Do Bloggers Have it Easy?

I love blogging but sometimes it just gets too tedious.  Other people may think bloggers have it easy.  Little did they know that I do more work now that I am a blogger than when I was working in an office.  Don’t get me wrong.  I still love it and I won’t replace it with my previous job but to be a blogger doesn’t mean you can take it easy.  It doesn’t mean you can just write  about what you think and that’s it.  You don’t have to do anything.  If you’re not convinced then here are some of the things that bloggers need to know.

1.  Bloggers need to research about a lot of topics.  If you look at my blog I talk about a lot of stuff.  Most of those stuff I don’t know a thing about but I have to know about it first to be able to write a decent article.  Google makes it easy or me but sometimes I have to browse more than ten articles to be able to write about the stuff I have to write about and that takes up some precious time.

2.  Bloggers have to be sociable.  This is an absolute must for us, bloggers.  Believe it or not, we need each other to survive.  Blogs have their own ranking in the internet which can be measured in the number of visitors it has and the number of backlinks it has.  Unless you’re a genius in internet marketing you have to visit other people’s blogs and comment on their posts so they’ll visit you back and know that hey, your blog exists.  This is where I failed in the beginning.  I really hate commenting.  I do blog hop and I read a LOT of blogs but I wouldn’t take the time to comment.  Now don’t go about copying my style because that’s precisely the reason why my blogs had poor ranking for the first two years I was blogging.  Now I’m still lazy commenting but good thing I discovered something that works for me and that’s BC Bloggers.  *wink, wink*  Anyway, my point is bloggers have to market their blogs and it’s no easy feat I tell you.

3.  Bloggers need to write, write, and write.  In number one I told you how we have to research first before we can write.  Researching can take a minute or an hour depending on how hard the topic is but researching is only the first step.  After that we still have to write a coherent article.  For someone like me who is not a savvy writer it can take me 30 minutes to an hour to write one.  One particular article it took me three hours to write and it was free.  I didn’t get paid for it.  If you’re wondering what that article was then head over here.  Of course, we can write a so-so article but we won’t get repeat visitors if we do that.

4.  SEO, HTML, backlinks – if you can’t understand a single term then you were like me two years ago.  Those are the things that bloggers need to study if they’re serious with their blogs.  SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is writing your article in such a way that it would be on top of the Google search engine.  It would mean inserting crucial keywords – not just ordinary keywords mind you but keywords that people search in the search engine) in a quality article that you wrote.  Now, don’t go assuming that I know a lot about this stuff because it is still pretty hazy to me.  LOL!  If you’re an expert then message me I want to be your best friend.hihi  Getting your blog article in the first place in the Google search engine is every professional blogger’s dream.  It would mean that visitors would be able to find your blog through Google without you lifting a finger.  The trick is finding the right keyword that people want to know about but of course it also takes a lot of research.

Basic HTML knowledge is a must if you want to tweak your blog’s template.  Unless you have lots of money to pay others to do this work for you then you must go on your own way to research on how to do some technical stuff in your blog.

Whew!  All that writing made dizzy again.  So do you still think we, bloggers, have it easy?  No, it takes a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of creative thinking, and a lot of unpaid labor hours to be able to maintain a decent  blog.  I hope now you know it’s not as simple as that.  Now excuse me because my work ain’t done.  I still have to find people who would read what I just wrote.

Zyke's 3rd Day of VBS

is today.  We’re going to St. Francis Square as early as 8am!  I’m kind of sad because hubby won’t be with us for the first time.  During the first and second day of Z’s VBS (Vacation Bible School) he was with us and while waiting for Z finish his 3-hour VBS we were around Ortigas processing my Eon while trying out different foods along the way.  So now that he has work I will be alone for three hours waiting for Z to finish.  Good thing there’s WiFi at St. Francis Square so I’ll be tweaking my blogs while I’m there.  So that’s my plan today until Friday, the last day of Z’s VBS.

If Z was crying during the first day he was all smiles when we fetched him yesterday.  Maybe because we were the first in line when it was fetching time.  The first day we were 30 minutes late because I thought it would end at 11:30 as that was what’s written in the posters.  Anyway, we’re so happy Z is adjusting beautifully.  As I’ve said, a year ago he would give us a hard time and would refused to be left alone with strangers but now he’s can be left alone for three hours and it won’t be a problem.

Oops, I got to go now because we don’t want to be late.  If you’re checking my blog because of BC Bloggers then don’t worry.  I may have been silent about it since the announcement but I’m checking the application forms regularly and as of the moment more then 100 blogs have joined already.  Deadline is May 20 but I may move it earlier especially if we have enough blogs already so don’t wait any longer to sign up.

Last night

BC Bloggers, Let's Start the Party!

Wow, I’m so overwhelmed! A total of 45 BC Bloggers joined  the BC Bloggers’ Party!  I know you’re excited to get to know each other but there’s an itsy bitsy thing you got to do –   Please post this list in your blog so we can give each other some Link Love.

I’m sure your fellow BC Bloggers  would be delighted to see their names on your blog.

So are you ready?!

Then let’s start the party!  Get a steaming cup of coffee, take a deep breathe, and click all the 45 names.   (You can just skip over mine because I already gave you too much unnecessary info.)  Don’t forget to leave your comment on each and every post.

Lastly,  I hope you can find some blogging friends along the way. Enjoy the Party!

Paula – A certified BC blogger – wife, mother, employee, blogger all rolled into one.

AC – A proud work-at-home mom and wife.

Bambie — Living a blissful and simple life in a fast paced city of tokyo with her Love and lil bundle of joy, Azumi. Loves anything kawaii and fabulous things.

Bambie/Sunshine – blogging to let you take a sneak peak into a world that is MINE. This is me, the real me. No hesitations, no presumptions, no holding back. I’m sharing my heart to you, no-holds barred.

Beng – A busy working mom of 2 handsome boys, Financial Analyst by profession.

Cacai M. – a Stay-At-Home-Wife and blogging is my passion. I am happy when people are happy. I view blogging as my open or public diary of random thoughts wherein I can express and share my views, reviews, thoughts, happiness, adventures, and experiences.” ~hugs&kisses~

Carmz – Newest Blogger on the Blogosphere! Workaholic, Fun and Crazy Girl of Makati District

Chin chin – Christian stay at home mom blogger blessed with 5 children – Thanks be to God’s grace and strength to live the everyday life.

Chris -  A follower of Christ who loves being a wife and a stay at home mom.

debrajills diary – A Diary of a Mom and her Journal through Life as a wife, daughter and a mother.

eikcaj – God’s extra-ordinary girl….

Fedhz -  I have a Kris Aquino mouth and a Judy Ann heart. Yes, I’m very sentimental and talkative and I guess that’s the very reason why I found myself blogging for more than 7 years now.

ferr’zWILL – I am just a simple jolly girl, sweet and heedful lady I love to depict unto others how I feel towards them.

Jade – A certified BC Blogger. Blogaholic, Workaholic but will soon be taking it slow…

Kaye – Blog designer extraordinaire. Not. Just blog designer. And writer, if you could consider my inane blog entries as “writing”. A WAHM from the beautiful city of Baguio, Philippines.

Inigo – Probably the youngest blogger at 21 months old. Posts were as early as fetal age.

Irish – A Christian family woman who’s trying to juggle her blogging duties, her full time work, taking care of a 2 year old daughter and being the best wife ever to her hubby.

Just Simple Thoughts – loving wife; loving daughter; loyal friend; wants everything to be fair and just…

Laane – Usually I describe myself as a mom of 6. The oldest 4 are boys, all with an autism spectrum disorder. The youngest is dealing with classic autism. The other 2 are girls. Twins. One is dyslectic, like one of the boys. I’m always busy arranging things for them, solving problems or guiding. Dealing with the problems other people caused is one of the main issues.

Liezl – the frustrated chemist but now a passionate blogger and an aspiring psychologist. Proud Batangeña living all alone in Manila, deeply in-love, spontaneous and witty. A good conversationalist, fearless enough to tackle love, sex and politics.

Lizeewong – I’m a girly girl, mommy and wife. My world is quite simple. It revolves around my babies who amuse me, my husband who completes me and my blog which pleasures me.

Mommy Bonz – Certified BC Blogger.  A simple mom and wife with lots of hopes and dreams for her family.  Finding time with everything, being a full time mom, wife and an employee and now a part-time blogger.

Mommy Rubz – a simple stay at home mom who takes care of three kids and 40 plus domains.

Nelson – A Surgical Nurse who blogs down his experiences, both clinical and personal. Happily married and now living in the UAE.

Niko – Happy Mom and Wife, Full time office slave and Part time BLOGGER

Nicquee – A corporate slave wanting to be WAHM for her kids and husband through blogging

Nuts -  Blogging with my family as source of my inspiration..

Peachkins – babaeng bakla. foodie.mahilig magluto.coffee addict.froyo junkie. loves photos.dating call girl[call center agent].loves peanutbutter.NCIS LA & CSI fan. nanonood ng BITAG tuwing sabado ng gabi…..frustrated cop.

Pehpot – is a stay at home mom of four kids. A part time blogger of 8 blogs (and soon to be 10). A novice blogger who always share her new found tips and techniques (through NOOB) and your slave if the price is right.

Red is Marose – simple pero rock, a working mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a friend, hoping to be a work at home.  A forum addict and now a trying hard blogger.

Ria – Wife, and a mother of one lovely daughter, likes to read books and collect just anything. A person of unpredictable characteristics, stubborn yet soft hearted, active yet demure.

Rossel – Maybe an addict blogger but very proud to say that she is a loving and caring queen of their home.

Rosette – Mysterious gal who finds happiness and contentment in her son and partner.

Sam – Adik na WAHMmy (Work At Home Mommy). Former call girl, este call center agent.

Sarah – A mother of two wonderful smart and active kids. A wife, enjoys singing, playing the piano, and a friend in need…

Shamrocks and Shenanigans – I’m a Wife, Mom, short order cook, driver, maid, gopher….My life is perfect. I am happily married…unless he takes the remote from me. I love food and I love to cook.

Sherry Rambling; Blogger: Live, Love, Laugh

Shydub – stay at home Mom, full time wife and started blogging since 2008 as pastime and moolah maker.

Tetcha – A WAHM chronicling her experience as a mother and wife and everything else in between.

Valerie/Surreal Princess – travel enthusiast, half –vampire, half-human, multi-tasking extraordinaire. Backpacker, Blogger, budding photographer, housewife and work at home
diva.

Verabear – I’ve been blogging here and there for about four or five years. I write for myself mainly, but I am happy whenever I get visits from both friends and strangers (*hint* I love getting comments!).

Vernz – A mother of three who loves free, budding potter, frustrated painter, trying hard blogger, dedicated teacher and a devoted mother.

Yami – Owns three blogs and work full time as work-at-home mom. I write just about anything that caught my interest and earn at the same time.

Yuuki -  the drama queen, otaku, junkie collector, shopaholic, book worm, traveler, scientist, blogger, entrepreneur, lover, friend, fighter, survivor – complexity to the max!

Zoan – the single-mom blogger from Bukidnon.

Kerslyn – A work-at-home wife, hubby’s cook, chef wannabe, and shutter button addict. Half Ilocana and half Bisaya with a Chinese taste buds.

Josie – Mother of three grown-ups, work at home mom, managing a home-based business,workaholic, busy as a bee but still trying my hand on blogging.

Gracia – A savvy chick with a big heart for fashion.

Kayce – I’m a stay at home mom, a businesswoman who manages our own business, an ebay seller, a singer-musician, a Christian and a servant of the Lord.

Charmie – I’m a frustrated career woman, a responsible, loving daughter and a sister.

ferry’zPROFESSION – A happy fulltime employee who loves to snip some of my time to blog, being a multi task is my game.

Mommy Liz – I am a wife and a mother to my 4 wonderful children and to 2 more, so we have 6 beautiful kids. I am a Stay at home mom and I am proud of it.

Maritz – A Civil Engineer by profession but work full time as a church admin officer. A fulfilled wife to a loving and God fearing husband and a mother of two wonderful children.

BC Bloggers' Party – Get to Know Me

This is my post for the BC Bloggers’ Party.  We’re going to get to know the BC Bloggers one-by-one.  So are you already curious about me?  Maybe you’re not but I’m still going ahead anyway. hihi So sit back, relax, get your coffee, and allow me to introduce myself.

I am Paula but my real name is actually Joanna Paula so you can call me whatever you want.  But online I like to be called Paula.  I’m just a simple mom, working at home, enjoying my family.  This is me.  My latest picture taken just last weekend.

That’s me at 29 years old. I know I look malusog but that’s because I’m one month pregnant.  That’s my second baby in my tummy but my first baby is Z. He is already five and it’s hard to hug him anymore.  Aside from playing with his cars all day long he also likes to stand on his head. Yes, when he’s not playing with his cars you can usually see him upside down. hihi Ever since I started giving him his Appetens vitamins his favorite phrase is, “I’m hungry.”  So now mommies and daddies you know what to give your finicky eater. *wink

Of course, my story is not complete unless you meet my original baby.  He’s the one who promised me nobody will ever love me as much as he would so I make him live up to his promise it every single day. LOL!   That’s it for him as he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight for long.  O di ba, he’s handsome?

At home I’m usually with my headset on because I transcribe – that’s my job.  It works well with me – I don’t have to talk to anyone and I can stop what I’m doing whenever I want to.  Of course, I have my other dream job which is being the CEO of my own company.  Funny, huh?  But the funniest part is – I’m not kidding! hahaha

I also have my blogs. You may know me through Mommy Diary but my original baby blog is Happy Thoughts. I’ve been blogging there since 2008 and that’s where you’ll read our journey for the past two years. I also have my other blogs – my working-at-home blog, WAHM sa Pinas, and my trying to be sweet and cute blog, Paula’s Place.  I also am a furniture seller.  Lorenz’ Furniture – that’s my dad’s store in Caloocan so for your furniture needs contact ME!

We live in Cainta just at the border of Pasig City – yes, we’re literally at the border. I love living here! Yes, I know it’s one of the most devastated from Ondoy but it’s sort of like living in the province which I terribly miss because I grew up in Zambales.  Plus it’s so near cool places like Eastwood and Ortigas and Makati, Taguig, and Quezon City is not far too.  That’s why when we pass by a vacant lot or a house for sale I sigh and wish I could stop the car, walk up to the owner, and buy it right there and then!

Being the esteemed Founder of BC Bloggers’ Secret (hahaha! ano ba?! birthday ko naman e!) I’m glad to unite the bloggers in building blogrolls for their blogs – which I was never good at. I really thought nobody would join and that I was a bit insane for doing it but the huge turnout made me realize that it’s one of the blogger’s pain points really.  That’s why my goal is to save time on that and spend more time on more fun things like getting to know each other and ultimately building friendships online.

That’s why I hope all of you join the BC Bloggers’ Party.  Take time to write a post about yourself.  Being busy is not an excuse because the deadline is on Sunday.  The mechanics can be found here.   I’m going to wait for your posts!

P.S. Don’t forget to email me your short description with the link to your post. We’re going to post it on each other’s blogs next week. It’s another chance to get backlinks for your blogs so don’t be absent.