How To Successfully Guest Host a Twitter Chat

How To Successfully Guest Host a Twitter Chat

Twitter chats/parties are some of the best ways to get yourself out there - and if you've participated in a lot of them then you may finally feel like it's time to get yourself out there and guest host one of your own. Putting yourself out there is the hardest part - but when a twitter chat is actively looking for guest hosts to put on schedule it may be your time to shine!

1. Find an Interesting and Relevant Topic

Keep it relevant towards the chats regulars but don't be afraid to ask compelling questions! Stay away from controversial topics (politics, religion, etc. unless that's the kind of chat it is!) Different chats have different protocols for questions - but make sure you at least run your topic idea by the moderator/admin.

2. Announce and Promote that YOU are hosting!

You bring a new set of eyeballs into a chat - so make sure you promote that you are going to host and bring in as many new faces as you can!

3. Plan your Q's ahead of time!

My suggestion for a 1 hour twitter chat is to come up with 4-6 questions based on your topic. More populated and active chats will probably need more Q's to keep everyone engaged. If you can't come up with at least 4-6 interesting & relevant Q's though - it's time to find a new topic.

4. Schedule!

 Schedule your Q's beforehand for the length of the chat. I usually schedule one Q every 10mins starting 5mins after the announced chat start time.

5. Retweet Responses you Like

A response you truly resonate with or a funny gif. It can boost the mood and will engage the participants.

6. Don't Forget the Hashtag!

In ALL your responses. Just like if you were participating in it, and not hosting it. (I'm totally guilty of forgetting to do this is some of my responses) Doing this keeps everything in the chats unique hashtag and easier to follow.

7. Use Tweetdeck (or other similar service)

Depending on how many people show up - you are more than likely going to need a service like this. Twitter chats can go fast - and these services keep all @'s & #Hastags in the same space.

8. Try to Keep Conversation Going

This can be difficult depending on how many people are in your chat - and sometimes it will run on its own. I try to engage everyone - which sometimes is not entirely possible. But I try!

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Blog Post Ideas when Battling Bloggers Block

Blog Post Ideas When Battling Bloggers Block

Sometimes the well of blog post ideas comes up dry. We have those pre-planned posts set for like 2-3 weeks ahead of time and then - boom - nothing. Most of the time we find inspiration in the world and life we live and don't run into issues. But then sometimes we battle bloggers block. 

So when the deadlines are rolling in faster than those wildebeest in The Lion King - here are some ideas:

1. Create a wishlist

2. Got a simple DIY? Tell us how to do it!

3. Beauty Routine

4. Monthly/Yearly Favorites

5. FAQ post

6. Get personal - talk about your life, relationships, etc.!

7. Holiday/Birthday just passed? Tell us about it!

8. Polyvore an OOTD or current trends that you love.

9. Top 5/10/# beauty/fashion items.

10. Find a dupe for a beauty product.

11. Tell us about your Hobbies.

12. Hauls! (c'mon you love Target too)

13. Do a Tag post!

14. Monthly Instagram roundup

15. Review something new you bought

16. Do a tutorial!

17. Share your favorite blogs!

18. Do a 'Day in the Life...' post.

19. Opinion piece on anything!

20. Motivational post that'll boost morale!

I hope these blog post ideas help you battle the constant onslaught of bloggers block. If you've seen my blog you can tell that I've done quite a few of these posts myself.

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Blogging Advice: Dealing with Negativity

Blogging Advice: Dealing with Negativity

Dealing with negativity is something that everyone will have to deal with in their lifetime - and it is probably one of those things that never gets easier. The one thing about negativity is that it is almost guaranteed that you will experience it, and the bad experiences have a tendency to stand out more than the plethora of good ones do. So in hindsight, I've got some advice on it all.

Don't let it get you down. 
No seriously - just because there are a few people who don't like your content or don't like your writing style, your point0of-view, etc. there are always people who will! Don't let one bad experience negate all the good!

Trolls be trollin'
They do it for the reaction, they are trying to get you upset so you'll act out of character. Don't fall for it. Let them find another bridge to hide under. And if it bothers you enough - delete the comment! You are the one with all the power and don't forget that you've got that lovely little button where you can delete all negativity!

Take it all with a grain of salt.
There is definitely a difference between constructive criticism and someone who is just being plain ol' mean. Most of the time, people try to hide their shady/back-handed remarks as 'constructive' when really they aren't constructive at all.

& most of all - Stay Strong.
Blogging isn't always sunshine and roses, and when we all start we start knowing that other people may not always agree. But thats okay - because its your blog and you are allowed to express your opinion. THATS WHAT A BLOG IS FOR.

If your reading this and need help with some negativity - get ahold of me:

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&& Remember that you are LOVED.

Blogging Advice: Breaking the Scheduling Stigma

Blogging Advice: Breaking the Scheduling Stigma

On this month's Blogging Advice I'm gonna talk about something that gets a lot of flak - Scheduling. And I'm not talking about when you schedule one or two posts - it's when you've got month's planned ahead of time.

I find that people feel scheduling that far ahead to be "cold" or to be "inorganic". Which, to be fair if your writing style comes off that way, it definitely can. A reader can always tell when the author isn't really into what they are writing about. But scheduling so far in advance doesn't make you detached from the subject in which you are writing about. If anything, your view may change and grow while that post sits and waits to be posted and you can always go back and change what you've written. (Whether it's been published or not, your opinions are allowed to change.)

If a topic comes up that you've like to post or speak about first, you can always reschedule! Moving a schedule around the moving your posts around is not as hard as it seems  - heck maybe you can even post off-schedule. *gasp* Bonus post! These extra bonus posts can also help your schedule if you're currently going through a bit of a dry-spell.

This is def a piece of helpful advice when you are working with brands and you schedule more than a month in the future: Let the brand know. Most brands like at least a tentative date in which their product will be featured. This keeps your relationship with them open and honest - which (when all's said and posted) leaves both of you with a successful post and a good working relationship.

Scheduling is not a bad thing, (tbh this post was written a month ago, with some edits throughout the month) and it definitely allows for less stress and panicking about getting posts up on time. Which I know I've done the mad dash right around posting time where I've got no ideas, no pictures, and a seemingly insurmountable task. Scheduling ahead of time gets me around that. (and scheduling my tweets for the week on Monday helps too!)

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Blogging Advice: Organization

Blogging Advice: Organization

I was sitting on my office the other day (ya know, at work) and thinking about ALL that I have learned in the little over a year+ I've been blogging. One thing that I definitely didn't have a grasp on until recently is ORGANIZATION.

I have been able to organize and plan an entire month of blog posts just my keeping myself organized on on a schedule! My planner is my lifesaver. I write everything I could possibly need in it, from blog posts to chat topics (and questions) for both the #USBloggerChat and the #bdibNA. I also include other things like appointments I have to keep and deadlines for projects at work!

This is a quick sneak peek of what my planner looks like weekly!

Blogging Advice

Blogging Advice

Tomorrow starts an installment of a new monthly series here on Hello Wench. 

(Basically a series on all the crap I wish I knew when I started blogging)

+ some tips for seasoned bloggers

It aims to be helpful to other bloggers/people looking to put themselves on a schedule and to keep themselves a little more organized. I've only been at this for a year, but I feel like I've learned so much and I want to share that wealth of knowledge with you! 

Directory:

Organization

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