Today’s assignment: follow five new topics in the Reader and five new blogs. A blog is just a diary unless there’s a community — start building yours.
Blogging is a communal experience; if you didn’t want anyone to read your posts, you’d keep a private diary. Today, begin engaging with the blogging community, the first step in building an audience.
Today’s assignment: follow five new topics in the Reader and five new blogs.
Why spend time reading other blogs?
- Publishing posts is only half of blogging — engaging with the community is the other.
- Considering what other bloggers write will inspire you and sharpen your thoughts.
Part of what makes blogging such a rich experience are the relationships we develop with people from around the world. Those relationships only happen when we engage with one another — just look at The Commons. Plus, reaching out to other bloggers is the best way to have them return the favor.
The first step is finding the people you want to connect with. By following topics you care about in the Reader, you’ll discover a world of blogs. Some of them will become favorite reads, and some of their authors will become your fans.
Want to share your great finds? Visit The Commons.
To get you started, review our tips on using the Reader to find and follow blogs that speak to you. A few of our editors have also shared their favorite Reader topics. Add five topics, so you can access them quickly whenever you feel like doing some reading. As you browse the topics, follow five new blogs, too.
The Blogroll on The Commons is another great place to explore. There are over 1200 of you participating — you’re bound to find some new favorite reads. Scroll through the list, and click on titles that intrigue you, seem up your alley, or make you laugh. (Adding the “blogging101” topic to your Reader is also a great way to keep up with your co-bloggers.)
If you don’t blog on WordPress.com, you can still use the Reader if you have a WordPress.com username. If not, there are other ways to explore — your blogging platform may allow you to browse, or you can visit blogs you love and check out their blogrolls and commenters’ blogs.
Feel free to publish a post in addition to completing today’s task if you’d like! Write the post that was on your mind when you decided to start a blog, or take a look at our prompts and challenges for more inspiration.
Hello, fantastic post!
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Love your points, that blogging is a community of people and that you should engage with them. Through engaging with others, I found a few people that we share common interests and we did collabs and email each other every so often. If I didn’t go and talk to other bloggers, I would never of met some of the awesome people that I have or I wouldn’t of found other blogs that I love and inspire me; yours included!
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Hi Krysti,
I read your recent post about the flu.. I hope you feel better soon.its dinner time here, slightly chilly and your picture of chicken noodle soup gave me my dinner idea.. Yum! Soup n a sandwich…
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Hi Krysti,
I am new to blogging as well and I read your blog and excited to follow it 🙂 I also agree with your post above about how this is a community. I really look forward to “meeting” more people and interacting as well. Have a great day and feel better!
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Yum! I love soup and sandwiches, I think they are a perfect combo! You just made me hungry… Haha. Now I’m thinking all about food…
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How was lunch/dinner? What sandwich did you have? My personal favorite is a pastrami sandwich on rye bread.. One step short of heaven… And soup.. New England Clam Chowder. What are your favorites?
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Hi, I also read the post about the flu, I can relate to this so well. 🙂 I also like your blog, so am more than happy to follow you. You seem to be an experienced blogger, as I can see various badges of approval – how do you get appreciated by them?
P.S. I hope you’ll follow back. 🙂
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Thanks for the post. I can’t wait to talk to more bloggers
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Hi! I’d love it if you could check out my blog! Yours was great!
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cool
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Here I am about to dive into the pile called the Blog Roll.. 1200 participants and I can try to get to everyone of you and say Hi.. If I am unable to, a warm and spicy Hello to all of you..
I am going to try to reach at least 20.. Here we go..
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All 1,200?! That is so ambitious of you! Best of luck! 🙂
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I have to admit.. I seriously overestimated.. My intentions were writing checks.. my 24 hour day could not cash.. But thats ok.. I’m sure Michele will come up with assignments that will give me a shot at redemption. Before I forget, let me say Hello to you. I hope you are having as fabulous time at this course as I am. Happy Blogging!
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I like that kind of attitude!
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Thank you Michellez. Although I am miserably short of my intended target, I am glad that you appreciated my intention. Slowly but surely, I’ll connect with the 1200 batchmates from Blogging 101- Class of September 2014
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I forgot to say Hi.. 🙂
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I agree with Audrey and michellez, very ambitious of you to try and reach all 1200 of us, good luck to you! I hope you make lots of new blogging acquaintances 🙂
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Hi Japidoo..
Thanks for the support. I hope to make acquaintances with supportive and positive people like yourself. I hope you are having fun!
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Great. Talking about building a community.
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I agree Hope, building a community is the fundamental part of blogging in my opinion. If you don’t reach out to anyone, how would you expect them to find your blog?
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Absolutely! A community of happy people, albeit a virtual, is exactly what we need. Coz the real world is a mess, right now. I would rather spend time here and be happy than be depressed and worried, reading the news..
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I like how you write. Let’s be friends 🙂 that doesn’t sound, in the least bit, creepy.
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Thanks, very useful!
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Hi, I have read two of your most recent posts (about the celebrity naked pics and Beyonce). I like your style, so I now follow you. I hope you’ll follow back. 🙂
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Thanks, Angie. There’s definitely more coming soon! I’ll have a peek on what you’re posting whenever I find time 🙂 Following!
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Just about to publish my first post! So excited!
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Congratulations! I found that the first post was like climbing a huge hurdle, only gets easier for here on in.
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Congrats on your first post! I can’t wait to read it when it goes up!
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Hi Audrey! I love make-up and am really excited to follow your blog and happy that you are in this blogging 101 community! Nice to meet you!
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Welcome. Wonderful to have you with us!
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I am enjoying the conversations of my fellow bloggers! It is wonderful to be a part of this community.
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Well done! I know I was terrified to push that publish button.
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Nice Work! I too am enjoying this new blogging community-brand new to the whole thing!
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I posted my first only yesterday 😀 Exxcited!
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I honestly have been doing this already. Haha! Does it have to be #blogging101 classmates or can this be other bloggers as well?
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I think it is best to introduce yourself to people in the community that your blog posts will be aimed toward, but you sure have a huge wealth of friendly and supportive folks here to say hello to, as well. Hope this helps! 🙂
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Yes, this is what I think, too. Something else I thought is that the posts appearing in my reader are for blogs I already follow. The rest would be freshly pressed, who I presume have so many followers that they may not take any notice of me…
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Oh, that’s a fashion blog, I like that, so I now follow you. 🙂 Will I get a follow back by any chance? 😉
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Good! It’s something you should be doing regularly. And it can be anyway — we encourage you to get out there and explore the community.
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Saying “hi!!!” to the neighbors lol.
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I say ” Hi ” to the Neighbors 🙂
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Howdy Neighbor! Hope your day is just awesome today. 🙂
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It’s grand day 🙂 a bit sunny and still dry, which in Ireland means perfecto 🙂 Cheers
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Hey guys! I just recently started blogging and would love to hear feedback/tips from you guys! My blog is about fashion and style tips geared toward people who are taller/skinny and have a hard time finding their sizes in stores! Or, for anyone who enjoys the “slim fit” style! Thanks!!
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I could have used that kind of blog when I was in school!
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Hay, I have a tall blog myself, as I am 6’4″ (193 cm). I now follow you, so glad to have found a fellow tall blog on WordPress. You will follow me, too, right? 🙂
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I lOVE this post. As a beginning blogger I have learned a lot from reading other peoples blogs. Its not only inspiring but fulfilling to find other people out there who relate and want a voice as well.
thanks for the blogging tips!
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This could be a bit difficult for those of us who are still unable to access the Commons and are waiting manual approval. Sorry to rain on the parade but…:(
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I am sorry! I think I might have found the problem! I spoke too soon perhaps… Seems to be a conflict with two e-mail addresses being used…
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I take that back. Still cannot get into the Commons but must wait for manual approval to be done. Unless there is some trick to signing in or out that I am not aware of (Which is also highly possible)…
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Check your email for an invite! Also, please note that you can do this assignment independently as well — even if you’re not using the Commons, the Reader is open for business!
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GOT IT! Thank you so much! I felt like I had been missing something…
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Hey guys! I’m a new anonymous blogger, and I would absolutely love it if you could check out my blog! I’ll do the same!
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Hey, there. I read your post, and…wow! You obviously have a lot to say. I’m glad you’re writing; now I suggest deciding what you’d like to write about. You may find more success if you have a topic (even if it’s very broad, like, “A Teen’s Deep Thoughts on Just About Everything”). Keep writing!
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Thank you so much! Haha, thanks. I have a lot bottled up inside… 🙂 I’m actually already writing a book and it’s almost finished! 🙂 Thank yoU!
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Welcome to WordPress, stranger! 🙂 I really like your style, it does remind me of my own actually. So I now follow you and hope you’ll follow back!
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Love the individuality of yout blog. Its nice to meet another teenage blogger that likes to write and talk a lot. You have a new follower! X
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hi still having trouble accessing the commons. I’ve requested access three times. how do i go about this?
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Sigh! Same club!
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just figured out why. the confirmation was being sent to another email. perhaps that could be the same for you?
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It wasn’t there earlier today but I will keep checking both inboxes. 😦 Glad to know somebody got through!
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Hi, neighbors!!! 🙂
I’m a Blogging 101 repeater! This is attempt number two! Hoping I can successfully complete it this time 🙂
I’ve done the challenge for today! Yay!
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I read your post about quitting your job. I wish I could quit mine, but cannot afford it, unfortunately. Anyway, I follow you now, I hope yuo’ll follow back. 🙂
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Hi everyone , im still kinda new to this blogging 101.
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Welcome to the gang! We’ll all become pros together! 🙂
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We can do it!!!
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Completely agree, this is a community and I’m very open to meeting other bloggers and picking their brains and being inspired.
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Totally agree! As a busy mum myself who also blogs about fashion (amongst other things), I now follow you, and secretly hope you’ll follow me back. 🙂
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Isnt it fun seeing how many people out there share the same passions as you?! My blog isnt focused on fashion but fashion will soon be a very big piece of it! Checking you guys out now 🙂
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Done and done fellow mom!!! I am following now following you! Thank you for the kind words!
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Hello, neighbors! I’m really loving the community feeling of WordPress. It’s a very positive and supportive place to be.
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Hello! It truly is a wonderful community. So very glad you joined with us!
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It is actually. I only started my blog five months ago, but feel so welcome here. Other bloggers are really supportive and lovely!
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Good advice & thank you for your blog. I get a lot of encouragement from other bloggers, I would not have had otherwise, with exception from my own family, and one other writer friend that I see in person. But that’s it. I must be a hermit or something! But I am working on my ‘final’ edit at the moment. Hopefully it is the last. 🙂
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Can’t wait for it to go live so we can all read it! 🙂
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Thanks.
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I can’t thank all of you enough for the amazing advice and suggestions in The Commons. I didn’t realize how strong the blogging community is. Really happy to be a part of this.
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It’s nice to see a dad’s blog (so far I’ve seen only mum’s blogs), so I will now follow you and hope you’ll follow me back. Your open letter to your son is so sweet, I hope more dads are like this. 🙂
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This is a good idea. I’m personally an introvert (INTJ), so it’s hard for me to engage with other people, even online. I’ll try to follow more blogs and be as outgoing as I can!
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I think most of us are probably introverts, as this is what prompt us to write in the first place… At least that’s the case with me. I like it that you want to inspire people (this is the post I read), so I will now follow you. I hope you’ll follow me back.
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Hi all, although I started my blog just for myself, I found that I do actually want to know what other people think of my posts. It feels good to see that someone actually reads your posts, where you see a ‘like’ or a new comment. This is what makes it worthwhile to my. It’s not just the stats, but what’s behind them that matters.
I did the Writing 101 course at the very start of my blog and was so pleasantly surprised by other bloggers’ responses. This is an AMAZING community. Thank you, WordPress, but this brilliant opportunity!
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I love the community aspect of blogging. Writing can be deeply personal. I appreciate the opportunity for others to be able to reach back.
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I like the idea of your blog. To care for others, we need to take care of ourselves first, so I agree with you. I will follow you now and hope you’ll follow back.
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Very interesting and helpful.
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Yes it is
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It’s interesting that you are writing every day – well done for that. I now follow you and hope you’ll follow back, ‘neighbour’. 🙂
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I still don’t seem to have access to The Commons. I sent a request to be added when I was denied so hopefully you can fix it soon!
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Any luck with getting that fixed? I don’t seem to either.
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Just read your post, good luck with re-organising your life. 🙂 I am in the same limbo, only difference is I am 7 years older than you. I will follow you, my new neighbour, and hope you’ll follow me back. Happy writing!
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Awesome advice. I definitely need to connect more. By the way, Hi Everybody!
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Hi Nicole
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Hi Hope! I hope your having an awesome day so far. It’s very nice to meet you. 🙂
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Thanks, you too. 🙂
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Hello to you too, and welcome to the neighbourhood. We all need to connect more, which is why I am following you. I like reading new recipe ideas. 🙂 I hope you will follow me back!
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Hi Angie. Thanks for the follow! I will check your blog out. Feel free to view any recipes I post. Every Monday is “vegan monday” so that’s the day when I post all recipes. Have an awesome day today! 🙂
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Hello. I have not yet been given access to the commons. If this could be fixed, that would be lovely. Thank you!
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Wow, your blog looks impressive! I am sure I will learn a lot from it, so will follow you now. I hope my blog will be interesting enough for you to follow me back.
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I sent you an invite yesterday — check your email and spam folders. Thanks!
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Yay, I found it! Thank you.
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Hey friends.
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Nice…. Hi everyone!
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Hello to you too 🙂
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Heyy Beauties,
First I want to say hello neighbors! I hope everyone is feeling fantastic! So I’ve had my blog for a little while, however I’m actually putting effort into now. I blog about whatever is on my mind at that particular moment. I hope everyone learns something and develops/enhances their blogs; I know I am.Well until next time, have a great day!
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