Article by Wendy McCance

I hesitate writing this post only because what I have been doing is not intentional but based on what my heart-felt when I did it.  I don’t want to come across as a schemer.  Authenticity is what got me the notice that I am going to share with you.

I am constantly reviewing what does and doesn’t work and how I got to the place I am now.  After an email ended up in my mailbox yesterday, I had a revelation which is actually my best guess as to why I am getting some notice.

The reason I decided to share the following information with you is because I have a message I would like to get across.  Be authentic, stick to what feels right for you and amazing things will happen.

There is a ton of information on the web regarding how to gain followers and get noticed by the blogging experts.  I have never followed the advice I’ve read because it didn’t feel comfortable for me.

The advice I have read was that you should comment often on sites where you want to get noticed.  You can reach out and ask to guest blog on a blogging experts site.  You should share links written by these same bloggers and basically, get in front of them as often as possible.

The reason I didn’t follow the advice is because it didn’t sound authentic, but more like a manipulative move.  Not to say others people aren’t having luck with that advice or that they are anything other than sincere bloggers, but being in someones face constantly with the hope of being noticed was just not the right move for me.

What I have always done is to share links from articles that had incredibly useful information.  I didn’t care if the blog was a big deal or not.  If the information written can benefit me, I would want to pass it along to help other bloggers and to showcase someone who has some great material

I read a lot of blog posts, but very rarely write a comment.  I am definitely not one of those bloggers that seems to be present on every blog that is pulled up.  There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just not what I do.  The only time I would comment is when a post really spoke to me.

I have learned so much information at this point that it is rare for me to find something new that really makes me stop and think about what good advice I have just lucked out in finding.  These are the moments when I will write a comment thanking the blogger for sharing their knowledge.  I want them to know how much I truly appreciate their efforts by sharing what they have learned.

That being said, I have learned that most bloggers are more inclined to check out a commentor’s blog when the person states that they have been following for quite some time and enjoyed an article so much that they just had to mention it.  There is a natural curiosity to find out who the person is who has been following for so long hidden in the background.

If a blogger gets daily comments from someone, it doesn’t hit them in the same way. Those are people who are viewed as reading, learning and participating, but there is no mystery in who they are.

This probably sounds unfair and I don’t want to sound ungrateful to my readers by stating this, but it’s human nature and what I am mentioning is what I have noticed about myself and those I reach out to.

A big part of finding success as a blogger is to hone in on what makes people tick.  What are those things that will get a person to react and what are those things that get little or no results?  Being able to peg when you are doing something right and why is crucial to your success.

In the past year, I have had several blogging experts follow me on Twitter or offer me some incredible opportunities.  I have always chickened out when it came to asking them how they noticed me.  I guess I didn’t want to ruin a good thing.  So what I am expressing is not an absolute known trick, but it is my best guess as to how I got noticed.

Even now, knowing how I got some attention, I wouldn’t purposely try to repeat the method I have used because it was a natural evolution.  If I purposely go about following a planned way of getting attention, I think I will come across as someone who is trying hard to get noticed.  I just don’t think you can force these things.

The bottom line is I believe if you forget about ways of getting attention and work from your heart, amazing opportunities will present themselves organically.  At the same time, you do need to pay attention to what is working for you and expand on those methods.

In my case, authenticity rules.  Writing honestly about my experiences, helping others and thanking those who helped me answer questions have taken me far and it’s what I am most comfortable doing.  I have found what works for me.

Everyone is different and if there is one most important thing to take away from this post, it is to stay true to who you are and find your own path instead of taking the path of another.

By the way, that email I got was from the Moderator-in-Chief of the Freelance Writers Den (Carol Tice’s site).  I was asked if I would be interested in participating as an expert on blogging for a call-in that they are hosting.  I will be giving advice to bloggers on Feb. 20 and I am thrilled to have been asked.

What do you think?  Do you think that this information is right on the money or do you think my reasoning is all wrong?  I’d love to know your views on this topic and find out what works for you.

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Wendy McCance

Wendy McCance is a Michigan based freelance writer and social media consultant. Wendy has gained attention as the founder of the popular blog Searching for the Happiness which can be viewed in 9 local papers online, including the Oakland Press. The combination of writing skills and social media knowledge is what makes Wendy such a powerhouse to work with. Stay tuned for opportunities to advertise, guest post and as always, have your questions answered.

To contact Wendy McCance about a writing or social media assignment, interview or speaking engagement, please email her at: [email protected]

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