If you’ve been a blogger for any link of time, you know how important linky parties are especially when you are first starting out. However, being an effective partier takes time…time that we’d sometimes rather be spending writing quality posts.
While I by no means have it all figured out yet, I thought I’d share with you today some tips that I’ve learned to make my partying more effective as well as save time.
1. Create a plan. Know when your parties go live and set a plan for when you will post to parties each day. For me, I try my best to post to parties in the morning after my morning exercise/devotion time and then again in the evening after the children are in bed. By posting during these two times I can usually post near the beginning of most linky parties thereby increasing my effectiveness while not taking away extra time waiting for each-and-every-party to go live. If a party doesn’t happen to be posted when I sign on, then I just wait to get the party next week. After all, there is more to life than partying.
2. Make a linked list. A couple of weeks ago I shared with you my home and blog planner that I was super excited about sharing with all my subscribers (speaking of which, if you haven’t subscribed via RSS or e-mail yet be sure to do so today so you can get your free copy). As part of the planner I shared a blank blog party agenda. On my personal blog party agenda I have a copy saved on my computer that is hyperlinked. Therefore, each morning or evening when it is time to party, I open my blog party agenda, click on the links to that session’s parties and I’m all set. I don’t have to wait for e-mail reminders or open bookmark upon bookmark. They are all in one place ready to go.
To hyperlink a document in Word, highlight the text you want to hyperlink, select “insert”, and then “hyperlink.” Type in the address of the blog and select “ok.” Next time you want to open your hyperlink just press the ctrl button at the same time you click the link and it will automatically open the link in your internet browser.
3. Know each party’s niche. When I first started partying I always had trouble remembering which parties excepted multiple posts, which only accepted one post, which parties accepted recipes or organization or DIY posts…every party is so different I’d spend half my time reviewing the rules before posting just so I wouldn’t mess up! That’s why I added a description next to my party hyperlinks. Now I can just scan the description quickly before posting allowing me to skip right to the party.
4. Set a party limit. There are tons and tons of parties out there. You could party all day and all night if you wanted too. But again, there is more to life than partying so set yourself a limit. For me, I’ve tried to narrow down my parties to one of my blog party agenda pages. By setting this limit I’ve streamlined my time and also learned a lot about which parties are the most effective for my niche. If you are needing to pair down how many parties you attend each week, check out your Google Analytics which is a free service.
5. Set a visiting limit. Most party hosts ask that you visit at least two other links while at the party and, if possible, leave a comment. While this is not only good party etiquette, it is yet another way to put your name out there. However, just like Pinterest, if you are not careful, you can get bogged down looking at all the other links rather than spending time writing posts or playing with your children. So set a visiting limit. For me, I try to limit myself to two links a party. I search for two links I might want to visit, click on them, comment, and then move on. When done I know I did the right thing, but I didn’t spend my entire day partying either.
6. Create automated link party buttons. I was ever so thankful to Motivated Mommy when she shared her tutorial on this time saving gem. By creating automated link party buttons to appear at the bottom of your posts you don’t have to take extra time copying and pasting your party buttons every time and its’ still a direct link–great for SEO. Be sure to check out the excellent linked tutorial for more info.
7. Have a bare bones party agenda. Some weeks you just don’t have time to attend all the blog parties you would probably like. For weeks like this create a bare bones party agenda based on your Google Analytics (see #4). Set your party agenda to your top 5 or 10 most effective parties and forget the rest. You’ll still get your posts out there but you will also feel freer to enjoy the things more important.
8. Realize that there IS more to life than partying. A few weeks ago life was going crazy at my house. Something had to give and that something was blog parties. What did I learn from that week? It’s okay if you don’t attend parties ALL-THE-TIME. In fact, it’s made me think about doing a bi-weekly blog party agenda, posting two weeks worth of posts at a time and only visiting parties every other week. While I haven’t implemented it yet, it all goes to say, there IS more to life than partying. If you miss a party, don’t stress about it. Just pick it back up next week if its that important to you. Life will go on.
Above all, remember that blog partying should NEVER come before your God, your family, or your work. Some mornings are a struggle because I get up late and I really want to post to a particular party but, if I haven’t had my God-time yet, then the computer is off limits. It’s not worth it. And, on the few occasions where I went against my own limits, I’ve always regretted it.
All that to say, partying is a great way to get your posts out there. My hope is that by sharing these time saving party tips you will now be able to do so with more effectiveness and efficiency than before.
Speaking of linky parties, have you linked up to Titus 2 Tuesday here on Cornerstone Confessions yet? If not, I hope you’ll take the time to link up and consider adding it to your weekly blog party agenda. See you there!
Kathy….you are AMAZING! Thank you so much for what you do! I am new to blogging but absolutely LOVE it! I am trying to learn how to make my blogging more effective and this post really helps! I would love for you to drop by my site and give me some pointers! Again…you are AMAZING! Teri 5thgradetomfoolery.blogspot.com
Kathy these are fabulous tips! I love linky parties but get lost looking at all the great posts people have linked up. I need to look at some boundaries 🙂
I love your blog and I’m awarding you the Sunshine Award. You can read about it here: http://fromoverwhelmedtoorganized.blogspot.ca/2012/07/sunshine-award.html. Congratulations and have a great weekend!
Thanks for the great tips. I found your blog through the 504 Main party link up. Definetly going to put some of these tips in practice.
http://iamlinvinginthemoment.blogspot.com
~Brandy~
Great party tips! You really can get overwhelmed with all the party options. And most importantly, it should be a fun experience!
Great ideas, thank you! I especially like the Motivated Mommy button tutorial!
I love your post, thank you so much for not only the great information on saving time but the reminder of what or Who is most important!
Hugs, Tanya
This was a great post! It was really, really helpful! I agree with twelve-O-eight…time saving information, plus a reminder of Who is the most important! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I found this post to be very informative, even though I have been linking up and joining into parties for quite some time. You have some useful tips that I hadn’t even thought of to increase effectiveness in time because as you stated…parties can strip the time away from other important things in life. Really appreciate this post. Thanks for sharing, and I’m now following you.
Erin
Me too! It was so helpful! Have fun partying!
Kathy
Great ideas, Kathy. Thanks so much for posting!
Love these tips! I was wondering if you know how to get the links to show up on the page of the blog, (versus viewers being taken to a separate page?) thanks and blessings! Lauren, lholmes79.wordpress.com
Lauren, I’ll be glad to help.
When you go to set up your party, in the display menu, make sure you have checked “Display links (may uncheck for giveaways)”
That should do it. 😉
Kathy
What a great post I already do some of these things but others I was not aware of thank you so much for sharing
Came from chic on a shoestring
This is perfect timing advice for me! I took a blogging break for about a month because it was overwhelming me. I really love blogging but it’s hard to keep balance. I would love to know how to run an effective blog party. I tried and only had about 4-6 people linking up each week. I want to try again, but I don’t know how to do it. -Tabitha
Thank you so much for your wonderful advice. I just found your site but will be visiting often to learn from you. I love that you share your faith within your posts as well!
Bonny @ http://thedomesticatedprincess.blogspot.com
Well thank you. Glad you found us!
Kathy
Great tips! Thanks! Pinned it.
Monica
http://happyandblessedhome.com
Yeah! Thanks Monica!