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37,050 A to Z Blog Posts – So Why Mine?



The A to Z Challenge is just around the corner, and although I’m not going to be using a theme to tie all my posts together, I was thinking about how I could make myself stand out this year. Think about it…at last count there were 1425 participants…all posting for 26 days…that equates to 37,050 blog posts hitting the blogosphere in April. That’s a LOT of material for you to choose from, so what can I do to convince as many of those 1425 participants, along with the people who follow along but don’t participate, to land on my humble blog?

Why is that so important? My answer to that is another question. Why do you think we do this in the first place? Sure there’s the challenge of it…just seeing if you can post 26 out of 30 days in April…and the camaraderie born from enduring such a feat together…but most of us are in it to increase our presence in the blogoshere. An interesting theme with a broad appeal might do the trick, but if you’re not into theme’s -- what are you to do?

I know…a contest…and one that’s structured in such a way to encourage repeat visits during the challenge! Eureka!

So here’s what I’m going to do. Everybody who comments on one of my blog post during the month of April will have their name put in a hat. Each post you comment on, your name goes into the hat again, for a maximum of 26 chances. But that’s not all. In each of my post I will bury a piece of personal information about myself, so you’ll actually have to read the post to find it. Then after the challenge is over I will post a DL quiz with 26 questions, the answers of which can be found in the A to Z posts, and anybody who emails me the correct 26 answers will have their number of chances in the hat doubled. So if you commented on 12 of my post and then answer all of the quiz questions correctly, your chances in that hat become 24.

Here’s the kicker…YOU MUST COMMENT ON AN MINIMUM OF 10 POSTS TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THE DRAWING. I hate to see someone who comments just once steal away the prize from others who dedicated themselves.

And the prize for simply visiting my blog and commenting during the Challenge, chosen by way of random drawing from the hat…a $75 Amazon Gift Card!

Oh…also…I will be asking the winner how they learned of my A to Z contest. If they tell me they heard about it via a Blog Post/Tweet/Facebook update that pointed them in my direction, the referring blogger will also win a $25 Gift Certificate (with proof of promotion). So the more people you convince to participate, the greater your own chances of winning.

So there you have it…that’s WHY ME. I’m not sure which is more valuable, cold hard cash or some entertaining posts sure to tickle your funny bone, prove educational, or touch your emotions, but why not go for both?

Hope to see you inside the alphabet beginning next week!

PS. Our first Blog Blitz took place on Tuesday. PK Hrezo was smothered with 150+ comments and it was really fun to watch. If you missed the notification, then you’re not checking your email often enough…or there’s something wrong with the address you left me. If the latter is the case, leave me a comment with your correct address and I’ll get it straightened out before the next mission.

79 comments

  1. Wonderful idea. I wish you luck with the challenge.
    Loved the blog blitz another great idea.

    Yvonne.

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  2. How cool! Sounds like it will be a lot of fun!

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  3. Sounds like a great idea. I like the contest too. Hope you have a great A-Z Challenge month.

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  4. Really good idea, contest challenge accepted! I can read and answer questions, I think.

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  5. A contest! Very clever idea, DL. I wonder if it's not too late to incorporate that idea into my posts? What the heck would I give away though? My posts are already over-ambitious in scope. (Translation - I'm still working on them!!!)

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  6. The prize is always a good incentive, but learning tid bits about you is even more promising. Good luck with the contest.

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  7. That is a fun idea! I would have been visiting anyway, but more incentive is always good ;) I'm still getting my posts together.

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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  8. Like Allison I'd be visiting anyway - or try to! - but what a great idea! I'm almost ready...four more posts to write...

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  9. Excellent idea and it sounds like great fun as well. I'll try to get the dragon in the hat. :)

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  10. Well you were already amongst my top 10 blogs to stalk during April. You just made top 3. :)

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  11. You know I'd be reading all of yours anyway :) But, this makes it extra fun and I'd love to participate. I hope to get all the answers right, comment on every post and get a total of 52 entries, lol. We'll see how I do.

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  12. DL while I joined your Blog Blitz I sort of stay away from huge participant blog hops like A to Z. Your drawing sounds like an interesting angle, but I comment anyhow. While I know quite a few participants in the A to Z challenge, I have a problem with viewing THAT many blogs in a day...I'll mostly keep to the ones I usually follow like you and about twelve others.

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  13. Sweet. I'll have to keep my memory tuned up!

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  14. This is a really great idea. I'm super impressed with your creativity - all the time.

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  15. Very clever approach, DL! Kudos!

    Like you, I am fascinated about why we do this. Once, sure, to see what it's like, but many of us are repeat offenders, and the list just keeps growing. Holy moly, that's a lot of posts. I was hoping to visit everyone at least once during the Challenge, but if my math is correct, that's 55 blogs each of the 26 days! Challenge, indeed.

    See you on Monday! "A" awaits.

    ~VR Barkowski

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  16. I don't know how y'all do it! More power to you!

    Fun contest idea!

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  17. Amazing idea. I'm going to have to start a spreadsheet with DL info.

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  18. What a neat idea for a contest! And man, there will be a LOT of posts this April.

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  19. Not doing A to Z this year and I come by here regularly, so do I still qualify for the ocntest or is it for participants ONLY. Either way great idea.

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  20. Hi Don .. that should draw people in - and get some extra cool comments ... I'll have fun trying to find your personal details buried deep in A-Zing ... Enjoy and good luck - Hilary

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  21. Well I was planning on stopping by here during April anyhow and this just ups the ante. :)

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  22. I'm doing the challenge, too! I won't be able to visit even a smidge of all the participants, but I'll try to do a few each day in addition to the people I'm already following. Maybe I'll find some new folks I want to keep track of. You're already on my list. :D

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  23. Excellent motivation to get folks to read your blog during the Challenge! It's going to be a fantastic month.

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  24. What a clever idea for month-long blog reader accountability! Wish I'd thought of something like that! ;-)

    Ready to go with EIGHT blogs in the April A-Z Challenge! Mine are 475 - 483 on the A-Z list.

    Two of these blogs (Simply Snickers and The Meme Express) will offer DAILY writing/blogging prompts and A-Z words throughout the month of April. The Meme Express welcomes A-Zers to leave daily comments, linking back to their alphabetic posts.

    Thanks for hosting the A to Z Challenge! Here we go-o-o-o!

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  25. I really enjoyed the blog blitz. Can't wait to do it again. Also, I'm ready to do the A-Z challenge again.

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  26. Great idea and very fair!

    The Blitz was really fun. I think she had a good time!

    HMG

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  27. Clever idea! I hope it brings you tons of comments!

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse

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  28. Blitzing PK was a lot of fun and I can't wait for our next victim. (:
    And what a creative and generous idea you've come up with for A-Z.
    Brilliant! See you during the challenge. (:

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  29. I gave a gift card last year, too. Bribery is a great way to promote oneself - and I wholeheartedly approve. I especially love the getting to know DL better part! Besides, I have a serious Amazon addiction, um habit, um way of spending too much money on books so I'm an ideal candidate for this prize. Gotta head back to PK's to check out her blitz comments. Keep meaning to do so, but you know the life of a co-host...never dull, never done...

    Tina @ Life is Good
    Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
    @TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge

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  30. You are crafty!! Love the idea. Maybe next year I'll actually participate in A-to-Z... that is, if I don't have another novel cooking!

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  31. You always come up with something awesome to get the blogosphere rocking and rolling! Can't wait to see what you've got us next month!

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  32. can i just have the gift card now... i promise to flood your post with my crazy thoughts and antics... just like this one...:)

    great idea, you are becoming the king of great ideas...

    Jeremy

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  33. Another great idea from DL's place! Not participating in A-Z but will be dropping by a few of my buddies to catch up with what you are all up to. Hope it goes well.

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  34. Oh tricky, tricky, DL! Great idea. I know I'd sure like that Amazon gift card.

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  35. HaHa, it was fun to blitz PK!

    Love your contest - I'll be stopping by:)

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  36. As for me, I don't need a contest--at least not anymore. Now I just love the thrill of writing, and reading others' works. Thank you for all the work you have done to make this event happen.

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  37. Ooh...great way to change things up, DL! I will try my best to keep up and follow the fun. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

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  38. DL this is such an amazing and creative approach to the challenge!
    See you next week!
    And I really enjoyed blitzing PK!

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  39. One good way to spread the word is to mention it on Alex's blog. :D

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  40. I am so tempted to be here every day of April already. So, a co-participant can try her luck eh? My first visit here. Can assure you, not the last. Good luck to us :)

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  41. Hi D.L.,

    That's a tremendous idea and I wish you much success with what you are doing. I would like to think that this A to Z Challenge has participants in it that embrace the sharing, caring ethos of a sincere blogging community.

    Although I would never, ever participate in the A to Z, I have actually promoted it on my alternative blogs. My way of being there for others. All the best to you.

    Gary, "The official anti-A to Z spokesman", as dubbed by Arlee Bird :)

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  42. For a chance to win a $75 gift card, I'll just have to come back. Please stop by my blog too. My theme is humor--as always.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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  43. Oh, DL, you are such a crafty one... :)

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  44. I agree. While luck does play into it, it's nice to see people who comment a lot get the prize.

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  45. That's a nice gesture of you. Here's hoping you are flooded with participants.

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  46. hello dl. i'm just wondering how i put the blog blitz banner on my side bar. do you know? if you could tell me please it would be great. thank you lucyx

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  47. hello dl i was not signed in properly when i left the last comment so this is the proper link to my blog. lucy.

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  48. This sounds like fun. I'm game suefitz1 (at) gmail (dot) com
    should I grab the Blog Blitz Banner?

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  49. Oooo incentive! I love it! Not that I'd skip you up anyway, but this is a good way to ensure you're remembered by newbies. And was I ever blitzed!! I think I rounded out the post with 228 comments in total--so many, that I had to click the bottom of my own blog to see all the comments--they clogged the post into a page-over! LOL! So awesome. Looking forward to our next blitzee, and I know he'll be honored. (Great choice btw) :D

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  50. Awesome idea!

    and I think I've been out of the loop. I want to do this blog blitzy thing! How fun

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  51. Awesome idea. Your blog post will definitely stand out. I would have read them anyway, but thanks for the extra incentive.

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  52. What a clever idea! This will certainly be fun!

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  53. I think the comment count on the blitz was up to 160 or so when I commented. WOOHOO~!

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  54. Another good idea...you are going to get so many comments! And it's fun!

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  55. Reading all these comments must be a full time job!

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  56. Love the challenge on top of the challenge! Hey, it's working already, I'm going to go check out a few more of your posts.

    Bradley Charbonneau's Pass the Sour Cream A-Z Challenge.

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  57. I agree with Linda, I think it's working!

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  58. Awesome idea. I'll definitely be checking this out!!

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  59. You just come up with the most clever ideas. I'll be back. God bless, Maria

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  60. Hey, DL...


    Great contest. I have a couple in so far... I have WIFI again...YAY, so you will see me daily from now on. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to be connected to the blogosphere again... NO MORE MCDONALD'S FOR ME! LOL.

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  61. Dang it! I hate it when I miss something good. Great idea, don't mind if I steal it?!

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  62. Seems to be working with the number of comments here!

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  63. Wow what a great idea, look forward to quiz. What's the blog blitz?
    thanks,

    #atozchallenge
    maggie at expat brazil

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  64. Now I'm trying to figure out how I came across your blog in the first place...I am WAY late finding out about your awesome contest. I suppose it doesn't count if I go back and read your posts and comment now?!

    Cheers from Brandy at http://brandysbustlings.blogspot.ca/

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