September 09, 2007
Behind the Scenes of a Heart Kids Blogathon
Many have asked about what goes into an event like the Heart Kids Blogathon. What goes on behind the scenes? Here's the story
#1 - Find a reason for the blogathon
Sure, you could blog for cash to fix a leaking tap in your bathroom or to buy yourself a new iPod... but it helps if you have a reason others can identify with and support. The Heart Kids Blogathon is to raise awareness about congenital heart defects and generate funds to help sponsor life-saving heart surgery for children who cannot afford it.
#2 - Choose a theme or niche to blog about
With many of my blog readers being busy home business owners, often stressed out by juggling multiple tasks, I decided to focus this Heart Kids Blogathon on the topic of being happy, with the provocative title - How To Be Happy - All The Time. To select this topic, I surveyed some of my subscribers offering 3 alternatives - this was the most popular one!
#3 - Create your blog template
This is the hardest part for me, because I want the event to showcase the serious issue of Congenital Heart Defects and spend a lot of time fixing broken links on my website, placing links to all major sections of my CHD site, and this year, even doing a complete redesign for the Heart Kids Blogathon itself, with the help of two incredibly talented web designers.
#4 - Planning the content
I like offering value to readers who visit my blog during the event. So I don't do a random 'stream of consciousness' thing - instead, I plan out the content of the Heart Kids Blogathon well in advance, listing out areas and topics to cover, and even jotting down some anecdotes, experiences and useful things for home business owners.
#5 - Rest
A sleepless night BEFORE the event can wreak havoc. It happened in 2004 - not pleasant, I can tell you!
#6 - Snack up
My daughter LOVES this part of the Heart Kids Blogathon - the house is full of snacks to 'keep us awake'! We bought bags of chips and crisps, packs of biscuits, bottles of fruit juice, fruits and a lot more. Still, she's worried we don't have enough - and plans to make another foray to the supermarket later today!
#7 - Tell everyone about it
There's nothing worse than sitting up blogging all day and seeing just a handful of visitors reading your posts or encouraging you to keep going. So spread the word far and wide - it's all a part of my focus anyway, since the event is about raising awareness for Congenital Heart Defects.
There are many more bits and pieces, but these are the major ones you'll find helpful in case you're planning a blogging marathon yourself. And there's one last critical thing -
BELIEVE in what you do. It will keep you going.
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heart kids blogathon, congenital heart disease, heart birth defects, Dr.Mani