter account for your blog, or get Google+ for your blog. Now, not everyone's parents want them to do this. I can't get Facebook, Twitter, or Google+! Respect your parents decisions. But, if you want to button swap, email me at gracygirlblog@gmail.com!

Blog what YOU want to blog about, not what you think your readers want to read. If you start blogging for readers instead of blogging for the sake of blogging, the topics you blog about might change. People started following you blog because they like what you wrote in the first place!

Keep your posts appropriate. No questionable language!

Be kind to others! Meaning, if you want other people to mention you on their blogs, mention other people! I started a New Week New Blog weekly thing a few months ago, and other people joined in! They blogged about me! Now, that was not my intention. I didn't start New Week New Blog just so that other people would blog about me. I did it to be nice! So, what I'm saying is, BE NICE TO OTHER PEOPLE! :)

Design plays a big part in who reads your blog. A bright and cheerful design makes people want to stay! There are lots and lots and LOTS of people who like to design blogs for free! If you don't want to design your blog yourself, here are a list of people who will do it for free:

Me ;)
Cherry Blossom Designs
Yours Truly Blog Designs

If you want to design your own blog, these websites provide free blog backgrounds:

Shabby Blogs
The Cutest Blog on the Block

Look for opportunities to guest post for other people. This is my first time guest posting, and I'm having a blast! By guest posting, your blog gets out there, you meet new people, and you have lots of fun! I am willing to have someone guest post on my blog, if anyone is interested!

Please, please, please take off the word verification on your comments! It's super easy. Here's how:


Step 1. On your Dashboard, click "Settings" (circled in red in the picture below. click here to see the picture bigger)

Step 2. Click "comments" (circled in red in the picture below. click here to see the picture bigger)
Step 3. Scroll down until you see the option of turning off the word verification (circled in red in the picture below. click here to see the picture bigger) Have lots of pictures and fun text in your posts. It keeps people reading! Add some links in your post. Make some words bigger, and some smaller, and maybe bold a few sentences.

HAVE FUN! Blogging is about expressing yourself and meeting new people in a fun way.

I'm going to sign off by listing some of my favorite blogs and a small review about them:

Girls for God - One of my favorite blogs! Fashion, hair, and nails from a Christian perspective. Super fun!

Lilies Among Thorns - An online Christian magazine for girls! Reviews on clothing stores, interviews with bands, and more!

Sierra's Booklist - A great website full of reviews about books for teens! I trust Sierra's judgment on books. She rates them, says if there are questionable scenes/language, and says what age group is best. I read The Mostly True Story of Jack because of her and loved it!

No Naked Nails - Nail inspiration.

Bye Bye Beehive - Hair inspiration.

That's all! Thank you for reading this post, and Meena - thanks for inviting me to guest post! This has been so so so so so much fun!
~Grace~