But April A-Z challenge is not limited to just writing. It is an exercise to overhaul your blogging experience starting from writing and continuing to building relationships. They say no man’s an island, well this is an adequate example of that.
So how can you create a well founded strategy for A-Z?
Writing
Try to create a unified theme for the challenge. This is mainly for two reasons, one because writing twenty six different posts not related at all will be more difficult than writing a theme based one. Planning a new topic each day can most definitely take a hit on your creativity.
Secondly, for your readers too a sense of engagement gets higher once they know what they may expect in your posts. They start to identify more with your writing. And it is easier for them to regularly discuss. Also easier to remember you post challenge because of the central idea they have associated you with.
At the end of twenty six days you have enough matter to create an ebook of the theme and put it up for free downloads on your blog. You can see in the right sidebar the links to two novellas on this blog. They had been written and converted during the last two Ultimate blogging challenge for the months of October and January.
Reading
Have you built your reading list for A-Z? If not then I may tell you it is high time you do. Join facebook groups, follow people through twitter, check the blogs enlisted on the website and create a list of your own.
Make sure you have your list ready in a document or at best through an rss reader such as Feedly in the form of a reading group.
Why is it so important to build a reading list? Because the main purpose of the challenge is to find new blogs and be found in turn. Consecutively, to enhance your network and build a better flow of readers to your own blog, post the completion of challenge.
Use the next one and a half months (or less) to discover A-Z blogs, read them more. Leave comments on their blogposts mentioning that you are visiting through A-Z groups. And yes invite them to read you as well. This is done so that before the challenge itself you have built a relationship, gained an idea as to what their writing style is like and at times even decide that they may not be the kind of blogs you want to connect to. Better to have all this in order before the actual challenge begins
Social Media
As a blogger, one needs to fully understand the impact of social media in our lives. Whereas facebook pages have taken over the regular google followers, now the aggressive use of twitter by bloggers is making all the content more open to public spaces.
Use your facebook profile to connect with people. Post regular updates on your blog posts and in turn visit people’s profile for similar reading. Exchange facebook pages with bloggers and create a network through them.
Use twitter follows and interactions to build a sharing pattern.
For all blogs that you read follow a simple funda, read-comment-share. And by share I mean either on twitter or on facebook or google+ and at best all.
Use google + profiles to include people in circles. There in you can share their posts and create a better SEO approach for them and for you.
Ultimately, remember that the challenge is to understand and experience the whole blogging brouhua that many of us are already exposed to. Take a deep dive and ensure that you and your blog come off as better polished, aware and successful the other side.
See ya around and hoping for an exciting April A-Z challenge!
If you are intending to take part in the challenge, then please do leave your blog link in comments. Thanks!
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Aye Aye ma’m….I hear ya!
I will be participating in A to Z Challenge through https://moviemassala.com
Do follow ! 🙂
haha yes madame I will follow 😀
That’s a really good idea. I bet it’s easier than it sounds!
Well I am hoping so 😀
I do love the sound of this! I’ll have to look into it!
Well sure do 🙂
Thank you for sharing I was not aware of the A-Z Challenge. . . and using that to build an e-book from there, what a wonderful tie in.
Yes Catherine it is and you must try!
Great tips there , Richa!
Thanks a lot Michelle 🙂
This year will be my third time doing the A-Z challenge. I have never done a theme. I have always just come up with a topic each day to write about. It has always been an awful lot of fun. Probably would be even more fun if I made an effort to have it planned this year. You provided some great tips here. I look forward to reading what you come up with during the A-Z. ♥
Thanks Kathy <3 I am also looking forward to reading all your posts this April <3
Excellent tips Richa… M way too nervous as this is my first time at a monthly challenge… As of now clueless bon the theme but want to work on a Novella…just need to figure the plot n how I’ll bring in the A to Zsss….p.s. Creating a reading list – great pointer!
Oh wow! You are going to work on a novella! Exciting times Aditi 🙂
Great tips girl! I have just paused Dean Winchester to read, understand and make a mental note on implementing what you’ve said in this post!
Look at my charisma you woman 😀 😀
SOunds interesting! but lol don’t know if I can do it 😉
I am sure you can do it! Don’t doubt it for a second 😀
Gearing up , me too ! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Creating, burning down, creating afesh, plans for the A-Z 🙂 And also thinking how to make it all the more interesting 😀 Looking forward to reading a lot this time 😀
Yes Sreeja me too! Looking forward to reading loads and loads 😀
Another challenge to take part in eh Richa? Woman, you are an energizer bunny !
lol I would simply say ‘thanks’ 😀
I am inspired…Your and Vidya’s post made me. In search of a theme now…
Good girl 🙂 do take part!
The idea of ebook is absolutely brilliant. I should stay thinking about A theme. Thank you for providing such wonderful tips.
I hope you enjoyed them 🙂
I’m still thinking about whether to sign up or not! I will decide by March 1st week 🙂
Well I hope you do it will be fun!
Great tips, like I said this is my third challenge and I have posted random posts in the last two. Maybe its time for some structure 🙂
Will look forward to this Sulekkha 🙂
I am still on the look out for a theme. Making that list of blogs is very very important. I had started a list like that last week. Must get back to it and keep adding blogs to it. 🙂
Yes I think it is very important for all of us to do that. I am also running behind!
Sounds interesting and fun!! Hope we all can do it 😀
Yes hoping the same!
Hey there…
I will try and participate this year too…I shall do via my blog- numerounity.com
See ya there 🙂
See ya sweets! 😀
All the best and you sure have everything planned out, love your dedication.
Thanks a lot 🙂 and yes this dedication fizzles out in seconds 😀
Still can’t get my head around a theme…but I need to figure stuff out soon because I’m going to be busy in April and need to plan my posts in advance! Great pointers though…and you are super-organised!
Yes planning posts in advance is a must for me too this time!
Wishing you great success with this one too… 🙂
Thanks a lot Maniparna 🙂
Great post Richa:) … I haven’t participated in this contest before. I wish to participate this time. My blog link is https://tulipsandme.blogspot.in/.
Well it is not exactly a contest more like a challenge which needs to be triumphed 🙂
You’ve really got it all together haven’t you, Richa? What fun this is going to be. ♥
This is going to be super super fun!! <3
But where are the links to it all? 🙂
Hello,
Neat tips there, especially the one on the reading list. Just signed up.
Thanks Nilanjana 🙂 I am glad you liked the post and all the best for the challenge 🙂
Hey, Good Luck !!
Thank you for all the great tips 🙂
Your most welcome 🙂
Looking forward to the adventure….
Thanks Beloo 🙂 and yes me too!
Thanks for motivating through your post. Title of the post really kicked me.
Well then Shipra my purpose is solved!
Sounds like wake up call 😉 Thank you Richa for such a wonderful post. Really helps. Good luck!
I am happy it served as a wake up call for you Tara 🙂 I am wondering if it felt one while writing 😀
So many good ideas for me to start working on. Thank you for this post.
This will be my first A to Z and I am excited to be part of it.
Erica Gore
www,ejgoreauthor.wordpress.com
Well it is coincidentally my first time too! All the best 🙂
Fabulous pointers, Richa!! Looking forward to lots of fun filled writing and reading along with lots of learning and networking, this April! Cheers 🙂
Amen to that thought Shilpa 🙂
Hi, you have some great tips that I will follow. I need to work on buiiding my reading list. It is the main reason that I joined the facebook group. So nice to meet you and I look forward to reading more of your blog too. 🙂
Mary-andering Creatively
Mary-andering Among the Pages
Thanks a lot Mary 🙂 Same here and yes looking forward to reading you all too 🙂
Hoping to travel with you in this journey 🙂
We all hope to find space in each other’s travels.. no?
This is my first year with this challenge! I hope I will do it to my level best! Thanks for great tips 🙂 They were really motivating and helpful.
Trust me you will enjoy! And p.s this is my first year too 😀
Thanks a ton for the tips! You are a Saviour!:)
I a glad you liked them 🙂 Hope they come of help to you 🙂
Great article. I look forward to getting to know your blog better this April. 🙂
https://jlennidornerblog.what-are-they.com/
#67 on the list! 🙂
Same here Jenni and I am on no. 73!
Great tips, Richa. You are poised to rock the A to Z Challenge!
Vidya Sury
#TeamDamyanti
A to Z Challenge 2014
Twitter: @vidyasury #atozchallenge
Have you signed up for the A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal BlogFest? Sign Up Now #atozchallenge #atozreveal
If you are wondering why, when you sign up on this linky, you’ll have like-minded folks visiting your theme on the 21st March and you can do the same for them – and grow your audience for the A to Z Challenge!
Thanks Vidya 🙂 I am hoping so!
Let’s rock this challenge together.. hai na Richa 😉
Yes Bhavya! Lets rock it together!
just the kind of post I needed, a mental push that yes I can do it… I am so excited about April 🙂
Amritt https://thebiggestmovieblog.blogspot.in
Yes we can all do it Amrit. And I am excited too!
Hi Richa
Great ideas, a wonderful and positive post, it has me zooming up for the challenge. Hope to incorporate a lot of what you have said.
At least I have my theme now just got to decide on the posts💡
You will find my fumbling steps to completing the A to Z challenge at http://www.inderpreetkaur.blogspot.in
Do drop by, would love you views.
You will find me dropping dead sweets you are talking about fumbling 😀
Great tips richa 🙂 it’s like waiting for a huge featival with all the preparations in place. I am yet to decide a theme though …
Yes it is a fab festival!
Great tips richa 🙂 it’s like waiting for a huge featival with all the preparations in place. I am yet to decide a theme though …
I am so not ready for A-Z – LOL. Great tips!
Thanks Talya and in my case too easier said than done 😀
tips and tricks are always useful.. Nice ones
PhenoMenon
https://throodalookingglass.com/2014/02/squirrel1/
Thanks Pheno 😀 well I am always up for tricks 😀
Awesome post, Richa! I’m sorry I didn’t find it before, or I’d have linked to it in the guest spot I had on the main A-to-Z blog yesterday–we covered pretty much the same ground, but you went into details I skipped, so it would’ve been a nice collaboration. Next time 😉
If you’re going to do other posts on the Challenge, perhaps you might give the The A-Z Theme Reveal a plug? It’s a great way to begin building that A-to-Z network now, plus it builds the blog audience’s expectations–and, perhaps most significantly, increases interaction between blogger and readers. Do join!
For sure Guilie and I read your post it too had some great points! Of course I will join!!
You gave us some priceless tips. THANK YOU so much. I also love the idea of making the A – Z Challenge into an ebook. Will be working and preparing as you suggest for the A – Z Challenge. https://www.batterredhope.blogspot.com
Will be surely looking forward to it Carol 🙂 glad you liked the tips 🙂
These are great ideas and tips – thank you! This will be my first time doing the A-Z Challenge, so this post is really helpful to me. I haven’t come up with a theme, and wasn’t actually going to, but you make some pretty compelling arguments for doing so! I’ll have to give this some more thought.
I am glad you liked it Laurel. And yes coming up with a theme will help you a lot 🙂
Thank you for the excellent tips!
Glad you liked them Loni 🙂
Nice one Richa. Looking forward to your posts in the AtoZ.
Thanks Suzy 🙂
Richa, lots of useful tips here. I’ll link you in to Guilie’s post mentioned above. I think all A to Z newbies should have access to posts like this one.
Damyanti
Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2014
Twitter: @damyantig
#atozchallenge
Thanks Damyanti I am glad you found the post useful 🙂
Hi Richa. I certainly like the idea of keeping a list, I had a hard time keeping up with all the blogs I liked last year. I like how you haven’t revealed your theme in this post either. Are you participating in the #atozreveal? All the best for the #atozchallenge.
Reflex Reactions
Yes I am and will soon reveal my theme as well 😀
This is my first time with A to Z challenge and i am gonna write a novella, my first one at that 🙂 Do read me and needless to say you are on top of my reading list! I have thought of this ebook idea too. Great! Now i am even more motivated! And btw, are you putting up the theme of your posts? I definitely like to read about it! https://goo.gl/aw2WVr
https://aasinabsurd.blogspot.com