Monday, May 7, 2012

A-Z challenge Reflections 2012

Are you like me? Did you prepare well, miss a few posts and then quickly catch up, struggle to visit other blogs? Reflecting on 2012's A-Z April Blogging Challenge, these factors weigh heavy on my mind.





REFLECTIONS


Despite the fact I had chosen an ambitious topic AND prepared all the posts well in advance, I still found the challenge an uphill struggle after the first week. After visiting around 200 blogs immediately below mine on the linky list, which I had placed on my blog, I became rather tired, and the double figures of comments soon dried up. I also removed the linky list from my blog as just the sight of those 1,600 blogs was driving me crazy!

It quickly became apparent to me that a lot of fellow A-Zers were not visiting blogs on the linky list, probably struggling to find the time or motivation, like me.

It was fortunate I had prepared all the material for my posts in mid-March, because just typing each post up, adding a photo and a video, already felt like work enough! Never mind visiting tons of other blogs in this challenge. I did visit my friends' blogs on my blogroll, and came across some A-Zs I took a keen interest in.

I extend my congratulations and thanks to them, as well as the following friends who commented consistently during the month of April:

  • Diane Croad
  • Odie Langley
  • My dear mum Joanna Horne
  • My little mynx of a wife, Fidelia!
  • J. C. Martin
  • Anthony Stemke
  • Leovi
  • Ordinary malaysian

I know the effort it takes to visit and comment on other blogs regularly, and I appreciate my friends who have done just that on my blog :)

Many others paid me a visit or two, including many new readers from the challenge, and it's been great to hear from them and check out their blogs in return.


IMPROVEMENT REFLECTION

The one improvement I would suggest is associated with the linky list. Just the sight of over 1,600 blogs was intimidating at best. 

Now, I love blogging and I've gained numerous benefits from it from time to time, but I've concluded that any normal person has a life to live away from the computer, and sometimes during April, my life came above the A-Z challenge.

To make things a lot easier, I would suggest that participating blogs have a specific A-Z group or category they can join, instead of everybody coming under one lengthy linky list. A-Z groups/categories could include: writers, poets, language, photoblogs, travel, entertainment, lifestyle etc.

That way participants can decide what sort of A-Z blogs they would like to visit, making a more enjoyable experience for everyone, connecting with more people of common interest, and helping the challenge become a lot less daunting.


BLOG STATS FOR APRIL

Pageviews         =    8,544
Visits                 =    3,040
New Followers  =    32
Comments         =    375


13 comments:

  1. Thanks for the mention, Duncan! I wouldn't have kept coming back if I didn't enjoy your posts!

    And I think you're on to something there. Great suggestion to break the linky list up into more manageable chunks!

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  2. I wish you further success with your blog, Duncan! I like the new face you gave your blog since my last visit. And I wish you many more years in Kuantan, with your happy family!

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  3. Hey Duncan, I found that I came across the same obstacles as you did. It was overwhelming to even look at that list. I really like your suggestion about groups, because there are just some blogs I wish I hadn't visited - unfortunately, it took so much time, and that's probably another factor which put me off.... I understand I might not be on someone else's wish list - so groups would be a great time saver!! Good one!

    Thanks for your comments on my Blog throughout April - I really appreciate it!

    English Speaking Zone

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  4. I loved the originality of your A to Z this year, Duncan. I also think you were very brave to speak your posts. I'd be far too shy.

    I agree with all your comments about the length of that linky. I wanted to keep visiting my regular blogging friends, like yourself, but I knew that the point of this challenge was to spread myself around. Like you, I soon reached commenting-overload. I do hope we can have categories next year [are we really up for doing this again?]

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  5. I think you have some valid points, Duncan. It must have been exhausting for you to have visited so many blogs that you had. Just following your A-Z postings daily was tiring even for me even though you had a unique approach to the A-Z challenge!

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  6. those are some great stats! congrats on finishing

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  7. Hi Duncan. Thanks for giving me a mention there my friend. I do think that's a brilliant idea of yours to catergorize things in the next A - Z Challenge. To be honest, that's why I didn't participate, because I knew it would mean spending so much more time at the computer and, as much as I love my blogging, I am more than happy with the number of Followers I have at the moment. That's why I decided not to participate in all the other link-ups that are out there. Yes, you do gain new Followers, but I didn't want to take myself away from the Followers that I already had, if you see what I mean! I still think you did a great job with your A - Z Challenge, and I do know just how much work must have been involved with it.

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  8. Just wanted to stop by and say congrats on completing the challenge and for posting a very informative reflections post! Great thoughts in your improvement section!

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  9. Seeing the numbers you have shared with us leads me to believe you are doing really well. Comments and visits are difficult for all bloggers who have substantial followings. I don't know about the A-Z linky, but I can tell in the majority of others few participants visit more than a handful of other people. You've done much better than most. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  10. Thanks for all your thoughts. I am as yet undecided if I'll be doing this again next year.

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  11. Hi! My mission...which I chose to accept...was to continue to visit as many A to Z Challenge participants as I could even after the challenge is over because I didn't want to miss out on any great bloggers out there! Lovely blog...good luck with the rest of the year and I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

    Donna L Martin
    www.donasdays.blogspot.com

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  12. Wow! Great stats for April! Unfortunately I didn't do as well, but it has not put me off next year's a-z! I hope to see you next year too!

    Amy
    amydot90.wordpress.com

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  13. Evalina, Donna and Amy, thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

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Thank you for your thoughts, comments and opinions. I'll be responding soon! I will not be publishing anonymous comments so make sure you leave your name with your comment!

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