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The Blogging Idol contest is live! There are more than 100 participants that joined the contest and I would like to begin by wishing them good luck. In fact, developing a successful blog is not something easy. It requires lots of time and effort. Thus, I’m very glad to see that many bloggers demonstrate audacity by participating to this contest. I hope them all to increase their readership significantly!

An Admirable Cause

This said, I’m personally ready to face this challenge but I’m not facing it alone. I would like to communicate that I decided to make this challenge a way to serve a more admirable cause. In fact, I’m actually in contact with the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. The mission of this foundation is to raise funds to contribute to the advancement of teaching and research as well as financing the acquisition of cutting-edge medical equipment. But the most important, to my own opinion, is that all this knowledge and equipment then benefit to sick children.

On my side, I would like to help them by sharing the prize of the contest if I win. Since the money part of the prize is 800$, my goal would be to give them the whole 800$! However, note that I will highly consider selling other parts of the prize if more than 800 readers subscribe to my blog.

I particularly care about this foundation because it is related to sick children. As the father of 2 healthy children, I believe that giving donation to this foundation is just something natural. We are generally not thinking about these children when ours are healthy, but I think we should. I don’t want to be moralist here; everyone is living with their own values, and mines goes to children.

The Rules

You may be aware that the winner of the Blogging Idol contest will be the blog that will accumulate the highest number of subscriber in one month. The challenge started July 1st and will end July 31th. If you want more information about this contest, take a look at the original post.

Obviously, if I want to give this money I have no other choice than winning! However, I would require your help to achieve this goal. So I make the rule quite simple:

I will donate 1$ to the Children Foundation for every new subscriber on my blog.

Note that in the case I win, I won’t be looking who subscribed and then unsubscribed after the contest. I commit myself to give this money if I win, period! Also, concerning this commitment, I have to say that I’m still in discussion with the Children Foundation to obtain a letter or something to certify that my commitment is real and concrete. I’ll let you know as soon as I get it.

The Benefits to Subscribe to my Blog

Of course, subscribing to my blog will worth 1$ for the Children Foundation if I win, but there are also other benefits to subscribe. First, you’ll get quality and free tips to improve your blog directly to your inbox. Second, you’ll get the chance to win a free 125×125 ad spot above the fold every month. Get more details about this last item here.

In Summary…

For sure, the Blogging Idol contest is a great opportunity for me to increase my readership, but I thought that it would be much more honorable to share the prize with a greater social cause. From now, you’ll be the only one to know if you will subscribe or not. However, if you still hesitate, one suggestion would be to subscribe to take a look at the future posts and simply unsubscribe if you don’t like them. Easy, isn’t it?

You Want to Help me?

Here are some actions you may consider if you want to help me:

1. Subscribe to my blog. Your tips could be delivered either on your inbox or on your feedreader.
2. Writing a post about this story.
3. Submitting this story on social media sites.
4. Creating a link back to my blog or to this story.
5. Sending this story to your friends.
6. Writing a supportive comment!

To everyone that help me in any way, I will do something for you. Of course, I won’t be able to give you 800$ – even if I would like to – but I’ll do something worthy for you. Note that you will have to contact me and tell me what you’ve done. As a fast suggestion, I’m thinking to make a special page that will list everyone with a link back to your blog or website. In fact, it would be something like a “Thanks” page for all the contributors. I’ll give me some time to think about other possibilities.

To get more information about the Children Foundation, please visit their website.

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June as just finished and, as every month, I took in note the top commentator and I did the draw to update the Core Audience’s Corner for July. I’m very proud to announce that the winners are Amin from Sublime-Products.com and www.vividlamp.com. I would like to thank them for their support and their valuable comments and feedback!

Don’t hesitate to give them a visit; you may discover really great information. Their 125×125 ads will be online for the next month. Then, as usual, I will reset the top commentator counter! So you will always have your chance to get your place on the top! All you have to do is being part of my core audience by subscribing to the blog and, thus, receive every post on your mailbox. You can do so by clicking here.

For more information on how to get your place or to better understand the idea behind this initiative, take a look at this post or just contact me. It will always be a pleasure to discuss with you!

If you like this post, please consider subscribing to my full RSS feed. You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Also, if you like what you read, I’ll really appreciate if you could share it on Delicious, StumbleUpon or Digg using the links below. Thanks!

Photo by Kah Zanon

Relationships are the basement and the foundation of blogging. Thus, if you want your blog to be successful, you first need to create true relationships to support your project. For those of you who didn’t read my article The Secret to Developing a Popular Blog published on SEJ, I would recommend you to read it to understand the whole story about developing a successful blog.

The article presented above shows you the basic concepts and the big picture of a successful blog. In the present article, I would like to focus on a precise and essential element to be successful: the communication!

As you probably notice, I added some space on the front page of my blog. I labeled this space “Latest News on CatchThePosts!”. My goal is simple: establish a more efficient communication with my readers. As a part time blogger, I’m conscious that readers may have some interrogations about me and my blog. This is especially right because I don’t publish anything if I don’t have enough time to create quality content. I already said this in the past and I think this is something appreciated by my readers. Quality is part of my personal values. Period! As a consequence, I don’t know in advance if I will be able to publish. This may lead to some periods of irregular post.

So, how could I reduce the bad effect of these periods? I think that the answer is on the communication! What about informing my readers about why I can’t publish? About what I’m doing? Or about what will come next? What about helping them to have a clear idea of what they could expect from me? I think this is legitimate questions that may be answered – at least partially – by my new section “Latest News on CatchThePosts!”.

Of course, this is my personal case study. You probably live something different. However, the question stays the same: How are your communications with your readers? If you care about engaging your readers, you would need to question your communications. An engaged reader is a reader that feel his/her membership to a specific community. How could your readers feel that membership if they are not aware of what happen on this community? They have to feel them on the game. In that context, I think that communication is the key!

Let me know how you improved your communication with your audience. It’s always a pleasure to read your feedback and your comment!

If you like this post, please consider subscribing to my full RSS feed. You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Also, if you like what you read, I’ll really appreciate if you could share it on Delicious, StumbleUpon or Digg using the links below. Thanks!

Photo by studiozoe

At the end of April, I published an article titled Be Part Of My Core Audience And Get A Place On The Top! On this article, I was writing about how my audience is important to me and that I was planning to give 2 premium 125×125 spots. If you are not aware of this article, I recommend you to read it before going further in this article.

You may be aware that I did some theme redesign at the beginning of May. The implementation added some sections including the Core Audience’s Corner. I then reset the top commenter counter and here we are: May finished with 2 winners! I’m very proud to announce that the winners are Marc from CongressRatings.com and Amin from Sublime-Products.com. I would like to thank them for their support and their feedback. Thank you guys!

Marc and Amin are now present on my premium 125×125 spot (above my sponsors) for the next month. Since I reset the top commenter counter to zero each month, you always have a chance to get your place. All you need to do is being part of my core audience by subscribing and, thus, receive every post on your mailbox. You can do so by clicking here.

Never hesitate to contact me personally if you encountered problems. Note that I really enjoy hearing from you and your online projects. If you want to share idea or anything else, just contact me!

Also, you probably notice that I integrate the twitter update widget to my sidebar. Don’t hesitate to add me on Twitter. This is another way to contact me and to talk live!

If you like this post, please consider subscribing to my full RSS feed. You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Also, if you like what you read, I’ll really appreciate if you could share it on Delicious, StumbleUpon or Digg using the links below. Thanks!

Last month I wrote and article titled 12 Effective Ways to Find New Article Ideas. Among the different ways, the #6 was “Encourage your audience to suggest topic or ask questions.” I really think that working on this point may have many benefits for both the blogger and the readers.

In this article, I just want to go a little further with this point and present a tool that may simply your life. This tool is called Skribit. It is free and is really simple to integrate to your blog. If you want to see what it looks like, just take a look at my sidebar. Of course, I customized it for the colors, the font and the borders; and I highly recommend doing the same if you decided to integrate it. The registration process is very simple and the integration is done with 4 simple steps!

I decided to give this tool a try and I would ask you to help me by submitting some topic suggestions. What topic would you like to be covered? The interaction between the blogger and its readers is not always simple or easy to make and to manage. However, I think that tools like Skribit may help a little bit in that area.

I hope to get some feedback from you about your experiences with this tool or any similar tools. Again, don’t hesitate to drop me some suggestions. Don’t forget: there is no bad suggestion! And for those of you who are still a little bit shy, the tool allows you to submit your suggestion anonymously! Thank you for your support!

If you like this post, please consider subscribing to my full RSS feed. You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Also, if you like what you read, I’ll really appreciate if you could share it on Delicious, StumbleUpon or Digg using the links below. Thanks!

As you probably notice, the whole blog was in maintenance mode several times this week. The main reason is because I had in mind to make some minor redesign to add some essential elements and remove some others.

Here is a list of the main changes with some comments.

The Header Sections.

This section introduces 2 new and essential elements: the most popular articles and how to get connected with me. As you probably notice, I tried to make some artwork for the section titles. In fact, I hope to have some comments on that since I would like them to get the attention of new visitors. If you have any feedback, don’t hesitate.

Most Popular Articles. This section is essential to demonstrate to new visitors what people before them appreciate from your blog. These articles give them a good idea about your writing style and your skills. Hopefully, these articles will convince them to give you their vote and subscribe to your blog.

Get Connect With Me. Blogging is all about relationship! Social Media networks are the most powerful tools to build relationship. In addition, they are the best platforms to efficiently distribute your content. Don’t hesitate to add me as your friend; and don’t hesitate to contact me. Note that I’m just beginning with Twitter so you’ll notice that I’m not as active as I should be! Time will help me in that area!

Full RSS Feed. This section already existed, but I think that this small redesign may help to make it more visible. By the way, I would really appreciate to get your vote and to count you as one of my subscriber. You may subscribe via my feed or get my post directly on your mailbox!

The Core Audience Corner.

Last month I published an article titled Be Part Of My Core Audience And Get A Place On The Top!. In this article, I said to my core audience that they will get the first place on my blog! I’ll let you read this article to get the details about how to get your place in that special section.

The Poll.

A new poll has been put in place. I would really appreciate if you can participate and let me know about your favorite social media network. In fact, participating doesn’t require anything special. It’s just a matter of 2 small clicks! Thanks in advance!

The Top Commentators.

This section already existed, but I want to bring your attention to the fact that it will be reset at the end of every month. Take a look at this article for more details.

BlogRush.

As you will notice, I remove my BlogRush widget. There is not that much to say on that. The results weren’t there so I just decided to uncluttered my sidebar!

Don’t hesitate to leave me your comments and your feedback. I’m really open to hear what you like and what you don’t like, and I would extend that to everything about this blog. Do you like the design? Do you like the content? Do you like the blogger? What would you like to see here? What type of content do you prefer?

I would like to hear it or at least to read it!

If you like this post, please consider subscribing to my full RSS feed. You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Also, if you like what you read, I’ll really appreciate if you could share it on Delicious, StumbleUpon or Digg using the links below. Thanks!

Photo by angela7dreams

It is the goal of every blogger (or at least most of them) to develop a popular blog. As you may be aware of, I recently wrote an article on this topic which was mainly focusing on content distribution. Moreover, I was also demonstrating the importance to develop a firm core audience based on true engagement.

Still on the same subject, I read, last week, the article of Daniel Sococco titled Having an Opinion: The Secret Sauce for a Popular Blog. All through my reading, I was thinking about the relation between Having an opinion and what I wrote in my own article. This key is the engagement!

Engage Yourself.

Developing a true engaged audience is not easy. It takes time and lots of efforts. In addition, your readers must find one or several significant reasons to subscribe. Why do people subscribe to your blog? Of course there are various possible reasons. However, at the end, every reason has the same root: the engagement and the adherence to the values your blog and you are carrying.

In fact, this may be summarize with a single sentence: developing a true engaged audience is possible if you – as a blogger – are demonstrating your own engagement! How could you ask someone to be an engaged and loyal reader if you are not an engaged and loyal blogger? This doesn’t mean to give your opinion and your position on everything. It only means to be true and authentic on everything you do. Your reputation is the foundation of your authority.

Demonstrating your engagement may be quite simple. Here is a small but accurate list of elements that may help you.

Demonstrate your presence.

Being engaged is, at first, being present. You may demonstrate your presence by taking the time to leave a comment or two on some of your readers’ blog. It may be by answering everyone that leaves you a comment or an email. It could be through your blog but it could also be through social media.

There are countless ways to demonstrate your presence to your audience. The most important is to do it with a smile and to be constant!

Be true and authentic.

Being true and authentic is determinant to build a strong and positive reputation. If you stay who you are and if you are are sincere on what you do, you’ll build something true and unique. Playing a game may works for some time, but when the game is over, there is nothing you can do to clean up your reputation.

Be generous.

Being generous will always be a must! True relationships are based on true sharing and acts of generosity! There are so many opportunity everyday to demonstrate your generosity. It could be by giving some backlinks to someone or by giving a positive review. The more creative it is, the better it is! Don’t miss a chance to be someone supportive.

Note that every act of altruism will influence the perception of your readers. If you give them all the attention they deserve, they’ll give you more than you may ever think!

Summary

I often hear and read about engaged readers, but what are you personally doing to gather your own community around common values? What are doing to create a true significance around your blog’s adherence? Have you do a true engaged action for your readers recently? Relationship is not effortless. As in your personal life, you must take care about people around you and concretely demonstrate your support. A community is based on common interests but it is also based on common sharing and true engagement!

If you like this post, please consider subscribing to my full RSS feed. You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Also, if you like what you read, I’ll really appreciate if you could share it on Delicious, StumbleUpon or Digg using the links below. Thanks!

Photo by Hamed Saber

Relationship is the foundation of any core audience. It is mainly based on emotional engagement. In fact, I think this is why it is so important to me. There are many reasons that may lead a reader to subscribe to a blog, but I think that the strongest is definitely emotional. If readers like what you are doing and/or if they like you as a blogger, you’ll increase your chances to win a new member in your core.

Relationship is getting stronger when there is true sharing between the two parties and this is precisely what I want to do. As I put in the headline, I want my core audience to know they are on the top; the top of my priority and the top of my blog! Let me explains.

My core audience is on the top of my priority because without them – maybe you are part of it – my blog won’t be alive. In fact, I would be a blogger without readers which make no sense to me. This is why I plan to make some actions to give more visibility to my core audience. Beginning next month, I’m planning to make two 125×125 spots above the fold exclusively available for my subscribers. These spots will most likely be place above my sponsors’ spots.

The Conditions to Get a Spot.

The first spot will reward the top commenter. So there will be two conditions to take the first 125×125 spot:

1. Be part of my feed readers (via email).
2. Be the top commenter at the end of the month.

The second spot will reward a random feed reader. In fact, I’ll randomly pick a reader among my feed readers’ list. So there will be two conditions to take the second 125×125 spot.

1. Be part of my feed readers (via email).
2. Be the selected reader in the draw.

Note that it is essential to be part of my feed via email to have a chance to get a spot. It may seem a little annoying for some of you, but it is the only way I have to properly identify each reader. The two 125×125 spots will be changed the last day of each month and the comment counter will be reset at the same time. Note that if you don’t have your 125×125 banner, I’ll be able to help you. You’ll just have to contact me. Of course, I would’ve liked to make some place for all of you, but I cannot change the space taken by a 125×125 spot!

You can subscribe by email here:

A Special Page.

Rather than doing the impossible, my plan would be to make a new page with text links. This page will be available for anyone who asked for it. The only condition would be to submit it originally! What does that mean? I don’t want this page to look like a link farm. I want it to be creative and original! In fact, I would like that you submit your link incorporated in a personal presentation of your blog. You may also include a 75×75 picture to give some colors to your presentation. Please, choose your picture carefully! I’ll reject every picture that looks inappropriate. Your presentation must not have more than 80 words. Note that you also need to be part of my email feed reader to have a place on this special page.

Now, let’s recap. To be part of this special page you need the following:

1. Be part of my feed readers (via email).
2. Create an original presentation with your link included (and optionally include a 75×75 picture).
3. Limit this presentation to appreciatively 80 words.
4. Ask me to include it in my special page via my contact form.

You can subscribe by email here:

If you have any questions, comments or feedback, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be pleased to get back to you as soon as possible.

If you like this post, please consider subscribing to my full RSS feed. You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Also, if you like what you read, I’ll really appreciate if you could share it on Delicious, StumbleUpon or Digg using the links below. Thanks!