Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Some Pay It Forward Blogfest Tips

I've been getting a few questions from friends and followers regarding the blogfest, and since it's coming up on Friday, we might as well talk about it now.

First things first: you don't have to include the linky list on your blog, or in your post for the festival.

In fact, if you want to promote the festival, it might be better to post about it tomorrow, and tell all your followers, to see if we can get any last minute sign-ups. But when it comes to the actual post, don't worry about. Unless, you know, you want to.

If you do want to make the list a part of your post (or your sidebar) keep in mind that because of the nature of the linky list code, it DOES NOT show up in blogger's preview or compose windows. You can't see it, but it's there. You have to add it in the "Edit HTML" window, and then trust that it will show up in your post. Or you could just link to Alex and my blogs, and let people use the lists we will have up there.

When it comes to what else you really want to include in your post the day of, it's up to you. You can explain the idea behind the fest in your own words if you like, or you could just link to my original announcement, or Alex's. After that, as long as you link to three blogs you enjoy reading and think people should follow, the rest is up to you. All I would suggest is to keep it short and simple, and remember that the point is to find and follow as many new blogs as possible.

When it comes to accomplishing that, you could theoretically start following the blogs on the list now, and I don't mind if you want to, but it kind of takes the fun out of seeing how much new traffic we can all get in a single day if we don't wait.

So for now, enjoy your day, and feel free to post the list on your blogs tomorrow (if you don't have something planned) to see if you can get your followers to join. It would be awesome to see 200 blogs in one festival!

36 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Thanks for the tips. Friday morning will be busy.

Samantha VĂ©rant said...

Aw man, I'm not going to be around on Friday! I would have loved to hop!

Suzie F. said...

I love this idea and am looking forward to Friday!

Emily White said...

This blogfest is such a great idea! I might have to get out of my lazypants and participate! :)

Unknown said...

I think I got it. I'm going to find new blogs. Yay!

Stina said...

I'm going to have to use a different color to highlight my three choices since I'm combining this with Cool Links.

Hmmm. Wonder what color I should use. :D

Kristen Pelfrey said...

This is going to be great. It's like a pub crawl.

Green Monkey said...

I suck at directions but I think I've got it. Thank you :)

Creepy Query Girl said...

I'm excited! I'll probably combine the pay it forward with a little bloffee:)

Sarah Tokeley said...

Hmm...narrowing it down to three will be tough :-)

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I can't wait til Friday. I'm loving this week of blogging because I haven't had to think all that much which is good because work is busy. I had a guest post on Monday and Wednesday and then doing this blog hop on Friday. I only had to come up with two days of material :)

A Daft Scots Lass said...

I'm ready and stoked!

Still can't believe I'm #5 on yer list. That fekkin rocks it!

You're the man!

Bish Denham said...

It was tough to pick just three, but I'm ready!

Christine Fonseca said...

Ready to go on Friday! WOOT WOOT.

Anonymous said...

I have mine pre-written and ready to go!

Jessica Bell said...

You are going to be SUCH a busy guy tomorrow. You do know that right? I hope you've got the bolts to your front door ready, 'cause you are certainly not going to be a happy chappy with any interruptions!!! LOL :o)

btw, you know about my radio interview tomorrow, right? I hope so. I hope you can manage to listen ... :o)

mshatch said...

I've got my post written although it wasn't easy to come up with just three!

oh, and I added a link to the fest on my sidebar, right up top :)

Patti said...

Such a great idea. Can't wait until Friday.

Old Kitty said...

Enjoy your bloghopping!! Take care
x

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

Short and sweet is awesome, esp. with all these blogs! Holy Cats, 162!!

Jonathon Arntson said...

I'm a wee bit scared.

Christina Lee said...

Okay, I'm already breaking out in hives looking at that 162 number (and the words blog hop). :D :D It'll be fun!!

Ninja Girl said...

Sounds like Parajunkee's Follow Friday (which I love participating in!!) I'm definitely in, glad I found the list in time.
Ninja Girl

Sub Radar (Mike) said...

Thanks for the tips... and woah, the blog hop list is getting huge!

M Pax said...

looking forward to the fest. Have part of my post ready to go. :)

Lydia Kang said...

Looking forward to this!

D.G. Hudson said...

I like the option to post the details on Thursday, but as info only and keep to the blog-hopping on Friday.

Not having to post on Friday might allow time (every bit helps) for visiting more blogs on Blogfest Day.

I have peeked a little, intrigued by the creative names, but that only whetted the appetite.

Thanks for clarifying things, Matt.

Author Joshua Hoyt said...

Great info thanks!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

We're getting close!
I always tell people add the button and a link to the host site so they can find the Linky List, because that is a bit to add to a post.

Angela Ackerman said...

You guys are blogfest TITANS! Looking forward to the posts!

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

Rusty Carl said...

I'm gonna think real hard about being an 11th hour partici

LTM said...

good thing you did this b/c you said I could go early... remember? ;p

Rusty Carl said...

...pant. Not sure what happened there.

Ishta Mercurio said...

DUDE! There are 171 people on that list! This is going to be one rockin' blogfest.

I can't wait to see all the new blogs!

Angela Brown said...

Just 3, just 3, just 3. Okay, so I will have to calm down because most of the blogs I follow are so frag-tastic. Okay, just 3.

Jamie Gibbs said...

This is going to be awesome :D Looking forward to discovering some new awesome people :)