A Quick Word on Metaworking for My Blog

by Sid Savara on September 29, 2008

1044851_pencil_post-it1-150x99 photo What kind of metawork do I do on my blog? In a previous post, I mentioned that some of us use metawork as an excuse to avoid real work, but that some metawork is often necessary to make your projects a success.

Here’s a quick run down of what I do on this blog behind the scenes.

List of Sid’s Blogging Metawork

For my blog, some of the metawork that I have been doing to lay the foundation for my writing is:

  • Deciding what direction my blog should go.  In my guest post over at Remarkablogger, about writing a blogging creed, I discuss how reading some of the posts in his Remarkablogger manifesto series led me to realize I needed to have more focus in my blog.
  • Keeping up with similar writers in my space, by reading lots of blogs and interacting with the bloggers - either directly via email or in the comments.  I have also been very fortunate that some bloggers have noticed my blog and contacted me, and reached out to help me. Along the same lines is the next item…
  • Networking with other successful bloggers.  I originally started out asking questions on many free blogging forums, but have since subscribed to Perfomancing Hive, a forum with a fairly small membership (I would say there are 20-50 truly active members on there), but where I can get real, quality answers to my questions. It’s $10 a month, and it’s worth if I can get 1 or 2 questions answered a month by the likes of Chris Garret (who literally co-wrote the ProBlogger book and runs the excellent Authority Blogger course).  Along with having a network, to ask questions, they also help me by promoting my blog - telling their friends, readers, or posting on Sid Savara on Twitter Twitter.
  • Designing my blog.  I initially started out with a default Wordpress theme, and then a free theme that was more trouble than it was worth.  Since then I moved to a premium theme, Thesis, and have been very happy with how it “just works.” I aim to keep this website clean and always let the content have center stage.
    • Related to this, one of the bloggers I have been fortunate to meet is Thaya over from OMNINOGGIN, a great site about blog design, optimization, and improving your visitors’ experience.  I spent some time speaking with Thaya over email and then chatting over Sid Savara on Facebook Facebook, and he’s given me some great ideas for my site as well as other things I can do with my development skills to help other people with their blogs.
    • I also use YSlow, with Firebug, to make sure my site loads quickly.  It’s not perfect, but I aim to try and make it as fast as possible.  There is always more tweaking that I can do.
  • Researching topics and reviewing products and services. I spend a lot of time writing down ideas on random pieces of paper, emailing them to myself, etc - and then finally writing about them.  I am not receiving any compensation for the products I am reviewing - and I have told the folks giving me the products to review, I cannot promise a positive review just for free stuff.  This has turned off some folks, but I can’t imagine selling out at the beginning.
  • Reader interaction. Of course, one of my favorite parts of this website - hearing from my readers via email and in the comments.  I feel really fortunate to already have a growing community of readers commenting on my posts, and emailing me when they enjoy something I write.  Thanks for being out there reading my work, and keeping in touch.  I have been pretty busy this weekend, but I promise to get to every comment and every email.  I really do enjoy having a community to interact with - even if people don’t always agree with me =)

What about you? What are some of the things you do to lay the groundwork for success in your blog, or other areas of your life?

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Browse around =). You may also enjoy:

Viewing 8 Comments

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    My blog is just gaining traction. What you have written is extremely inspiring for me. I'm no expert but I was spending a lot of time in my head worrying about certain readers that I knew personally and how they might critique my work. This was a complete was of metawork. Once I started writing for myself and sticking to my voice, my writing started to take off. I agree that some metawork is necessary and others is a waste of time. What you offer is for the writer to gain an awareness of the difference. Now, I've got to get to get over to Remarkablogger to check out your other post.
    • ^
    • v
    Hi Bryan,

    Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate you reading, and your feedback.
    You're right - it's much easier to write when you write as yourself, than
    trying to make your writing sound like something you're not.

    I look forward to seeing the B. Wilde Column take off. Best off luck, and
    please, come back if you enjoy what you read here =)
    • ^
    • v
    Hey Sid,

    I spend much of my time trying to find blogs I haven't visited before and then writing comments on those blogs. I attended a blogging meetup last month that I co-organised with Chris Garrett and I asked everybody to give their best tip for blogging success. My tip was, "Comment on blogs, and then comment on the blogs of the bloggers who wrote a comment on the initial blog". (I'm sure that sentence confused you just as much as it did the 15 or so people in the room).

    Basically, I have a selection of blogs that I read on a regular basis and comment on a regular basis. Then each day I look at the comments on those blogs and click through to the blogs of those commentators, and then if I like what I see, try to give some constructive comments on those blogs. That's how I found your blog... by coming here through a comment you left on ProBlogger.

    It may sound a little too "planned" and structured, but I find it's a great way for bringing in new visitors to my own blog, and more importantly it's a great way to build new relationships.

    So writing comments on blogs, and then writing comments of the blogs of those who wrote a comment on the first blog. ;-) That's how I spend much of my time.

    Like you, I also spend a lot of my time on blogging forums. I like to spark discussions and answer questions as well as get my own questions answered. Forums provide a nice, different environment to step in to when writing blog comments starts to get old. I often find a lot of discussions that inspire me to write new blog posts. They're a great way to motivate, inspire and make new connections. :-)

    Fantastic post, Sid. I'm now subscribed!

    Jamie
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    Hey Jamie! Thanks for stopping by and subscribing. I appreciate the
    support, and I'm glad you liked what you've read here so far.

    I do that too (comment on the commenters). I've found problogger
    specifically though to be pretty terrible, only because the first 5-10
    comments are often people saying "Great post, love those points, insightful
    as always Darren" etc etc. That's not his fault, but I think those guys are
    just trying to get people to visit their blogs. I try to comment (like you)
    only when I have something to actually say. Similarly, I am assuming you
    came over here because I tend to leave longer comments than just 3 words on
    problogger.

    I like how you have a process for what you do. Who loses by it being more
    efficient? Certainly not other bloggers. You might be able to visit 10 blogs
    by having a process, as opposed to someone else who is randomly stumbling
    across 2-3 blogs. Your visiting more blogs is better not just for you -
    it's better for everyone, because there's a better chance you will stop by
    one of their blogs.
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    You should always have time for networking! BTW I love the simpleness in your design.
    • ^
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    Thanks for the feedback Tom! I appreciate it, and I agree - networking is key =)
    • ^
    • v
    Great succint article with helpful and valuable links. Thank you!
    • ^
    • v
    Glad you enjoyed it =). I hope you come back and enjoy some of the other
    articles at SidSavara.com as well!
 

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