04 September 2011

Blogoversary- Giving Back

If you've been keeping up, you know that today, 4th September 2011, is my 1st blogoversary!!

I'm delighted (and surprised) to have made it as far as I have, with as much success as I have had, especially in the past few months. I started out my endeavor small, although I'm still really not all that big. To this day I bring in fewer than 200 people, some of them just dropping in, but as a blogoversary thing, I've checked on some stats recently:

In September of 2010, I brought in a total of 183 views, and December 187. Those were my highest traffic months, the only ones more than 80, until April 2011. Just yesterday I brought in 105, and the day before 189. My followers? Most of them have started following me since June & July. I've also set up a Facebook fan page- almost 50 likes already. I'm tickled! Numbers, numbers, that's not all that matters, though.

Before March there were absolutely no comments- content or not. I was writing simply because. I cared about my numbers, but I didn't know if people were reading. Since then, I've gotten 362 comments- yes, I've gotten some of the spammy ones, but I've gotten a lot that have content too. Some have made me laugh, some have made me cry. That people care, and leave comments with content that can evoke emotion...it's really nice.

I've also been more engaged on Twitter since my blog has been more engaged. Through my blog and through Twitter I've met more people that I never would have met otherwise- after all, they do live overseas, or out-of-state. I love having conversations with them. Some of them are the best friends I have.

But that's enough of that, right? Blogoversary- It's more of a type of birthday, but for a blog. But my blog doesn't want any type of gift...rather, it wants people to give back. Read on to see what I mean.

As part of my "blogoversary" one of the things I want to do is start a blog hop of my own. I know we all see blog hops, and one of the things about the blog hops that I see here in the US is that they tend to be "giveaway" related, or that you are "required" to visit about a billion other blogs, even those that link up after you, meaning you have to keep visiting the hop repeatedly after you link up until you've visited enough people to meet the requirement...a bit tedious? They also require that you follow the host, and the host tends to be a giveaway or coupon blogger, who only posts giveaway or coupon blogs...which clogs up the feeds...my feed has been clogged with giveaways and coupons for goodness knows how long. I attend them because I like finding new blogs. Sometimes I happen to find new blogs that I like there, by chance, so I continue to link up in hopes of finding blogs I like.

Well, it's high time I start one of my own...

Seeing as I'm all about doing things for other people, and helping people out, this is my idea-

I want you to do one good thing for someone, no matter how small- hold a door, lend a dollar, fix a meal, talk to someone who looks like they need a friend, help unpack a box, write a letter, donate some clothes that you haven't worn that are still in good condition, anything you can think of, and write about it. Each week, after you've done something little, write about it- what you did, and what came out of it- if you don't know, then write that, because sometimes you don't know- and link it up to the hop. We'll each be able to see the good things that someone else did, and even if you didn't do something, I'll encourage you to link up to a blog- because what matters is that we're making a connection. I would like everyone to do something little, and write about it, but I won't require it. I would like you to link up a blog about something small you did, but I won't require it. I will encourage you to visit someone else, but I won't require it.

In order to give people time to do something and write about it, I'll leave it open three days- American Monday to American Wedensday- that's Aussie Tuesday to Aussie Thursday- and like I said, even if you don't have a chance to do something every week, you can still link up. I will say that even doing something with or for your family members does count- spending a day out with the kids counts, for example.

The idea of this, really, is to do something that makes someone else feel good, or that helps them out. If you didn't know already, that's something that I'm really enthusiastic about. Just the effort is really important to me, because I know that not every effort is going to be successful, but trying is what really counts. I also know that not everyone has a lot of spare time to do something like this, but I would like to encourage it. Therefore, I'm not making it a requirement, just a request. I will probably debut the hop not this week, but next week- just to get some ideas and feedback on it- after all, it is a new-ish idea. I'm open to what people have to say.

I'd like this to be a way not only for people to be introduced to other people's blogs, but also for people to see what others are doing. All small things make a difference.

~"Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something." -Author Unknown
~"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." -Mother Teresa
~"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi
~"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back." -Maya Angelou

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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a wonderful and beautiful idea I will participate in it if you decide to have it!

Unknown said...

Congratulations on your Blogoversary Ashley! It is quite an achievement. I only started Blogging in March and was happy to get my first Blog award this morning! This has started my week on a bright note. Today I made a special lunch for my Mom as part of the birthday celebrations we are having for her. Her birthday was last Thursday, September 1. Take care and have a great week.

Debs Dealz said...

Happy Blogoversary!!!!! I currently follow you. Please follow me back. Also, are you interested in exchanging buttons? Let me know!

Thanks!

http://www.debsdealz.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Congrats on your blogging anniversary. Time flies when you are having fun!!

Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/

Alex said...

New follower from SSS! Would love for to follow back! http://whatthesemommiesthink.blogspot.com

Congrats on your blogoversary!

Daisy, Roo and Two said...

I think it's a lovely idea!! I love that you want us to write about what we've learned so that rather than bragging we've done something wonderful we can really write about the issue at hand, or why it was important to us. Remind me and I'll def link up!

♥α§ђ£ε¥™♥ said...

Thanks guys for the encouragement. There will be be reminders for a while while it's new, and some shameless promotion for a bit too.

Good Girl Gone Green said...

Happy blogoversary! What a cute idea for a blog hop! I hope the next year brings you lots of followers....:)

MultipleMum said...

Happy bloggy birthday! Good luck with your linky. I will definitely join in if I ever have anything to contribute!!! x

♥α§ђ£ε¥™♥ said...

The good thing is any little thing can be a contribution, and even if you don't have something you've done, you can still link up and participate. You can even talk about things you've done in the past, too. :)

Mom Fashion World said...

Happy Blogoversary! Nice posts.

Btw, I stumbled upon your blog via Monday blog hop,
and I'm your newest follower via GFC.
Please feel free to visit my blog @

http://www.momfashionworld.blogspot.com/

Thanks! Looking forward to seeing you there, and hope you will follow me back.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Congratulations on your blogoversary! And I think you have a great idea for a 'link party'. Most of the things I do for others I don't like to mention to folks. I'm private that way. Today I did give one of my employees off for the day, last minute. I guess that would count. :)

I'm your newest follower.

Anonymous said...

congratulations on one year!!! I am a new blogger and i hope my blog will grow in one year as much as yours has!

i am a new follower from SSS. please follow me back: http://quiet-ct.blogspot.com

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