Friend Friday - Self Promotion

This week's Friend Friday post was inspired by this post over at Dressful about blogger self promotion.

As Katy says:

"When is it too much? When are you doing it wrong?"

And now, without further ado...


Blogger Self Promotion


1. How do you promote your blog?
I have a facebook page for it. Oh, and I'm on twitter (@MadDressGame). I guess participating in Friend Friday has also been a form of promotion. Guest posts, interviews, and participating in challenges have also promoted my blog, though that was not my intention when doing those things, it just worked out that way.

2. In your experience what has been the most effective form of self promotion?
As far as self promotion - Twitter. Seriously. Other bloggers mentioned that it had been a real boost for them, and I decided to try it. I mean, everyone else has already been on Twitter for ages, right?
I can't lie, though, the first 30 for 30 challenge I did with Kendi brought a ton of new readers, as did the Dress your Best Week from academichic. I didn't participate in the challenges with that intention, though, so I don't know that I consider it self promotion.

3. Do you think there is a wrong way to promote yourself and your blog?
I think there's an aggressive approach that turns me off. Sometimes I get comments that are like, "I followed your blog, come follow mine!" and I don't follow, but that's not to say that it might not work. Not my style, and it doesn't appeal to me, but it does to some - maybe?
Dressful's post refers to bloggers to leave what she refers to as "generic comments" on other blogs / sites. Some people have mentioned that they see the "Cute shoes!" or "Nice shirt!" comments as generic or insincere, but I'm an outfit of the day blogger. Believe me when I say I want you to tell me that you like my shirt. It gives me a boost when strangers say something on the street, when my coworkers or students notice, and when a reader notices. I don't have a problem with that at all.
And yes, comments are often a way to get your blog out there, but that should never be your prime reason for commenting. I feel like I've gotten to "know" some of my fellow bloggers and I like to keep in touch with them. I'm not doing it to push my product on them, because we regularly read each other's blogs.
Anyway, I don't know how seriously I take all the promotion of my blog right now. It feels like it's still quite new and I don't know what's going to happen with it once we move to Costa Rica. Not that this will go away, but I just couldn't tell you what rain forest style is going to look like come January. But now I'm totally off topic. Next question?

4. When it comes to others pushing their product what annoys you?
See above. Also, you know the make up and perfume counters in the department store? That is seriously one of the scariest places in the world for me (right up there with being in the woods at night - FEAR!). They come up to you knowing so much more than you about the product, there to talk you into buying a million creams and foundations that you won't even remember how to use when you leave, and spraying you with all these heavy scents that make your allergies go crazy.... Maybe it's just me. Anyway, that forcefulness turns me off. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to avoid that when it comes to blogs.

5. In Dressful's post on this topic earlier in the week she said, "It's impossible to respect someone who wants all the attention, but adds nothing worthwhile to the conversation." Do you agree?
This makes me think of my students. We'd be talking about a topic and there would be that one kid who just wanted to hear himself talk and would just say anything, whether it made sense or not, just to get in on the conversation. And then he'd do it over and over again. Whatever he said never made sense and all the other kids would get annoyed and be all, like, "Shut up!" and then I'd have to discuss how there are nicer ways to convey that message and everyone would be annoyed.
I guess what I mean is, when that person is repeatedly posting "follow me" comments, that's one thing. That's hard for me to take seriously because it reminds me of the pushy perfume ladies at the mall. If it happens once, whatever. It happened. I won't click on your link, you won't come back, and it's over. Not you you, of course, you'd never do that.

So what do y'all think? What counts as self promotion? How is self promotion done right or wrong? How intimidating is that make up counter?