So you've started a blog. Now what?

People have blogs for different reasons, but if it's public, it's most likely meant to be shared with others. The thought that there are people actually reading and enjoying this blog is awesome. When I applied at Canada's Web Shop, I used this blog as the tool that eventually landed me an interview (more on that later). It was an incredibly eye-opening experience to have dozens of my friends and followers liking, sharing and commenting on my post via Facebook and Twitter. While the blog held the content, social media really did the work.

Let's back up a bit. Does this sound familiar?

Fancy new blog, check.
A few awesome posts, check.
Followers other than my mom, ...............


When we started this blog years back, I was writing at least two blog posts a day, hitting refresh over and over, waiting for the comments to roll in. Sad, really. I quickly learned that if I wanted anyone to actually read these posts, I had to do some serious connecting. Here are a couple easy tips on how to get people reading your blog:

Join the club. If you don't already, start reading some blogs that interest you. If you've started a food blog, join that online community. Comment!  you've started a blog, I know you've got opinions. Leave a link to your own blog with your comment so it's easy to connect with you. Have a linked list of blogs you read regularly on your own blog sidebar, it shows you're involved in an online collective. Once you've done that, let them know you've linked them! They'll appreciate it and maybe even return the favour. Bloglovin and Google reader are helpful in keeping track of blogs you read.

Use Twitter. The authors of the blogs you're reading probably have Twitter, so you should too. Following people on Twitter tells them that you are interested in them and what they have to say. They'll also notice and remember you. Plus, tweets can spread like wildfire. (Don't forget to add a Twitter widget to the sidebar of your blog)

Use Facebook. It's the world's largest social network. Sharing a blog post on Facebook is an easy way to garner likes or comments. You've got 400 friends, there's gonna be a few readers in there somewhere.

Don't stop there! Be ambitious. If it's appropriate, post it on your LinkedIn profile. Start a Tumblr! The possibilities are endless. Good luck!


contact: mctooley@gmail.com

From blogging to blahblahblahging: What I've learned since starting this blog

I'll admit, this blog has taken a brief hiatus as of late. Until I applied to Canada's Web Shop, my blogging partner (hi Lana) and I did not consider new blog posts a priority in our day-to-day lives. We consider this blog to be an outlet for funny ramblings or recently screencapped photos. In other words, to anyone other than us, the blog got boring. But we were no longer using this blog as a tool.

Pre-2010, when Tjejsajten was a fashion blog, we posted everyday and waited in anticipation to check our daily page views and comments. We were just a little personal style blog with a weird header in a sea of beautifully designed, professional fashion blogs. They got 500+ comments a day, we got 20. But of those 20 commenters, 4 would be from Europe, 2 from Australia, 8 from the United States, 3 from Canada and 3 from South America. We would go shopping in Winnipeg, and people would recognize us on the street. Connie Tamoto wrote about us in the Winnipeg Free Press. We made it to the final round of a national fashion reporter search for Canada's FASHION magazine. It seemed like overnight, this little personal style blog had people talking.

How did it happen? We put ourselves out there. We spent hours on other personal style blogs, reading and commenting, getting our name out, hoping to be remembered. It turns out the sea wasn't really that big, and the fish were really friendly. For the most part, I feel like bloggers have this understanding - support me and I'll support you. Starting a blog is intimidating, but us bloggers have all been there. It's all about reaching out to others. For us, it was the personal style blog world. Even though we've retired our daily style posts, from time to time I still go back and visit those blogs that we visited so loyally 6 years ago, and most of them are still doing their thing. I still follow a lot of our linked blog friends (see right) on Twitter and I even have a few of them on Facebook. In other words, I still feel a part of that community.

So if you're thinking about starting to blog, or you've just started one, awesome. You're probably putting hard work into it that you probably want people to notice. No one will see your efforts unless you make it visible! Don't be afraid to self-promote (everyone else is doing it) and don't get discouraged, you'd be surprised how many people are reading your blog that you don't know about.

Using other social media outlets is an easy and efficient way to promote your blog (or yourself!), but I'll leave that til the next post.



contact: mctooley@gmail.com

MY DREAM JOB

Dear readers, I'm trying to land a dream job at Canada's Web Shop, a full service online marketing company based here in Winnipeg. They are a fast growing company that I would be really excited to work for this summer. The application process starts here.

Dear Canada's Web Shop Team,

Welcome to Tjejsajten. (pr. "shay-sight-en")

Disclaimer - this blog has two authors.

(While she is a stellar writer, mae kham is 65, retired and not interested in the position)

Posts on this blog are a bit cheeky, usually silly and always laughable. Sometimes we post, sometimes we don't. Before you judge the quality and content of this blog keep in mind the over all motivation behind the theme: give the people what they want...while maintaining a sense of humour.

Some background on the blog...

In 2006, inspired by the Swedish fashion  scene, we titled our blog "Tjejsajten" (Swedish for 'girl's site') and our fashion blog was born. In 2010 we swapped poise for boys, deleting everything pre-2010 and re-branding Tjejsajten as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the men of the world.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posting a job application on Tjejsajten is something I never thought I would do (and I'm still wondering if it's a huge mistake), but here we are.

You may be tempted to dive into the archives of hunks, but first, let's talk about the online marketing dream job.

Why me?

• I have just finished my third year at the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba double majoring in Small Business Management/Entrepreneurship and Marketing. 
• I am on the Commerce Students Association Marketing Team, with added duties as the photographer. I generate hype for the CSA, and get students excited about all that Asper has to offer, while documenting it through the camera lens. 
• I am currently enrolled in a distance-education Photoshop class to fine-tune my photo skills.  
• I have a blog that over 150 people from around the world follow. Here's a snapshot:

• I am energetic, outgoing and I live for new experiences. I don't shy away from challenges, I embrace them. 
• I'll be honest, I am always on the internet and I like it. Social Media: you name it, I'm on it. 
• I am creative. I have a passion for art, photography and culture and I spend most of my free time exposing myself to these things.
• I love to write, even if it's under 140 characters. I like hashtags. I have a blog. I wrote CD reviews in the University of Winnipeg Uniter once. In other words, creative writing comes easily to me. 
• I have over three years of university experience creating successful, albeit theoretical, integrated marketing communication campaigns for fictitious products and firms and it's about time I apply it in the real world of online marketing. 
• I'm diligent. I work well alone, but the magic happens in creative and dynamic teams.
• Experience at Canada's Web Shop would be invaluable to me

Thanks for your consideration and I hope to hear from you soon,

Meghan Tooley
mctooley@gmail.com

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just a quick update

this is a thing!!!

www.dateskaters.com

How to Attract a Skateboarder Boyfriend

1. 1
   If you're a huge skater, you got this one down perfectly. If not, see below:
2. 2
   Try and seem interested in what he loves. Smile and say 'awesome' or 'cool' when he does something really impressive. He is not doing these to impress you though, so don't overdo it. Try it casual--Be friendly and flirty. But not too flirty...most skaters don't like clingy and super flirty girls.
3. 3
   Ask questions, it will show him that you're interested and really care about his passions. He should always feel like you support what he does. Maybe he will learn to do the same for you.
4. 4
   Be brave, guys like confidence! Ask him to show you how to stand on a skate board or how to go. Remind him you're a beginner and don't want to do any advanced things. Skateboarding is a really creative hobby, and he will be proud when you get good! (Make him hold you while you're trying to stand, guys like that.)
5. 5
   Make sure the guy you like is really worth it. You should like him for his personality, not just the way he skates. Get to know the guy behind the board, outside of the skate park. Ask him about himself, and not just his skating. Otherwise he may think you're not as interested.
6. 6
   If he hasn't seemed to notice you, you should maybe try complimenting him on the way he skateboards or watching him quite often and smiling whenever he does a cool trick. Laugh and be approachable, he'll come to you.
7. 7
   If you know how to skateboard, do some tricks in front of him. This might get him interested in you. If you're really good, impress him, but be modest about it.
8. 8
   Try getting to know some of his friends, that way they can introduce you to him. Show your interest in skateboarding, and one of his friends is bound to notice.
9. 9
   Don't lie about your skater skills, EVER. If you say you can, and you really can't, he'll think you're a poser. Be yourself, and not a sk8r wannabe.
10. 10
    If he still hasn't noticed you, he probably just isn't interested. You can't catch the attention of every guy.
11. Ok FINE I didn't write this (I would never say "sk8r wannabe"). I also did not google this (but I would), it was stolen off an old pal's Facebook page. That being said, yeah I posted this so feel free to tear into me in the comments (we all know the comments are the best part of this blog anyway)
12. REMEMBER: "If you do a kickflip, the guy will fall in love with you automatically. It's a known fact."

yes

THIS JUST IN

Leo is single again!! I got this tattoo to celebrate.

Love or Hate: Hunks

Hunks with matching tattoos.
Love or Hate?!?!?!

owwwwwww

Aaaaccckkkkkkkkkkk Leo!!!