A couple of years ago, I took several weeks away from blogging to help out in a seasonal family business. The end result was devastating to say the least. My average income dropped to 1/3 of the norm and took me well over six months to regain my positioning and revenue.
A close friend of mine has been preparing for her vacation for a few weeks now. She realizes she’s going to be away from her blogs for two weeks and has been busy recruiting people to serve as a guest blogger in her absence.
While recruiting a guest blogger is probably the most desirable method of maintenance – the only other alternatives are advance and post dating posts or providing an announcement post that gives the date you will return.
Given the loss that I took, I’ve avoided being away from my primary blogs for more then three days.
I’m sure there will be many bloggers who will be taking a vacation at some point or even require a few days away — I got to thinking it might be worth starting a little coop of sorts that would list those willing to guest blog and on what topics as well as listing requests by those who are seeking guest bloggers and during what time frame.
If there happens to be a calling for this, I’d gladly host a page dedicated to the cause here on MomGadget.
I’d just hate for anyone to suffer the tremendous loss I did simply because they were doing what they should be doing — enjoying life outside the box!
Thoughts?
Tags: guest blogging, writing gig, advertising, featured author, vacation
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
On the weekends I have a guest blogger for one of my blogs. Also, when I make vacation arrangements I make sure to go somewhere with computer access. Like you, I can’t afford to be away.
I’ve never had a guest blogger, never really started getting many visitors until this past 6 months. I can verify ya do lose them if ya leave too, when I ended up with that bad bronchitis I lost MANY. Now I’m trying to get them all back.
As for the idea…I love it. I’ve guest blogged for pay and for fun. Love doing both and will be guest blogging on one very soon. I’m always willing to jump in and help someone out.
I think that’s a great idea! Even though I’m pretty new to blogging, I don’t want to lose momentum on anything I’ve built….
Bev
Gayla,
As can be demonstrated by how long it took me to respond to this, I think you are spot on about needing to have a back up plan if you are going to be away.
I was only gone for 4 days, I set up 3 posts to automatically go up while I was away, I spent 3 quality hours online during my 4-day trip, and I was STILL swamped when I got back!
I got back to “work” on a Monday morning, and here it is Thursday evening and I am just now down to the “M’s” in my alphabetical RSS reader.
My advice on the issue is that guest bloggers are great, but don’t forget about the admin duties of being a busy blogger. Comment moderation, responding to email, and reading/commenting on other blogs are all time-consuming tasks that a guest blogger won’t be doing.
Personally, after taking almost 4 days to recover from a 4-day trip away, I’m never going anywhere without an Internet connection again!
Gayla, this is a great idea. Count me in. I went away for 2 weeks recently and predated all my posts, but I felt the momentum wasn’t the same, as it just wasn’t as fresh or immediate.
The main issue was I couldn’t get to the comments on a daily basis, or post on things which had just happened.
I think one of the main things the guest blogger would need to be prepared to do (if at all possible), is to respond to the comments on the post.