This is a post from contributing writer Audra of Rediscovering Domesticity:
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
Have you heard them?
Chirp. Chirp.
They are the crickets of the blogosphere.
You know – the days, weeks, months that can go by without recognition. Lack of comments. Stagnant stats. No responses through social media.
Quiet.
Quiet.
Alone.
Lonely.
We all go through patches from time to time that are just rough. We may feel inadequate. We may be working our tails off. We may question why we started blogging in the first place. We may, honestly, not be bothered by it at all.
Many bloggers are bothered.
I know I have struggled with these very things several times in my years of blogging. If you’ve struggled with the same thing, please know that you aren’t alone.
There’s something else you should know.
Your words matter. Your story matters.
Your voice matters.
You can use that voice to blog. You can use that voice to bless. You can make a difference to the bloggers around you. You can brighten their day and lift them up. You can bless them.
Imagine brightening someone’s day. Blessing them. Showing them Christ’s love through the blogging community. You never know when someone might be having a really bad day.
Here are some ways to bless the bloggers around you.
- Follow. It’s always a blessing to see our stats rise – our followers increase.
- Comment. Make it meaningful and relevant. What a blessing to know that someone is really reading what we are writing.
- Tweet. Tweet out the link to a post you love. Do a #FridayFollow and add a blogger for others to follow. Send a tweet mentioning something you appreciate about a blogger. {ahem, you can follow CMB and all of our contributors! See below for all of the links!}
- Share. “Like” a post on Facebook. Share posts and the blog itself through your social media connections.
- Contact. Really enjoy a blogger? A certain post? Let her know. Send an email or a direct message on Twitter or Facebook. That personal connection means so much.
- Feature. Consider writing a review on your blog (a positive one!) that features her.
- Help. If a blogger is reaching out for help, lend a hand. Maybe she needs guest posters. Maybe she needs a survey to be answered. Maybe she is asking for input. Take a moment and help.
- Pray. Most importantly, take a moment to pray for her.
Feel free to remain anonymous. Do multiple things! Bless her socks off! Imagine what would make you feel the most blessed and pass it on. Most importantly – be genuine. Let Christ’s love shine through you.
How do you bless other bloggers? What would bless you when you are struggling?
Follow all of us on Twitter and Facebook, leave a comment that you did and we will happily make sure to follow you back!!
CMB: Facebook & Twitter
Audra: Facebook & Twitter
Laura: Facebook & Twitter
Jenni: Facebook & Twitter
Joanie: Facebook & Twitter
About Audra Michelle
Wonderful list – I’m printing to keep and post beside the computer. It isn’t that we don’t KNOW these things…. it’s the gap between knowledge & action! Thank you for a direct nudge to act. Yup. It isn’t hard.
Lori recently posted..To be – or not to be… Motivated
Glad I could nudge you on! I think I’ll do the same and print it out – it’s so easy to forget and get caught up in other things!
Audra Michelle recently posted..Healthy Candy {Thrive @ Home}
Audra, I have so many blogging friends now, and I really, really, really want to bless them! I so do! BUT I have such a hard time with TIME!
I hardly read other blogs, and it’s not at all that I don’t want to. I know how much I am blessed by others, and I want to reciprocate, but that is my challenge. When I’m online it’s working. 
Suggestions??
Brenda @Triple Braided recently posted..Welcome to Our (in)Courage Single Women’s Community Group!
I know EXACTLY how you feel! Take heart – there is GRACE! Bless when you can. Send a quick tweet (hootsuite’s auto-scheduler is fantastic for this!), leave a short comment, even just click “like” on a post. Give yourself grace. You can’t get to everyone and that’s ok. I am getting into the habit of emptying my RSS reader every Monday. I look at 1000+ unread posts and get overwhelmed. Try starting fresh each week. I, too, struggle with reading other blogs – maybe schedule in 20 minutes twice a week to read and bless? Hugs!
Audra Michelle recently posted..Healthy Candy {Thrive @ Home}
What a wonderful post. My blogger friend and I discuss this all the time. It is so easy to get discouraged, but then you get that one…..you know what I’m talking about, that one comment that confirms what you are doing really is what God wants from you, why He gave the gift of writing to you in the first place.
Thank you for your time and for the encouragement from this post.
Salina recently posted..What’s love got to do with it?
I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. THOSE comments are so special. I’ve been amazed at what posts tend to get those comments. Rarely are they the ones that I slave over. They are the ones that just flow from the heart quickly.
Audra Michelle recently posted..Healthy Candy {Thrive @ Home}
I followed and liked everyone! I’m at twitter @ichoosejoynow. And Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Ichoosejoynow
I love this post and will do my best to try to encourage and bless other bloggers!
–Gena at http://ichoosejoy.org
Awe, thanks, Gena! I’m heading over to visit you now!
Audra Michelle recently posted..Healthy Candy {Thrive @ Home}
Thanks so much for this post! It’s exactly what I needed to hear. I started a blog a couple of years ago because I felt called to do it, but lost heart because I didn’t seem to be reaching anyone (or not many). Now, I’m gearing up for a re-launch Oct. 15th and trying to not only take my blogging seriously (and not get discouraged) but to join in the blogging community myself for the first time. I too struggle with feeling entirely overwhelmed sometimes, but I’m doing what Christian author Mary DeMuth advises on her blog, “Choose Small, Tend Large.” I’m trying to pick a few blogs/bloggers to really connect with first and then go from there.
Elizabeth Anne May recently posted..Fall Mantel, Four Ways
I am praying for your relaunch! It’s hard to not fall into finding our worth in things of this world. Keep your eyes on Christ!
So true. This is for Him not me! His glory, not how many followers I have.
Elizabeth Anne May recently posted..Fall Mantel, Four Ways
Audra, great list and I agree with all of your points. That’s been a new part of my personal mission since limiting my time on blogging networks. I’ve shared with you before that I really believe in promoting and supporting the bloggers whose blogs I truly love. Yours is one of them , as is CMB. Which reminds me…I need to send you an email about something.
My blog comments have dropped significantly since changing my strategy, but I find I’m a lot less frustrated and I’m building deeper relationships with like minded Christian moms.
Rosann recently posted..31 Days to SuperMom {Day 5: Power Up With Premium Fuel}
Way to go! I am in the same boat as you are. I’m limiting my time as well. The comments I do receive are actually meaningful, though they are fewer. God has a plan for our blogs!
Audra Michelle recently posted..Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God {Salvation Stories Saturday}
Love this, Audra! Thank you for being a blessing in so many ways. I truly appreciate you!
Jenni Mullinix recently posted..How to Welcome the Day Properly
Awe – thanks, friend! *blushes* I have been blessed by you more than you know!
Audra Michelle recently posted..Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God {Salvation Stories Saturday}
Thanks for posting this, I am not alone, lol! I am already following Audra- and will be sure to do the same for the others!
Jenn recently posted..More of YES!!
You most certainly aren’t alone! Thanks for following!
Audra Michelle recently posted..Matthew 5:16 {Scripture Sunday}
I love these ideas! I’m trying to increase the number of women I partner with through my blog, and not do the standard ‘just swap buttons’ sponsor thing. I’m making shout outs and links and Skyping part of it, because blogging is about doing life together.
Rachael @ heldbyhishand recently posted..Intelligent Faith
Skype – what an awesome idea and way to connect! I just got a Skype account last week – maybe I’ll try that as a way to connect once I really learn how to use it. Thanks!
Audra Michelle recently posted..Matthew 5:16 {Scripture Sunday}
I like this list so much! I truly try to be what I call a “Blogger’s blogger,” sharing, liking, and encouraging. I even started a Facebook group for bloggers where we can vent and ask questions and support one another. I am going to share this post there right after I follow all of you guys.
Tabitha (a.k.a. Penny) recently posted..Science Saturday: Apologia’s Anatomy & Physiology (Lesson 2)
Aw, thanks! The blogosphere can be an amazing place. I just imagine what it COULD be if all bloggers worked to help each other instead of compete. Thanks for sharing!
Audra Michelle recently posted..Blameshifting and Burdens Lifted {Salvation Stories Saturday}
Great ideas, and great reminder. Thank you from one blogger to another!
Jamie {See Jamie blog} recently posted..Homeschool: unstructured and interest-led?
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Audra Michelle recently posted..Blameshifting and Burdens Lifted {Salvation Stories Saturday}
This is a great list. I try to do most of them, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to do even better. Thanks for these tips.
Una Opiyo recently posted..How To Unlock Your Child’s Potential
It never hurts to try to bless more people I suppose