Welcome back to Introductions over Coffee, where I provide some guidance and insights for new bloggers and maybe as a refresher for us all. I also introduce a new blogger to the community. Please make them feel welcome (as I know you will).
For any new bloggers who want to raise their profile, please follow the guidance in my posts and do not spam my comments section.
Introducing : Tasty Line
This week I want to introduce Tasty Line blog. I don’t have a personal name for Tasty Line, but I see they sign their comments TT. TT has been blogging a little longer than some of the other bloggers I’ve featured but I can see how much effort they are putting into their quality posts so I want to highlight them today. If you’ve not already discovered the Tasty Line blog, I’d say you’re in for a treat. Please pop over and have a look at the website for their posts. But to get you started, here are a few of their posts:
The delicate art of balancing home and work life – I love the fact they put home life first – where it should be. We too often sacrifice home and personal life to work
Welcome to the community, Tasty Line 😁
Beginner’s Tips
There are two topics I’m going to cover today: hitting the like 👍🏻 button and using pingbacks.
Likes and likes on repeat
We all like receiving likes but what about when you are working on your blog or managing your comments and suddenly, rapid fire, you receive 10 or more likes immediately from the same person across multiple posts. That’s what I’m calling likes on repeat.
Likes
When do you like a post? Why do you like a post? Do you like everything you look at? To let the person know you have read their post? Or do you just like a post after you’ve read it and to show you have enjoyed it?
Personally I will only like something if I’ve read it and enjoyed it or taken something away from it. I have read posts that for a variety of reasons I didn’t enjoy and therefore will not ‘like’.
There is also a debate about liking a negative post – maybe someone is talking about a disaster, family tragedy or illness. We don’t have an alternative to ‘like’. It can feel inappropriate to hit like but you want to let the blogger know you’ve read their post and support them or the point they’re making. In those circumstances I tend to like but also post a comment to explain/excuse my like.
Likes on repeat
This is a pet hate of many bloggers and I can’t say many will visit the site of someone who likes on repeat.
When we, as bloggers, see likes on repeat we know the person hasn’t taken the time to read our posts, they’re just going through the list of posts and hitting like over and over again.
I dont know why people do this; maybe if you do engage in this practice you could explain your thinking in the comments? My thinking (and that of other bloggers) is that the person doing this is hoping that by leaving lots of likes, we’ll visit their blog and like back; maybe even follow them. Regrettably this will not work, it just irritates the bloggers. I’ve said before if you want fellow bloggers to read your work and follow you, it’s better to read posts fully that interest you, like 👍🏻 afterwards AND leave meaningful comments to engage with other bloggers.
Pingbacks
Pingbacks are notifications that appear on your comments section when someone shares your posts. Not everyone has pingbacks active, but I think its good to know when other people are sharing my work. For example, my featured blogger today – I’ve shared some of their posts. If they have pingbacks turned on, they will know that I’ve shared links to their posts. Wouldn’t you want to know if someone is sharing your work?
If you’re sharing someone’s work and not sure if they’ve got pingbacks active you can put a link to your post in their comments.
If you wish to participate in prompts run by other bloggers it is highly likely they will use pingbacks, but you should also post in their comments with a link to your response.
I invite and encourage suggestions of topics to cover in future posts, so please let me know if there’s something you’d like to see covered, or if there’s something you’re struggling with.
I review the new bloggers I come across to decide who to highlight in this post on a weekly basis, and some have been asking what I’m looking for. I would say the following are my criteria:
- a blogger who interacts with their readers and responds to comments
- Are they posting regularly – if someone posts weekly, that’s fine, but I’d probably observe for a few weeks to see how they’re getting on
- Do they produce quality work – if its text, is it full of spelling/grammar mistakes
- is there sufficient information to encourage conversation through the comments section
- If someone regularly spams, they will not be featured. I accept that people can make mistakes at the outset, but they should learn and adapt what they do
I accept that this process is subjective, based on my opinions. Equally if you spot an interesting new blogger, send me a message through the Contact Me part of my site with their details.
To keep up-to-date with my blog, if you haven’t done so yet, fill in the box below to subscribe to Curiosities, Castles and Coffee Shops.
Brenda’s guide to blog writing style
New bloggers need to start somewhere, in this post I’ll give you some tips to help get you started.
Brenda, these are great tips and reminders. I started blogging last June and I am always looking to improve myself as a writer. Also to be respectful and thoughtful commenter. We all take the time to research and write about we are passionate about. This what I love about WordPress. It is such a mix of creative expression and supportive people.
Thank you Mary Anne. I agree, I too, am always seeking to grow and improve. And its also good to meet new people.
You are so very welcome
Hi Brenda,
I recognise and appreciate what you’re doing for your fellow bloggers, especially the newbies.
Blog post like this one is very helpful to those who have been blogging for few weeks or months.
I really liked the way how you mentioned and covered each tiny information.
It shows, you care for your readers (and their reading needs).
Okay, Initially I want to inquire – ‘How’s your physical and mental health?’. I hope you continue to work on improving your health. Be more happy!😊
I wish the people and world around us becomes more prosperous, beautiful and peaceful.
Hey Lokesh. Thank you. The new project seems to be going well but I worry I will run out of advice to offer.
I am good. Just busy at the end of term, but looking forward to rest and the holidays.
I’m also busy in this month.
The Civil Service Exam, for which I’m preparing, is on 28th May (this sunday).
Good luck with that 🍀
Thanks
💜
Nice read. I’m slowly going back to blogging. I tried to stop, but all those creative juices just need to go somewhere. haha
About the repeated likes. When I like something, I really mean it. However, in order to make the blogger feel that I mean it, I make time to leave a meaningful comment or interaction. This helps assure the person that I am not just asking him/her to check out my blog, but that the post is really interesting.
I haven’t experienced a lot of pingbacks yet, but I think it can be annoying if there’s a lot, but it is good if the blogs linking you are legit and trustworthy ones.
Your post is a breathe of fresh air, by the way. I miss the real blogs. For years, business and sponsored blogs have overtaken blogs that write about real life. Thanks for writing. Keep it up!
Thank you Gilian. I agree, we need an outlet for our creativity. I’m looking forward to the summer holidays when I’ll have more time to really explore and hopefully expand my creativity.
I’m glad you like my blog, I’m planning to be about for a long time yet. I have lots of plans 😁
Same here. Can’t wait for summer. Have lots of plans too. 🤣
Hope you have fun 😁
The point about liking a post when it doesn’t feel appropriate is a good one. I do the same. Expressing my condolences but I still like the post. I figure the author understands the sentiment. Perhaps WordPress could add a few more emojis options to convey more emotions. Wonderful post Brenda. I’ll be sure to check out TT’s blog. 🙏
Thanks AP. Maybe I should start pestering WP for emojis
I recall my excitement when my likes exceeded my views😂I had just started off here so didn’t really know what meant what…
Until I read one of Renard’s posts and realized what it really meant.🥴
A lovely share, Brenda.
Thank you 🤍
Thank you my friend. I know what you mean, we’ve learned a lot from Renard. I’d also say Hugh at Hugh’s News and Views. I’m sure I learned from Hugh about only displaying the extract so people will go to your site to read your post. They can read and like sometimes but not view- I think I’ve got that right, but im sure Hugh or Renard will keep us right 😁😂
Always a pleasure, Brenda🤗
Adding an excerpt to your post not only enables you to introduce the post and, therefore, give it a better chance to get noticed, but by allowing it to show in the email means that people have to visit your blog to read the post – hence your stats will boom.
Thanks Hugh 😘
Hey Brenda, I try to “like” less and “comment” more but I feel like that is correct either. If I wanted likes I would publish to Facebook or other social media platforms but I don’t because no one reads on social media platforms (my experience). Hugh had wished in a post he could remove the like button, not a bad idea. I personally only “like” what I’ve read. Sometimes that read takes some time – when Gray gets on a roll it can take some time or multiple reads.
Yeah, he’s busy playing in the garden 😂
I wish I was.
Yeah. I wish I had a garden. But classes stop in 3 weeks … im definitely on the countdown
Also just now I’m really busy, so fewer comments and more likes but looking forward to the end of term
Comments that don’t add value should be left out and “liked” is a perfect option.
I agree 👍🏻
Thanks to this article I understood what ping back is. Thank you Brenda for sharing those precious tips!
Oh you’re welcome Cristiana 😊 it took me a while to figure it out too
What a great article and I love the work that you do to feature other bloggers. A lovely and generous way to extend the circle. Thank you.
I’m not sure I understand about repeated likes. Everyone in a while, I’ll hit “like” on a post I’ve already liked and then have to hit it again to make sure it remains as liked. Is that a repeated like?
Great tips and you are building a fantastic community!
I’m finding the same with the likes. I’m glad it’s not just me.
No, what I was talking about is when you look at notifications and you can see that someone has gone through a lot of your posts liking them all, but doing it so quickly that they can’t have had the time to read them all
Oh right – that makes sense. Thanks, Brenda!
I too dislike those that press ‘like’ on lots of your posts within a very short space of time, Brenda. I call them ‘serial likers.’ They should be left well alone. I also have a couple of bloggers that click the ‘like’ button on a post I’ve only just published (usually before I’ve even had a chance to check it myself and the post being over 500 words).
Regarding pingbacks, I’d also recommend that those using them click the Link Settings button just under the box where you paste the link to what you’re sharing and switch on the ‘open in new tab’ window. Then, when people click on the pingback, it will open in a new window rather than opening over the page you’re on. Some people won’t go back to a page once they’ve lost it – hence you could lose likes or comments.
Forgot about the open in new tab … I do do this
Likewise, but just in case some newbie bloggers do not. I’m not someone who likes losing my place when clicking on links.
I agree. Maybe I’ll go over that in more detail next week 🙂
Great tips Brenda. Your point about “likes on repeat” is so valid. It’s annoying and pointless. I realize people do it to get their blog noticed, but I doubt it comes with any favourable results. Thanks for sharing.
Noticed for the wrong reasons 😂
🤣
I’ve always wondered about “liking” a negative post, but I do want the blogger to know I’ve been there and read it. As far as the like on repeat people – I have received 10 likes from the same person within 10 seconds before and it’s kind of disappointing. Thanks for the tips!
I would love to have more emojis/options than just like as well! I use the like button to let both the blogger and myself know I’ve read their post…and most times I comment as well. Very seldom do I read a post and then not hit the like…the one time I always refrain from liking is when a subject is strongly against my beliefs or is way outside my personal comfort zone. Sometimes I’ll respectfully engage in the comments, but many times on those posts I just read and move on.
I agree the like is an acknowledgement a lot of the time. I guess currently with my sore arm/wrist, I’m using it more as i limit my writing /typing
I prefer an honest like over crickets, or the serial likers….you have to take care of you first 💞
Definitely true … but looking forward to being back to blogging
Nice tips.
Thank you