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Bom chicka wow wow, it's that time again!

How To Build An Audience, No, We've-Established-That-My-Name-Isn't-Perez-,But-Hey,-I've-Still-Learned-Stuff Style! (Continued From Parts One and Two!) 

Don't Wait For The Editor Of Vogue/Fishing World/Motorhome Weekly To Find You - Find The Editor Of Vogue/Fishing World/Motorhome Weekly FIRST!

We've all heard at least one blogging success story: ''he was offered a book deal within two months!''; ''she was invited to sit front row at a fashion show!''; and ''she quit her day job to begin editing a fashion magazine for SEALS!'' (Really? Now THAT I haven't heard!)

Of course, all of these tales are excellent for fuelling the motivation fire when it feels like our spark is starting to run out (and after all, seals deserve to be stylish, too!), but they can also prevent us from taking any real action: ''oh, I don't need to tell anyone about my website!'' Made-Up Person #1 might think. ''The cheques and sponsorship deals and fabulous opportunities will come rolling in and seek ME out!'' And yes - they might! (Hey, anything's possible, right?!) But given the fact that it's estimated that two blogs are created every SECOND, there's also a significant chance that they won't - I mean, how will all of these literary agents and fashion designers find you? Don't leave your fate up to the (unfavourable) odds that the editor of Vogue will just so happen to stumble across your blog: tell them about it first!

Firing off a quick ''hi Anna! My name's Peggy Sue and being the editor of my favourite style bible, I thought you might be interested in my new website showcasing all things style!'' e-mail only takes a few minutes to whip up, and immediately increases the amount of people who know that you exist. ''But what if they don't REPLY! What if they think my e-mail is STUPID!'' Made-Up Person #2 may cry. (Gosh, I LOVE these made-up people!) Hey! That's okay! You've introduced yourself and at any rate, they're at least going to click your link, aren't they? That's an extra hit that you didn't have before, and a brand new pair of eyes being laid on your handiwork. Brilliant!

Whether it's penning a letter to an interior design magazine about your homewares blog or writing to a media company about some projects that you're working on which you think they could be interested in, make a connection (or twenty!) somewhere!

Connect With Other Bloggers

With the (censored for privacy!) lovely Scribbles of ScribblesNZ in Auckland, New Zealand!

Weird Analogy Time: Like delightful, sparkly fish, we're all frolicking around in the same swimming pool: let's help eachother out and swim together!

Comment on other people's blogs, link to them where and when you can and be as supportive, friendly and encouraging of one another as you can possibly be. Why? Well goodness me, it's karma 101! But secondly, in addition to helping them, you never know when they might (and will) be able to help you.

Think BIG: Spark Interest!

In early 2009, blogger Lady Smaggle left presents along Wellington's Cuba Street with a note containing her website address and the clever little one-liner ''you've been smaggled''. In Australia, pizza chain Crust have built an outstanding following (literally!) through devising a campaign on Twitter whereby if you tweet ''I'm entering @crust_pizza's #Crust Free Pizza Fridays'', you're immediately in the running to win five free pizzas delivered to your door. Magazine Shop 'Til You Drop have recently created an incredible stir by organising a great ''shoe drop'', hiding pairs of designer heels, sneakers and flats across Australia and tweeting clues about where to locate them. What do these three campaigns have in common? They're all genius! Exciting, unusual and EXACTLY the sort of occurence that generates discussion, interest, word-of-mouth referrals and publicity. Fear not: you don't have to start frantically flinging out gifts and free products like there's no tomorrow (unless you want to!); the aim of the curiosity building game is to contemplate what you could do to evoke a similar hype or buzz!

 ♥

Well-ity well, that's it! Once again, an enormous thank-you to everyone who commented, read and shared their wonderful links in this series! I hope it's provided some useful food for thought and ideas but of course, if you have any questions, please let me know in the comments section and I will do my best to try and find an answer! (Even if it involves admitting that I have absolutely no idea and will have to find out somewhere else.)

Coming Later This Week: BAGELS! No, silly me. That's just my afternoon tea!

What's Really Coming Later This Week: My thoughts on what makes compelling, so-good-that-you-memorise-their-website-address-and-visit-it-even-when-they-haven't-posted-something-new content, and OTHER BLOGGERS! (Definitely not my afternoon tea.) They'll be sharing their number one tip for hustling, and what helped them to network, promote and get their blogs out there!

xoxo

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