The Well-Rounded Woman and I talk blogging a lot. Often we talk about how to make the Works-For-We Wednesday carnival work for us. We’re totally jealous that Shannon created the carnival, because if even ten other people sit on her site like we often do on a fine Tuesday night, boy! is she racking up the pageviews.
Before we get to our tips, though, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank Shannon for bringing us together each week as we discuss which post we should link up, and whether Shannon will be tricky and early this week or tricky and late. (By early I mean 9:27 pm and by late I mean 9:35 pm MST; that Shannon is trick-y.)
Making Works-For-Me Wednesday Work For You
1. Write a short(!) post about a useful tip. You can try linking up a clever book review, but people read through the WFMW posts for actual tips that can make their lives better or easier or sweeter-smelling.
2. Link up at the very beginning or at the very end. Middle children will tell you that it’s easy to get lost in a crowd of clamoring voices.
3. Follow the Ding-Dang rules. This won’t actually help you get pageviews or comments, unless you subscribe to the idea of karma or the Golden Rule, but you’ll breathe easier knowing you didn’t sleep your way to fame and fortune. Honestly, nothing makes me wish I had a taser set on stun more than going to a reputable blog and seeing that they’ve stolen (yes, STOLEN) traffic from someone else’s blog without linking back to the carnival. (I’m not talking if you forget once or twice, or if you honestly didn’t realize there were rules, but . . . YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. That’s all I’m gonna say. For now.)
4. Choose your Mr. Linky caption wisely . . . Titles with words like “sex” in them do quite well. This can be a post about sex (Am I the Only One?) or a post about the importance of scheduling (The Unsexy Morning Routine). Sometimes it’s tricky, since the linky caption is supposed to be only four words long (see #3), but it’s usually doable.
I’m pretty sure that if someone followed all of these rules she would be blog-famous in approximately 47 weeks. But I gotta be honest. Number one is the hardest for me to do. I keep trying, though, because even if Works-for-me Wednesday doesn’t translate into instant bloggy stardom, I live in hope that my real life will be enriched and organized and enlightened by my sometimes-frantic searching for just one useful tip to share.
Tags: carnivals, works for me


You totally got me at sex sells. How sad am I?
I was all prepared for a very clever tip in the are of, well….for us married women, of course.
Rena Gunthers last blog post..WFMW: Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations
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Hope it wasn’t too disappointing, Rena. Maybe a real sex tip next time, eh?
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I think I need help with tip #1. My WFMW posts are usually not short. Today’s post, for example, even includes a chart. I agree that sex sells; that’s why I clicked on yours! I am not so sure I can work the word “sex” into many of our Green Baby Guide posts, though. Ah well.
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I think you’ve nailed this one! Once I messed up the permalink and got deleted and didn’t notice until late Wednesday, ughh! :>)
Lisas last blog post..Hedgerow Treasures
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LOVE THIS! What a great post! (And yes, that title totally got me).
I have the hardest time linking at the right moments. I still get a fair amount of traffic, but staying up until 12am EST makes my brain a little crazy and waiting until late makes me wonder how many will read it.
So alas, I’m a middle child.
Thanks so much for this! Good post!
jens last blog post..WFMW: Taking Great Photos of Kids
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Well, I must admit that your title got me! I don’t usually do WFMW because there are too many posts and most of the tips don’t help me at all. But I was all, wah? and curious. Loved your “Unsexy Morning Routine” though. That one works for me too, although I think I would rather just scream sometimes.
edjs last blog post..Travel Tips; or my first attempt to join a Blogging Carnival
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Great post and I agree totally. Alas, I am usually a middle child. I just can’t stay up to midnight to post ….
Jerris last blog post..Works for Me Wednesday – Photo Books
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What a great tip! Found you via Rocks In My Dryer. Glad I did!
Joie at Canned Laughters last blog post..BlissDom ‘08 Wisdom
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You got me too! lol It does work though, I’ll definitely have to try it.
Joannas last blog post..Make It From Scratch
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Sometimes I put two links back to Shannons site in my WFMW post lol One at the beginning and one at the end – I don’t think I did that today, but anyway – I was introduced to bogs because of WFMW. I stumbled upon it and decided about a week later I was going to really become a blogger – So here I am! lol
I’m usually in the first 100 – but I’m one of those rare breeds that clicks on 90% of the WFMW post. I just find a lot of the tips interesting. It’s like peeking into someones window to see what they’re up to – without doing the whole peeping tom thing hahaha
Have a fabulous day!
Kristins last blog post..WFMW – Holiday Control Journal
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It should be interesting to see how many people use the word “SEX” in their captions next week.
If you’re interested, I’m giving away free bakeware on my blog. Comment or link to me to enter the contest and win 4 Handmade Pottery Apple Bakers valued at $36. http://laneypottery.com/2008/10/21/win-pottery-apple-bakers/ Thanks!
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Well you definitely hooked me with the title.
I’ve trouble keeping the post short and I usually wind up somewhere near the end because I’ve an extra six hours or so to play with over here. 8.00pm for Shannon is 2.30am on Thursday morning for me.
I actually can’t wait to see next week now just to see how many tips on sex are included. Should be good for a laugh.
Leannes last blog post..WFMW – Toys up the Nose
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and someday you’ll reveal how you got the #1 spot on the linky a few weeks ago.
memarie lanes last blog post..It’s not you, it’s me.
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I am happy to reveal this secret, which happens to apply in many, many areas of our lives: Dumb Luck.
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Thanks for linking to me – I totally should get all the credit for this post ideas. Although it’s you who is so good at pimping out your posts. I just try to learn from the master. Send me my share of your blog revenue for this one, like 16 cents or whatever.
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Dude! I’m way offended. If I were that good at pimping out my posts, wouldn’t I be totally blog-famous by now (and possibly have a social disease)?
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Cheater!!No fair! You know we all came over hoping for some hot steamy whatever and you gave us posting etiquitte tips.
I feel you owe us one.
Dianes last blog post..Because Every Sip Matters
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Hilarious. I’ve found being at the beginning is the only way to get the serious hits.
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I agree!!! but where is the sexy steamy story????? huh huh huh!!
LOL
Tonyas last blog post..~Buying Eye Glasses Online is what WFMW~
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You lured me in for my first visit to your blog (which I love!) with the title of your WFMW post. Good job…and, I have to say, you’re not the ONLY one!!!
Laurens last blog post..Productive Day
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ok, so the title was a tease, but good tips:)
suzannahs last blog post..i heart baking soda
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You got me with your title! LOL
I love WFMW! As a relatively new blogger, it’s a fun way to see other blogs and read tips.
Amblins last blog post..The other shoe has dropped or left the building
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