Friday, July 31, 2009

I Would Like to Hear Your Feedback!!

Hello, all!

I wanted to check in and see how we're doing. Please feel free to answer any or all of the following questions that I've been pondering lately:

Is Alabama Bloggers working?

Are you connecting? Are you meeting people? Are you getting more traffic to your blog from being listed/participating here?

Do you have any ideas on how to improve the site? What would you find a valuable service/column?

Would you like to contribute on a one time or recurring basis?

One column that I would like to add is an "Upcoming Alabama Events" column - please let me know if you'd be interested in writing it!

Also - the meet-ups we've been having in Birmingham have been a huge success, a lot of fun, and people have been eager to meet up again. I would really like to expand this so that we have meet-ups in other areas of the state. I've been thinking that what might help that process and help new members to get connected is to have Area Ambassadors.

An Area Ambassador would organize periodic meet-ups (which simply just means picking a place and time and committing to being there, and I will publicize/blog/tweet about it), and also would visit new Alabama Blogger members' blogs in their area to welcome them and help them get connected.

Does that sound like a decent idea? Would any of you be interested in being an Alabama Blogger Ambassador for your area? I would be sure to list your name and blog on the sidebar.

So - give me some feedback!! Let me know what you like, what you don't like, and your suggestions for making this site better! Also let me know if there are any ways that you would like to get more involved here at Alabama Bloggers!

13 comments:

Rachel said...

I like Alabama Bloggers a whole lot! I enjoyed the meetup, and look forward to subsequent ones. I like reading the posts about AL, hometowns and stuff. I'm not sure if it has increased my blog traffic or not...maybe because I've been too busy to write anything coherent lately....

I would be interested in posting, give me a topic, or i can just come up with something.

Anyway, I think it's alllll good!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, Rachel, I think AL Bloggers is great for getting people connected & aware of what is going on in the Ham. Not sure I've gotten any new visitors from it, but that's OK too. I like the idea of periodic meet-ups & I would be willing to be a Hwy. 280 ambassador. :)

lovingmytwoboys said...

I really like AL Bloggers! I think it is a great site. I would be willing to post every so often! Email me and we can talk more!

Lianne said...

I love the idea of AL Bloggers. I have come across a lot of new blogs from fellow in-state bloggers, and my site traffic has definitely picked up as a result. The one meet-up I made it to was really fun and I treasure the friendships I have made through this site.

I would love to see some articles written about local festivals specific to certain towns in the state. For example, I plan to submit one on my hometown's Mule Day that is coming up in September. We would have to put the info out there in a timely fashion so that people could make plans to go. I think this blog is a great resource for our state.

Personally, I would love to see some restaurant reviews (and giveaways, but only if I win...j/k) and more featured businesses, as well.

Thanks for all that you do here!

j said...

I think Alabama Bloggers is EXCELLENT. It is good to have a central website for the bloggers in our state. We have so much to offer here and so much to be proud of.

I'll be honest with you, I think I will utilize this site and the links of other bloggers more after school starts back. Summer blog traffic, reading, and writing has been off for me. I am sure it will pick up as our schedule changes.

I would be more than happy to guest post but I'm not sure what I have to offer (certainly not cleaning tips).

As for the Upcoming Alabama Events Column - I would contribute as needed. We live in Baldwin County (though I think on this site I am listed in the Tuscaloosa area) and could offer blurbs about events coming up in the Mobile area and coastal Alabama. And as for being an ambassador... not me. That sounds a lot like responsibility and I am STINK at being responsible. At some point I would love to attend a meet up but I don't know when I could.

Maybe we could have an Alabama Bloggers blog carnival soon? Ask everyone to post the badge and encourage everyone to just blog about this site? How about an Alabama vs Auburn theme? Football season is SOON (Roll Tide) and we could tap our competitive nature to boost awareness for this blog.

Thanks for all that you do to make Alabama Bloggers jive. It really is a great website.

Rachel said...

Lianne- Restaurant Reviews? I'm down!

Jennifer- I'm from Baldwin county, Fairhope to be exact. I'm heading down there next weekend to see my Mom. I was thinking the same thing, Football season will definitely give me good material!

Karie said...

I haven't had time to use the blog so I'm not sure of the potential. So far I haven't met anyone in the Bham area, but I hope to!

Sounds like you have some great ideas though. I would be interested in possibly contributing if you needed someone.

Karie said...

Rachel- My husband and I are originally from Foley. Small state... :) We'll be heading that way on Tuesday to see his family.

Rachel said...

Karie- My Husband went to Foley High School! He lived in Orange Beach before there was a Gulf shores school! When did y'all graduate?

rachel.p.robinson@gmail.com

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

I am new to Alabama Bloggers... not new to blogging. This looks like a good way to connect locally.
Thanks bunches!

Christen said...

I've met several new blog friends & have had more traffic on my site.

Rachel said...

Thank you all SO much for your input!! Please keep giving it if you have more.

Also - please email me if you'd like to contribute! I want to have as well-rounded and diverse group of contributors as possible, so if you want to contribute once or on a recurring basis, I'd love to talk to you!

Anonymous said...

I'm relatively new to the site, but I am enjoying it. Like previous commenters, I'm not sure if I've gotten a lot of traffic from this site, but that wasn't my main objective in joining. I enjoy the posts and I've used the list to find other Tuscaloosa bloggers.

I'd be interested in writing some posts for the Tuscaloosa area.

I'm also interested in meeting up with other bloggers in my area, but I'm not sure I have time to be a coordinator.

You're doing a great job!

If you haven't linked up and introduced yourself yet, be sure to go here to do so!