Blogging Better #3 - Girl on the Move

Last week I shared my refined focus for 2015 here on Girl on the Move…fitness, travel and blogging. Well today I am excited to share the first part of how I’ll be focusing on blogging during 2015…this week I launched a YouTube channel! I am equal parts nervous and excited about this new adventure, but I am a big believer in stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things, so I’m giving it a try. Take a minute and head over to the Girl on the Move channel and check out what I’ll be sharing there. (And feel free to subscribe!)

And since today is the last Tuesday of the month it’s time for our monthly Blogging Better link up! Take a minute to link up any of your recent posts about blogging and explore what other bloggers are sharing. I love reading all of your incredibly helpful blog resources!

I think one of the most frequently asked questions I hear about blogging is, “How do I grow my blog and find more readers?” The reality is, there is not a simple answer to that question. So today we will focus on one area of growing your blog…through link up parties. There are two ways to use link up parties to grow your blog…the first is through hosting a link up party and the second is through participating in link up parties.

Participating in link up parties gives you the opportunity to “show off” your best work and bring in new readers. But it’s important to remember that you will get the most out of your participation if you don’t just link up and run but instead interact with the other bloggers who link up. Browse the posts, spread the comment love and share your favorites on social media.

Hosting a link up parties encourages people to come to your blog to “show off” their best work. Just like with participation it’s important to remember that you will get the most bang for your buck if you don’t just host and run but instead interact with the bloggers who link up to your party. Share their posts on social media, feature your favorites during your next link up party and spread the comment love!

If you want to hear more about making the most of link up parties, you can check out the video I posted with tips for successfully hosting and participating in link up parties.

I’d love to hear, what are your best tips for hosting and/or participating in link ups?

Once a month, I co-host a link up on blogging resources called Blogging Better with Lisa Kerr. We would love it if you linked up your best blogging resources below. Our readers are new bloggers, mid-level bloggers, hobby bloggers, professional bloggers, small businesses and social media managers. Our link-up will go live on the last Tuesday of every month. Join us on Twitter using the hashtags #bloggingbetter.

About Your Hosts

Lisa Kerr is my co-host and a fellow Southern California blogger. She is a veteran blogger of more than four years whose work has been featured on the Huffington Post TED Weekends, HuffPo Live, NPR and more. During her four years of blogging, Oprah’s network has contacted her and the CW developed a pilot TV show about her first blog, so she has learned a lot about the business side of blogging, blogging beyond monetization and protecting your intellectual property. She now advise companies about how to connect with their clients by creating a compelling story and building community and works with new and mid-level bloggers, teaching them how to manage their social media communities, tips and tricks for WordPress optimization, and how to create a professional writing portfolio that will further your career.

If you’re new here, I’m Julie DenOuden and am a girl on the move who blogs about traveling, fitness, cupcakes and social media resources. I started blogging just over two years ago and enjoy sharing what I have learned with others. I offer social media tips and resources and my 31 Days to Create a Social Media Plan is a must-read for any blogger.

I hope you’ll find the tools and tips we share here helpful in developing your blog, and as always, we’re here to answer any questions you may have (either by email or comments) in future posts.

Sign up for future Blogging Better email updates here

To join the link-up:

Visit at least 2 posts from below and comment on them.

Follow your hosts on social media:

FOLLOW LISA ON TWITTER – FACEBOOK – PINTEREST

FOLLOW JULIE ON TWITTER – FACEBOOK – PINTEREST

An InLinkz Link-up

27 Comments

Jamie

January 27, 2015 at 2:30 pm Reply

Going over to check out your youtube channel now!

Gina @ On the Daily Express

January 27, 2015 at 8:40 pm Reply

Hosting a link-up party has been huge for helping my blog grow. But I completely agree with your comments about really engaging with the participants, especially when you first get started. It really helps bring people back to keep linking up if they appreciate you as a person rather than just a hosting space!
Gina – On the Daily Express

Jennifer Abel

January 27, 2015 at 10:23 pm Reply

Julie, I found your post on The Blogger’s Digest. Thanks heaps for the link up and also the great tips on link up parties, have a great week!

Jennifer Dagi

December 1, 2021 at 4:35 pm Reply

I’ve always wanted to participate in link up parties but I never seem to get the time. I’m ready to try it out and see how much my blog will grow.

Kelly @ Mum-bo-Jumbo

January 28, 2015 at 2:55 pm Reply

The differences with the tips on hosting a link up and participating in one are really useful. Thanks so much, very helpful post. #thebloggersdigest #piganddac

Jen

January 29, 2015 at 8:30 pm Reply

I think the part about the interaction is really important. I’ve been focusing on link-ups in the last month or so, and I’m really getting some traction. So much so that I’ll be launching my own next week (kinda totally nerve-wracking, but I didn’t see what I wanted out there, and I think there must be some kind of audience for it. So. Taking the plunge!). I try to make it to most of the other bloggers in the link-up, and I find that means that many of them make their way back to me. Which is awesome.

Andie Conn

January 30, 2015 at 9:32 am Reply

Very helpful post! Thanks (:

Miss Kitty

January 30, 2015 at 1:31 pm Reply

I think you are so right, Julie. Interacting with other folks also sharing at a party is fun and many times I get more trafficto my site when I do take time
to visit other participants. PLUS I have “met” so many nice people this way. I saw your post over at BFF Link Party.

Diana @ Soulful Necessities

January 31, 2015 at 12:12 am Reply

Found your link at SITS GIRLS link up party. I just started my blog and found the link up parties to be whats getting me a few more readers. Thanks for the tips.

Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories

January 31, 2015 at 4:39 am Reply

Stopping by from SITS Sharefest. I love linkup parties, they are great for networking. Thanks for the blogging tips linkup. I added my free blog planner with the linkup party schedule I am using to track my favorite parties and which posts I linked up. I subscribed to your email too so I can get your list of 100 linkups. Thanks!

Serena @ Simple Holistic Girl

January 31, 2015 at 5:07 am Reply

Oh my gosh you go girl. Venturing off into YouTube land. I do understand stepping out of your comfort zone helps you grow though, so I guess I can never say never. #SITSsharefest

Liz

January 31, 2015 at 7:54 am Reply

Signing up! I’m hoping there are link-ups that skew towards humor, though I suppose I can turn them that way if I want. Have never done one before. Thanks!

BritishMumUSA

January 31, 2015 at 2:16 pm Reply

I love Link Up parties. I hang and I converse, I am the Queen of chatting…. Link Up Parties have been a great way for me to come into my own within the blogging community 🙂

jmdenouden@gmail.com

February 4, 2015 at 10:20 pm Reply

I love hearing that!!!

Carole

January 31, 2015 at 4:05 pm Reply

Great post! Love this idea, too, about a linky party just for better blogging tips. Happy to join the party!

jmdenouden@gmail.com

February 4, 2015 at 10:20 pm Reply

Thanks for stopping by the party!

Pingback:

January 31, 2015 at 5:41 pm

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Katherines Corner

February 1, 2015 at 9:38 am Reply

Great tips! Thank you for sharing your lovely blog post at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop xo

Tabitha Blue

February 1, 2015 at 12:48 pm Reply

Great tips here!! Thanks for sharing.. and thanks for linking up with Dream. Create. Inspire!! 🙂

Heidy L. McCallum

February 3, 2015 at 1:33 pm Reply

Thank you so much for taking the time to share this awesome blog post with us on #PureBlogLove Link Party! I can’t wait to see what you bring to the party next. I adore this blog and super excited.

Join us this Thursday 8pm est- Monday 10 am est to celebrate!
Besos
Heidy

jmdenouden@gmail.com

February 4, 2015 at 10:17 pm Reply

Thank you for stopping by!

Theresa @DearCreatives

February 5, 2015 at 11:46 am Reply

Thanks for sharing at the linkup party @DearCreatives Julie! I pinned the post and am sharing..Hope your having a great week. Feel free to share your posts at this week’s party too!

Heather @ My Overflowing Cup

March 19, 2015 at 5:56 pm Reply

Thanks so much for sharing these tips. Not linking and running is so important. Not only is it the kind thing to do, but I have made many “friends” with those I have “met” via link-ups.

Blessings to you and yours.

Kirsten

March 29, 2015 at 2:42 pm Reply

How do I get the list of link ups if I already subscribe to your newsletter??? : ) Do I have to sign up with a different email address or how does that work?

jmdenouden@gmail.com

March 30, 2015 at 7:49 am Reply

If you go to the top and hover over Blogging a drop down menu will appear and one of the choices is the Ultimate Link Up Party List so you can access it there!