Changes are coming, but I am looking forward to the future. I have to start making all this work, as I have spoken about before. I have been getting so much advice on what I should be doing with this blog and everything I have, that my head has been swimming. I almost don’t know where to start, but I am trying to plough through it all. However, that does mean that changes are going to start happening here. Hopefully you will like what happens.
Monochrome Madness and why it is good for you, and me
I’ve been doing a lot of research about SEO the last couple of weeks and there seems to be one thing that they all say, you need links in your blog posts. They should be both internal and external. I can’t help you with the internal links, you can do that by adding links to other posts or pages on your blog/website. However, we can all help one another with the external links.
Every time I do a Monochrome Madness post, I am putting a heap of external links on my page. They all go back to the people who have contributed to the post. Google is happy about that, but the links would be even stronger if you also put links back to me on your blog or website somewhere. This way we can both grow.
If you are interested in getting the most out of your blog this is a great way that we can help each other out.
Posting
As I said, I’ve been doing a lot of reading what I should be posting, or not and the question of how often to post keeps coming up. So I thought I would ask you what you think.
[Total_Soft_Poll id=”2″]
In my reading one person has said I shouldn’t post more than once a week. I think that would be a little sad. I like blogging and I still enjoy it after all these years. I think part of that is because I usually have a variety of posts. I think it would be so hard to only post once a week, what would that post be?
The other thing that would help me too is to know what posts you love to see too.
[Total_Soft_Poll id=”3″]
This will help me to work out where I can go next. I really appreciate you doing these, thank you.
Newsletter
Is another thing that everyone keeps telling me I need. so maybe that will become where I post everything. I don’t know.
One is going to start for here, but I need to get some things done beforehand. I need to get a free giveaway to give people, so I am working on that right now.
If you are interested, keep an eye out, it will be here soon.
Learning about Long Exposure Photography
I have redone this post to make it better for SEO and you can see the updated version by clicking here.
That is enough for today. I do have a video for you that I made about Melbourne. I do love this beautiful city and I will be doing a lot more of these.
This blog has so much engagement, which is such a great reward. Blogs do change, because blogging changes us. Enjoy!
Thank you Rachel.
Great post I invite you to see my newest blog post Shooting For The Stars. Feel free to comment and share your own stories and quotes as your story maybe an inspiration to other future viewers. https://crazybeautifulblogs.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/shooting-for-the-stars/
Thank you.
Your welcome 😊
Leanne .. I enjoy all your posts. You amaze me. I also love MM. as for how many posts per week? How much time do you have 😉 Go girl! Love your work
Thank you Julie, that is so good to hear. Haha, yeah, the time bit could be a problem, but I do want it to be a habit again, and it has been slipping lately.
I wanted to click all the buttons in the “what are your favorite posts”
That’s okay Sherry, good to know that most of what I want to do is what people want to see. Thank you.
Absolutely drama!!!
What is Tim, do you think I am being over dramatic?
No, I think as you said in your article a photograph needs to develop a style that the photographer is known for. Then do it. I’m obviously paraphrasing. If you’re happy with it that is what is most important.
Thank you for explaining Tim, I totally agree with you.
Leanne, you’re welcome.
Someone on Friday asked me what I shoot and I replied, “Everything”. Does that mean I’m not focused? I believe I enjoy the capture and much less the post production.
When I do get a 1st or 2nd in a competition it is usually for something that has three elements and minimal in style. That maybe were my focus should be?
It is good when you know what you like and what you want from your images. It that is what is right for you, then that is great.
It seems that a lot of people enjoy MM, but then very few want to participate. In any event, I hope you continue, as I enjoy your b&w images, as well as those contributed. I hope you keep showing your cityscapes, whether in weekend wanderings, or on their own. Also, it’s been interesting to see your infrared photography since you started with that. In the end, it’s your blog – show us what you want to present. Very nice job on the video, too!
I have thought the same Steve, that so many people want to keep MM going, but then not that many actually participate, who can figure it out. I want to continue, but I also have to make this work for me as well. I will definitely continue to show the cityscapes, I really want to promote the long exposure workshops, so they will be continuing. I haven’t done any infrared for a while, I should get back to it. I guess it is, and things are going to be changing, that’s for sure. Thank you Steve, appreciate your comments.
I prefer variety and try to do that on my blog. It keeps things fresh. I think you’re doing a great job, Leanne.
I think the same Carol, it is nice to mix things up. Thank you so much Carol.
I didn’t vote because I didn’t get the options I would have wanted. But I am more likely to read all the posts if there are only 2 or 3 a week and I especially love the floral Fridays and the ones about artists but like all the other ones too. When I get back to sending MM photos again, I will maybe link up to yours more often.
Thank you for telling RJ, I have to make sure I am doing the best for Google too, I also want to be able to show my photos as well. Which is part of the reason why I started blogging in the first place. That would be good if started again, it is disappointing what has happened with it.
I must say that i tend to like the variety in your posts. Sure, i do engage with the MM, but im often impressed by your cityscapes or your floral images. And at other times there is an interesting discussion post. So for me it’s the whole package. A bit of community with a lot of your explorations. It’s your site after all 🙂
Thank you Pieter, that is really good to hear. I love the idea of community, it is something I really want to encourage.
It sounds like a lot to think about but an exciting time for the blog, Leanne. Good luck with the SEO. It can be tricky to wrap your head around since there are quite a few components to it – catching heading, key words, links, length of post and so on. It’s something I have been trying to work on over the last couple of years for my blog. For my blog most of my traffic comes from search engines but it would be great if more came from social media too. At times I do want to do away with SEO because I don’t want my blog to read like ‘just another attention grabbing blog’. But the SEO way is the trade off for potentially more eyeballs, more feedback, more exposure, more opportunity.
There is Mabel, SEO is like another language, yes, I should have been onto it a lot sooner too. It is good that you have got onto it. Yes, not sure about social media, but I am trying to work it all out. Lots of great points Mabel, thank you so much.
I wish I was able to select all your categories, or at least more than one. I have gone for MM like everyone else but only because of the links and I do put a link in my posts when I have sent an image to you. Other favourites would be Weekend Wanderings, Introducing Artists, Reviews and Floral Fridays – I guess in that order. Perhaps you should do a survey that allows people to give the categories a score from 1 – 5 stars or something like that.
I was trying to work out how to do it so you could choose more than one, I might have to look into how I can do that. The backlinking is a really good idea, for all of us. Good to hear your other favourites, I might have to try and see how I go. Thank you.
I voted for MM because I try to participate every week and I hope you never stop MM! But I read all of your posts and enjoy looking at your photos. So I voted for everyday if you don’t mind doing them everyday! Your Introducing Artists series is very well done and I would have voted for this as my # 2 choice. That video on Melbourne at the end of this post was very nice! Good Luck with whatever you are planning for the future!
Thank you Jerry, that is really good to hear. I don’t know if I will do everyday, but I would like to get it back to some sort of pattern, so I know what I am doing.I love doing the art ones as well. Glad you liked the video as well.
I love all your posts.
Have voted for MM, as I have a huge admiration for monochrome, but weekend wanderings are amazing too.
As they all are.
Keep them all up.
You also make me really doubt between Canon and Nikon, I have Canon camera’s right now, but the Nikon’s are really attractive, both price wise (they are so much more in sales here) as in what you all get on them.
Thank you Emma. Good to know which ones you like, I must admit I really want to step up the Weekend Wanderings, so keep an eye out for them.
I love Nikon, always have, but I could be a bit bias, I should admit to that.
I love all your posts, but as I can only pick one I pick monochrome madness
Which other ones would you pick Elizabeth?
I have to admit is a bit disappointing when everyone picks that one as it means no one is interested in what I do. Thank you for doing the polls.
Really nice! I liked the unique approach and the fisheye lens. The perspective is really great.
Thank you Tim, the fisheye is fantastic, I would really like one one day.
I have one for my Nikon DX sensor camera, a D500. It is different, but can really add an interesting perspective. You will love one.
I think you are right. I’ve playing around with one from time to time, but I won’t get access to it anymore unfortunately. You are lucky to have one, and for a great camera as well.
Thanks.