"Tiger and I thought it might be time to start a meme to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers. What happens when the hobby you love becomes more of a chore?This meme will appear on the first and third Mondays of the month. Tiger or Karen will give us a question to respond to and a linky for sharing our responses and developing community.
This week's question is: We have created a blogging time machine! Pretend you can start over. Knowing what you know now about blogging – what do you wish you did differently when it comes to creating your blog?
You know, there really isn't anything that I would have done differently. I could have picked a different name for my Inside of a Dog blog so that I wouldn't get spammed by folks wanting me to talk about veterinary medicine or dog food. But I love the Groucho Marx quote that is the basis for my blog's name. I began that blog on Jan. 24, 2008 as part of a project to learn about web 2.0 tools. I didn't really begin book blogging until Sept. 13, 2009. My first post was my excitement about Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and included the trailer. It wasn't long before I started doing book reviews for both adult and young adult books.
This blog - Ms. Martin Teaches Media - doesn't have a really catchy name but it is a pretty good description of who I am and what I do. I don't usually talk very much about my media classes with my students but I do occasionally mention projects we do. I began this blog on Dec. 30, 2009 because I thought I would use it more to talk about my work as a school library media specialist but it hasn't worked out that way. I found that I wanted to focus on middle grade and young adult book reviews.
I might rethink the idea of supporting two blogs but I feel it is necessary. I don't necessarily want my middle grade and high school students seeing reviews for some of the adult books I read. Some things I read are well beyond their maturity level. I don't want to confuse them.
One thing that I still need to do better about both my blogs is networking. I need to connect more with other bloggers who have the same interests that I do. While I have a respectable number of followers for each blog, I could always use more.
What would you do differently if you could start again?
I, too, would have a better name, but back in 2006 I had no idea that there was a huge blogging network out there. But I have to stop and slap you right now, Ms. Martin-- I'm stuck at 198 followers despite my best attempts to network, so you are obviously doing a MUCH better job at it!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's better to just be upfront about who you are and what you do on your blog. :) Ironically, I really do like my blogging name though it doesn't apply to me in real life anymore. :) I hardly wear my denim jacket like I used to when I first came up with my blog. BUT I do wear a lot of jackets in the library, so it still works. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFinding my name took months and I ended up basing it on a song I heard. I'll never be 100% happy with it but I probably still wouldn't have a blog if I waited for the perfect name lol
ReplyDeleteNetworking isn't easy and I am still working on it. Probably will be until the end.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I might have chosen a different name, but I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteI'm ok with my blog's name, but if I had it to do over, I would have ponied up for a dedicated URL, instead of my goofy Typepad URL. I can change it, of course, but I don't want to risk losing followers...
ReplyDeleteName of the blog is important and its hard to do.
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