Bloggy Basics: Blog Frog

If you've been around the blogosphere much at all in the past few months, I am certain you have seen BlogFrog widgets and mentions.  I'll admit, I was skeptical about this new blogging social media platform.

So, what is BlogFrog?  Basically, BlogFrog is a platform that turns blogs into communities.  It is a place where blogs can set up forums for their readers to interact. It is a place to join other forums and exchange ideas. It is a place to network and a place to make new friends.

Since this blogging thing is all about community and interaction and networking, BlogFrog is a natural place to grow as a blogger and to grow your community.

If you look on my sidebar, you will see my BlogFrog community widget.  If you click on this widget in the sidebar, you will be taken right to my community forum where you can interact with other readers.  Farther down, you'll see my widget with recent visitors.  These are two awesome features BlogFrog offers to help connect you with readers.  Now,  how does it all work?

Get Started

First, head over to BlogFrog and create a free account.  You can watch a short video to help you get started. You can check out all the discussions that are happening. Once you are signed in, check out some communities that interest you.

Get Connected

Join some communities.  Interact in some forums.  Just jump in on the conversations!  Pose a question!  Here are a few tips.

• Make sure you have a photo or icon in your profile.  This will help people identify you as you  interact more and will help you make friends.
• Quote people.  When you reply to a question in a forum, you can quote the original poster or others who have replied.  To quote, simply mouse over the text you want to quote. To the right you will see quotation marks. Click the quotes.  That block of text will appear in the reply box at the bottom of the thread.  Why quote? When you quote someone, they are notified via email so they can join back in the conversation. I know sometimes I'll forget to check back on a discussion and am thankful to get the email!
• Check out the SITS girls forum - it's a very active and helpful community!

Get Posting

Feel free to start your own thread with a question or comment! It's simple.  Once you are logged in and in the community forum of your choice, you can add to the discussion.

Enter the forum through the tab at the top. 

Click the +New Discussion button.  Add your content!  

Make sure to review the rules for the community at the bottom.  Select a topic and decide if you want to be alerted through email when people respond.  Click Save to post!

Simple!

Have you visited BlogFrog yet?  Check it out!  Not sure where to start?  Visit my community and say help.  I'd love to hear from you!

Check back in a few weeks for a tutorial on adding BlogFrog to your blog!

Want to see more ways to improve your blog?  Check the "For Blogs" tab at the top of this blog for more installments from Bloggy Basics.