This was my first A to Z Challenge, so I made some mistakes. But that’s how you learn, right? Jump in, take a few bad strokes, sink, and then go the side of the pool and get those water wings.
Here’s what I would have done differently.
1) I would have had a theme. I think the blogs I visited with themes were the most interesting AND they stuck in my mind.
2) I would have written more in-depth posts. Some of mine were of the “Okay. Fine, but where’s the beef?” variety. When I visited blogs that covered topics of interest and gave value I returned to those blogs the next day.
3) I would have set up a better schedule. I randomly visited blogs, but I think if I’d created a list and kept better track, I would have been able to leave comments at more sites.
Will I do this next year? I hope to. I’d like to. I met so many wonderful bloggers this year.
I'm in for next year I think 🙂 Had a great time. A visiting schedule probably would have helped me a lot too! Great idea 🙂
I like the schedule idea a lot – my visits were completely random, and I know I could have discovered more blogs if I'd had a list.
Congratulation on finishing the challenge. During the challenge I didn't visit as many blogs as I would like to but, cross my heart, I'm visiting every single one with the reflection post! I am so glad my journey brought me here.
Evalina, This and that…
I liked working with themes. I also liked keeping my posts short. I still don't know the best way to visit more. I'm still convinced much of this would involve having a faster computer with super high speed consistent internet. But the fact remains that linger on posts and leave long comments. This slows me down, but I think maybe it's okay too.
Lee
A Faraway View
An A to Z Co-host blog
I'm also impressed that you took on the challenge and keep going – I'm not sure I would have done! I like to visit the blogs I follow as often as possible – but I keep missing some out – so I've set up a chart on Excel where I can go and check every week or so to see who I've not visited for a while – hence my visit to you. Don't know how long I will stick to it – but I'm going to try. Is it OK to make New Year Resolutions in May??
I like that you are looking ahead to next year, but I think your blogs this year were very interesting.
I'm impressed that you took on this challenge and kept up with it to the very end. I thought you did a great job, but it's always nice when we can reflect and learn from experiences.
You did amazing and I loved all the posts! Bravo, my friend!
I think you did a fabulous job. I may join in next year – if you don't have to be an author to jump in.
I found the only way to keep up on things was set a time of day for blog visits– first thing every day. Otherwise, it didn't happen! congrats on finishing.
I wasn't part of A-Z- but I really enjoyed stopping by some of my favorite blogs and seeing what they were posting. It was fun to try to guess what each blogger would post for each letter (though usually I was wrong). I thought your posts were great- but it is obvious that you did a lot of refelcting about the experience. It is always good to learn from everything we do. 🙂
~Jess
Themes do help. I just tried to visit 15+ new blogs a day. Visiting was tough though. Still, it was fun.
Ditto to your suggestions. I would set up a system, dare I say spreadsheet, that listed new blogs I'd visit every day and the ones that I connected with and wanted to pop in daily. Even with my haphazard ways I met some terrific new friends.
Making sure I visited everyone was the hardest part, I swear. Having a theme was great, though. I recommend one for next year…it takes out a lot of guess-work. Congrats!
Hi Lee .. it's not easy the first year .. I have had a theme both years – but it was luck, and I got carried away/took myself away too hard and too fast in 2011 .. I relaxed this year and enjoyed the whole thing more.
I definitely was discerning with whom I connected … I would bypass a few – and I think I was lucky as you connected with me – and we're kindred spirits .. so I shall enjoy the continued connection ..
Cheers – it's a fun time! …. Hilary
I'm just congratulating everyone who did it. I couldn't keep up with just the reading. I agree on posts of value. But I also would caution against making them too long when people have so many to visit! LOL
A theme is much better! Helps your visitors know what to expect as well and they are more likely to return. Glad you enjoyed it though!
A theme makes it easier, too, especially if it's one you're really passionate about. It was a fun Challenge this year!
Some people did very well with random & spontaneous posts, but I certainly found a theme helped me.
As for keeping track of blogs visited, I worked through the linky list on the A to Z site. The links I'd visited were highlighted by my browser, so I could always see where I'd been and where to go next.
Well done on getting to Z! I was exactly the same with being organised, and getting around.
It's just not easy to get organized, then staying that way is often impossible.
First, big congrats on finishing! It's a marathon event for sure. Second, I have to agree with you on the scheduling thing. I think that was my biggest mistake: I had no method for visiting other blogs, I just visited people who stopped by my own or randomly jumped to blogs from the A-Z site.
I skipped this year but plan on going again next.
Also agree with Theresa, very impressed you were able to post off the cuff like that. Not easy!
Thanks, E.J. Hope we get to know each other and do this together in 2013.
I was so busy, so I couldn't visit all the blog participating. And with such a high #, how could most mortals? My strategy was to visit nearly all my FB friends who linked on there + visit anyone who commented on my posts.
I only participated because I thought my theme would be fun. It would be hard to think of a topic everyday otherwise. I'm impressed you were able to do it!
I thought you had a great theme, Theresa. I enjoyed my visits to your blog a lot.
Here's to us for getting across the finish line still standing.
Glad you enjoyed yourself! I learn new things every year as well. One thing I did differently this year – I bookmarked a few long and/or super-interesting in-depth posts so I can go back and read them at my leisure this month. (the comment I left was basically "Hello. I'll be back". 🙂
That's a great idea. I'll add it to my list for next year. There were so many great long posts and I didn't have time to enjoy them.