I sat down to write this post and being the anal retentive “eye-for-detail” gal that I am, I had to go back and review all the past posts to see what we have covered to make sure I didn’t repeat something you already know. Guess what?! I learned a lot reading all those posts and wanted to put all the links here again so you could see what you have been missing if you haven’t tuned in to the HSBA’s Better Blogging series. The ladies that have posted on this topic have done a smash-up job and have covered so much territory that it begs to be repeated. I’ll have to keep my new ideas for next week… or pass them on to the next author since Saturday really ISN’T my scheduled day to post!We hope that our site is a beacon of HELP for homeschoolers and homeschool bloggers and this series is dedicated to making blogging more fun, easy, and meaningful for each of you. We know that you all have something to say, and we hope to help you find ways to say it well!

Be sure to click back on the links above each section to review the post if you want further details about any of these abbreviated tips on how to improve your blogging, share your voice, show us your images, increase your traffic, etc. I have grossly shortened much of the wisdom to create a quick reference list for you all… so by all means, click and read the real thing if you find a particular tip helpful!

Hallie’s First Better Blogging Post
- Make your site Eye Candy (design is king)
- Be genuine (be yourself)
- Learn from successful bloggers
- Learn basic HTML
- Back up your template
- Keep a notebook for your blog thoughts
- Write in advance (drafts are your friends)
- Link, Link, Link
- Get a free counter

Hallie’s Second Better Blogging Post
- Blog daily
- Create GREAT content
- Comment, Comment, Comment
- Promote your blog
- Join blogrolls
- Use catchy post titles
- Submit to directories of like-minded folk
- Host a carnival
- Have a contest
- Do a meme
- Use Technorati
- Use trackbacks
- Ping
- Be patient (a readership won’t appear over night)

Hallie’s Third Better Blogging Post
- Protect your identity online (be safe)
- Respond to your commentors

Dawn’s First Better Blogging Post
- Keep an eye on the calendar (especially if you have a writing assignment on a group blog)
- Write about what you know and love
- Share cool discoveries
- Take notes at home (kids are great blog material!)
- Guard your mouth (think first before you speak - you might get it thrown back at you later)
- Mingle (read and comment on other blogs!)

Amanda’s First Better Blogging Post
- Comment on your own blog’s posts in the comment thread
- Keep your comments on topic in other’s posts
- Don’t be anonymous
- Stay ahead of contest deadlines
- Get the word out and promote your contests (and your friends’ contests)

Amanda’s Second Better Blogging Post
- RSS Tips about the following blog reader services: sitemeter, homeschool gold, blogstatter, clustrmaps, feedburner, feedblitz, bloglines, technorati

Dawn’s Second Better Blogging Post
- Strikethrough Text
- Picasa photo uploading and photo library tutorials

Amanda’s Third Better Blogging Post
- Keyboard shortcut Chart

Dawn’s Third Better Blogging Post
- Photos and Graphics sites to help give your blog pizazz

Amanda’s Fourth Better Blogging Post
- How to post images with html
- How to post images with links
- How to align images left, right, center
- How to change font colors

Now, I don’t know about you, but those are some tips I want to have in one place for future reference. Even old bloggers can learn new tricks.

You can also stop over at my blog and read one or two of my older posts about blogging. A few of the tips above may be on those older posts as well. As you will find, if you read other bloggers’ posts on blogging, one thread will stand out: BLOG ABOUT WHAT YOU LOVE or KNOW. That is the key to making sure your content is GREAT. It is, after all, the content that will keep your visitors coming back. Being truthful, being yourself and sharing your passion is what makes people flock to BLOGS for news rather than just relying on the media. Politicians KNOW THIS. I know because they contact bloggers regularly to join their campaigns! You can tell if someone is genuine when you read their blogs. I love REAL people.

I hope that you enjoy our thoughts here at the HSBA as we continue to serve you! Happy homeschooling and blogging!

Love in Him,

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