Bloggestia March 2013-Starting Line&Finsih Line

If you haven’t heard about Bloggiesta before, it’s a weekend (March 22nd-24th) where we all sit down to work on our blogs, do those things we keep putting off, as well as network and meet new bloggers and participate in challenges and giveaways. Definitely check it out, it’s a lot of fun! 
I will update just this one post here so people don't keep seeing the same post over and over again.  So head here if you want to see my updates!  Here are my goals:

1.  Set up Feedly and make sure all the blogs I want to follow are there now that Google Reader will be gone (done and google reader and feedly are still linking up)
2.  Participate in some mini-challenges
3.  Go through list of who I am following and stop following those who aren't blogging anymore or don't review content I enjoy.Ughhh that always takes forever!!!  But I try to do this every now and then.  I have to remember not to follow every blog in the world!
4.  Come up with a meme or some type of series to regularly appear on my blog to attract readers.

5. Change the B for blogger in my address bar to a picture that matches my blog

6.  I also run two BIG goodreads groups... and even though they are not apart of my blog necessarily I  need to go through those and read through ALL the posts... keep the groups organized. 

Finally I am done with this.  I try to do this every few months.  It took 2 hours again.  I try to go through all the threads in the groups and make sure no one is fighting and all the threads stay on topic. 

7.  Figure out what in the world SEO is and how it helps my blog

8.  Try to set up some buttons for my blog features that match the layout and say : Top Ten Tuesday, Video Game Reviews,  Young Adult Book Club,
9.  What is google analytics?? ? ? ??  Tried this out.. I don't think it was coming out correct. I mean I set it up on Thursday night and today Saturday it is saying I have had only one view.  I know that can't be right because of the number of comments on this post alone.  So I went in an deleted my account. 
10.  Add and image for Feedburner when commenting on Wordpress.

11. Change goodreads reading challenge widget from 2012 to 2013  done
12.  Go over to Bloglovin and claim my domain (even though I won't be using Bloglovin I guess you are supposed to do this? ) Found out that I don't have to have Bloglovin for people to follow me on there and I get enough spam so I am not going to sign up for this afterall!

13. Back up blog.. haven't done that since last year.Done!

Well those are my goals for this weekend!!  EEK!!

Mini Challenges to participate in :

Organizing Reviews: Learn how to use Excel spreadsheets to keep track of your reviews from Lauren at Lose Time Reading. (@ooohgirlie)
Google Reader Replacement Options: In light of the announcement that we are losing Google Reader soon, Jenn from The Picky Girl has listed some options for her mini challenge. (@picky_girl) using Feedly

Book Charities: Allison from The Book Wheel has a challenge to encourages us to support some bookish charities. (@TheBookWheel)
How to Become a Book Depository Affiliate: Come and learn from Donna from Book Wookie! (@BookWookie) Looked into this and decided it's not really for me.  But good information for others to use.
Through a Visitor’s Eye: An awesome challenge from Amanda at On a Book Bender that shows how to look at our blog in a new way and how to make sure you have everything you need for visitors. (@BookBender)
Getting to Know You: Join Suey from It’s All About Books in discovering one new blogger to connect with during this Bloggiesta event. (@SueySays) Loved this challenge!  It was my favorite one!
Declutter Your Sidebar: Check out this challenge with lots of sidebar hints and helps from Debz at Debz Bookshelf. (@DebzBookshelf) Didn't get rid of anything... though sometimes I think two sidebars confuse people but there isn't much I can do about it with this blog layout.
Reviewing in Many Places: This flashback challenge from Shanyn at Chick Loves Lit will help you get organized and post your review in lots of places, not just on your blog. (@shanynlee)

Jump Start Your Traffic With StumbleUpon: Learn how this less well known tool can help you drive traffic to your blog from April at Good Books and Good Wine. (@booksandwine) Checked this out and I think this is a good idea.  I already have a StumbleUpon account so it's a perfect idea! 


I am the featured blog over at My Little Pocketbook for her Getting To Know You Challenge!! Check it out here!