January has passed
…and this counts as my first full month of concentrated, deliberate blogging. I started a blog back in 2008, and called it bkfamilyblog. It was your standard family blog, with a post maybe once a week, if that. I used the b2evolution software and it did what I needed it to do. After a year or so, I started getting very frustrated with it and ended up moving to WordPress.org. In researching the intarwebbernets, I came across tentblogger and got motivated to write more. Through some encouragement from family and friends, I ended up also purchasing Standard Theme, and moved from our old Family Blog to a more personal blog.
I decided to make a few goals and also track them month-to-month. I also thought that I would probably add a few more goals as I checked off some of the older ones.
So how did I do in the first month of the year of blogging?
I’ve included my thoughts and progress of each goal in Red, and will cross of the completed ones on my About page.
1) Publish at least 3 well-written posts a week. I’d like to get a post # like Jon has on his site.
Not sure about this one, as it might not really provide much value. Maybe I’ll scrap this one after next month. We’ll see.
2) Spruce up the look of this site as well as my Wife’s, with with some mad CSS/design work, maybe even a caricature.
This design is really not much, but it works. I still want a really cool caricature, or maybe some sort of graphic at the top.
3) Create a kick-butt “About” page.
I like it, I’m happy with it. For now.
4) Start a campaign for charity, or raise money for something great. Water, Goats, or GlobalX anybody?
After my (1st) announcement of the year, you’ll soon see a campaign to raise. I’ll keep y’all posted.
5) Become a Tentblogger, and earn at least $1 in 2011.
I need to get the traffic up first.
6) Invite a guest poster.
This kind of happened, but I want something more deliberate.
7) BE a guest poster.
This is looking good, I have a couple of entries out to 2 different sites, and I’ll keep you posted when they actually get published.
8 ) Publish at least 1 great photo a week.
So far so good.
9) Have 100 subscribers.
1st month with feedburner and I have a grand total of 19. This is well above and beyond how many I would have guessed I would have in my first month. Hopefully I can start a trend.
10) Respond to as many, if not all of your comments, all 5 to 10′s of you.
Yeah I know it doubles my comment count, but responding to comments is something I value, and appreciate.
11) Influence at least 2 people to start blogging.
Check out my good friend Cynthia, her journey’s pretty much amazing. Got her to start a blog, now only if she would post more… 🙂
12) Attend Catalyst East, hopefully meet up with other bloggers.
Won’t happen until October.
13) Become a Great dad.
Work in progress.
There you have it.
I can’t even begin to express how awesome and FUN this has been so far. I’ve met some awesome bloggers, read and commented on some rad blogs, and feel like I’m just barely scratching the surface. Real quick I want to give a quick shout-out (in no particular order) to a few guys who have definitely made this “blogging thing” super fun.
KC over at Some Wise Guy: Although he’s a Seahawks fan he’s got some pretty awesome stuff regarding Dads, funny too!
Dustin over at Abraham Chronicles: He has a mixture of Family posts along with challenges for Dads.
Michael over at The Perkins Blog: You have to see his written posts. They rock. Here’s one he did as a guest.
Don over at Project: Mathetes: He promised me pizza.
Joseph Robinson over at The Pursuit of God: Youth pastor doing his thing, love his encouragement.
Tony Alicea over at Tony J Alicea: He just came back from Brazil. I want to go to there. He also writes Exceptional stuff.
There are definitely more blogs I’ve read, and more conversations I’ve had with people on twitter and through the comments here, and on their blogs. I just want to say thank you, for the month of January and keeping me encouraged to “do my thing.” Here’s to another month of awesome.
1 month review is out! And the consensus is that it’s going well! Congrats Ben. I’m not sure how I stumbled on your blog, but I like it. You got “juice” man, you got juice!
If you ever get lazy, I’ll come after you… NYC style!
Thanks Moe, I’m hoping to continue the trend for at least the next 6 months. This stuff is fun!
Congrats on the great month Ben!
Blogging is great and I love it as well. The community that develope around a blog I think is one of the most awesome things.
I just made my short list of blog related short term goals for February today.
Good luck in your blogging journey, and hope to keep seeing you around the blogging community.
Thanks Adam! I’m totally addicted to the community, I love it!
John over at Tentblogger says “what is celebrated is repeated“. Solid early stats Ben. Keep up the good work bro!
Thanks Tony, I still have much to learn about continuing the success, but I’m glad what I’m doing seems to be working so far.
Ben, great recap. Like Moe, I’m not sure how I stumbled onto your site but I’m sure glad I did! And to be honest, it’s bloggers like you who make it fun. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to month #2!
Thanks Dustin, definitely glad you came by and are now a part of this awesome community.
Great work Ben! Congrats on the progress this month. Thank you for the shout out. It’s been fun to share the journey.
I’m with you on wanting a cool graphic (Tentblogger) or header image (Abraham Chronicles).
One of my goals for February is to install StandardTheme and decide on a sustainable posting schedule. So far for January I’ve posted at Some Wise Guy and a random personal blog almost every week day. It’s definitely fun, but am concerned about quality.
Keep it up man. You’re doing good.
Yea. I am looking to create a logo/header for my site here in the next couple of months. Not sure where I am going to go with it though.
Yea. The caricatures are sweet. Would love to have one, but do not have the cash to drop on it :).
Absolutely man, thanks! I also thought about a posting schedule, but then I freaked out and started stressing. I mean I do have a few things I will post weekly (family nights/venezuela updates and…TBA), but other than that I want this to be more of an organic/inspired blog with quality content, so I’m with you on that. Nahm-sayin’?
I give it a 9. Good beat, I could dance to it. It’s a keeper.
Sweet! Thanks Don, you’ve definitely been a great encouragement with your comments.
Very SWEET blog, love the stories and especially the photos. No need for improvement just keep rolling. I look forward to seeing the email that there is a new post!
Thanks moms, although I know you’d rather be able to see them in the flesh, for now photos will do. Right?
Congrats on your first concentrated month–may many more follow!
Thanks Matt, hope to keep them coming!