I am continuing my re-run of elements from posts from early 2011, when my blog was in its infancy and I didn't have that many visitors. I had no idea in the beginning about how to attract visitors and how effective it can be to leave comments on other people’s blogs in order to get traffic to your own blog. Well, I have had to learn a lot, like with most things – by trial and error and by long nights reading on the Internet :-)
Today I would like to share with you something I made in January 2011, a slideshow made from some photos from two of the books I have self published. It is 34 pictures and you can click on the pictures to navigate forward and backward or use the navigation system below.
In my post on Friday the 1st February I wrote about my announcement and something I am working on. I can now reveal that my announcement will be next week, so stay tuned for your invitation!
Short and sweet post today, more next time! Until then, take care.
The slideshow was fabulous. Lots of beautiful flowers, but I found those Orchids so stunning.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bernie, I took those orchid photos at Kew Botanical Gardens here in London in 2005, during an orchid exhibition they had. I wish could say thy were mine, but all I have are 6 phalaenopsis' and 1 dendrobium :-)
DeleteStunning photography. Do you use some kind of filters? Are these iris flowers? Hehehe...even leaving comments does not attract visitors, I know that from my experience :-).
ReplyDeleteThanks, I don't use filters on my camera but I sometimes apply some Photoshopping afterwards. Not on any of these though, all the photos you see here are 'just photos'.
DeleteThere were a lot of spring flowers on this slideshow but not any irises. Leaving comments will make people come to you eventually, it just takes a bit of time, and you need to keep leaving comments regularly at the same blogs. I keep a list of blogs I 'maintain' - the list is a bit too long now, it's a lot of work, so I might have to let a few drop off, at least temporary.
Beautiful! And, I look forward to hearing your announcement! I just love a bit of anticipation!
ReplyDeleteThanks Holley - and not long to go now :-)
DeleteOh, I can't wait to hear your announcement! Thanks for sharing the slideshow--I'm dreaming of spring, too!
ReplyDeleteIt has been so cold here for so many weeks, the thought of spring is a bit ridiculous right now, with ice on the puddles and all the pots in my garden frozen solid. But all it takes is one day with a bit of warm sunshine and everything takes off again with a whoosh!
DeleteI am hoping for Monday, possibly Tuesday for my next post and announcement, fingers crossed :-)
Lovely photos Helene.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elaine :-)
DeleteBeautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteDid you use Blurb to self publish and did you sell any books or just create then for yourself?
You're right that leaving comments attracts visitors but I don't leave comments for this reason. I know I find it encouraging to read comments and so if I find a post I like I try to say something.
Also I think if you choose blogs that interest you the chances are that some at least will also be interested in your blog
Thanks Sue, I made my books through Blurb first of all as a way of printing what I made on my computer, to have in my own book shelf, sale was not in my mind at all. I have however made a few sales, to friends and family and bought a few myself to give away as presents. In order to sell to strangers you have to put in a lot of effort in advertising, Blurb does none of that, they sell 1 mill books per year and no matter how good your books are they will drown in the masses of other authors if no one knows about you.
DeleteI also try to leave comments on blogs that interests me and I sign up to as many as I think I can keep up with, although sometimes I have to skip a few posts and get back to them again as some people post very often!
Wow, your photos are stunning! I've never been able to grow orchids, not enough space indoors. It's funny when we look back to our first blogging year and see how much we've grown (just like our gardens!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosemary, I wish I could say the orchids in those photos were mine, but they are not, they are from Kew Botanical Gardens. But I do have a few orchids myself, as many as I can manage to squeeze into my kitchen window sill :-)
DeleteI have learned so much the two years I have been blogging! And I am still surprised by how much I enjoy it!
What a beautiful set of blooms. The Camellias and Magnolias are just gorgeous! Orchids are lovely too - I don't do houseplants but can appreciate how lovely they look :)
ReplyDeleteYou really are keeping us in suspense - I'm looking foward to your announcement too!
Thanks Angie, not long to go now, look out for Monday's post :-)
DeleteHelene, great slide show! I love the rhododendron, camellias and roses,they all are awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nadezda, I especially like rhododendrons myself, if I had a bigger garden I would have many more than the two I have!
DeleteHello Helene
ReplyDeleteLovely to see beautiful orchids and to be thinking of spring...…especially as 3' high snow drifts are piling up against my back door! Yup, huge snow storm here today.
Want me to guess what the announcement will be? perhaps a new book????
Guess we'll find out Monday!!
Ugh, 3' snow...we had snow a few days in January, that was all, but we are expecting a bit again on Monday. We don't get much snow here in London but it is cold, very cold!
DeleteI'm sorry, but my next book is still not finished, haven't worked on it for ages, no idea when or even if it will be finished!
No, this announcement is something different, and actually a bit more exciting, I think :-)
Hey, amazing photos! You have just re-ignited the part of me that keeps saying 'I NEED a pink hellebore.' Grappling with the thought of going over to Camden Garden Centre to look for one now! I wanted to start pruning back my rose and clematis today but the sky here over London looks like it could snow. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteHi Claire, you can never have too many hellebores! I bought a white with dark pink spots last year, I am curious to what offspring I will get from the new one placed very close to my dark purple :-)
DeleteI pruned all my roses last week, good to get it done as they were all sprouting like mad. Seems a bit sad cutting off all those nice new shoots, but it must be done...
Lovely photos, so nice to see flowers, I'd forgotten what they look like in the depths of this winter. Particularly liked the orchids, maybe because I'm an expert at growing them, or to be more precise, at killing them off. I've even tried the 'anyone can grow these' varieties, but I can't.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Monday's announcement, hope the snow doesn't disrupt my internet access.
Thanks Crystal, orchids are not for everyone, but I think there are a few things you can do to make the process easier on yourself. I have been thinking of writing a post about that, giving some tips about growing the ones 'anyone can grow' because they really are easy to grow, if you only know how to!
DeleteMonday's post will be available from early morning, if you are up with the birds you can be first in the know :-)
I am so envious of your photography skills. Those pictures are truly amazing. So nice to see such color in the dead of winter.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dorothy :-)
DeleteI thought that picture show might cheer people up at this time of year!
I love the new red colours of your blog. making me feel particularly valentiney :) It's taken me a long time too to figure out the ins and outs of blogging. Chatting with other bloggers is a great plus. You form wonderful friendships and exchange so much information along the way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marguerite, that dark red colour is kind of my trademark, I have it on my website too and it is the same red colour as I have in my logo, Graphicality. And...I have that red colour all around my house, my kitchen walls, my living room rug, my bedroom bedding, my dressing gown...oh, I could go on, but I do love that deep red, crimson red colour!
DeleteGorgeous!! What incredible photos! :o) It's fun to see how our blogs change over time. My blog feels so different now than they way it did when I started 3 years ago. I also love your red background.
ReplyDeleteThanks :-) I have learned a lot since starting my blog, and met so many nice people!
DeleteI enjoyed the beautiful photos, Helene! :-)
ReplyDeleteWonderful slideshow Helene. Your flower photos are breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteThank you Donna :-)
Delete