Blog Open House

Welcome to my blog open house.  I'm going to be changing some things around here.  Not for me but for YOU!

You may have noticed that this "diy/craft" blog hasn't had many crafty things on it lately.  There is a reason.  One that I've been struggling with for a while now.  I don't like talking about it so here is the quick explanation.  I have a neuromuscular disease that has affected my mobility and ability to do day to day activities.  It's progressive and I can no longer do a lot of what I love...namely diy and craft projects.  Especially painting...anything.  I love to paint.  I have leftover chalk paint and several things that I'm dying to paint with it....and I will.  It just may take me a little longer to do it.  But I will do it!

Here is what I CAN do....BLOG!  I love to write and meet other bloggers.  Thanks to my friend, Aimee, I have been able to do just that for the past few months at LinkyHere.com.  She has graciously allowed me to help manage the link party directory that she created and contribute to the LinkyHere blog.  I love it.  I get to write, meet other bloggers and satisfy my need to create (digitally) and help bloggers grow their blog/website.  I CAN and love to be on my laptop doing all of these things.  It's easy for me to do and keeps me busy.  I like that.

So where do you come in?  Starting Monday, October 1st, I want to turn my blog over to you.  What does that mean?  Here are some ways that I want to do that.

1.  I can't craft and make things like I used to.  But YOU can.  I want you to share your projects, decorating, recipes, sewing, etc. on this blog.  How? I invite you to guest post on my blog and show off what you can do.  The post doesn't have to include a project or tutorial.  It can just be about you and your blog....a sort of "get to know me and my blog" kind of thing.

I don't care how long you've been blogging or what your "numbers" are.  If you've never done a guest post before and don't know what's involved, no problem.  I'll help you!  It's easy and it can be a great way to get your blog "out there".

2.  One of the things that I love doing on this blog is hosting the weekly All Star Block Party with a great group of ladies.  We enjoy being able to give everyone an opportunity to share their projects and recipes every week.  Recently, one of our hosts, Carri of Simply Done Wright, took a blogging break to concentrate on her dream of going to college.  Since then, we have decided to choose one guest co-host each week to join us.  I will be choosing a guest once every month.

3.  I also host a Google+ Blog Hop once a month on my blog and usually choose a few guest co-hosts for that event as well.  If you are interested in either of these opportunities, let me know.  I have been a co-host before to various link parties and blog hops and it is a great way to meet other bloggers, network in the blogging community and grow your own blog.

4.  A few months ago, I began sponsoring a few blogs.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much attention my blog got from this.  My blog's monthly pageviews increased and I had saw an increase in traffic on my social media sites.  I have never had sponsors on my blog...it's just not "me".  But I want to change that.  I would love to have about 10-12 blog buttons on my blog's sidebar so I can help someone else reap the benefits that I did.

If you want to have your blog's button on my blog's sidebar, here is what you can do.  Email me your blog's button (125x125 size) and the link that you want it to go to (ex. your blog's homepage).  This is FREE...I don't charge for ad space.

What?  Free ad space?  Remember, I don't do giveaways on my blog.  Blogs that charge for ad space often include their sponsors in their giveaways.  There are big benefits for a sponsor in those cases.  I may or may not choose a link party or blog hop guest co-host from my "sponsors".  Blogs that charge for ad space often include some of their sponsors in their parties/hops.  It's part of their sponsor package.  Don't let my offer of free ad space keep you from taking advantage of other blog's sponsorship offers.  They probably offer benefits for you that I can't.

5.  One thing that I will do for everyone that guest posts, co-hosts, or hangs out on my sidebar is talk about them.....on my social media sites.  I became a social media junkie a few months ago and I love, love, love to tell people about projects or blogs that I like.   When I say "talk about you", I don't mean gossip.  I will give you or your blog "shout outs" on my facebook, twitter and Google+ sites or pin your project on my Pinterest boards.

Using social media to advertise your blog has HUGE benefits.  If you don't use social media now, you need to!  It will play a big role in the future of blogging.  If you want to create a social media account and don't know how or have questions about it, I would LOVE to help you!  Just email me :)

OK, this post is long enough! Leave a comment or email me if you are interested in anything I just said.  Tomorrow, I will be tweaking my blog design a little so if you see something weird, ignore it.  I'm just cleaning up the place before the next phase in my blogging adventure begins on Monday.  I hope you will join me!

Email address - shasta.intheoldroad@gmail.com