Changes!!! And Followers Part Three

I have the honor of a feature over at TBR today! Run by Cate Masters, “TBR highlights books you haven't yet read but would love to.” Cate features three new authors a week through a series of interviews, so it’s a great place to meet new writers. She’s worked really hard to build up the site, so please visit TBR today. I promise my answers are interesting! Well, maybe just amusing…

Changes

I’m sure everyone has noticed the change in word verification. “Prove you’re not a robot.” I’d just like to prove I’m a human being! I’ve never complained about the old word verification, but if you use this, please consider either turning it off or switching to blog owner approval on all comments. I'll buy you a box of Hot Tamales!

And Twitter changed its look as well! I think it’s better, but I won’t know until I can find everything again.

Followers Part Three

I never planned to do a whole series on this, especially as I don’t feel like an expert or anything, but everyone has seemed to enjoy it. Again, this is just one humble Ninja's opinion...

When it comes to followers, it’s not the numbers, it’s the connections that matter.

“Easy for you to say, Alex – you have over 1300 followers!”

But I wouldn’t have 1300 followers if I hadn’t learned to make connections with some of those followers. Note I said some, because there is no way to connect with all of them. I couldn’t even visit all of them in one week. (I think somewhere around 500 followers you realize you can’t visit everyone anymore.)

You can’t gain followers just by following a bunch of blogs. Friendship is a two-way street. Find those with whom you share a common interest and start to build a friendship by commenting. Be genuine, encouraging, and show you really care.

Your blog needs to be an inviting place as well. Others need to be able to relate to you on some level. It can be fun or informative. (Or both!) And your blog posts shouldn’t just be statements – they should encourage others to join in the conversation. Plus you need to interact with your commenters.

You gain followers by supporting and championing others. You gain followers by being a friend and a positive influence in the lives of others.

And if you want even more, visit my post from last month You Can’t Reach 1000 Followers by Being a Jerk.

Not everyone will become a friend. That’s all right though! Sometimes we just don’t click with someone. Maybe they are really negative or moody. Maybe they like to rant about others. Who knows! But if you don’t connect, move on to the next blogger.

And just to show how important connections are, here’s a comment from Wednesday that made me smile:

TL Conway said... I had strong first impressions of popular bloggers (yes, including yourself, truth be told!). Not necessarily bad impressions, just beliefs that you all were too busy to talk to/interact with a small beans blogger like me. I'm SUPER glad to say my first impression was completely wrong!

(I'm popular? When the heck did this happen?!?!?!)

I’ve made so many awesome friends here. I admit, I am to the point where I can’t visit every blogger buddy every day. But I do try to keep up with my friends so I don’t miss when something special (or tragic) happens in your lives. You guys matter to me!

Are you making connections? Are there certain bloggers who are special to you? (Couple of mine will get a surprise on Monday!) Ready to kill the new word verification? Or are you still twitching from Killswitch Engage’s music…?

Don’t forget to check out TBR!

Rush, the World Cup, Extreme, and Everything

Okay, maybe not everything.

I do have to provide an update on one of my favorite bands.

Rush was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 10! Ironically, they are still not in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame because the owner hates Rush. Go figure!

Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage is their new DVD and it comes out on June 29. It was also released to theaters for one night only on June 10 and received a B+ in Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman. (Who also hates Rush!)

I've been watching some of the World Cup. I couldn't watch it for long today, though. The drone of thousands of plastic horns started to give me a headache. Has anyone else noticed this? It sounds like a giant swarm of bees! Must be driving the players nuts. More than one sportscaster has mentioned this issue, too. Guess I'll have to watch with the volume down.

Also caught the new Extreme concert DVD this weekend on HDNet. (Remember Extreme? More Than Words and Get the Funk Out?) I have to pick up this DVD. They sounded amazing in concert - crisp, clean and sharp. Nuno is incredible. The dude can play guitar! I was just in awe.

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No, I don't sound like Nuno when I play. I don't look like him, either! (That's probably a good thing, though - if I was in that good of shape, I'd find any excuse to take of my shirt, and work and church are just not appropriate places for that sort of thing!)

I'm pleased so many have signed up for The Movie Dirty Dozen next week! I also interviewed one of the top movie news blog owners, so don't miss that next week, either.

And so far, Twitter is all right! Thanks to everyone who found me.

Out of my Comfort Zone

Guess it's time I ventured out.

I've set up a Twitter account, so I really hope some of my blogger friends find me there. I found Shannon and Beth, but don't know who else to follow.

I need to start thinking about a blog tour as well. I know my publisher is setting up some dates, but I need to secure a few, too. Not sure how I go about doing that, so any tips are welcome! Three people have already offered to host me, so that's a start.

Nice to see so many people have signed up for The Movie Dirty Dozen blogfest! I was worried I'd be doing that on my own.

Now, to wrap this up, Will at Fatherhood and Other Common Terrors gave me the Versatility Award.

So the rules are this: 1) Thank the person who gave you the award. (Thanks Will!) 2) Share 7 things about yourself. 3) Pass the award along to 15 bloggers you've recently discovered and you think are awesome. (Thanks Bossy Betty, I picture dead rabbits now.) 4) Let your nominees know you've honored them.

I think all of my blogger friends are versatile – I’ve learned so much from everyone. So play along if you’d like.

7 Things:
1) Practicing my guitar is the most relaxing thing I do. Okay, maybe second most.
2) I’ve seen a hundred concerts. Yes, I like my music.
3) I hate mowing the lawn. Thought about paving the whole thing or installing AstroTurf.
4) I like spicy food.
5) I used to be a big D&D geek.
6) I enjoy watching sports, but I’m not good at any of them.
7) I hate driving. Hope someone invents teleportation in my lifetime. Stun guns for the hood of my car also welcome.

Have an awesome day, everyone!