“And do you leave any comments or anything?”
Her mouth drops open. “Of course not! I don’t want them to know I’ve been creeping on their blogs when they don’t even bother to visit mine.”
“See, Megan? That’s your whole problem right there. Maybe if you opened up a little, and let everyone see that you cared about them as much as you wish they cared about you, they might let you in. Blogging is all about community, and it seems to me like this whole school is like a little community too. You have to look out for each other. And you have to sometimes make the first move. If you like something they’ve blogged about, tell them. They might then come to yours to see what you’ve shared. Give and take, you know?”
“I bet you never comment on other people’s blogs, now that you’re big shot Girl Online.”
Now, it’s my turn to look shocked. “Are you kidding? Commenting on my friends’ blogs is one of my favourite things! If nothing else, it shows that I appreciate how much time and effort they put into their posts—because I’ve taken the time to respond.”
“Hmm, I guess that makes sense,” Megan says.
“Try it. I bet you’ll see more traffic on your blog. And maybe you’ll make some friends in the process too.”
Megan smiles. “Thanks for coming up here, Penny. I really mean it.”
“Anytime.”
22 September
How to Get Your Blog Noticed
It’s always a little disheartening when you’ve spent many hours slaving away over your laptop, trying to perfect a blog post, only to have no comments in response. We’ve all been there: nobody starts a blog with an audience ready and waiting, and actually it’s all part of the fun. My friend recently decided to start her own blog and asked me for a few pointers, so I thought I’d sit down and write up a little list of the advice I gave her, in the hope it will help one of you reading this.
So if you’re looking for that little bit of guidance or reassurance, here’s what I think:
1. Open up a discussion. End your blog with a question that ties in with what you’ve written and will encourage people reading to leave a response.
2. Get involved. Start up Twitter and get involved in blogging discussions using certain hashtags. Promote your blog to other bloggers and make friends. You’ll find that a lot of you will have something in common, so you will always have something to talk about.
3. Comment on other blogs that you love. Other people leaving comments will see yours and know you have a blog too. Plus, much like the point above, it’s nice to get involved.
4. Promote your blog on social media. Use Instagram and link a photo back to your blog. There is a lot of traffic on Instagram, and if you use hashtags that people can search, there’s a good chance they’ll find your blog. Pinterest is also a great one!
5. Be natural. Don’t spam people or tweet links 24/7. Nobody likes a try-hard—and it can be a little off-putting. Instead, you want to do what feels natural to you. Have fun and don’t focus on the numbers! These things take time, but with a little bit of patience and some social media sharing, you’ll have readers in no time!
Hope these few tips help you in some way. Numbers are numbers at the end of the day, and as long as you’re enjoying writing for you, that’s really all that matters. Even if my follower count dropped to five readers overnight, I’d still carry on writing here because I absolutely love it. It’s my little escape and it makes me so happy! That’s what’s most important.
Have you started a blog recently? Are you going to take any of my tips on board? (See what I did there? See point 1—ha ha!)
Girl Online, going offline xxx
Chapter Seven
The next morning, making our way to the Tube station, it’s as if our entire conversation didn’t happen. Megan is back to her normal self, flipping her hair and chatting away about her upcoming date with Luke. It’s only when we come to a halt that she brings it up again.
“Please don’t tell anyone at home that I’ve been . . . you know . . . struggling here. Don’t want to ruin my reputation!”
“I won’t, but—Megan—you don’t have anything to be ashamed of. You’re doing great. And you’ll make so many more friends if you just be yourself.” I pause, then add, “The nicest version of yourself.”
If Megan takes any offence at my little addition, she doesn’t mention it. “And you too. If Callum asks you on a date, you should go.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“It’s better than just worrying about the ghost of Noah Flynn jumping out at you all the time.” She wiggles her fingers mysteriously. Then she winks. “I read Girl Online too, you know. And I’m going to follow all your blog tips.”
When we hug, I feel her squeeze my shoulders tightly. It’s about as much affection as I’ve ever had from Megan, and I know it must mean she really misses me. “I’ll miss you too,” I say.
“I’ll see you in November for the show, right?” she adds.
“Of course—I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“And if you think of anymore ways to make me Miss Popular again, let me know! Go on, you’re going to miss your train.”
I look down at the time on my phone. Megan’s right. After one more quick hug, I dash through the Oyster card barriers and throw myself onto the Tube before the doors can slam shut.