WHO ARE YOU BLOGGING FOR? PART 1

Blogging Tips

Are you blogging for yourself or for your readers?

If you’re blogging for just yourself then this post is not for you so there is no need to read further.

I know some bloggers who blog for record keeping, recipe compilation, trip and vacation documentation, etc. However, if you’re blogging publicly then it seems to me that you’re blogging for your readers and not just for yourself or family, correct?

I am not a blogging expert and I have not been blogging very long, not years like others. Having said that, I have tried my best to make my site the best it can be and I continue to improve it to make it a pleasant experience for my visitors.

This pleasant experience includes easy to read posts, easy to leave comments, and easy to share my posts on social media. With this in mind, I designed my site with hopes that my readers would return again as well as sign up for my newsletter to get my blog posts and news delivered to their email.

A public site for potential readers is not a set it and forget it! If you care about your readers then you should care about the quality of your site. Quality beats quantity every time!

I have had the opportunity to visit many blog sites while hosting my own link parties, attending parties hosted by others, and being in blogging groups. Along the way, I have realized a few things.

First of all – have you ever looked at your site from a different browser?

Pretend you’re a first time visitor.

Look at your site and blog posts on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, and cell phone if possible. I’ve visited mine on all 4.

I used Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox via desktop and laptop computers. Via tablet and phone, I used Google Chrome and Safari.

What does your site and blog posts look like when you visit them from different browsers and different devices?

If it doesn’t look good, what is wrong with it, what would make it look better? Finding a solution would probably make your readers appreciative, don’t you agree?

Part 2 – Pop-ups, ads, optimization, font, etc

Part 3 – Comments and conversations

Part 4 – Social media

Part 5 – Newsletter

Click here to see where I party!

59 Comments

Leave your reply.

Sylvia
· Reply

at 12:04 AM

Great ideas Dee! I am going to visit my site from some different browsers! I started out blogging to document our travels but soon decided to write other posts that I thought readers might enjoy. Now I definitely strive to make my posts interesting for my readers. I am still learning and have so much more to learn. Thanks for your suggestions, and ideas!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 7:03 AM
  
  Thanks Sylvia, I appreciate it!!
Anne Fraser
· Reply

at 12:36 AM

Great advice. I have never thought of trying a different browser. I did not know much when I started blogging so my site was a bit like Topsy. It just growed. I just wish I understood it all better. I started work using a slide rule rather than a computer.
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 7:04 AM
  
  Thanks Anne! It is a learning process but we are all able to learn.
Laurie
· Reply

at 1:03 AM

My downfall is not updating my adverts! But everything suggested here I do. I agree with what you say, it’s important to view from different devices xx
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 7:05 AM
  
  Most definitely Laurie, thanks!!
- Sylvia
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  at 12:04 AM
  
  Revisiting! Got to remember to check out my website from different browsers! Thanks for co-hosting the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty 36 with me!
Christie Hawkes
· Reply

at 7:00 AM

Solid advice, Dee. I have looked at my blog from every device and every browser, but not recently. It’s time for a re-check. Thanks for the reminder. I’m looking forward to future installments of this series. You’ve been a great source of support and advice to me personally in the past, and I appreciate it. Thanks for your generosity. Have a lovely day!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 7:08 AM
  
  Thank you Christie, I appreciate it!
Clearissa
· Reply

at 9:15 PM

Excellent tips. I do look at my site using all of my smart devices. I will do that. Thank you for the tips.
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 7:23 AM
  
  It’s always a good idea Clearissa to look at our sites as a visitor would see it.
Donna
· Reply

at 12:08 AM

This is great advice, Dee – both for new bloggers, and those of us who have been at it for awhile!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 7:24 AM
  
  Thanks Donna, appreciate it!
Helen
· Reply

at 8:26 AM

Sometimes when I look at my site from a mobile device, it doesn’t look as great as on my pc. But I am never sure what to do about it! It is all definitely a long learning experience for me! Thanks for your insights!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  at 10:30 PM
  
  Thanks Helen! It is a learning process but we are all able to learn.
Pat
· Reply

at 11:27 PM

I belong to a few blogger support groups on facebook and I have to admit that blog formatting and set up has gotten so complicated the past few years with SEO and so on. I stick with a free format and enjoy keeping it as interesting as I can on my own….I’m not looking to become rich or famous through my blog…lol. I personally dislike obtrusive pop ups and ads that are in every other paragraph. I often leave a blog in frustration when I see those distractions.
I agree looking at a blog on different devices and browsers is an excellent idea, Dee.
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 6:46 PM
  
  I agree with you Pat about the pop ups and ads that are in every other paragraph and I too often leave a blog in frustration when I see those distractions.
Jen Dodrill
· Reply

at 9:15 AM

Definitely something I need to do! I have only been blogging a couple months, and there is so much to learn! Thanks for the great tip!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 10:06 PM
  
  It is a learning process for sure Jen 🙂
Nancy Dobbins
· Reply

at 10:01 AM

Hi Dee,
Visiting from the Blogging Grandmothers party 🙂
I’m relatively new to blogging, and although I am blogging for myself in many ways, I also want others to read and enjoy it, so the tips were well-taken!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 10:07 PM
  
  Thanks Nancy, I appreciate it!
Jennifer Jones
· Reply

at 5:07 PM

I’ve never thought to look at my blogs on different browsers. Thanks for the tip. I’m off to do it now
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 11:13 AM
  
  Thanks Jennifer!
Nancy Andres
· Reply

at 1:37 PM

Hi Dee. Will check my blogs and my website out on different browsers like you suggest. Pinned this post, because I’m sure it gonna be helpful to others.
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 11:37 PM
  
  Thanks for pinning Nancy ♥
Leslie Susan Clingan
· Reply

at 12:35 AM

I have checked my blog from my phone…it surprised me that it does look so different. Wasn’t aware that it could present differently depending on the browser. Will look into that. Thank you!!

I just did an update on the format or theme of my blog and all of a sudden the colors changed by themselves. I tried to figure out what happened but couldn’t. Had to ask for help and somehow the code had been changed and had to be rewritten. Not sure how that happens.
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 11:22 AM
  
  You’re welcome Leslie. Gosh, don’t you just hate when that happens with formatting? Such aggravation!
Debbie
· Reply

at 6:31 AM

Thanks so much for this reminder Dee! I appreciate the suggestions you made and try to make my blog easy to read and navigate. Sometimes it’s a good idea to ask others to look and give suggestions as well. Looking forward to reading part 2 🙂
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 7:25 AM
  
  Thanks Debbie, appreciate it!
  - Angie
    · Reply
    
    at 5:57 PM
    
    Love these tips! Sometimes we forget that people use all different things to read blogs so it’s a great idea to double check everything.
    - Dee | Grammy's Grid
      · Reply
      
      Author
      
      at 1:23 AM
      
      Thanks Angie!
Alex Newton
· Reply

at 8:25 AM

Great advice. I started blogging after being inspired by the blogs I read when pregnant and then being a new mum. Those blogs helped me in times of need so I hope to do the same for others with my own blog.
The advice to check your site on different browsers is invaluable. I have seen some great sites that only seem to work well on computer/laptop browsers.
#AnythingGoes
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 9:00 AM
  
  Thanks Alex. Be sure to check out the other 4 parts 🙂
[email protected]
· Reply

at 7:20 PM

I don’t think it has to be one or the other. I’ve always mainly blogged for myself but I want to give people a reason to read and hopefully a reason to come back. Looking at your site from different browsers and hardware is good advice thought. When I first started I had some pop ups that it took me a week to find out were totally obscuring the content on mobile #anythinggoes
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 3:06 PM
  
  I know some bloggers Jeremy who have NEVER looked at their site and still haven’t even after reading this post!!
Allyson
· Reply

at 8:16 PM

I’ve checked how it looks on different devices, but haven’t thought about checking different browsers.
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 3:07 PM
  
  I think Allyson that we need to see what our viewers might be seeing, huh?
Sarah
· Reply

at 8:46 PM

Good thoughtful suggestions. I’ve been blogging for years, and I did give my blog an update last year. I’ve never thought about looking at it on different platforms. That’s a good idea!
Thanks!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 3:07 PM
  
  Great, thanks Sarah!!
mireille
· Reply

at 9:08 AM

Thought provoking: going to have to read the rest of this series!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  at 3:13 PM
  
  Great Mireille, thanks!
Hazlo Emma
· Reply

at 1:51 PM

Dee,
This is what we have seen with our own website and those of clients.
There is a time to write to yourself.
There is a time to write to your audience.
And there is a time to write for Google.
There is so much pressure for newbies to start writing for a niche. Blogging is a continuous process. It only gets better and better as you continue blogging. Remember Google takes almost 6 months to even notice a website. Only if you buy an existing one and spruce it up.
Sharing the blog!
H Emma
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 3:21 PM
  
  Thanks H Emma! I think that most people who blog, have social media for their sites, and attend link ups are definitely blogging for more than just themselves.
A spirit of simplicity
· Reply

at 5:34 AM

Great idea to check it out from a different viewpoint. I noticed that your next part included pop-ups. One of my pet peeves is when a pop-up asks if I’d like to follow before I’ve even had a chance to read more than a few words! I say no immediately. It makes me feel as if the blogger’s only goal is to get followers and that turns me away.
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
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  Author
  
  at 4:25 PM
  
  I do the same thing when a page is full of pop ups.
Shelbee on the Edge
· Reply

at 2:33 PM

Dee, this is a wonderful reminder to not only look at your site on other browsers, but to check it periodically as well. I always forget to look at how my site appears on mobile devices and every time I do remember to check it, there is something new that doesn’t look quite right. Which reminds I am probably due to check it again! So thanks for the reminder and for joining my link party!

Shelbee
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  at 4:26 PM
  
  Yes Shelbee, you always need to see it as your viewers may be seeing it.
Linda S
· Reply

at 4:01 PM

Good advice and great tips, Dee. It’s easy to get tunnel vision, I appreciate your reminders to look at things from different perspectives.
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  at 4:27 PM
  
  Thanks Linda!
Marilyn
· Reply

at 9:39 AM

Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  at 7:59 AM
  
  You’re welcome Marilyn.
Rachelle
· Reply

at 4:11 PM

Great points to think about. You’ve got to see things from another perspective if you are blogging for the public.
Visiting from Pieced Past Time.
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  at 8:00 AM
  
  Most definitely Rachelle 🙂
Joanne
· Reply

at 8:17 AM

I have looked at my site on my laptop and my cell phone but never from a tablet before. I have tried viewing it on a couple different platforms too but not all of them. What great suggestions though!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  at 6:30 PM
  
  Thanks Joanne, yes we need to see our site as a viewer might see it 🙂
Rebecca
· Reply

at 9:05 AM

Dee, everyone loved your blogging tips. Keep them coming! Congrats! You are one of my features this week at Celebrate Your Story!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  at 12:30 AM
  
  Thanks Rebecca, I appreciate it!
Catherine Sokolowski
· Reply

at 5:13 PM

What good advice! I’m looking forward to the next installments!
- Dee | Grammy's Grid
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  at 12:29 AM
  
  Thanks Catherine!!

WHO ARE YOU BLOGGING FOR? PART 1

59 Comments

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