Scrappin' without Scraps: Be Original

I got tagged for the Be Original blog project by Michelle Thompson of Scrapability . Actually I'm honored she would think of me. She wrote that she was tagging "some digital designers, some regular readers, some great scrapbookers, great creatives and interesting oddities. " Hmmm I wonder which category I am in - regular reader I suspect, though being an interesting oddity would be fun...

So here's the scoop. It all started with a 'Be Original" post on Mohit Singhania's blog. I've lifted this off Michelle's blog who lifted it off Angie Pedersen's blog - not very original I'm afraid but since it was such an excellent summary I figured there was no reason to reinvent the wheel:

Summing up from Mohit’s original post, here is how it works:

In a new blog post, list and write about 5 to 10 methods you use to create original posts.

At the start of your post, tell your audience (briefly or at length) what you are doing with the “Be Original” Project and link to the project.

Link/trackback to the blogger who tagged you for “Be Original”

Share your “Be Original” methods with your own audience

Pick as many bloggers as you want and “tag” them to take part in the fun…
After all, that is how a meme works (a unit of cultural information transferable from one mind to another.)

Sit back and learn from the discussion.

How Do I Come Up with Original Blog Post Ideas?

1. I keep a notepad handy to jot blogging ideas down. I often get the best ideas when I'm not near my desk and writing them down helps me remember them. So the notebook travels with me. It makes a great reference for those days you just can't think of anything to write about or when you are planning your posts (see #2 below).

2. Plan out my weekly posts. Yes, I know it sounds a bit obsessive/compulsive but it works. Often I'm trying to fit blogging into an already tight schedule so knowing what I want to write about makes it much easier. So on Sunday evening, while I'm updating all the calenders and figuring out who is going where, I make a note on each day of things I might like to blog about. I also sort of follow a weekly schedule to some extent - every Friday is Studio Friday and I often post tutorials in Thursdays but I don't worry too much about sticking to my plan. Anything that doesn't get blogged about goes into the blog notes for another time (see #1 above)

3. Use my Stats. I'm not really obsessive about checking my stats daily, but they do give me a idea of what posts people are reading. Often the terms they use to do a search are interesting too. For example, I noticed last fall there were tons of hits on my making holiday cards tutorial. So I went back and updated it and added a bit of a review on printing options. I got lots of email thanking me for the information and lots of people were reading those posts.

4. Mine is a mixture of personal and corporate blog. Since I work for FxFoto, I get to (sometimes) know things about the scrapbooking world that I can share with other scrapbookers. Also I try to include a bit of behind the scenes posts; funny things that happen around here, our travels and my view of digital scrapbooking. I try to stay away from pure product hype since this is my own blog and is not owned or paid for by FxFoto.

5. Mostly I think of myself as a resource so I try to write posts that educate other digiscrappers, particularly those using FxFoto. For this I use the questions that come across through support, email and in class. I figure that for every one person who asks the question, there are many more who want to know too but haven't asked yet. Tutorials are the biggest part of my blog but I've also accumulated various little pieces of info which I am happy to share.

6. I read a lot and I get lots of ideas from the news, other bloggers, forums, and websites. I also subscribe to lots of newsletters and use online news alerts ( Yahoo ). Lastly there is Bloglines and Feedblitz to keep track of blogs. I do a tour of various blogs and websites every day, using bloglines. Sharing a news story can make a good post, either with or without commentary. So can purely informative things like a new store opening or new website. I tend to stay away from controversy or drama. That's not a corporate policy or anything - it's just me - I tend to be able to see both sides and don't really want to get involved. Sometimes I'll sum up a particular problem or respond to someone's post but I always try to give both sides of the issue.

7. I like to share projects and things I have done like layouts etc. Since I was never a paper scrapbooker and most of my crafting experience has been with fabric and fibers, sometimes...well...sometimes they are sort of a mess because I don't know what the heck I am doing. And I often share my non-scrapbooking things too like photography, knitting and recipes.

8. Kids - always a good source for a post. And I know some of my most faithful readers are friends and family ( Hi Jeanne!).

Tag, You Are It!

I am going to tag a couple of people - Mary Canavan, Kim Hill, Jennifer Pebbles, Kim Guymon , Michelle Geller,and Latharia

Ok I'm going to sit back and learn now! I've gotten some great ideas already!