Biannual Blogathon Bash Kick Off – Summer 2012
Welcome to the Biannual Blogathon Bash Kick Off – Summer 2012! As a first time participant in this event, I am excited by the opportunity to dedicate three days to tackling some very important tasks related to my blog!
More than a hundred bloggers are participating in this summer’s Biannual Blogathon Bash, which officially runs from 8 am EST on June 22 through June 25, 2012. Sound like fun? You can still sign up!
Participants are free to work on whatever they like during the event. They also have the opportunity to participate in a range of exciting events, including numerous mini-challenges, a post-blogathon blog evaluation and two special Twitter parties. If they are lucky, they could even win a prize!
Now, those of you who know me will not be surprised to hear that I have mapped out a rather ambitious schedule for the weekend. My To Do list is several pages long!
I will be working on a combination of behind-the-scenes tasks that you will not see but are crucial for the optimal functioning of my blog as well as a few highly visible changes that will improve the way you interact with my site! I plan on posting or tweeting updates throughout the event as time permits, so stay tuned and please be patient as I tweak things over the next few days!
Biannual Blogathon Goals
Here are my goals and a few of the items I’m planning to work on at this weekend’s Bi-Annual Blogathon Bash:
1. Improve Site Functionality
- Back Up My Computer
- Back Up My Blog
- Upgrade to the Latest Versions of WordPress and Catalyst
- Upgrade to the Latest Versions of My Current WordPress Plugins
- Run Performance Tests and Address Priority Issues
- Research, Test and Install New WordPress Plugins
- Begin Updating Back Posts in Select Categories
2. Improve Site Navigation
- Redesign The Bottom Half Of My Sidebar
- Begin to Streamline My Site Map Categories
- Set Up a Navigation Bar (Phase 1)
3. Improve Search Engine Optimzation (SEO)
- Research and Update Keywords On Select Posts
- Research Site Level SEO Information
4. Participate In Special Blogathon Bash Activities
- Complete Relevant Mini-Challenges
- Attend One Of The Twitter Parties
- Participate in the Rocks and Roses Blog Evaluation
Stay tuned for updates throughout the weekend! Your thoughts, comments and encouragement are greatly appreciated!
You hit on something I’ve been trying to find out. How do you back up your blog? I’d be devastated to lose my content. Not that what I say is so important but it’s part of life’s journey. I use blogspot so it may not be the same.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Hi Pamela,
I am in WordPress so the process is going to be different than it will be for you on blogger. The best thing to do is to go to Google Search and do a search on “how to back up your blog in blogger”. You should find a number of tutorials there (you can find both written tutorials AND video tutorials on You Tube to guide you through the process). I would read through several of them to familiarize yourself with the process. Pay attention to the dates on the information to make sure you are getting something current. I hope this helps… it has been quite some time since I have been on Blogger and I know they have made some major updates since then so this is my best advice to you.
Best of luck to you – please let me know how it goes! 🙂
Fantastic! I just signed up, so I’ll be working on my blog as well. It’s a wonderful idea & very much needed 🙂
Happiness,
Corrinne
PS – Win prizes at my blog – Easy, peasy entry:
http://pinandtack.blogspot.com/2012/06/you-are-invited-to-my-vegan-barbecue.html
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
I am so glad to hear that you signed up Corinne! Feel free to share your goals link here so we can see what you’re working on!
For those of you who are interested in following along, I am currently working on some of the Mini Challenges to get warmed up and am tweeting the ones I am completing at @CreateWithJoy1 – there is some GREAT information on these Mini-Challenges (the bloggers who wrote them did an OUTSTANDING job) so check them out at the Biannual Blogathon website (the link is in my post). You can complete the challenges even if you aren’t signed up for the blogathon – you just won’t be eligible for any of the prizes (but the prizes are just a potential bonus in my opinion – the REAL prize is improving your blog!) 🙂
This is so cool! I’ve never heard of such a thing and these are great idea. I always love your thinking. From finding new friends to learning about blogging you are a hub of a great resource!
Happy seeing beautiful!
http://seeabeautifulworld.blogspot.com/
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks Lydia for always being such an encouragement and providing the energy boost I need to roll into the evening! 🙂
Twitter: breathoffaith
says:
Hi Ramona!
I am so sorry- I think I am passing because if anything I need to back off of working on my Blog! lol. Um, I do have goals and I love to take part in just about all you do here. But with VBS this weekend and so much demanding my time- I am just going to have to peek in but not take the challenge. I know it will be great and I look forward to watching and learning more as time allows this weekend- from the “sidelines”! Phew! Have fun! And thanks, you already have a great place!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Not a problem Dawn – sometimes the best thing we can do is step away from our blogs and clear our heads! When is your vacation? Enjoy VBS and cheer me on! 🙂
That’s a long list of goals. Good luck.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thank you so much! Planning to do as much as is physically possible and then hopefully keep the momentum rolling from there! 🙂
Wow that’s quite a list. Yeah those background sorts of things aren’t much fun but are a necessity. I have to do that sort of thing for 5 blogs LOL.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
That’s why I am SO happy to have the opportunity to participat in this weekend’s blogathon. It’s easy to do the fun stuff. I need the incentive to do the things I view as drudgery (even if it’s essential!)
Still can’t believe you run 5 blogs. WOW.
Glad to see yo,u’re participating =) You’ve got yourself a hefty list, and good luck accomplishing what you’ve set out to do.
I’ll be cheering you on throughout the weekend!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Awesome – I am cheering you on too! 🙂
I’m sorry I found out about this so late. Hope you accomplish most of your goals!
Wow, this is an amazing list! SEO is a biggy on my list too – but not for this weekend! I wish you lots of luck with the goals – have a wonderful weekend!
Donna
Wow, good luck!
Thanks for your inspiration and words of wisdom in the Twitter Party! I hope you get a lot done this weekend!