OBA Updates

August 11, 2011 By Angela Leave a Comment

Hi all,

I hope that you have had a wonderful summer.  I know that we’ve had some incredibly great weather across the state, even if it was a bit hot for some of us.

I’m writing to you tonight to announce some updates.  As you know, I started the Ohio Blogging Association a year ago this month.  When I started this organization, I had been out of work for over a year and had a great deal of time to give to blogging.  I wanted to be able to take the time to grow the OBA into a non-profit organization that would accomplish the following goals:

1. To define and exemplify blogging best practices.
2. To assist new bloggers on their journeys by mentoring them.
3. To provide support to local businesses and charities by featuring them in meetings and/or volunteering for them.
4. To have a yearly blogging conference where all bloggers across the state can get together.

I was lucky enough to be able to call on Alicia, Katie, and Rachel for support in this venture.  They have contributed so much to the OBA and are excellent representatives of Ohio Bloggers.

This past February, I was lucky enough to be hired by a wonderful company as an Instructional Designer, which is what my background is in.  I didn’t expect that I would fall in love with this job as much as I have.  I am thrilled to get up every morning and go into work.  I love my boss and I love what I do.

As time has gone on, it has become apparent to me that I just do not have the time and energy to put toward the OBA that it deserves.   This organization deserves and demands attention that I simply cannot give at this point.  After five years of blogging, I have a new avocation, which turns out to be my vocation. 

To that end, I am leaving the Ohio Blogging Association as the Executive Director.  I will still help behind the scenes where I can, especially financially.  And someday, I’m sure I’ll come back to blogging.

During this time of transition, let me assure you that the OBA is still going strong.  I know that Alicia, Katie, and Rachel are still able to continue their duties.  Things may develop a bit more slowly as we reorganize; I’m asking for your patience with this. 

I wish you all continued success in your blogging.

Best,

Angela Risner

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Blogger of the Week

July 18, 2011 By Angela Leave a Comment

spacer Your first name (or pseudonym): Janie

Your blog name: loveyoumorethanyouknow.com

I live near…: Cleveland

I blog with…: WordPress

How long have you been blogging?: 2009

What do you blog about?: This is the place to read true stories about
the courage and sacrifices made daily by our brave U.S. servicemen and
women and their families.

Favorite thing about blogging?: Sharing stories about real life
heroes, who say they are just doing their job.

When I first started blogging, I wish someone would have told me…:
What an exhilarating feeling you get from being a storyteller.

Favorite blogs to read?: blogwalker.edublogs.org/
thebestamericanpoetry.typepad.com/

Blogging wisdom you would like to share?: Pictures always add to the
story!


Thanks Janie!  Tune in next week for another Blogger of the Week!

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Blogger of the Week

July 4, 2011 By Angela Leave a Comment

spacer Your first name (or pseudonym): Dianne

Your blog name: A Stove With A House Around It

I live near…: Akron

I blog with…: Blogger

How long have you been blogging?: 3 years

What do you blog about?: Food, people and places that have great
meaning to me, and the stories that connect all three.

Favorite thing about blogging?: I love having a creative outlet for my
writing. Plus it gives me a great excuse to cook and bake new recipes
and rediscover old ones I haven’t made in a long time. I’m never at a
loss for a good meal!

When I first started blogging, I wish someone would have told me…:
That posts don’t have to be epic tomes. They can be short, sweet,
to-the-point…and still very entertaining and meaningful. I also wish
someone had told me never to use flash photography when shooting
food.

Favorite blogs to read?: Cleveland Foodie, Bitchin Camero, Homesick
Texan, Ruhlman, One Hungry Chef, Pinch My Salt, Nourish Me, Why CLE?,
Wild Yeast, Food In Jars, Cleveland Food and Brews, Hungry in
Cleveland

Blogging wisdom you would like to share?: Write what you know, write
what you love. The second it becomes a chore is the second people stop
reading.


Thanks Dianne!  Check back next week for another Blogger of the Week!

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Blogger of the Week

June 20, 2011 By Angela 1 Comment

spacer Your first name (or pseudonym): Karen

Your blog name: Karen At Home

I live near…: Mentor

I blog with…: Blogger

How long have you been blogging?: 4.5 Years

What do you blog about?: I blog about my daughter, our new home,
obsession with home decor, fashion, recipes, and health and fitness.
Favorite thing about blogging?: I have met so many creative and
talented bloggers.  The friendships I have formed through blogging are
invaluable.

When I first started blogging, I wish someone would have told me…:
What a supportive and growing commnity blogging is.  I have been
blogging since September 2006. At the time, my husband and I had just
begun our journey in starting a family. We were also currently on the
hunt for a new home and I thought what a better time to document all
of the exciting changes that lay ahead of us. I never realized what a
fun and exciting world of blogging was until I started to receive
comments on my posts. I would click on the comment which would bring
me to a new blog. I would read a post on that blog and find even more
bloggers through that post from those comments made. One click on
those comments leads you to other blogs. You start to see familiar
faces after awhile, who is following who, and who knows who. It’s
rather quite addicting! I meet new people every day who I would have
never met if I had never created my blog.

Favorite blogs to read?: Kelly’s Korner –
www.kellyskornerblog.com
All Things G and D-www.allthingsgd.com/
Tidy Mom – www.tidymom.net
The Stories of A to Z – www.thestoriesofa2z.com/
Webbisodes – ourgatorzone.blogspot.com

Blogging wisdom you would like to share?: When visiting a new blog,
leave a comment and introduce yourself.  If you visit a blog often,
join in the conversation and post your ideas and opinions.  Make sure
you say hello. Don’t just read and enjoy without commenting. Nothing
makes me more happy as a Blogger than reading a comment appreciating
what I wrote.

As a Blogger, be sure to follow up to those who were kind enough to
leave you a comment. Let them know you appreciate them stopping by
your blog. Encourage them to visit again.  If you use blogger, set
your email address to public so you are able to respond to those who
leave comments on your blog.


Thanks Karen!  Look for another Blogger of the Week next week!

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Blogger of the Week

June 13, 2011 By Angela Leave a Comment

spacer Your first name (or pseudonym): Jason

Your blog name: kliːvlənd 41°28′56″N 81°40′11″W

meursaultcassiel.wordpress.com

I live near…: Cleveland

I blog with…: WordPress

How long have you been blogging?: 1/1/2010

What do you blog about?: Arts, entertainments, Cleveland, general
ranting

Favorite thing about blogging?: The Cleveland community

When I first started blogging, I wish someone would have told me…:
To immediately start on Word Press.  I was running it on Blogger
before but Word Press offers a lot more fun stuff.  Oh yeah and to
pick a name I wanted to stick with.  I originally started as 52 Weeks
of Cleveland which was cool but a huge commitment to have content
every single week.  Now with the new site it’s kind of wide open.  I
get to post when and what I want without feeling too much guilt.
Favorite blogs to read?: Hungry in Cleveland, Cleveland Food & Brews,
Clue In To Cleveland, Posie in Parma, The Chubby Cook, Why CLE, The
Cleveland Sandwich Board, Bad Advice From My Brother

Blogging wisdom you would like to share?: The best advice I can give
is tag, tag, tag, post, post, post.  Honestly though I wing it.
Facebook is an awesome way to gain new views and fans.  Plus try and
get involved in the community.  Write what you feel, and don’t worry
about stepping on a couple toes here and there.  You need to be honest
especially on reviews.  I wrote a few less than positive pieces and
after a little guilt I got over it.  There is nothing wrong with an
establishment learning from their mistakes.  Get over the self
conscious feeling of taking pictures too.  It’s a huge part of your
content and a lot of times a real eye catcher on your page.  Get dirty
and get in the action I guess more than anything else.


Thanks Jason!  Check back next week for the next Blogger of the Week!

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Blogger of the Week

June 6, 2011 By Angela 2 Comments

spacer Your first name (or pseudonym): Elena

Your blog name: Vegalicious, www.vega-licious.com

I live near…: Dublin, OH

I blog with…: WordPress, Blogger, Moveable Type, Other

How long have you been blogging?: 3 years

What do you blog about?: Vegan food, fitness and nutrition

Favorite thing about blogging?: Helping others to achieve better
health and giving them hope that they get nowhere else.

When I first started blogging, I wish someone would have told me…:
that I should be self-hosting and going with WordPress.org. I got
stuck with Blogger, which was easier to use, but in the long run I was
limited by it.

Favorite blogs to read?: Fabulously Broke in the City:
www.fabulouslybroke.com/.  Blog about finances.
The Great Fitness Experiment:
thegreatfitnessexperiment.blogspot.com/
and many other fitness, photography and foodie blogs.

Blogging wisdom you would like to share?: Use media: photos, videos,
etc. to make your blog entertaining. No one likes a boring blog.  And
for the love of blogging, don’t use bright pink as your background
color spacer   It’s suicidal. And don’t use crazy fonts no one can read spacer


Thanks Elena!  Elena is our presenter for this Sunday’s Columbus Meet-Up, where she’ll be discussing photography for bloggers. You can find the details here.

A new Blogger of the Week will be announced next week!

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Blogger of the Week

June 1, 2011 By Angela Leave a Comment

Your first name (or pseudonym): Breespacer

Your blog name: Bree, What Matter’s Most?

I live near…: Columbus

I blog with…: WordPress

How long have you been blogging?: 1yr+

What do you blog about?: Reviews, Giveaways & Mommy Matters

Favorite thing about blogging?: The outlet!

When I first started blogging, I wish someone would have told me…: To play around and get comfy in blogland, find your niche and then dive in and have FUN!

Favorite blogs to read?: I like a lot of blogs! Supahmommy, Texas Monkey Boutique and I skip around and read what titles interest me. I also do a local event publication that I adore visiting myself- nwcolumbus.macaronikid.com/

Blogging wisdom you would like to share?: Be YOU! A true blogger shows up in type and people are drawn to what is real. (But, if you are pulled into the review/giveaway path don’t take that lightly, treat it like a part time job.)


Thanks Bree!   A new Blogger of the Week will be announced next week!

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Books for Bloggers Event

May 31, 2011 By Katie Leave a Comment

Hello Ohio Bloggers!

Today we have a special invitation for you to meet Les Roberts, Cleveland’s favorite mystery author.

spacer Details about the event:

What: For bloggers only! Special event with Les Roberts, author of “The Cleveland Creep: A Milan Jacovich Mystery”

When: Sat. June 4 from 6-7 pm

Where: Visible Voice Books, 1023 Kenilworth Ave., Cleveland (in Tremont)

Why: Join us for a special “meet and greet” with Les Roberts, creator of the popular mystery series featuring Milan Jacovich—a former Kent State University football player and ex-cop with a taste for klobasa sandwiches and Stroh’s beer and a knack for finding trouble on the streets of Cleveland. Chat informally with Les at this lively gathering planned exclusively for local bloggers and their guests. And, pick up your free review copy of his new book, “The Cleveland Creep” (hardcover / $24.95 / 264 pages).

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RSVP: Let our contact Jane know you are coming by RSVP-ing directly online!

Space is limited so please RSVP immediately.

*Photo credits: Eric C. Mull

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Les Roberts, Ohio Event

Blogger of the Week

May 23, 2011 By Angela 1 Comment

spacer Your first name (or pseudonym): The House Mouse

Your blog name: The House Mouse housemouseoncheese.com

I live near…: Cleveland

I blog with…: WordPress

How long have you been blogging?: Just over the year

What do you blog about?: All things Cheesy!

Favorite thing about blogging?: All things cheese!!

When I first started blogging, I wish someone would have told me…: Blogging is work, but totally worth it. It gets hard sometimes to stay motivated, but when I see the positive responses and opportunities that have come my way because of The House Mouse, it makes it easier to get back on track.

Favorite blogs to read?: cheeseandchampagne.com
grilledshane.com
heightseats.com
knowwhey.blogspot.com
madamefromage.blogspot.com
cheesemonger.wordpress.com

Blogging wisdom you would like to share?: Interviews make great reads and are fun if you prepare and let the conversation roll. Also, don’t be afraid to have an opinion. Readers appreciate knowing the truth beyond the hype. They will be grateful to know that the cheese that costs as much as a four course meal isn’t worth the paper it’s wrapped in. Better to do what is right than what is easy, I always say.


Thanks House Mouse!  A new Blogger of the Week will be announced next week!

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Blogging Routine – What’s Yours?

May 9, 2011 By Rachel 2 Comments

spacer Hi! I’m Rachel, the urban homesteader behind Hounds in the Kitchen. As president of the Columbus chapter of the Ohio Blogging Association, I will be writing here about blogging. I start today with the topic of establishing a blogging routine.

Blogging, that is writing, is an exercise of the brain. Like any such activity, it must be practiced regularly. To retain readers and exercise their writing style, bloggers can organize their writings into predictable patterns through an editorial calendar.

Daily Routine

Most writers set aside time daily to take on their craft. Some write towards a specific word count while others commit to a certain amount of time. Either way, daily practice is what helps writers develop their voice and clarify their thoughts.

My personal habit is to write for an hour or two in the morning before the rest of the family wakes up. This is where I compose new material for the coming days’ posts. I am at my best in the morning and can be creative then.

In the evening after my daughter has gone to bed, I add photographs, tags, titles, and schedule the next day’s post. I spend time answering comments, checking in with twitter and facebook, and writing quick emails.

On the day of the post, I make one last editorial review in the morning before it posts.

Editorial Schedule

When you are passionate about something, the topics seem endless. Blogging is no different and many of us have hundreds of post topics in mind.

To stay sane and feed readers what they want, I developed a simple editorial schedule. I organize things based on what I want to write about and various blog hops I participate in.

I blog six days a week with the following general pattern:

Sunday – meal plan
Monday – food or garden story or review
Tuesday – recipe, submit to Hearth and Soul
Wednesday – Wordless Wednesday, events, news
Thursday – homesteading advice, submit to Simple Lives Thursday
Friday – Friday Five list post

The plugin WordPress Editorial Calendar is very useful for scheduling posts ahead of time. You can arrange topics and schedule post times with a few simple clicks.

Whether you blog for fun or business, establishing a routine and editorial calendar can help you organize your thoughts to benefit your readers.

What is your blogging routine?

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Filed Under: Bloggers on Blogging Tagged With: blogging, columbus, editorial calendar, rachel tayse baillieul, routine
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