6 Ways to Improve Your Blog Karma

by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen @ Urban Muse Writer

“Karma” means you reap what you sow, or get as good as you give. Karma is what the clichés “She had it coming”or “What goes around, comes around” are all about. Karma means your actions will return to help – or haunt – you in this world…or the next one.

To improve your blog karma, you need to throw stones and make positive ripples in cyberspace. Luckily, it’s easier – and more fun! – than you think…

Write blog posts based on your readers’ comments or questions

One of my all-time favorite “blog-currences” is when readers ask a question or make a comment on a post. Responding with a full-blown article not only gives me something new to write about (an idea I may never have considered), it also makes readers feel special! Thanking them in the post – and even connecting to their blog or website – creates more delicious karma.

Barter your blog “buttons”.

Desirée Ossandon over at Canada Arts Connect is featuring my buttons on her blog, and in exchange I’m featuring hers on mine. If you have a blog button (it could be a small 125 x 125 graphic that represents your blog), ask a fellow blogger to do a button exchange. If you don’t have one, ask about it below….and I’ll write a “how to create a blog button” post!

Add a CommentLuv plugin

One of my favorite blog features is a WordPressplugin called “CommentLuv” (I’m not sure if it’s available on Blogger). When readers comment on your post and insert their URL, their last post is listed as a live link. I love this feature because it reveals a little of the personality and style of the commenter, and it gives them a bit of exposure. Karma!

Talk blogging with Gramma

Sum up the purpose or theme of your blog in a sentence or two, and talk about it in real life, not just online! Tell your grandma, hair stylist, storekeeper, and taxicab driver about your best, worst, favorite, or latest post. And don’t forget to ask if they’ve created their own blog. If they have their own blog, seek it out, make comments, and refer to your “real life” relationship. Creating blog karma extends beyond cyberspace, my friends.

Become a “regular” on several blogs

The more a blogger and his/her followers see your name on a particular blog, the better your relationship with be. Don’t be a “drive by commenter.” A crucial aspect of successful blogging is building relationships, and this involves being strategic about your commenting habits. Get to know bloggers, and let yourself be known.

Help people achieve their goals

This is what karma is all about! The more you help others succeed, the farther you’ll go – in blogging and in life in general. Find people who need help by visiting writers’ forums, searching for questions on Twitter (Tweetdeck makes it easy – if you want to learn how, ask me below!), or even asking what readers want at the end of your own blog posts.

Karma is my new favorite sport – Susan, thanks for being the first to teach me this term, and for letting me write about it here!